Forget Milk. Got Intestinal Fortitude? January 30, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , trackbackIn His going-away message to the disciples, Jesus warned them of the certainty of persecution. He said, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you” (John 15:20). Who are they? Who is it who will persecute the most intimate followers of Christ?
It is the religious crowd! Those with outward forms of godliness without the power of total heart surrender - these will persecute those who glory only in the Cross of Christ. The godless, humanistic Romans were not the real persecutors of the Master. His greatest abuse was at the hands of the most steeped in the Law; the hierarchy of the church, and the masses who boasted that God was their Father. All their cunning energies were set on discrediting Him.
So it is today - the greatest, most ferocious persecution against God’s people comes from religious leaders and their followers who reject the offense of the Cross of Christ. All persecution of God’s people centers on the Cross. Paul said, “As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ…” (Galatians 6:12).
Multitudes of Jewish converts found a way to avoid the offense of the Cross. It was by preaching and practicing circumcision. They would cut the flesh rather that crucify it. Paul said, “If I preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the Cross ceased” (Galatians 5:11). In other words, you can avoid all the suffering and persecution resulting from dying to this world by settling for reform in the place of resurrection. You can enjoy the fellowship and good will of the entire religious system if you will simply conform to all their bland, lifeless, middle-of-the road standards. The harlot church still preaches about the Cross as an historical fact, but its demands on the flesh are rejected. And this same backslidden church will thrash and persecute those who go on to be personally identified with Christ’s crucifixion.
Paul was constantly harassed by the party of the circumcision. These were Jewish Christians who followed him everywhere, teaching new converts that God still demanded their flesh be cut, and that they conform to the lifeless traditions and rules of men. They had much scripture to prove their doctrine, especially the writings of Moses. They refuse to accept the glorious truth that the Cross was the end of all flesh in the eyes of God. Now, a new resurrected man - one who is dead to the world - is the only one God will deal with.
Why is there such fair show of the flesh in the church today? It is because the Cross has been rejected. You can present to the Lord the most sincere, dedicated, renovated flesh possible - and it will still be a stench. That which is tainted by the least amount of flesh will not be accepted by a holy God. He has once and for all condemned the flesh at the Cross.
If the demands of the Cross were truly faced by modern Christianity, most of the religious activities would be shut down. Judged in the light of the demands of the Cross, God would have to stamp on most of the religious activity - “FRIVOLOUS! MEANINGLESS!” It is because flesh has been brought in and leavened the whole lump. What was once pure and holy is now mixed with the spirit and manners of this world.
I know that at this very hour there are multitudes of praying, God-fearing Christians who weep and grieve over the conditions in the church. Not only in the church at large, but their home church or body where they worship. Either their shepherd is too soft on sin, or he whips them, or he puts unbearable burdens upon them. Or their body whips and runs off faithful shepherds instead preferring, no demanding, ear ticklers.
Jesus strode into the temple one day, with whip in hand, and drove out all the merchandises. He thundered, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13).What would Jesus say today if He were here in the flesh, beholding all that is being done in His name? How long do you think He would permit His Father’s name to be corrupted? How long would He endure the waste, the mixture, the shallowness, the perversion of His truth. How long would He withhold judgment upon millions of Christians who send hundreds of thousand of dollars to build entertainment complexes, tall gilded towers - while more than half the world starves.
Jesus would tell it like it is! No protecting men’s reputations. No false unity screens! The truth is - these dreams, these projects, did not originate in God’s mind - they are the schemes of lying spirits! Some have said. “God told me” when it was not God at all. It was a lying spirit sent to deceive. We have been duped, manipulated. God has just begun the final shaking! He is going to let the whole world know that He is not in the entertainment business. He does not permit evangelists to portray Him before the world as a hard taskmaster who kills His bondservants over lack of cash. It’s all over! It’s all coming down! What survives the exposures will fall in the economic crunch.
We have evangelists today who would have charged into the temple to rebuke Jesus for carrying a whip and for calling money-mad religious leaders thieves. They would rally their forces in the name of unity and say to our Lord “Don’t judge! Mercy! Compassion!” How horrifying to them to hear those harsh words - “You have turned my house into a den of thieves!” But why - oh why - do we not have as much concern about the honor of Christ as we do for the reputations of our preachers? Why are so many trying to screen “brothers” from the righteous rod of the Lord, when that very rod is their only salvation.
This is the source of the final persecution of a holy remnant. Not the Communists, or the humanists, or the liberals, or the secular press! Satan will use a backslidden, lust-riddled, man-centered, religious union to persecute those who deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Christ in absolute submission to His will.
I ask you - are you discerning these times? Are you sitting back grieving over the sins of the famous, or are you judging you own sins before His holiness? Are you willing to judge righteous judgment and take a bold stand in defense of the honor of His name? Are you prepared to walk alone if necessary to bear the reproach of a separated walk of holiness? Do you still send money to ministries and man-made empires which are coming under God’s holy judgment? Oh, how we need discernment!
The bride of Christ will come forth out of great persecution - victorious, without spot or wrinkle! Now is the time to weep between the porch and the altar - to mourn for sin - to humble ourselves and seek the true Word of God. To live our life unto the Almighty God, perpare ourselves for spiritual warfare, and equip ourselves with the message of hope to this world, no matter the cost.
Are you up for it? Just a hint, He wants it all. You willing to give it? Or are we going to continue to play church?
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