A Crucified Life - - Knows Rejection

 

    Romans 10:16

But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, "LORD, who has believed our Message?"

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 189

Message: inner (spiritual) hearing that goes with receiving faith from God; spiritual hearing (discerning God's voice)

From the Greek word 'akoé' (pronounced ak-o-ay'): instruction - the preaching of the gospel.

1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps.

1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

    Not everyone will be receptive to the teachings of the gospel. The newly saved Christian needs to understand this concept just as clearly as the longer saved Christian. As has been said before, "This is not a bed of roses we walk on. This is no easy path which we have chosen to walk." 

    Many will come against us as they came against Jesus. He even tells us so. Therefore, we should not be surprised when we are rejected for what we believe. We should actually be joyful. (Acts 5:41)

    When we preach the gospel, the first thing we do is pick up our cross. The cross is heavy and awkward to carry, but it is absolutely necessary if we want to follow Christ. As He was helped to carry His cross, so He will help us. 

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.

    When we bring the good news of God's saving grace to someone, we need to be prepared in our hearts, our minds and our bodies to be attacked for what we believe and are speaking. 

 1 Peter 3:14-16

    Don't be shocked, be prepared to answer every question. Arm ourselves with the Word of God by studying it, praying it and praying over it. Always be ready to give an answer. Don't worry about it trying to memorize it. What we learn is not always at the top of our thoughts, but the Spirit draws it up out of us, as a body draws water out of a well. 

    As Christ was rejected, so, too, will His followers, His Christians. We read this in the parable of the wicked tenants (Matthew 21:33-46). First he sent his trusted servants. But they were rejected and killed. Then he sent a larger group of servants, who were also rejected and killed. Then he sent his son; but his son, too, was rejected and killed. 

    This is God sending out His prophets, whom the people rejected and killed because they refused to obey the Word which the prophets of God had brought. Then God sent His Son. But the people to whom the Son was sent, also rejected the message and killed the Son. 

    But the Son could not be kept down. He rose! He is risen! He is the living Word of God being breathed into every believer. He is our Hope of Salvation! Our Joy and Rejoicing!  He is the Light in the darkness, the shining Way to forgiveness and the redeeming grace of God the Father. 

    You think you've suffered already? Have you been rejected to the point of death? and persevered? I know I haven't. I've been ignored. I've been severed from family attachments. Friends have dropped me. I've been kicked and beaten for the Name of Christ. I'm still here. 

     However, the day is coming, and is already on the horizon, when taking a stand for the gospel of Christ will cost us our lives. Mere physical strength will not be enough to withstand the onslaught of hate coming our way.

    We need to be prayed up, filled up and studied up.  

BELIEVE THE MESSAGE 

I Know Whom I Have Believed - Redeemer Church of The Shoals

God Be Merciful to Me - Jars of Clay

In Christ Alone - Adrienne Liesching

Greater Is The Blood - Mark & Sarah Tillman

Can't Keep A Good Man Down - Newsong

Lose My Soul - TobyMac

Rise Again - Dallas Holm

Grace Wins - Matthew West

Glorious Day - Casting Crowns 

    

    

Whose Report Will You Believe?

Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? Isaiah 53:1

This entire chapter of Isaiah 53 regards the crucifixion and burial of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Messiah who was to come and deliver all of Israel: Jacob’s seed, the individual and God’s people, the nation as a whole. 

Report: to announce, proclaim, carry and deliver a message of what one has heard, to announce, to speak of what one has seen and observed.

We who are God’s people are here to tell you that the Messiah has come! It is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! See the words in Isaiah 53 and look to the John 19 for confirmation. See and believe the words of Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23. 

But it does not end there! John 20, Matthew 28, Mark 16 and Luke 24 all speak of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, hell and the grave! That is amazing news to proclaim, indeed! And,so, we do. As the angels proclaimed the birth of Christ to the shepherds, we speak the truth of His death on the cross, whose blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We tell of the story of Jesus who came to die for us because nothing we do will ever make us right with God. 

We who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord carry within us the message of  salvation through the blood that was shed by Him on the cross at Calvary. We deliver the message of hope and eternal life through the His resurrection. Because He became sin for us, having the penalty of sin upon Him, He was sent to hell to fight and defeat the devil once and for all. He returned to the grave with the keys of death, hell and the grave in his mighty hand. 

God raised His only begotten Son from the tomb by rolling away the stone and Jesus stepped out into the garden, declaring victory over sin and death, becoming our Hope of Eternal Life through Him! WooHoo! That’s something to get excited about! 

Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Romans 10:8-13 [8] But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: [9] that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

[11] It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” [12] For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, [13]for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Acts 2:38, 39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost…

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.