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Tuesday, February
26, 2008
Fantasy Island
1 Corinthians 4:11-14 Even unto this
present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted,
and have no certain dwellingplace; (12) And labour, working with our own
hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: (13) Being
defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the
offscouring of all things unto this day. (14) I write not these things to
shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. (KJV)
Remember the TV program Fantasy Island
where they fly into the island with a problem and leave with the solution?
They make it look so easy; and how they look up to the people that provide
the solutions and put them on pedestals. Well today we still have re-runs
of that program which are displayed by many false teachers of the gospel of
Christ who make ministry work look so glamorous and exciting; how well
thought of they are in the community and looked up to as leaders and
pillars. With their three piece suits and two bit doctrines they try to
compare themselves with those that God has used before, but as one can see
from the above verses the gap between reality and fantasy is huge. If you
think you want to be like Paul, Peter or some of the other people God has
used then you need to look at what I will call the fine print; because for many
ear tickling preachers it seems they have left this part out or do their
best to hide the true fact that the closer one gets to the Lord the more
they truly will endure suffering on His behalf. It would be nice if all one
had to do is write of the blessings of God and all the wonderful things
that accompany them, but I would be negligent in presenting the truth, the
things that don’t tickle the ear but warn the heart of the reality of those
that chose to be led of the Spirit.
Philippians 1:27-30 Only let your
conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come
and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand
fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the
gospel; (28) And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them
an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
(29) For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe
on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (30) Having the same conflict
which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. (KJV)
The more one is led of the Spirit the
more it contradicts those that are led of the flesh, and to them the
doctrine of Christ seems foolish and a waste of time. The warning Paul was
giving to the people was not only to believe in Christ but also there would
be suffering for His sake to those that speak on His behalf. Although Paul
was used of God to write a good portion of the epistles if you read through
His accounts you will see there was plenty of conflict and opposition along
the way. So don’t be discouraged if you encounter these things also because
it doesn’t mean you did something wrong but rather just the opposite. I see
a lot of these do gooders who claim to be of God, who write and sell their
books, who preach a life of prosperity living the American dream in the
name of God yet they are selling their souls for a buck (money). Many would
like to only tell the people what they want to hear instead of what they
need; the truth that will set them free indeed. So before you choose to
enter the ministry based on these false illusions, the reality is that the
only reason many false teachers sell this stuff is because they are not a
threat to the enemy but rather an asset to him; settling for the rewards of
this realm and not for an eternal reward of inheritance. Christian brothers
and sisters, know there will be opposition but also take comfort in the
fact that it is because you are doing what is right in the sight of the
Lord and which is why it will rub man the wrong way and cause the conflict.
1 Peter 4:15-19 But let none of you
suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in
other men's matters. (16) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not
be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (17) For the time is
come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at
us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (18) And
if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner
appear? (19) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God
commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful
Creator. (KJV)
We have many false prophets out and about
that the Lord warned us of that bring false doctrines and rob the people of
the truth. They portray a people pleasing life of a minister as being
someone that is looked up to and revered by many, which in reality is
nothing more than seeking the honor of man rather than that of God. If you
suffer as a Christian don’t be ashamed even if it is by other so called
Christians that would rather water down the truth and not deal with the
reality of those that truly choose to follow the leading of the Spirit.
Again don’t think it so strange concerning the fiery trials that come your
way because the more you choose to live the truth and speak it the more
those darts will be hurled your way. And don’t be surprised if you end up
taking some friendly fire from those that claim to be of God, false
brethren that smile to your face and stab you in the back.
2 Timothy 3:10-15 But thou hast fully
known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,
patience, (11) Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at
Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the
Lord delivered me. (12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution. (13) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse
and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (14) But continue thou in the
things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom
thou hast learned them; (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus. (KJV)
The reason the righteous are scarcely
saved is because evil men and seducers are getting worse and worse with
their deceptions and lies, and the true Christians do not take the time in
the word of God for themselves to know the difference but rather get caught
up in them. The reason Paul suffered so much is because of the doctrine of
Christ he taught and preached as well as lived, which is why there was so
much opposition. That is why we are to continue in the faith grounded and
settled and not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which is Christ in
you, His leading and guiding of the Spirit. We see the encouragement in
verse 14, to continue in these things despite the sufferings and
persecutions because you know the truth and that is why you are suffering,
not because you did something wrong.
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of
all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
(KJV)
Still interested in ministry work? Then
time for a reality check. If you think you are going to be revered and
highly thought of in the community, think again. If you wish to be highly
thought of and a pillar in God’s community then proceed forward. Those that
portray a one sided version of the ministry are living in a fantasy world
on an island located somewhere in the dead sea and will find their program
cancelled.
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