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| Being Ready at EVERY turn |
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3:15 but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence;
Dear Family,
This scripture taken from the third chapter of Peter's first epistle to the christians in the provinces of Asia Minor and located within The Roman Empire.These christians, most probably of gentile heritage, were often subject to more severe persecution because of close proximity to Rome and were a particularly antagonistic to Emporer Nero.
Peter's purpose was two-fold; one, to forewarn them of difficult times that lay ahead for them from Nero's wrath and more importantly to encouarge his congregation continue practicing Godly living and to give ready account to the source of their hope- The Spirit to come.
Expressing their faith in Christ was most certain to result in some form of persecution whether public whipping, torture, rapes, and assaults on their families as well as other fellow believers. This agregious treatment experienced, it is understandable why many believer's hid their christian beliefs and affiliations. Peter was encouraging them that as Jesus taught at The Sermon on The Mount, saying, " Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven " Matt 5:10 NASB
Certainly NONE of us in America, have experienced such treatment or persecution for the sake of The Lord Jesus Christ ; yet many christians stand just as silent as those in the days of Peter after the Lord Ascended into Heaven to be seated at the Right Hand of The Father. In the public's eye, we cheer our political candidate, we scream and yell and dance when "our sports team" is successful. We boast of who we know, what we did and readily share our opinion on a myriad of temporal issues in a variety of public venues.
I would like to ask you to ask yourself this question??? If you were to stand before Our Heavenly Father today and review your life from the time you were saved and had to answer for all the times you stood silent when an opportunity to share verbally, audibly and openly the hope that is Christ Jesus, HIS Saving Grace, Tender Mercy, and Amazing Love; what would be your most common response as to why you stood silent???? I can think of several times and common themes in my own life; 1. Fear 2. Focus 3. Facts
# 1 FEAR. Fear of being rejected, Fear of being ridiculed, Fear of being wrong. Basically worrying on what others may think of me which equates to PRIDE
" For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2Tim1:7)
#2 FOCUS Focus NOT on The CROSS, but on myself. Focus not on my position or of who HE made me by HIS Shed Blood and The CROSS-a bondservant; and the calling and instruction HE gave:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,(Matt 28:19)
#3 Facts: Many times I forget the TRUTH (The facts). Which is to forget what Christ Jesus did for me on The CROSS and what that means for me as a believer. Here are just a few scriptures that address these very TRUTHS (facts).
" I am free from condemnation." (Romans 8:1-2") I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.(2 Corinthians 1:21-22) "I am a minister of reconciliation for God." (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
"I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.(John 15:5)
"I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.(John 15:16)
"I am God's temple." (1 Corinthians 3:16)
"I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm." (Ephesians 2:6)
"I am God's workmanship." (Ephesians 2:10)
"I may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) "I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me1 John 5:18 "I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the Love of God (Romans 8:31-39)
Let me share a little more of what the Lord tells us about these issues: IT IS WRITTEN:
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.(Mark 8:38)
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and {the glory} of the Father and of the holy angels."
(Luke 9:26)
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with {me} in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. "(2Tim 1:8-11)
"I solemnly charge {you} in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: PREACH THE WORD, BE READY IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON ; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction (2Tim 4:1-2)
So again, I would like to ask you to ask yourself this question??? If you were to stand before Our Heavenly Father today and review your life from the time you were saved and had to answer for all the times you stood silent when an opportunity to share verbally, audibly and openly the hope that is Christ Jesus, HIS Saving Grace, Tender Mercy, and Amazing Love; what would be your most common response as to why you stood silent???? I encourage you to both pray and meditate on what you have read and your answers. Talk to God about it. HE would love to hear from you!
May the Lord bless and keep you always.
Brother Matt
Jesus Loves Me ministries
(For a more detailed list of TRUTHS (facts)go to The "WHO I AM IN CHRIST JESUS BLOG" written about ten blogs back)
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