Happy "Sanctifying" Saturday Everyone.
"Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt 4:4).
We all know these words of Jesus and acknowledge their truth; but how hard is it to live by them? Especially when the world would rather see someone go to hell than hurt their feelings.
What?
Sure, remember when Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness? Satan made it seem as if he actually cared about Jesus. And all Jesus really had to do was bow down to him. Sadly, many Christians are influenced by this same deception. I call it "The deception of acceptation." So many immature Christians are straddling the fence so bad that in order to be "socially correct" or "politically correct" they will stand firm with the world view, by including it with theirs. This is what Satan did when He quoted scripture to Jesus. Let's see, how can Satan impress Jesus,...I know, quote to Him His own words, right? Wrong.
This Sunday's Sunday School lesson is titled, "Sanctifying the Lord's Day" from Nehemiah 13:15-22. "I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to set themselves apart for the Lord's Day.
You've probably heard this many times: "The Bible says not to judge." What the Bible actually says is that we're not to judge a person's heart or motives. "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things," says Paul, "yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ" (1Cor 2:15-16). According to Paul true followers of Jesus are of the same mind. When you have the mind of Christ you have spiritual discernment.
Christians (who are walking with Christ) have the authority to judge people's words and actions.
How do you know if someone is a false teacher? Go to the scriptures! In 2 Timothy:3:16-17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Are you convinced I'm all over the map, yet? Well, let me bring it home for you, this morning. We are all born into this world, everyone of us. Those who chose Christ while here are adopted and become born again and become "not of this world" but of the next.
Once we realize we are not of this world, we must be Sanctified by the Word, by the Power of the Holy Spirit. We then know that we know, when we leave this world (in death) we shall enter the next (in life) to be with God, our Christ.
Now back to the beginning of my message. Would you rather see someone get a little upset with you, as you try and influence their life toward Christ or would you rather not hurt their feelings and see them take the wrong road by joining a cult, or believing there's more than one way, or thinking they are in a Christian religion when it isn't, or going through life clueless?
Just because the word "Jesus" is in there somewhere, doesn't make it right.
Soooooooooooooooo, here's my challenge to you this week.
Are you not sharing Christ because someone else "needs to figure it out?" or because it's "none of your business?" or because you "don't want to get involved?" or you "don't care if they go to hell?" or you just "don't want to upset them. Hopefully none of the above. Friends, the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. They are blind to the truth.
Some of your friends need to be a little upset with you...before its too late.
Praying for You
