"Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. And Herod said, "I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see Him."
Good Morning beloved,
We are as always pleased to welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, it is both an honor and a privilege to have you here with us today this Lord's Day. It is always such a tremendous blessing to witness the Lord's grace and mercy at work not only in my own life, but in the lives of others, reminding me that Scripture emphasizes that we are a community of redeemed people. I am grateful for your faithful commitment to share God's Word with others, it is continuing to produce amazing results. I humbly ask that you would please continue to pray for this ministry as we continue to work to introduce the Gospel and Jesus Christ to a number of European, Middle-Eastern and Asian countries. We praise God for the significant numbers of people who have already come to faith in Jesus Christ. To God be the glory!
We are incredibly blessed, every time we come together, to give our attention to our Lord and His precious Word. I am delighted to share with you that today is no exception, because it aligns with God's calling in our lives—to deepen our understanding of Him and His commands, so that we might faithfully obey Him. It is the desire of my heart, and I am convinced that any true Christian who is walking in the Spirit desires to become more spiritually mature, more spiritually effective, in order to be all that God wants him or her to be. May I suggest to you that engaging with the Bible, in regular study and participating in close fellowship.
I believe with all of my heart, that if we are going to become all that God wants us to be, we must deal with, some things that might be very uncomfortable to confront, as we look closely at ourselves, because our fallenness, it's so easy to become complacent, even tolerant of our own sin. One of the things, that has really been on my heart, is that I really fear for you as a younger generation of people, in fact, it may be that I fear it more than anything else – except for the fact that you might not really be saved, it that you will become so accustomed to sin, by the behavioral habits you’re forming now in your life, that they will become ingrained, making them very difficult, if not impossible, to break these sinful habits in the future, because they will become so habitual that you may not even recognize them for what they are, SIN.
Statistics suggest that habits formed during our youth can persist as we transition into adulthood, becoming so deeply embedded in our daily lives, that these behaviors become routine, automatic until we're no longer even able to recognize their presence or their damning influence. This is particularly disturbing when these behaviors are sinful, dangerously leading us to Hell. By sinful habits becoming normalized, when we're confronted we instinctively find ourselves defending what has become our "normal" way of life, when we're questioned or challenged. What began as once minor acts of dishonesty, can often gradually escalate into more significant unethical or immoral breaches over time. Furthermore, since the human brain is wired to form habits through a process called "chunking," where repeated actions are grouped together and stored in our "basal ganglia," which is the part of the brain responsible for habit formation. This neurological mechanism can make it exceedingly difficult to break free from established patterns, even when we recognize their presence and negative impact of the sins that nailed Jesus Christ to the cross. The same sins for which our Lord died, and the same sins of which He gave you forgiveness. The sins that you’ve already begun to cultivate as habit.
Since it is the earnest desire of our Lord that we be conformed, molded into the image and likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ, I believe it is absolutely critical that we consistently engage in discussions about holiness, purity, and righteousness, and of course, confront the sin that persists in our lives. In 1 Peter 1:15-16, Peter conveys a profound message: "But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." Similarly, 1 John 2:6, reminds us that if we say we abide in Christ, then, we ought to walk as He walked. And, we know that, He walked without sin. By prioritizing holiness, righteousness and purity, we align our lives more closely with godly principles, which include displaying compassion, acting justly, and loving others selflessly. That is of course, the whole point of sanctification. Holiness is not to be just merely an abstract concept, but a practical pursuit, one that involves our intentional daily decisions about the media we consume, the words we speak, and even the company we keep. In 1 Corinthians 5:6-7, Paul asks, "Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, also was sacrificed." The writer of Hebrews chapter 12, verse 1, says "Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us."
It isn’t difficult for sin to entangle us, sin wields significant power over us. In fact, there are certain sins that are so powerful we battle them all our life, particularly those we have cultivated in our youth. I've come to realize that as long as I'm on this side of heaven, in this earthly existence, I am extremely vulnerable to the sin that's deep within, until my body is free of this unredeemed flesh. I have learned that I must remain vigilant and steadfast, remain focused on the Lord at all times, and that includes having the right associations and making sure that I am consistently in the right environments because sin is always there, though it is not always easily identifiable. I have come to the conclusion, if it doesn't bring honor and glory to God, I don't want any part of it. I don't care how innocent it might appear. Sin is always lurking, hidden beneath the surface, ready to wage war on my mind and my body. If I let my guard down, if I'm not preoccupied with obeying the Holy Spirit, even for a moment, sin will wage war against my soul. There isn’t any magical trick, what it comes down to, is actively seeking Christ by saturating my mind with the Word of God.
Believe me, I've observed the downfall of many men in the ministry, some entertaining lustful desires of the flesh, even after they've delivered a powerful sermon about sin. This is precisely why the Apostle Paul strongly warns in 1 Corinthians 10:11-12, "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have arrived. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall." This warning serves as a profound reminder of the importance of meditating on the Word of God day and night, allowing it to be the guiding light in our lives at all times. Complacency will surely lead to unexpected pitfalls, even those who often appear steadfast in their faith can stumble in their private lives, even as the continue to minister to others. Oh beloved, I encourage you to listen carefully, to hear God's Word well, no one is immune to falling, regardless of their apparent spiritual stature.
I have personally witnessed Satan use those who profess to follow Christ, to tempt those leaders who are often perceived to be paragons of faith and honor, models of integrity and virtue when they least expect it. Statistics from various sources reveal that whatever a man habitually exposes himself to, he will ultimately give himself to. The ever-present dangers of pride are very real, we cannot afford to make peace with the sin our lives.
As I've reiterated many, many times, Satan, seeks to undermine the leadership within the church by targeting those who stand in the pulpit. Because if he can destroy the leadership in the pulpit, he gains a significant stronghold over the church. Where the shepherd goes, the flock is naturally inclined to follow. The more I contemplate the death of Christ, the more I ponder on the crucifixion, reflecting upon what He did for me on that cross, the more I hate the repulsiveness of my own sin that nailed Him to it. I've come to the profound conclusion that as Christians, we do not hate our personal sin enough, even as we express outrage and indignation at the sin of others, lamenting when those around us like Steve Lawson stumble and fall, not a single one of us is above being beguiled by the deceitfulness of sin, seduced by the allure of the sin that has devoured better men and women than you and me. Guard your hearts, guard your hearts, don't be gullible. Use discernment in your associations, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits; the spirit of the antichrist is real, and already in this world, and he's watching and waiting, ready to come for you. (cf. 1 john 4:1, Peter 5:8)
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, we are thankful for Your Word. We are truly grateful to You for reminding us that we cannot stand in our own strength, we can only stand in the strength of the knowledge of the truth, the profound truths that are imparted to us through Scripture. Father, we pray that they will serve as a beacon of hope and wisdom, providing us with the clarity and understanding we need in our daily lives. Lord, break our hearts for the countless examples of those who are precious to us, who also know the truth, and are stumbling, let us come alongside them, standing shoulder to shoulder with our fellow soldiers, holding them up, building them up, restoring them until they can again stand on their own. Lord, grant us the boldness and courage to confront sin, wherever it presents itself, help us lovingly and compassionately remind them who they are in Christ and the importance of living a life aligned with Your will. Lord, we thank You for the reminder of the death of John the Baptist, and all of those who gave their life, fighting to good fight. Lord, we cannot hold on to the very thing which nailed our Lord there, on the cross. We confess we desperately need You, every second of every day, grant us a hatred for sin, not only sin in others, but the sin in our own lives. Father, we pray for those who have accepted the damning lies of Satan, falling prey to false teaching, in desperation to hold onto their sin. Rejecting the clear boundaries of sexual immorality, as revealed in Scripture. May we all run to our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who came to take away not only our sin, but the sins of the world, help us to let go of it and proclaim His precious Name to anyone who will listen. It is in His precious Name we ask and pray these things, we do it for His sake and for Your glory.
Amen.
Today's Message: Seeking Christ Amidst the Confusion
Today, we come to unpack a brief, but very thought-provoking passage from the Gospel of Luke, teeming with so much invaluable Truth to inform us, profound wisdom to instruct us about being confused. For many, being confused in nothing new, throughout history, countless individuals people have been confused about Who Jesus is. Today, many of people are still confused about the true identity of Who Jesus is; tragically some perceive Him as a historical figure, a great teacher, or one of many prophets, while others believe Him to be the Son of God, the Messiah and the Savior of the world. Only those who have the right answer to that question will spend eternity in heaven, the others, those who have the wrong answer will sadly spend eternity in Hell.
We all make countless decisions every day, potentially numbering even into the thousands. According to research, the average person makes approximately 35,000 decisions every day. Some of those decisions are insignificant, requiring minimal thought and often happen subconsciously we can make easily make them without having to consider all possible outcomes, such as what outfit we will decide to wear today; other decisions, while they may seem trivial at first glance, like how to allocate our time and energy, however, they can potentially affect our personal relationships and over all health and well-being, such as choosing to spend an evening working late rather than spending quality time with our families. While working extra hours may provide short-term benefits, such as potential career advancements or much needed financial resources, necessary for meeting our expenses, such as food, clothing and shelter, it can also place a tremendous strain family bonds, affecting our long-term happiness and overall satisfaction with our lives.
By recognizing the potential impact of each decision, no matter how large or small, we can strive to make choices that align with our values and long-term goals. Every decision we make is inherently a decision to not to choose another option; in fact, every decision we have made up until this very moment has significantly contributed to sculpting and influencing our lives. Whether it’s choosing what to eat, deciding where to live, or selecting our career. For example, while choosing a particular career might open doors to specific opportunities, it may simultaneously close off others, such playing a crucial role in the people we meet and bring into our lives, adding layers to our personal relationships, contributing to our personal and spiritual growth, that not only serve to meet our immediate needs but ultimately pave the way toward living a fulfilling and purpose-driven life.
However, I believe there is no decision of greater significance than the profound question presented in our passage today, "Who is this man about whom I hear such things?" It is a question that everyone must answer, in fact, it is a question that cannot be sidestepped or ignored, as it is impossible to avoid. How one endeavors to answer that question will have lasting future implications and carries eternally damning consequences, forever separating them from God. Therefore, as we've been going through the Gospel of Luke, I believe that it becomes very apparent that this defining question is extremely important to Luke.
Back in Gospel of Luke chapter 4:34, Luke demonstrates a compelling moment where even though the people were hesitant, continuously unwilling to acknowledge the obvious conclusion as to Jesus' identity, the demons confession, unable to deny His holiness, brought His true identity into sharp focus, saying "Let us alone! What do we have to do with You, Jesus the Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!" I believe clearly illustrates the blindness of the human heart and the natural man's inability to comprehend spiritual truths. (cf.1 Corinthians 2:14) as well as serves as an undeniable testimony to His sovereignty and the threat He poses to Satan and the kingdom of darkness. I believe it also challenges us look beyond physical and urging us to examine our own
Up until now Herod the tetrarch, a truly wicked and morally bankrupt, shameless man, who indulged every evil desire one could imagine, like his infamous father before him, Herod the Great, was not particularly aware of the ministry of Jesus, perhaps this lack of awareness might have been due to the fact that Jesus never ventured into Herod's jurisdiction during his ministry. But, Herod did know John the Baptist, in fact he knew him well, he saw him face-to-face, having personally encountering John for over a year while he was incarcerated in prison for boldly denouncing Herod's illegitimate marriage to his brother Phillip's wife, Herodias, who was also the daughter of another of Herod's brothers. As we have noted several times previously, this is one messed up family that is deeply entrenched in sin, the complexities of this tangled familial web underscore the depths of moral corruption and sinfulness that permeated Herod's family! There's little doubt that all of the Herod's were paranoid about their power. If I had to guess, I'd say Herod never got a peaceful nights sleep since he had John beheaded, because he is suspicious of everyone around him, including his own family. Now, he's afraid that John has risen from the dead.
So, let's open our Bibles and turn them to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 9, today we'll be looking at verses 7-9. I encourage you to follow along with me as I read our text to set it in our minds, and allow it to settle deeply within our hearts, creating an opportunity for us to discern what the Holy Spirit has to personally say to each of us today through the Word and make application, allowing it to transform our lives. Luke 9:7-9.
"Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. And Herod said, "I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see Him."
As you will remember, we find ourselves just a little over the midpoint of Jesus' three-year ministry, it's important to recognize that He knows He has a limited amount of time to get everything ready, to prepare for the pivotal moment of the crucifixion. During this crucial period, He empowered the twelve, giving them the message they were to preach, the power to heal, the authority to cast out unclean spirits to validate that the message He had given them was from God, and He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom. However, there remains a cloud of mystery that surrounds this particular mission, this is one of those times where Scriptures do not provide specific details about their journey.
As I was reading and studying our text it struck me that instead of asking "Who are these men?" he asked Who Jesus was about whom he had heard such things? We can assume being from Galilee, that they were known by many of the people they were preaching to from birth, everybody knew that up to this point, they did not have the power to perform miracles, they knew there wasn't any human explanation. And, since the disciples gave Jesus all the credit for the message and the miracles, they acknowledged that the authority and power they wielded was not their own, but rather a direct extension of Jesus', the One who had delegated His power and authority to them. This not only magnified Jesus' significance but also reinforced the authenticity of His message, forcing Herod and the people to focus on the extraordinary nature of Jesus Himself. The problem is that there's no human explanation for Jesus. Obviously, they knew He was from Nazareth, they knew that He came from the family of Joseph and Mary, but when you consider the fact that He can read the hearts and minds of men, He can control the wind and the waves, He can control the fish and feed thousands of people by creating food out of His hands lifted to heaven, He can cast out thousands of unclean spirits, He can restore sight to those who had been blind, some from the time of birth, He can cure leprosy and make the lame walk, He can even raise the dead, you're forced to draw the conclusion, no, there's isn't any earthly explanation for Jesus, He has to be somebody from outside of this world.
The longer that I live, the more I begin to realize the depth of human depravity. This depravity, is deeply rooted in our inherent sinful nature, which leads individuals to deny their own sinfulness, justify their own wrongdoing and reject their desperate need for repentance and salvation. They may even rebrand actions and ideas, which are clearly inherently evil and immoral as virtuous and acceptable. Take, for instance, the current widespread discourse surrounding the whole transgender movement. I believe that it should be very clear that children who lack the maturity and life experience necessary to make even relatively minor decisions, yet children are being granted the autonomy to make profound critical choices that will significantly impact their lives. The reality that such critical decisions are being permitted to made at a stage in life when their ability to foresee the long-term consequences is limited, raises more than a few ethical concerns about so-called experts in the medical, psychological, and sociological fields. We must fervently pray for these wicked people, asking Almighty God to send His warriors to protect these vulnerable children by standing firm, with unwavering courage by refusing to be complicit with any legislature that endorses any procedure undermines the well-being of these precious innocent lives.
God created two genders, He created them male and female. This fundamental aspect of human identity was established at the beginning of time, you don’t get to "play god," looking to the world for your standards of sexuality while looking to God for your salvation. You don't get to claim that "God makes no mistakes" when it comes to homosexuality then claim He made a big mistake by creating one's
gender identity that does not align with their gender's physical body, suggesting that God's design for creation is imperfect. I believe it is absolutely crucial to recognize that the creation of one's gender is not something to be altered and invites deeper reflection and concerns as to the "source: of transgenderism and gender identity. Sin has great power over our feelings, our emotions, and our moral compass of right and wrong. It is expected there's going to be so much confusion outside the church, that’s explicable. But what is devastatingly unthinkable is that there seems to be about equal confusion within the church, among the professed people of God. Satan, the enemy of God, would like to have people believe that it is God who made a mistake in creating a particular individual, when that individual is clearly under the influence of demonic forces!
Matthew 8:11-13, "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Let's look at verse 7, "Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead." Let's face it, Herod the tetrarch, as Luke accurately calls him, was under the thumb of a very powerful king, Tiberius Caesar, who ruled the entire Roman Empire, was deeply troubled when he heard about all the events unfolding around him. Rumors were circulating that John the Baptist, whom Herod had previously ordered to be executed, had miraculously come back to life and this left him feeling uneasy. Why would anybody conclude that Jesus was John risen from the dead. John never performed a miracle, at all, ever. But, like his father, Herod the Great, who was so threatened by the birth of Jesus, the King of Israel, when the wise men told him that a King was born, he thought this baby boy would someday grow up and take over his throne. Now Herod the tetrarch thought that Jesus, Whose teachings posed a significant threat to him, since He was going around talking about a kingdom and that didn't sit well with Herod. It seems as though all the Herod's had distorted perception of who they really were.
In fact, he was so concerned that somebody would come along and become a threat to his throne, that he killed his own sons, one of the just five days before he died. He also massacred the entire Jewish Sanhedrin, all seventy of them. He was so despised when he died, that when Josephus wrote about his death, he wrote, "He died of ulcerated entrails, putrefied, maggot-filled organs, constant convulsions, foul breath." How's that for a eulogy? By the way, the kingdom was split when he died and the second half went to Herod the great's other son Philip. By the way, it was Herod's son Philip the Tetrarch who changed the name to Caesarea to honor Caesar, attached it to his own name and further adorned the temple, making it even more elaborate with a magnificence that was well-known. Caesarea Philippi was situated approximately 25 miles to the north of the Sea of Galilee, and lies at the foot of Mount Hermon, it was home to one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River, which is a significant geographical feature, also making the region very fertile and attractive for religious worship. However, the most compelling significance about Caesarea Philippi, it was the perfect place for a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus Christ, when He asked His disciples the obvious fundamental question, "Who do people say that I am?" To which Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)
But, eventually, the Romans put a series of governors in place, the fifth of which was a man named Pilate, who served as the governor between the years of 26 to 36, and he was governor at the time when Jesus was crucified. Herod the tetrarch, or Herod Antipas, ruled for forty-two years, more than the entire life of Jesus. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, so he could see Him perform a miracle. An opportunity which he had after the mock trial He had before Annas and Caiaphas, who then sent Him to Pilate, the Roman governor. You will recall, Pilate, after questioning Jesus extensively, found Him not guilty, because He had committed no crime. Pilate knowing He was innocent, sent Him to Herod to keep the peace with Jewish religious leaders, who had threatened him with an insurrection, which would have caused him to lose his position as governor.
Verse 8, "And by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again." According to the book of Malachi, the prophet of old said that before the great and terrible day of the Lord, Elijah was to come. This prophecy has been a topic of discussion among many scholars and theologians for centuries. In the Hebrew Bible, Elijah who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab, is known for his miraculous deeds and unwavering faith, making his anticipated return a subject of great interest. It's not surprising that the expectation of Elijah return is not only a religious anticipation but also a cultural one, influencing various end times beliefs. In Jewish tradition, Elijah ranks with Moses, known as the Law and the Prophets, which is one of the reasons, along with their appearance on the Mount of Transfiguration, is why I strongly believe they will be the two witnesses during the 3 1/2 year Tribulation period. However, since Scripture doesn't confirm that reality, we cannot be dogmatic.
That brings us to verse 9, "And Herod said, "I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see Him." Herod, upon hearing about the miracles and teachings of Jesus, expressed his and curiosity about Jesus, whose reputation had been spreading far and wide. And, we know from Luke 23:11, that his desire eventually came to fruition, when Herod, who along with his soldiers, finally encountered Jesus, treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, then dressed Him in a bright scarlet robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Interestingly enough, we discover in verse 12, that "Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been at enmity with each other."
The age old question of "Who is this man about whom I hear such things?," is still being asked today. Every person who hears the Gospel, and willfully refuses to believe the clear evidence about Jesus Christ, will inevitably come to the wrong conclusion, and will be condemned to eternal Hell because every person born on this planet since The Fall is born into sin and you are unable to save yourself. There is no salvation in any other name. Salvation is as easy as ABC: Accept, Believe, Confess. If you simply believe, you've missed the mark, even demons believe Jesus is the Son of God, the God-Man, the Holy One. In James 2:19, the half-brother of our Lord says, "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." By the way, James didn't believe Jesus was Who He said He was until after the resurrection. Like Paul, he encountered Jesus after the resurrection and "converted" from Judaism to Christianity. Both men were so confident that Jesus was God, they were willing to die for their beliefs.
When the concept of faith alone began circulating in the early 16th century, the Sinner’s Prayer started gaining traction within the church, it became increasingly popular among evangelists as a reference point of salvation. The problem with this modern day evangelistic technique is it's built on sinking sand. None of the Apostles told anyone to say a prayer to receive salvation. In Acts 2:38, Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Billy Graham introduced a globally recognized method of conversion, which began with a prayer from what he called his "Four Steps to Peace with God," the acknowledgment of one's need for God's forgiveness and the importance of Jesus Christ's role in that process. Billy Graham was considered to be among the most influential preachers of the 20th century, his crusades gained notoriety for his ability to attract millions, filling massive stadiums and other venues worldwide. Salvation is not based on one's "feelings" or a spontaneous "emotional declaration" in response to some religious leader or sermon. It is the true recognition of what you are and where you're headed, a wretched sinner headed to Hell, that leads a person to cry out, with a broken and contrite heart, "Lord, be merciful to me a sinner," and turning from the sin from which you have been forgiven.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with praying the Sinner’s Prayer, it important to recognize that it doesn’t come from God’s Word, it is often an emotional response to the preaching. The problem with emotionalism is it focuses on a singular moment which often produces false converts, leaving many believing that they're saved simply by repeating the prayer, bypassing the essential and ongoing process of repentance of a heartfelt conversion, which leads to spiritual growth and development. Billy Graham's message of salvation was distinctive in that it was not dependent on emotionalism. Instead, he focused on a sincere, thoughtful commitment to faith, insisting that genuine salvation required more than just emotional responses. His profound teaching continues to influence countless numbers of people seeking spiritual guidance today.
Relying solely on such a simplified prayer based on an emotional response to a sermon, tends to overlook the profound lifelong commitment and transformation involved in genuine salvation. Superficial Christianity and playing church will tragically end in hearing the most terrifying words in all of Scripture found in Matthew 7:23, "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
I believe those of us who proclaim the Gospel must understand the importance of standing up for what is right against those who are wrong, even when it involves opposing those who are wrong within our own families and church communities. Standing up for and speak out against what is morally right against those we love and care for is not just a personal responsibility but a collective obligation that often requires more courage and integrity than many Christians who feel inadequately prepared are willing to do. I believe it's important to remember, that our Lord Jesus Christ, was known for His love, demonstrated boldness in challenging the Pharisees when their practices strayed from the narrow path that God intended. Thus, it is incumbent upon us to emulate the same courage in our own lives, ensuring that our commitment to Truth remains steadfast, regardless of the personal challenges we may face in doing so. Standing up for what is right can be challenging, particularly when it involves those we deeply care for. In Matthew 12:30, Jesus reminds us "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters."
At the end of the day, we are called to glorify God always, therefore, when our faith is tested and requires us to prioritize divine principles over personal relationships, that is where the rubber meets the road.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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