Friday, February 26, 2010
Ever since I started writing the things God teaches me, I have gotten different types of responses from different kinds of people including people I do not even know, I feel blessed and thank God for all. However while some people read and are very very blessed some read and get offended. The offense is a natural response so I do not mind.
Jesus said:
Then said Jesus to them, All you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.- Matthew 26:31
In this chapter, I hope to encourage those who hear the word and get angry even to the point of falling away and rejecting the true things of God, those who claim they are being judged or condemned. And I hope that even though you stumble (are offended) because of the word presented to you, if you hang in there God will acknowledge your humility and he will surely lift you up so that you can come to the knowledge of his truth in spiritual maturity even reaching forward to the mark of higher callings.
Just as Jesus had said, all of those who he spoke to where offended according to the prophecy, but they persevered and looked through the fog of the offense and we know that the word testifies about their works afterwards and how God Glorified himself through those who followed him and that none of them fell away from the true path of salvation except Judas.
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.- Romans 9:33
Initially it worried me that some read and got offended at the things I said or when they heard the truth, but I later learned that sometimes the offense is only the beginning of brokenness for these people who didn't even know it but truly seek the truth about God and who he really is. Sowing the seed of the word caused some of them to be broken before the Lord afterward and some just hardened their hearts and rejected it, so it is either they allow the word to sink in in their offense and be saved or they eventually just outrightly reject it. God reminded me about Christ who was only able to convince 11 people out of all who where living in the towns he had been to in his time, to follow him with genuineness of heart! It tells you how much the world hates to know the truth, which ironically gives us freedom (I mean from every single vice produced by the corruption of our flesh).
Today there is so much deception everywhere even in the air we breath, nothing and no one is spared and there is so much hatred towards truth baring christians, and it is fast becoming a scandal to be associated with our lord Jesus! One may think this to be a bad thing but it is not, it is in fact proof that you are a child of God when you are despised for being associated with him. Before and even a bit after I came to know God, I too hated the truth so badly, I called my self a Christian because I was told I was one, even though in truth I was a wretched Pagan who God showed his grace and love, and made a true child of him through whom the Spirit of Christ now testifies of his truth. Same is the story of everyone else who reads this write up wether we like it or not, no one is born a Christian, no one born pure, none born perfect! We all have to get to a point where we accept and move past the offense we face when comfronted with Gods truth. After struggling for so long we should concede to the victory Christ won on our cross. Yes, I said "our cross" because it was us who was to be condemned there, and long before Christ came the cross had been used by the Romans as the highest form of Capital punishment for first degree offenders, the likes me and you!
If after we come into Christ, we are still getting offended at the truth of the undiluted word of God, then how will we behave when we are confronted with the offenses of this world? Quickly applying humility and moving past the offense is a sign of spiritual maturity, it shows God that you are becoming ready to carry out his will. If not when you go into the world you will be kicked, slapped and cheated and you will raise your hand in defense of your self, start fighting back and discourage those you are trying to preach to.
We all were first degree offenders from Birth, all wretched and condemned from conception awaiting capital punishment. Christ tells us to take up "our" Cross and FOLLOW him. He has made the burden of the Cross light with everlasting peace he has giving to us (Sorry but I have to add >> and not with money or carnal wealth) by the shedding of his blood, and his resurrection power so that when we preach we will be like one truly sent from God, because the gospel must be preached with life and power, there is no other way.
He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.- Hebrews 9:11-13
In order to enter the most holy place, we must come to a point where we are like our Great High Priest. Jesus says >>few-are-they-that-enter