Let's Play Ball April 24-09
MATTHEW 10:33 "But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
There is this idea floating around these days, especially here in America, that Christians should be undercover.
There is no reason for this, especially here, where we haven't really been persecuted.
Not really, not like so many of our brothers, and sisters are in other countries.
Right now, there are people being imprisoned, and killed, because of their stand for Christ.
When faced with the choice, denounce Jesus, or suffer, or even die, they refuse to do it.
How many of us would make the same decision, if faced with that?
It is easy for us to sit here, in our comfort, and safety, and say, “absolutely, I'd lay my life down for God, no problem.”
But, do we really know?
Do we really know for sure?
I honestly believe that there is coming a time, right here in the USA, that Christians, true sold out Christians, will be seriously persecuted.
For some reason, a lot of church going Christians, think that the end times, and all the stuff that goes with it, will happen somewhere else, and not here.
After all, we are intelligent, and educated.
We are way to sophisticated for silly junk like that.
Oh, are we?
Look at what has been happening, right here in the States over the last few years.
Tell the Catholics in San Francisco that there will never come a time when their churches will be broken into, and the worshippers threatened.
They will tell you, that you haven't a clue what is going on.
Look at what has taken place, just in the last 3 months.
Don't be an ostrich.
Sticking your head in the sand, isn't going to change anything, or save you.
Besides, ostriches don't do that anyway.
Our liberal government has set its sights on the church.
If you don't believe this, you need to look at some of the bills that are being passed right now.
I cannot believe the things that are going down.
The day is coming, when us true Christians, true followers of Christ, are going to find ourselves under suspicion from our own government.
I haven't ever been a conspiracy kind of a person, or a survivalist.
But because I take a stand against abortion, and believe that God's word is higher than mans, that sin is still sin, wrong is wrong, and right is right, I will be labeled as a right wing fanatic, or extremist.
Ok, label me then, because I refuse to bow down to man.
The 3 Hebrew boys, in the book of Daniel, refused to bow down to the king.
Look at what they said.
DANIEL 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.
17 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
I love verse 18, "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
I don't really care if God saves me, or not.
The point is here, old king boy, that I'm not bowing down to you, or any other person, or false god.
Go ahead, throw me into the fire.
If my God saves me, cool, but if He doesn't, no problem.
I'll just go home with a martyr's reward.
Make my day punk!
Are we ready to say that?
Life isn't always going to be easy, and we have no guarantee that we won't have to lay our lives down for Christ.
In fact, if you read enough of the Bible, it becomes fairly obvious that a lot of people will have to sacrifice their very lives.
Look at what is said about the real champions of God.
REVELATION 12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.
Are we willing to do that?
If push comes to shove, what side are we going to be on?
A lot of the so-called Christian music these days talks about love, but if you didn't know it was being played on a Christian radio station, you would have no idea that they are supposed to be singing to, and about God.
You'd think they were singing to a human lover.
Folks, this is a very sad state of affairs.
When you can't tell a Christian song from a worldly one.
I'm not talking about music, or the style, I'm talking about the words, and the meaning.
Why are we soft soaping the gospel?
Why are we wrapping it in kid gloves?
Why are so many artists afraid to stand up, and be counted with the saints?
Here is a quote from the Davis Book of Deep and Weighty Sayings.
If you aren't counted with the Saints, you will be counted with the Ain'ts.
I don't want to be an Ain't!
My Nephew, Matthew West's latest song says that he doesn't want to just go through the motions.
I don't either, but how many self-proclaimed Christians, are doing just that?
Lots.
My goal today, isn't to pound anyone, nor is it to shame, or embarrass you, but a line is being drawn in the sand, and we all have a choice which side we will be on.
God has already picked you to be on His team, but are you going to really join it, or stand around feeling sorry for yourself, and end up on the losing team?
I was always last to be picked for a neighborhood game.
Nobody really wanted the fat blind kid, and who can blame them.
However, I had an ace in the hole.
I had a big brother, who was smarter, bigger, and much more talented than the rest of the kids, so I always knew I'd be on a team, and I'd play too.
Plus, we'd always win too.
So there!
Listen, if you join God's team, when He calls you, when He picks you out of the crowd, you are going to win.
It is a done deal.
He is the big brother, and your team can't lose.
Our team can't lose!
Don't try to straddle the fence, because you can't.
If you are on the fence, you aren't on the team.
Get off the fence, and into the dugout.
Join the huddle.
You may even end up hitting a homerun, or scoring a touchdown.
It doesn't really matter, just jump in, and be part of the team.
Let's pray.