To Deny Christ Before Men
Hi Mike,
How are you? Mike, I need some advice (like always). When I translate your articles I often come to words like the following:“Nebuchadnezzar” is any local orthodox minister, and “the golden image” is all the “idols of the heart” created and worshiped by your local ‘Nebuchadnezzar.’ What is the answer to all such pressure put upon God’s elect: “Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
I understand that it is this serious… it even brought a little smile on my face because it is so true, but I also know that our local ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ will not appreciate these kind of words, nor will the elders which surround the minister. Personally I have no problem translating this precisely as you put it, but maybe you agree with me that it is a bit provoking. We both know that they will not see nor agree if God will not give them eyes to see… they don’t see or understand because God does not give them eyes to see and understand.
Is it nessecary to bring this in this way? (I think it is because God did not let that happen to Sadrach, Mesach and Abednego for us not to use that admonition).
I ask you this not because I’m scared of the consequences which these words will bring me… I understood that very shortly after God opened my eyes. But talking like this will push everybody away and create more distance…. and yet… maybe that is exactly what is nessecary… create distance between the called and the chosen, and put it so clearly that God can use it (because it is His words) to make other chosen people see.
You understand I’m having a bit of a struggle with this.Your brother in Christ,
R____
Hi R____,
I understand your struggle and your question, but you have answered your own question:
That is exactly what is necessary… create distance between the called and the chosen, and put it so clear that God can use it (because it is His words) to make other chosen people see.”
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego “were not careful” and neither should we act as if we are ‘walking on eggs’ or as if we are fearful of what will be Nebuchadnezzar’s response. Anyone who comes to iswasandwillbe. com is sent there by the Lord Himself, and He would have us to simply remain faithful to His Word with no fear of how those words will affect the hearer. I used to refrain from speaking about unknown tongues, and most of our conferences were filled with tongues speakers whose litmus test was ‘Does this man have the gifts of the spirit (meaning: Does this man believe in speaking in tongues?). Once I confronted this false doctrine and posted answers to questions about that subject, the numbers on the weekly counter dropped by 50%, but that was exactly what the Lord wanted, and that is what I should have done to begin with. Anything less is denying Christ.
We are not trying to start anything, but we are being plainly told ‘Do not be careful to answer’ those who come to us with false doctrines and idols of their hearts.
My prayers are with you because I know what is the result of being faithful to the Word of God. Here is our calling.
Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes [ shall be] they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Not one word of that is designed to draw large crowds of disciples. Every word of it is designed to drive away large crowds of disciples and to separate the many called from the few chosen. If we fail to stand for this doctrine and prefer the ‘Christ came to bring peace on earth’ false doctrine, we are doing nothing less than “denying Christ before men.”
My prayers are with you. God bless you as you stand true to Him and His Word.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike >
Other related posts
- Words Of Encouragement (September 4, 2008)
- Will There Be An Actual Elijah Before the Return of Christ? (October 7, 2011)
- Who Does Jacob Foreshadow? (November 14, 2017)
- What Is A Disciple? (July 24, 2007)
- To Deny Christ Before Men (March 25, 2009)
- The Two Witnesses (August 10, 2005)
- The Meaning of Fornication (October 5, 2005)
- The Book of Kings - 1Ki 2:34-46 Only Rebel not ye Against the Lord (August 6, 2021)
- The Book of Jeremiah - Jer 26:1-12 This Man is Worthy to Die (December 18, 2021)
- Teacher's Choice - "Except the LORD Build the House" - Part 3 (Underpinning) (April 15, 2019)
- Study of the Book of Kings - 2Ki 22:1-20 "Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD" (April 6, 2023)
- Study of the Book of Kings - 2Ki 18:1-37 "In what are you placing your hope?" - Part 1 (2Ki 18:1-12) (February 2, 2023)
- Study of the Book of Kings - 2Ki 13:14-25 "For the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands" (1Sa 1 (December 8, 2022)
- Study of the Book of Judges - Jdg 16:17-31 So Samson Killed More People in his Death Than in his Life (August 2, 2021)
- Studies In Psalms - Psa 97:1-12 "Rejoice In the Lord, Ye Righteous..." (November 18, 2017)
- Studies In Psalms - Psa 92:1-15 Part 1 "Bless The Lord..." (September 7, 2017)
- Revelation 3:14-18 (March 21, 2009)
- Revelation 1:5 - Part 1 (June 20, 2008)
- Revelation 13:10-13 (August 19, 2010)
- Psalms 76:5-7 "Dost Thou Not Judge and Avenge Our Blood..." - Part 2 (August 30, 2016)
- Prophecy of Isaiah - Isa 65:1-6 I am Found of Them That Sought me Not (August 29, 2020)
- Prophecy of Isaiah - Isa 11:9-16 He Shall Set Up An Ensign For The Nations (July 1, 2017)
- Gospels in Harmony - No One Knows That Day and Hour (August 25, 2021)
- Gospels in Harmony - Jesus is Building a House (March 10, 2021)
- Exodus 6:1-30 How Then Shall Pharaoh Hear Me, Who am of Uncircumcised Lips? (April 18, 2022)
- Do We Chasten Our Enemies? (October 22, 2007)
- Coming Out of Babylon (February 7, 2008)
- Come Out Of Her My People (September 4, 2008)
- Clarification on Whether it is Wrong to Gather with Family and Friends on Holidays (April 5, 2024)
- Can The World Be Unaware It Hates Us? (April 14, 2009)
- Book of Jeremiah - Jer 35:1-19 The Obedience of the Rechabites (April 9, 2022)
- Bearing The Infirmities Of The Weak 2010 (May 25, 2010)
- Awesome Hands - part 12: "Put thy hand under my thigh" (September 15, 2012)
- Acts 6:1-15 They Were not Able to Resist the Wisdom and the Spirit by Which He Spake (January 15, 2023)