When apostates don't like our message, as given to us by God in His Word, they cannot attack the Word so they attack the way we delivered it.
Knowing we can't prove the "way" we said something, these apostates count on others who are watching to be confused. After all, they are taught by our culture that if someone gets mad about something, then someone must have done something wrong against the one angered.
The tactic of accusing us of something that never happened, is a favored tactic of the devil. His goal is to cause weak minded people to think something went wrong when it did not. Followers always believe others rather than their own encounter.
Narcissists love to claim something wasn't shown to be loving enough, but the real issue is that they are angry that we expressed it at all.
Isaiah 30:9-11 "…9 For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen To the instruction of the LORD; 10 Who say to the seers, "You must not see visions"; And to the prophets, "You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions. 11"Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel."…"
If we tell the truth these days, more often than not, we will be accused of something other than what we actually did, in order to intimidate us into silence.
Brothers and Sisters, do not be frightened of the devilish lies that come against you, remember that this happened to Christ and the apostles. What would make us think we would escape the accusations in these especially wicked end times.
Jeremiah 1:19 "19"They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD."
This passage was written to the Jews during a very difficult time, it is a principle we can believe for born again believers today. God never abandons those who love Him, in Jeremiah's day or in ours.
Psalm 21:11 "11 Though they intended evil against You And devised a plot, They will not succeed. "
Acts 5:39 " 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
Isaiah 54:17"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD."
So Brothers and Sisters, what have we to fear by telling the truth? The answer.....Not a thing!
If we "are saying it in such a way that others will receive it, then we are compromising the gospel. If the world loves our message and loves us, then we are not conveying the importance of the gospel clearly enough.
Perhaps we are people pleasing to make the people more important to us than truth.
When we speak the truth, it must be through the power of the Holy Spirit, not our own devices to entice the lost.
Matthew 10:21-23 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.…"
Those who persevere in spite of the hatred against them, are the ones who are born again. Anyone who gives up, capitulates to the pressures of the culture to remain friendly to unbelievers, are very likely not born again themselves.
Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
1 John 4:1-6
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. ..."
No where in the Word do we hear anything related to being sure to make people like us through our speech. The fact is that an authentic prophet of God, one who teaches truth, will be hated by unbelievers, however brothers and sisters in Christ will love them, they are family and accustomed to hearing truth.
When I was a child "hell, fire and brimstone" preaching was common, expected and appreciated among Christian gatherings. What has changed over the years? I can tell you what has changed, those who claim to be Christians do not know their Bible, nor do they want to. These people are satisfied with superficial worldly thinking, even thinking themselves to be wise while remaining spiritual babies.
Roman 1:21-22 "…21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, "
Those who speak truth in the power of the Holy Spirit are condemned by spiritual babies and non-believers, as mean spirited." Church attendees have gone from loving truth no matter how much it hurts to loving lies because they smooth the ego.
Proverbs 27:5-7 "…5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. 7 A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.…"
2 Timothy 4:3-4 " 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.…"
Isaiah 30:9-11 "…9 For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen To the instruction of the LORD; 10 Who say to the seers, "You must not see visions"; And to the prophets, "You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions. 11"Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel."…"
The Lord compelled me to expose a false teacher in our town. This woman is prompting the group in her charge to repeat the mantra, "I am Jesus", after her. The group chant, "I am Jesus" over and over again. Sadly no one at those meetings rebuke her, nor do they involve themselves in order to correct this heresy.
This woman has a reputation of combativeness when approached to resolve problems. She has been allowed to preach in the main service of our local Nazarene church, while wearing leggins and purple hair.
The group has been intimidated into silence by the leader proclaiming that anything that happens here should remain here. The group is told they should not repeat anything they hear there, to protect the people. This is not Biblical, the "gag order" allows the leadership to do whatever they want no matter how blasphemous, intimidating those who want truth, into silence for fear of retribution.
Ezekiel 13:9 "9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD."
Matthew 16:11-12 "11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Those who attempt to cause people to clean up their lives without the power of the Holy Spirit, will end up with a group that makes no progress at all in that aim.
It is only through repentance, a change of mind about their sin that leads to brokenness over their sinfulness. Once someone sees their sinfulness for what it is, that is depravity that they cannot change by themselves, then is when they will be able to seek Christ for HIS cleansing. Authentic Christianity cannot be realized unless one trusts Christ for that covering through His blood and cleansing of sin through His power.
Until the sinful and broken person realizes their need to be changed by Another outside of themselves, Christ Himself, there will be no progress in this life, what does seem better will only be temporary and useless.
It is Christ Who must do the cleansing and He will only do that if we confess and desire to be cleansed.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
All the mantras and humanistic tricks in the world will not help a sinful man become born again.
Someone once said, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result."
These gatherings that are attempting to hype the teachings to speak smooth words of kindness, are only serving to keep people sinful. They are in reality useless to the lives of those who attend the superficial groups.
John 16:8-9 "8 And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;…"
The blind are leading the blind in these self help gatherings. Those who preach a useless and pleasant gospel, are themselves without Christ.
Matthew 15:14 "14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
If these gatherings do not learn the way of salvation and clean up their leadership, they are going to be held accountable by God for their lazy spirit and disobedience to Christ.
Ephesians 5:6
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience."
It's easier to "think on these things" , in terms of keeping our minds stayed on Christ, when we do not have to be around those who treat the ways of God with contempt.
Philippians 4:8
"8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
When we see someone attempting to start a fight, then we know it is time to refrain from answering back and walk away. The winner of that kind of argument is the one who refuses to engage in the first place.
We need not worry about the results when we share Christ, that is His business. It is enough to share, all the rest is left to Him. Their response to us is not a measure of "our" effectiveness, but rather the condition of their own heart.
Mark 16:15
"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
Notice God does not say, "go and do it right and there will be results."
Romans 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
"It is the power of God for salvation", what? The power of God for salvation is not our delivery, but the Gospel that is the power of God for salvation.
Acts 10:42
"And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead."
When we think we are not seeing results, never fear, that is God's business, He will take care of His own business.
Matthew 10:27
"What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops."
Our job: proclaim the gospel, that's it!
"…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…"
