1Peter 4:14
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
We really don't need to marvel and it comes as no shock at all - that people despise and hate those that stand for Jesus. In fact, if you desire to test this truth, why don't you go ahead and head on over to University of Florida campus for those here in Gainesville; walk into Turlington square and hold up a sign with simply the name of Jesus etched on it - or begin to speak the scriptures to those passing by in the same location and you'll quickly realize how hostile most are to those that stand up for Jesus. Even if you are serving others or attending to basic needs such as providing food or clothing, if you're out doing these things in the name of Jesus alone - you can go ahead an plan on experiencing some reproach - just as Peter is encouraging the body of believers about in 1 Peter chapter 4. Interestingly enough, one of The University Of Florida's own, Tim Tebow, continues to polarize and divide as he promotes Jesus as a member of the NFL's Denver Broncos.
This same young man, who while here in Gainesville at UF, sported John 3:16 and a host of other biblical scriptures on his eye black during football games can serve us as an object lesson in reference to 1 Peter 4:14. Before we move forward, please understand this; this gentleman is not an object lesson because we support The University of Florida, Football, The Denver Broncos, The Tebow family or even Tebow himself - We acknowledge as well that Tebow or any other NFL player on the national stage has willingly opened themselves up for critique of their abilities and execution of their craft on the field, when they signed on for the job - those things are all a given. This young man is an object lesson for the simple reason that heathens, atheists, agnostics, gainsayers and those with the spirit of antichrist(1 John 4:3) passionately hate his pointing and directing people to serve Jesus.
The Word of God is amazing though. For here in the text above we see that when we are reproached and vilified for serving Jesus Christ we can abide in joy because of a powerful reason. The scripture declares that the spirit of glory and of God rests upon our lives. This is what we came online to encourage believers about today Church. When a believer begins to be called every name in the book and verbally or even physically accosted and hated for the express purpose of having been one boldly declaring The Lordship of Jesus Christ then the praise ought to begin right there. What is greater than the epithets of hate being thrown that believer's way is the power of the spirit of glory and of God working in that believer's life! In fact the glory of God is so powerful in that believer's life that those that are cursing the life of that believer will learn - just like the Egyptians did regarding the people of Israel so many thousands of years ago - That The Lord is the one true God and his glory can be seen in the lives of those who serve him (Exodus 7:4-5)!
Monday, November 21, 2011
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