Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of Scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
When I was in high school, I used to do a lot of canoeing, and one thing I learned is that it doesn’t take very much to tip one over. In fact, if you lean just a little bit too far over one edge they can flip, tossing you and all of your equipment overboard. As you get into one, many of the occupants will quickly tell you to sit down, and don’t rock the boat. This is because they want to maintain peace, and not do anything that might stir things up while out on the lake.
This reminds me of the Christian Life
Well, if there’s anything that is going to stir things up, it’s the preaching of the Gospel. We are in a world that is filled with lies, and when somebody speaks the truth, it will cause many people to become offended. This is because the preaching of the Gospel does not bring peace but division. Like standing up in a canoe, men of God must rise up for the teachings of Christ, and when they do, you can know for certain that they will always rock the boat.
Matthew 15 ¹² Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? ¹³ But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
The preaching of the Gospel brings great reproach from the impenitent. This is because you are drawing a line in the sand between Good and evil. When you tell someone that they are living in sin, many times it brings on hatred because the carnal mind is at enmity with the truth of God. It is for this very reason that certain Jews conspired to kill Jesus, and had Him crucified on the cross.
“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” John 7:7
When you speak the truth in Christ, it’s going to bring on persecution from this world. It will come at you from all sides, from past friends, neighbors, relatives and even your own parents. Those who walk In the flesh will always persecute those who walk in the Spirit.
“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” Galatians 4:29
Peter rocked the boat so much that the Jews had him thrown in jail.
Acts 5 ²⁸ Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. ²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
³¹ Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
³² And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Many people took great offense to the things that Jesus was teaching. Rather than admitting the truth so they could find forgiveness, they hated Him instead.
Luke 11 ⁴⁵ Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also. ⁴⁶ And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. ⁴⁷ Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. ⁴⁸ Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
“And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.” Luke 11:39
The things that the Apostle Paul preached brought on great persecution. Many times entire towns were in an uproar, saying that he wasn’t fit to live! When you are reproached in such a manner for speaking biblical truth, God’s blessings are on the way!
Luke 6 ²² Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²³ Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Moses considered the reproach of Christ greater than all of the riches of Egypt.
Hebrews 11 ²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; ²⁵ Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; ²⁶ Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
When you expose the evils of this world, you will be reviled by them. When you shed light on the darkness, you will be evil spoken of by them. But when someone persecutes you or does evil towards you, we should rejoice. This is because we are entering into the same sufferings that the Lord Jesus did.
1 Peter 4 ¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Some people will begin the Christian Life, but will not have what it takes to complete the race. This is because they don’t want everybody upset with them, so they say nothing at all.
“Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” Matthew 13:21
The more that you serve the things of Christ, the more hated by the world you will become. The elect of God will suffer tribulation in this world, because they take a stand for what is right.
“For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.” 1 Thessalonians 3:4
Being hated by this world is a natural response towards those who truly love Christ.
“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19
Remember the following passage today.
“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26
Fear not, and don’t be afraid to stand up for the teachings of Christ, because when God’s truth is spoken, it’s going to shake things up, ruffle some feathers, and most certainly…
…..Rock the Boat
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious goups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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