Just because someone acts "nice," and seem to have it all together doesn't mean that they're sent by God, and is correctly fulfilling their calling. By that same token, just because someone delivers an unpopular message, and may seem a bit eccentric (i.e. weird) doesn't mean that they're not sent by God, or that they're mishandling their assignment. Either can be true or not. In both situations, discernment is required. What I know is this, based on scriptural evidence, many of God's prophets would be considered weird, in this day and age. Yet, they executed the terms of their assignments according to God's instructions.
2 Tim. 4:1-4, “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
Nazareth, Jesus's hometown, might have been justified in accusing Him of witchcraft, labeling Him a false prophet, and calling Him Beelzebub (evil) except for the evidential fact that other cities were getting the miracles that they so desperately desired. Though they had dishonored Him, the fact that Jesus was in their midst misled them to believe that they were entitled to reward from Him. Therefore, they sought to control His ministry, "Physician, heal thyself," (i.e. do for your own hometown first). Perhaps it was just easier for Nazareth to try and justify her behavior by pointing the finger at God's servant, Jesus, rather than admit that they had forfeited their own blessing by dishonoring Him. I often wondered how Nazareth thought she could get the blessing by throwing Jesus over a cliff; guess if they couldn't have it, they didn't want any other city to have it either. Idol of jealousy.
While sporting events are by no means miracles, the same scenario has been playing out in my assignment for the almost three and a half years that I have been back in my hometown.
God made this city's assignment very easy. Simply, believe. Had they believed, they would've honored both messenger and message and would not have cast me out in the first place. Yet, even after the casting out, part of the shepherds' assignment was rescue and restore God's inheritance. Please understand, I am not complaining per sé, I am simply acknowledging the accuracy of God's Word. For had my hometown accepted and honored me, that would've meant that Jesus had lied. He did not lie: Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”
2 Tim. 4:1-4, “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
Nazareth, Jesus's hometown, might have been justified in accusing Him of witchcraft, labeling Him a false prophet, and calling Him Beelzebub (evil) except for the evidential fact that other cities were getting the miracles that they so desperately desired. Though they had dishonored Him, the fact that Jesus was in their midst misled them to believe that they were entitled to reward from Him. Therefore, they sought to control His ministry, "Physician, heal thyself," (i.e. do for your own hometown first). Perhaps it was just easier for Nazareth to try and justify her behavior by pointing the finger at God's servant, Jesus, rather than admit that they had forfeited their own blessing by dishonoring Him. I often wondered how Nazareth thought she could get the blessing by throwing Jesus over a cliff; guess if they couldn't have it, they didn't want any other city to have it either. Idol of jealousy.
While sporting events are by no means miracles, the same scenario has been playing out in my assignment for the almost three and a half years that I have been back in my hometown.
God made this city's assignment very easy. Simply, believe. Had they believed, they would've honored both messenger and message and would not have cast me out in the first place. Yet, even after the casting out, part of the shepherds' assignment was rescue and restore God's inheritance. Please understand, I am not complaining per sé, I am simply acknowledging the accuracy of God's Word. For had my hometown accepted and honored me, that would've meant that Jesus had lied. He did not lie: Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”
DISCERN THE TIMES
