Our paragraph topic is: (Confidence in divine protection) Part 9.
Yesterday we talked about recognition, acceptance, and acknowledgement. Christ has given his disciples a statement of division. He told them that whoever acknowledges him before men, he would acknowledge them before his heavenly father. All those who know him and accept him and confirm that acceptance when questioned by man will be accepted and acknowledged and confirmed before God. Christ is giving his disciples a way of discerning true believers. Those who know Christ and accept him will speak his name before men. Those who do not accept him will, of course, not speak his name but curse his name before men. Then there are those who may accept him behind closed doors and in proper company, but, when put to the test in the face of controversy, will not acknowledge his name because of fear and shame and a lack of faith.
True acceptance requires one to separate oneself from the world. Many may say that they accept Christ but in their hearts he does not live. And Christ knows the hearts of each and every man woman and child. So Christ is showing his disciples the fine points of division that will define the true believer and the nonbeliever. He has told them those who he would confirm before his father, now he says, "But whoever disowns me before men, I in turn will disown him before my Father in heaven." So now, we have the complete picture of the expectations of Christ.
Christ expects men to accept him at all times before all men. He expects believers to be bold and steadfast in their beliefs. He expects believers to be disciples themselves, to speak on his behalf when in the company of men. He expects believers to believe at work, at home, at church, in the streets, with friends, in the clubs, at school, everywhere. This does not mean to accept him at church and then do not speak his name in the market, at work, with friends, or wherever. One can not own him in some places and disown him in others. One can not speak his words in the church, with church friends, and then be silent at work, on lunch break with other friends, in private company with people that do not accept his name. One has to be consistent with ones belief. One has to be proud of his name. One has to be filled with his name and his glory. One has to be ever present in him and he in you.
Today's society is fashioned so that we do not speak about Christ. Speaking out about our beliefs and religion causes separation. It causes people to shy away when one begins to acknowledge the name of Christ. It is not cool. It is not the latest thing to talk about in polite company. It is not what is happening. What we talk about is what we think about. And today we think about and talk about the latest fashions, the latest hair styles and clothes, the upcoming concert or event, the news of the stars, the latest TV shows that was on the night before, vampire diaries, and on and on and on.
We do not talk about the latest gospel show that we saw, the last religious conference that we went to, the words that were spoken in the sermon this past Sunday, and most of all we do not gather outside of church and talk about the written word of God in the gospels. We are fed everything except what is of need and that is what we speak on. So when one speaks and acknowledges Christ in polite company, people leave. People shy away. And people do not want to hear. Do you disown Christ in polite company? Do you disown Christ amongst your friends? Do you accept Christ when it is convenient and disown him when it is also convenient? Christ will do the same and disown you when it is convenient before his father.
Yesterday we talked about recognition, acceptance, and acknowledgement. Christ has given his disciples a statement of division. He told them that whoever acknowledges him before men, he would acknowledge them before his heavenly father. All those who know him and accept him and confirm that acceptance when questioned by man will be accepted and acknowledged and confirmed before God. Christ is giving his disciples a way of discerning true believers. Those who know Christ and accept him will speak his name before men. Those who do not accept him will, of course, not speak his name but curse his name before men. Then there are those who may accept him behind closed doors and in proper company, but, when put to the test in the face of controversy, will not acknowledge his name because of fear and shame and a lack of faith.
True acceptance requires one to separate oneself from the world. Many may say that they accept Christ but in their hearts he does not live. And Christ knows the hearts of each and every man woman and child. So Christ is showing his disciples the fine points of division that will define the true believer and the nonbeliever. He has told them those who he would confirm before his father, now he says, "But whoever disowns me before men, I in turn will disown him before my Father in heaven." So now, we have the complete picture of the expectations of Christ.
Christ expects men to accept him at all times before all men. He expects believers to be bold and steadfast in their beliefs. He expects believers to be disciples themselves, to speak on his behalf when in the company of men. He expects believers to believe at work, at home, at church, in the streets, with friends, in the clubs, at school, everywhere. This does not mean to accept him at church and then do not speak his name in the market, at work, with friends, or wherever. One can not own him in some places and disown him in others. One can not speak his words in the church, with church friends, and then be silent at work, on lunch break with other friends, in private company with people that do not accept his name. One has to be consistent with ones belief. One has to be proud of his name. One has to be filled with his name and his glory. One has to be ever present in him and he in you.
Today's society is fashioned so that we do not speak about Christ. Speaking out about our beliefs and religion causes separation. It causes people to shy away when one begins to acknowledge the name of Christ. It is not cool. It is not the latest thing to talk about in polite company. It is not what is happening. What we talk about is what we think about. And today we think about and talk about the latest fashions, the latest hair styles and clothes, the upcoming concert or event, the news of the stars, the latest TV shows that was on the night before, vampire diaries, and on and on and on.
We do not talk about the latest gospel show that we saw, the last religious conference that we went to, the words that were spoken in the sermon this past Sunday, and most of all we do not gather outside of church and talk about the written word of God in the gospels. We are fed everything except what is of need and that is what we speak on. So when one speaks and acknowledges Christ in polite company, people leave. People shy away. And people do not want to hear. Do you disown Christ in polite company? Do you disown Christ amongst your friends? Do you accept Christ when it is convenient and disown him when it is also convenient? Christ will do the same and disown you when it is convenient before his father.
