Encouragement

Contend For The Faith

by Lawrence Walkup 
06/10/14
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CONTEND FOR THE FAITH

by

Lawrence Walkup

The faith has once and for all been entrusted to the saints. Now we are to contend for it (Jude 1:3). Matt. 15:1 says: 'Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked....' Jesus replied in verses 3-11. Verse 12 says: 'Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" What was Jesus thinking? Doesn't he know about political correctness? Doesn't he know that we're all to be walking on egg shells so as not to offend anyone? Not only did he offend, but he offended them greatly, and it eventually got him killed. And in those offensive remarks he did not sin once. What does that tell you? It tells me that if God intentionally offends someone, then there is a time and a place when people need to be offended. They need to be put in their place.

Have you ever wondered why Christianity is the most hated religion in the world? Actually Christianity is not a religion. All the others are religions, but Christianity is the truth. There are aspects of Christianity that make it religious, because there are religious people in Christianity. This is why God gave us the Bible. We are to read it for ourselves and not depend upon someone else telling us the meaning, which Christians easily get into the habit of doing (1 John 2:26-27). Christianity comes from Christ. Christ is the truth; and he is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Jesus himself eliminated all the religions of the world with that statement. Yea, that makes a few people mad..to say the least. Satan and his horde are working through all the religions of the world to discredit Christianity, because he knows it holds the truth. He's especially got the most violent religions all riled up. Jesus is such a threat. The truth is such a threat. The light exposes darkness, and men love darkness. Don't just like it, but love it (John3:19). They are so afraid that their evil deeds will be exposed (vs. 20).

Two thousand years ago the body of Christ was Jesus himself. Today his body are all those who occupy his life. That life is the same today as it was back then (Heb. 13:8). He lives inside of us, and we can get in his way if we choose to. We need to let him live through us, simply by trusting that he will. We need to let him function as he functions. He doesn't go out looking for trouble; but when trouble comes looking for him, he will take it on. We who are the body of Christ have the truth. We have all the essential answers of life; we are the ones that have the words of eternal life (John 6:68), while the lost still flounder about with their theories, because they refuse to believe.

Even within our own Country which was founded on Christianity, Christians are being labeled by their own government as domestic terrorists. I guess that means because we still believe in a book of myths we are prohibiting the natural progression of things. Actually, according to 11 Thess. 2:7, that is exactly what we are doing. Our presence (the church) on this earth is prohibiting lawlessness from completely taking over until we (the church) are taken out of the way.

What is this place going to be like when the Holy Spirit is gone? The blind lost should be thanking us. We need to turn the tables folks. We need to put them on the defensive instead of us always being on the defensive. I'm really sick and tired of hearing Christians defend their Christianity by coming across as having to apologize for even being a Christian. And when I say them, I'm talking about those who are on the offense, and are coming after us. I'm talking about the ones that are specifically targeting Christians. Those are the ones that need to be put in their place. Jesus wasn't afraid to take them on, and we shouldn't be either.

Jesus our example, gave us an example of how we are to act. It was always God the Father who was working through him (John 5:17-20; 10:38; 14:9-11). Jesus was showing us how to be dependent by his example of being dependent. Just as the Father lived in him, now Jesus lives in us. Just as Jesus depended upon the one who lived in him , so do we now depend upon the one who lives in us. Jesus who is full of grace and truth, spoke with authority and confidence.

The only thing that is going to get in your way when you take on the Christian haters is yourself. Yea, now your're starting to get the picture. You're not going to take on the Christian haters....Jesus is. The same Jesus who took on the Pharisees, is the Jesus who will take on the Christian haters of today. Get out of his way, and be amazed at what comes out of your mouth. Relax, do not be overcome with fear, but let perfect love who lives in you cast out the fear. Jesus is alive and well and living through us. Let him through you contend for the faith.