Our goal as believers ought to be to tell the truth to help the unbeliever see their lost condition and their need for the Savior.
When the modern church is using flattery to gain the attention of the ungodly, they are playing into the devil's hands. Flattery serves only to solidify an unsaved person's high opinion of themselves. It is of no value in evangelism.
Proverbs 28:23
"Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. "
Romans 16:18
"For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."
Encouraging the unsaved to see themselves in their lost condition will be the ultimate love, it can snatch them from the very jaws of hell if they choose to listen. If they do not listen, that is not on us, it is on them.
Those who will not listen to the Scriptures as the authority, must be removed from our lives, they will come against everything we believe, even triangulating, meaning gossiping to others about us, but never in truth, always embellished lies to justify their rejection of us.
Titus 3:10-11 "10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned."
A divisive man is not the one who points out error or corrects to instruct in the ways of God. A divisive man is the one who rejects the Word of God and fights to maintain unBiblical and ungodly ways.
"Know it alls" cannot learn, they will only listen to what they like from the Word and ignore that which they do not like.
Romans 7:18 "18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not."
Know-it-alls can never say what is written in Romans 7:18.
We are called to speak from the Word of God always, not from our culture or our own prejudices.
Ezekiel 3:18-19 "18"When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19"Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.…"
We are not called to collect friends to prove how well we are doing, we are called of God to tell the truth and leave all the results to Him.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
Results and many friends are not a measure of our spirituality, often they can be evidence that we are not preaching the true gospel but rather a gospel of happiness and pleasure to be liked by others. This is a very selfish worldly motive, not honoring to God.
God said that we will be hated by everyone, I believe that means most people, when we speak His truth.
Isaiah 66:5
"Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word: "Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My name's sake, Have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy.' But they will be put to shame."
Matthew 10:22 "22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. "
Take comfort in knowing that we will be persecuted in varying degrees for our stand for truth, it is expected and will be the means by which we grow in holiness as well as boldness.
James 1:2-5 "James 1:2-10King James Version (KJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Hallelujah!!!!!
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