Have you had people who have told you they don't respect you and countless others who act as though they don't?
Those that are respected by the unsaved, are those who bring no challenge to them on any level, but rather elevate them, no matter how wrong they are. They are coddled, pampered and messaged to think well of themselves, when in fact they are opposed to Christ.
After spending time with the Lord concerning this matter of disrespect, the Lord showed me that it is not the believer who is maligned, but Christ Who lives in us they hate, even though they believe it is us they dislike so intensely.
Those who have demonstrated disrespect, have been hostile to the Word of God, either through indifference to it or through hostility toward God, in one way or another. These same people are predisposed to lying, they must, to negate the Word of God, while discrediting His messenger to quell the feeling of guilt in their own hearts. There is deep conviction of sin, their response to it is to exact revenge toward God's people in various ways, mostly covertly so they can maintain their appearance to others.
Satan is the father of lies, busy everyday twisting the minds of those who have not submitted to Christ, even those who claim to be His.
Matthew 15:8 "'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME."
Those of you who have been treated disrespectfully because you care deeply about the Word and the correct use of the Word, can count it all joy that you do not fit in with those whose mindset is that of the world.
Matthew 10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves."
Many of the people who claim to be Christians, have little interest in knowing the principles of God, or if they have a little interest, it is in twisting it to fit their own desires or worldly mentality.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."
Many phony Christians become hostile and vengeful when corrected or challenged as to their deliberately inaccurate use of the Word to justify their sinful attitudes. The hardest people to reach with correction are those who have Bible school or seminary degrees, they come out of those institutions believing they have special knowledge no one else can have and that they are special themselves.
Pride overtakes many men who go to institutions to be indoctrinated, rather than to be taught by the Holy Spirit. These men often trust their Bible school training, acting as though they don't need the Holy Spirit, they have already been validated by men and that is enough for them. The Holy Spirit plays a small role in their guidance.
We see clearly an attitude or mentality through the things they love, the things they talk about and the things they defend. Usually it is not the Word they defend, nor God's principles but their own appetites.
We can see why the church has become apostate and why most Christian men say, do or be nothing about Christ in their interpersonal relationships. They are more interested in "appearing" good, than in growing in holiness.
Often these self appointed clerics judge people, not on the basis of their spiritual growth but on all the outer things they do that look good to others. They make rash judgments about many things that mean very little to God, but that feed their own pride and narcissism.
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ."
2 Corinthians 4:18 "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Matthew 7:15 "“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
2 Corinthians 5:16 "From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer."
Remember, those who are walking fleshly, even those who claim to be believers, will attempt to ruin our witness through covert and stealthful craftiness. We do not need to be concerned about them, only aware of them. When we know they are there, doing their dirtiest against us, we will be better equipped to deal with them.
"Forewarned is Forearmed." We can be armed continually with the Scriptures, to stop mouths and remain strong. God will take care of all the rest.
Pray for those who persecute you, that God will show them their own heart, and that He will work in us to handle whatever comes our way, His Way!
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