As you continue to press towards God in Christ Jesus, you will continue to have to let people have their opinion of you change and not fight back. When we fight against those who call us out, we allow them to have a reason to hate us. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth", (Romans 8:33). When God uses us to move in the earth and people take an offense the worst thing we can do is fight back. When we fight back, we give the person and spirit controlling them a way out. See the fight that they are facing is with the Lord, not us!!! When we get in our feelings and lash back we become the one that they take offense to and not the Spirit of the Lord. Now, they will have offense with us, but our job is to insure that it is not because of anything we have said or done outside of the Will of our Father. The main argument they will have is, "Who has given you the authority to do the things you are doing or say the things you are saying? We have to respond just as our Savior did.
Matthew 21:
The Authority of Jesus Questioned
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
The religious people of Jesus’ day are the same in this day and age. They have to challenge the messenger because they know they cannot challenge the source of the message!!! The reason why man will not accept the word of God that comes from His children is because they know if they acknowledge this word as being from God they must respond properly to it!!! People want to look righteous but not actually go through the process of sanctification. It will cost them more than they are willing to give up, so they must seek to attack and extinguish the messenger. By fighting back out of our flesh we give people the ability to turn the offense from the source of God, and rightly place it on us. When Jesus challenged the counsel of Jews and asked them why they never arrested Him in the open temple while he was teaching, the truth was because they had no charge. Even Pilate saw that there was no real charge laid to Jesus and tried to let him go numerous times. Be not worried or dismayed when they talk, for this is the call upon your life!!! Be the light in the midst of the darkness, the least amongst all, and your treasure will be great from the Father who sees your heart and your good works. Do not faint!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying the same persecutions as your Savior Jesus Christ did on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 13
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 16
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Romans 8
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
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