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.
Many years ago when I was in elementary school I used to talk a lot. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I got so involved with sales and marketing later on in my life. Many people who hired me over the years always said that I have the gift of gab, which means I like talking to people, and I’m the type of person where it didn’t really matter if the customer bought something, as long as they went away knowing that they had visited with someone who cared about them. I guess that’s the kind of person I am. Communication is a very important medium between people. I’ve even worked at a few radio stations during my life and really enjoyed it, although you couldn’t see the recipient on the other side of the microphone. But sometimes I tended to talk too much in class and the teachers didn’t like this very much. Sometimes they would walk up and very gently press my lips in between their fingers to prevent me from talking. Ever since our youth, many of us have been taught to be seen and not heard. Whether it’s being at a college lecture, or even at the library, sometimes people want to make sure that they keep you quiet.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Although there are right and wrong occasions to speak, the Apostle Paul stood up and spoke out against false teachings and heresies in the Christian faith. It didn’t matter who tried to stop him from talking, he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and did not close his mouth when he recognized that people were trying to lead others away from the teachings of Holy Scripture.
Titus 1:9-11 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
Somebody who is a gainsayer will challenge, oppose, or contradict a fact or a statement, especially the truth of scripture, and many people who resist scripture are actually those who profess to be followers of Christ.
2 Timothy 3:8-9 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was.
As soldiers for Christ Jesus, the Apostles spoke out boldly against anti-biblical doctrine, and were not ashamed of the truth of the truth of the Gospel. Like soldiers on the front line, they would rise up to battle to defend the one true faith.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
There are many people today, especially women, who are preaching a false gospel and subvert the true teachings of Christ. Subvert actually means to undermine the power and authority of something else. Like a woman who resists and usurps over the authority of men, people usurp every day over the authority of scripture. Why do people do this? It’s simple, they don’t want to repent! The devil doesn’t want to repent, and doesn’t want others to come into compliance with the teachings of scripture. But whether it’s John the Baptist rebuking Herod, or the Lord Jesus rebuking the religious leaders of his day, as Spiritual soldiers, we must be ready to dig in, and fight the battle for the truth of scripture.
This is a wicked world, and it will only get worse, as we quickly progress towards the return of the Lord Jesus. I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but you had better prepare yourself for battle! This is ultimately a skirmish between what is right and wrong in the eyes of God, and whatever sufferings we need to endure, you must do it for the sake of the one who shed His own blood for you at the cross.
2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
When somebody is ashamed, it means that they are embarrassed and unwilling to stand by somebody’s side. Jesus was hated by this world, and then hung on the cross, and those who stand up for Him and His teachings are going to enter into suffering and reproach for His namesake.
1 Peter 4:12-14 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 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. 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.
Although we do not fight battles with earthly weapons, we must always stand up for the truth of scripture, driven for a great passion for the one who first loved us! The Apostle Paul wanted people in the church to pray for him for this very purpose.
Ephesians 6:19-20 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Like a soldier standing on a wall to defend his country, the Apostle Paul was defending the truth of scripture.
Philippians 1:15-17 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
This world will eventually suffer the same fate as Sodom and Gomorrah, and before that happens we must be strong enough in our faith to speak out in vocal opposition against what is evil in the eyes of God. Hopefully people will repent of what they’re doing, but sadly that’s not always going to be the case. Just remember that when it came to unbiblical and false teachings, you couldn’t close the lips of the Apostle Paul and could know for certain that if it went against the gospel of Christ, people would never silence him. He loved the Lord so much that nobody was going to shut his mouth, or get him to….
…….Be Quiet
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 groups. 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 all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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