Four
Truth Telling
Today I read of Hal Lindsay's resignation from Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) Television. http://www.hallindseyoracle.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=12286 It seems he spoke out a little too truthfully (?) about radical muslim terrorism. TBN has an evangelistic outreach into the Arab world and thinks Hal's words and warnings will work against their efforts. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48163
It seems to me that as Christians we need to look at some things Jesus said, for understanding His Word will "adjust" our attitudes to the Truth.
Luke 21:17 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake."
And Paul:
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
It is a "default setting" for the believer. If you really live and walk as Jesus did, eventually people will hate you. The righteousness of God is in diametric opposition to the unrepentant proud sinner man/woman. It is just so that Jesus is the cornerstone and Capstone for some and the stone of stumbling, the rock of offense for others. My fear is that we hide both this truth and our faith as we seek a comfortable path through a very uncomfortable world.
My friend Melvin, who resisted Christ as long as I knew him, finally stopped my attempts to evangelize him by saying simply "they CRUCIFIED Him!" He was really saying "I don't want to share the Son of Man's fate." And it is so with many calling themselves by His Name. Understandable from the natural mind set, to be sure. Yet the apostles were of a different mind:
Acts 5:41 ....they (had) called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
I want to humbly communicate this truth: The Way of Jesus, the Life of Jesus and His Truth are not the same as the world's. The world has a thousand thousand ways truths and life"styles". Jesus and God, His Father, and the Holy Ghost have ONE. We do ourselves no profit in avoiding the God who will save us for pleasure, or justly condemn us for our rejection of Him. Jesus said to them:
"I AM the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father except by me."
If you will live as faithful, not hiding your light, expect that people will hate you. The more godly you lives before the unrepentant, the more powerfully you will provoke them, either to themselves repent, - or to more vehemently resist, oppose and persecute your God, you and your faith. It is just the way it is!!!!! A pastor friend of mine suggests that if you are not being at times persecuted to some degree, you may want to check your Christian "pulse".
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
We simply must get it through our thick hearts and minds that Jesus is calling to us from eternity to JOIN Him THERE. The condition and situation of our life here is to be perfect, and holy.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord
posted by David B Severy | 10:01 AM
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