And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased” (Galatians 5:11). Paul’s Gospel had teeth. It bit hard into the kingdom of darkness and ripped chunks from it wherever it came. He didn’t make his message smooth and soft in order to suit the fancies of the religious majority. His Gospel was a sharp word that exalted Christ, lifted the cross up high, proclaimed total commitment to Christ the King, and utterly stripped man of all self-reliance, shattering self-righteousness, tearing down false religion, and leaving men stripped bare before God in utter dependence on His free grace alone to save them. Josef Urban It seems like in todays religious society we have forgotten how to be this kind of follower of Christ. I think we have forgotten that we ARE stripped bare before God, and instead we have prematurely placed our crowns on our heads and dawned the robes of kings and priests. On any given Sunday morning you can hear preachers teaching their flock about all the gifts and blessings and prosperity they will receive from God if theyll just Receeeeive it in the naaaame of Jeeeesus. But I just want to tell you, that if you have truly met Jesus Christ face to face, you have already received the greatest gift, blessing and piece of prosperity you will ever attain in this world.... Grace. God spoke to Paul and said, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul then said, Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christs sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. But thats offensive isnt it. Im pretty sure that most of you, if youve even read this far, are already offended by me telling you its not okay to be putting on your crown and priestly robes just yet. But thats what many Christians I know do every chance they get. They get up on Sunday morning, stand in front of the mirror, adjust their crown, put on their most prized robe, and head off to church to learn about how they can add more jewels to their breast plates. You know, cause the high priests wore a breast plate covered in jewels. Almost exactly like the one Lucifer wore as the Anointed cherub that covereth...... But of course you already knew that....... So now Im sure some of you are really offended...... But thats the Truth isnt it?...... Isnt it offensive? Much like Paul said, And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased”. If Paul had kept preaching circumcision under the law, who would have been offended by that? Certainly not the Jews. But what Paul preached offended people, because the Truth is offensive. Yip, the same guy who gave us the verses on Love, is also the same guy who taught the Truth. Which is Jesus Christ. The one and only Truth, which is the Word of God. In this politically correct generation it has become common place for people to just be loving and supportive. Not that we shouldnt be loving and supportive, we should. But not to the point of ignoring, or putting the Truth to the side as not to offend someone. Because then we have offended Christ. We need to go back to the beginning. Remember when we feared God? You know way back before we became bestest buddies with Him and started acting like he was our genie whose lamp we could rub for whatever wish we wanted? Yeah remember that guy? The Almighty God of Heaven and Earth? And His Son, The King of Righteousness? You dont think Christ would be offensive if He walked into our society tomorrow? We need to be an offense. An offense to everything that doesnt stand for Truth. An offense to everything that is wicked, including ourselves if need be. So I challenge you to do something. I challenge you to put your crowns back in the closet and leave your robes on the hanger. I challenge you to put all the blessings and prosperity to the side, and to bare yourself before God. And by all means, rejoice in your infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christs sake: for in your weakness, He is strong. Be loving, be humble, and show charity to every person that God brings into your life. But above all..... be an offense. youtu.be/w25rNs8767M
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 05:40:13 +0000
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