Called to speak truth to rebels

Posted on by Pam Larson

Think about how would you react if you applied to be a missionary and the missions agency told you:

You are going  to a very tough, hard place.  This people group is rebellious and difficult.  In fact, they have been double-crossing God all along.  They are stubborn and offensively bold and shameless in their sin.  But you are being sent to speak God’s words.  Whether they pay attention or not.  Whether they listen or not, they will know that there is something different about you.  Don’t be afraid, of their words or their nasty stares.  Keep speaking God’s truth, even if it appears they don’t care or are hostile toward you.

We find just such advice given to Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 2, we find God’s words to Ezekiel when he called him to go and speak to Israel.  I was struck by the bluntness of the call and its relevance for today’s world.  We are called to speak God’s truth, to share the Good News, whether people accept that Word or not.  We may be jeered and ridiculed.  But that is nothing new.  Ezekiel faced the same kind of rebellion and God clearly told him to not be afraid but to keep speaking.

Would you be willing to go, considering the cost? John Piper wrote:

there are only three kinds of people: goers, senders, and the disobedient. It’s not God’s will for everyone to be a “goer.” Only some are called to go out for the sake of the name to a foreign culture (e.g., Mark 5:18–19).

Those who are not called to go out for the sake of the name are called to stay for the sake of the name, to be salt and light right where God has placed them, and to join others in sending those who are called to be cross-cultural missionaries.

In God’s eyes both the goers and the senders are crucial. There are no first and second class Christians in God’s hierarchy of values. Together the goers and the senders are “fellow-workers with the truth” (3 John 8).

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3 thoughts on “Called to speak truth to rebels”

  2. DID GOD MISSPEAK WHEN HE SPOKE ABOUT WATER BAPTISM? BY STEVE FINNELL

    2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God….(NKJV)

    There are many who view water baptism as non-essential in becoming saved from the penalty of sin.

    Is water baptism essential for salvation or did God misspeak?

    Colossians 2:11-13 …by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, (NKJV)

    Did God misspeak when He said you were dead in your trespasses before you were buried in baptism?

    Did God misspeak when He said through faith and baptism our trespasses were forgiven?

    Ephesians 5:25-27 …just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. (NKJV)

    Did God misspeak when He said Jesus sanctified, cleansed, and made the church holy and without blemish with the washing of water by the word?

    Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.(NKJV)

    Did God misspeak when He said we should walk in newness of life after being buried in baptism? If baptism is not essential then why not walk in a new life before being baptized in water?

    Romans 6:6 know this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (NKJV)

    Did God misspeak when He said our old sinful nature was done away with when we were buried with Christ in baptism?

    Was our sinful natured destroyed before baptism? No, it was not.

    Before water baptism we were slaves to sin.

    Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved..(NKJV)

    Did God misspeak when He said believe and be baptized in order to be saved?

    Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…..(NKJV)

    Did God misspeak when He said repent and be immersed in water in order to have your sins forgiven?

    Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ (NKJV)

    Did God misspeak when He told Saul to be baptized in water to wash away his sins?

    1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (NKJV)

    Did God misspeak when He said baptism now saves us?

    Galatians 3:26-27……27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (NKJV)

    Did God misspeak when He said believers in Christ are baptized into Christ?

    Every word Of Scripture come from God the Father.

    Has God misspoken concerning water baptism and salvation or has man misunderstood, rejected, or ignored God’s teaching.

    Is it possible that men reject God’s teaching about water baptism due to their own pride? No one likes admitting they are wrong.

    Satan was expelled from heaven because of his pride.

    YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com

  3. Water baptism is a picture of baptism in the Spirit/being born again/becoming a Christian. To claim it is essential for the salvation which precedes it is to totally wrong

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