Video Talk
Context: Jesus Christ called together his twelve disciples.
He sent them out to the lost sheep of Israel, but not to the Gentiles and not
to the Samaritans at that time. And he instructed them to do much of what he
did during his time of ministry on the earth, which was to heal the sick, to
raise the dead, and to cast out demons, etc. And he told them that he was
sending them out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so they were to be wise as
serpents and innocent as doves. And he told them that they would be persecuted.
Matthew 10:21-22 ESV
“Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Later on down in this passage of Scripture (vv. 34-39) Jesus
taught basically that he did not come to bring peace to the earth. He came to
bring peace to the individual hearts of those who trust in him as Lord and as
Savior, but his mission was not world peace. He came to bring a sword, and that
sword truly is the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, the gospel, which does
turn family members against one another. For when one believes in Jesus with
genuine faith and another does not it, the nonbeliever may turn against the
believer, in many different ways, including some things mentioned here.
And then with regard to this last sentence here in v. 22,
what Jesus said in vv. 34-39 also fits, for he said that if we love our family
members more, meaning we give preference to them over our Lord Jesus, then we
are not worthy of him. And if we don’t take our cross and follow him in
obedience, meaning if we don’t die daily to sin and to self and follow him in
obedience (see Luke 9:23-26), we are not worthy of him. For if we hold on to
our lives of sin, we will lose them for eternity. But if we die to sin and to
self and follow Jesus in obedience, then we have life in Christ for eternity.
So, a mere profession of faith in Jesus Christ does not
secure heaven for us when we die. We must die with Christ to sin and deny self
and follow Jesus in obedience to him and to his commands (New Covenant). And we
must walk according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh, in
practice. Sin must not be our practice, for if it is, and if righteousness and
the forsaking of our sins and walking in obedience to our Lord are not what we
practice, then we do not have eternal life with God. And if we do not continue
in Christ until the very end, we will not be saved in the end.
Matthew 10:26-28 ESV
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Now, going back to the subject of persecution, those of us
who are following the Lord in obedience and in walks of righteousness, and who
are daily dying to sin and denying self are going to be persecuted, especially
if we are sharing the gospel of our salvation with others and if we are refuting
Satan’s lies. And that persecution may come from family members, and it may
come from others who profess faith in Jesus Christ, too. But we are not to fear
what others will do to us or say about us, but we are to honor God with our
lives and keep on speaking the truth for all to hear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gei0vMsI8yA
If That Isn’t Love
By Dottie Rambo
He left the splendor of heaven
Knowing His destiny
Was the lonely hill of Golgotha
There to lay down His life for me
And if that isn't love
Then the ocean is dry
There's no stars in the sky
And the little sparrows can't fly
Yeah if that isn't love
Then heaven's a myth
There's no feeling like this
If that isn't love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ID9X5ovox0
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