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August 29, 2021 8:00 am
God has many Christians on their way to Dr. Tony Evans says the Lord finds little use for followers don't stand up for the gospel not let me. Celebrating 40 years of faithfulness. This is the alternative Dr. Tony Abbott, author, speaker, senior pastor of Oakland Bible Fellowship Dallas, Texas, president of the urban alternative when we done something wrong. The right thing to do is to apologize. But when we've done something right. Like confessing our allegiance to Christ, Dr. Evan says it's a different story. Today he explains what it means to be an unapologetic Christian loyal to Christ even when it cuts across the grain of our culture. Let's turn to Matthew 10 as he begins. You and I are living in a day of no shame in being publicly prorated. It should be clear. The day that Christians have lost the home field. We are the visiting team has become crystal clear that whatever remnants of a Christian nation that we had no longer exists.
Now we are at the stage where the one empty that was designed to hold the line crumbles to and so I want to call on me.
You and us to make the decision to be unapologetic Christians because that is what's needed today. This is not a day for Christianity like Jesus says in verse 32. Everyone who confesses me before men, I will also confess before my father was in, but who ever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my father who is in heaven. He brings up the issue of confession. He's not talking to non-Christians when he talks about confession and denial start into his so-called followers to confess means to publicly identify with.
We live in a day of no say you see things on television, you would never have thought you would see on television viewing online waves that you never thought you would hear you see parades that you would never thought you would see because there is motion, and I don't hear anybody apologize.
In other words, what they're saying everybody else's adjust because this is the way it is.
Jesus says I want you to confess me before men, the same way about a married person wears a wedding ring to give visual identification of a relationship and other committed he saying don't take off the Christian ring when you go to work. Don't take off your Christian ring when you're in the neighborhood.
Don't take off your Christian ring when you're around non-Christians to placate their rejection. If you confess me before men, why won't we do that so many of us because we like the fog spoken about in St. John chapter 12 verse 42 and 43 look at what it says. Nevertheless, maybe even of the rumors believed in him. They became Christians, but because of the fallacies they were not confessing him for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue, for they love the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
He says no actual people outpace your field goal says they believe they can't say, but they didn't want to be rejected by people then want to lose their popularity didn't want to lose their public acceptance. Today we live in a world of political Christians. Christians who use politics and wrap the Christianity of the flag. We live in a day of cultural Christians who wrap for Christianity in the subject of race rather than the primacy of Christ we live in a day of convenient Christians who want to use God for their blessing, but don't want to represent him in the culture unless Lutheran Church Jesus says unless you confess me before men, he's talking about public identification notice.
You must confess him not just his father but was saying God won't cut it. That's vague Christianity is, you must confess him Jesus Christ. Why because Jesus Christ has been assigned by the Trinity to represent the Godhead on earth in history you become a Christian by faith alone in Christ alone, apart from works. But once you become a Christian, you have not entered into the realm of discipleship. The whole idea of following Christ is to be like you, attitudes and actions character and conduct. It means that your reflecting how he thinks reflecting what he says, reflecting how he feels because you becoming like him a disciple to become like his teacher Jesus sets the standard we emulate that standard in the culture the same way he reflected the standard of his father. We are to reflect the standard of our state so are you Larry confessing Christian meeting publicly identifiable before, maybe six, what's the issue.
Of confession, the unsettled issue is the issue of the Lord ship issue of Lordship to show you what I mean from Romans chapter 10 he says in verse nine if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead will be say, but with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, but with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. So guess what he thought about you opening your mouth notice when you believe you are made righteous. You get saved in the way we use it. One way to have, but he says with your mouth that is, public identification is where you get deliverance, God through Christ will only join you in history. If you're not ashamed of you not apologetic about if you hide behind the word God.
So you have to deal with the inconvenience of Jesus. When a person joins the Army. It's free. You have to pay to join the Army but once you're in the Army as a whole.
Another way of operating is not a civilian anymore. First of all, you easily identifiable based on the branch of service.
We can look at your tire and maybe the Army Air Force. We can look at because you are publicly displayed where you this visible they have the rights over your life send you here to go to go there.
They got to relocate here because they have become a part of your existence, you got in their free but once you get in. They become Lord and when you don't allow the services to become Lord you able to operate in the dinks program.
God has many Christians on their way to heaven for a wall on earth because they don't want they don't want to pull a beautiful that one being the Army of the Lord functioning like a civilian. Ephesians 122 and 23, declares that all things have been placed on the Christ Jesus to become fast. Romans 1489 says, for if we live, we live for the Lord and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die.
We are the Lord's thought. To this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be little both of the dead and the told you about the soldier who went to work.
When asked for permission from is superior to go to a wedding present. Just got back about 10. He said but Sir a bit wedding doesn't begin till eight is that I heard you but you got to bed by 10, so does the will of the wedding was a pretty said no you in the Navy.
I know the culture is pulling us this way and that way we come up with excuses for why we don't take our stand for Jesus Christ.
Crisis in the kingdom you belong to me. Now yes you are in the world and I don't expect you to be a hermit somewhere I expect you use your time and talents and your treasures in this world, under my authority and with full confession of me, the Lordship of Jesus Christ is over all of life is not a buffet you go to a buffet you choose.
I want this to work better with this, without knowing says no I'm Lord of all, there is no such thing as secular you change jobs during the new management what you do not all company was when you go to the new management now.
We were transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of life you not under new management. Now, so we don't allow our sympathy to adjust God's standards. We don't allow our political allegiances to adjust our standards were not committed ultimately to a person or a party or a system recommended to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 210 and 11 makes it clear covering these go bow and every tongue is going to confess that Jesus is Lord, you can do it voluntarily now mandatorily later. Everybody is going to do that in his Lordship recognizes the unique Titus chapter 2 verse 13 says he is Savior and God. John 20 verse 28, the apostle says my Lord my God is the recognition that Jesus is not just some nice human figure that ought to be respected is the sum of the living God who want to be worshiped. So where do we go from here. Dr. Evans will come back with the answer for us when he continues her message shortly. Stay with us.
There were times when I was overwhelmed with the burdens of life or what I didn't know that I can keep going. Yet God would bring someone or something.
To speak words of encouragement to me during difficult times. Cost 2019 was one of those times when I lost my wife 40/49 years. How do you keep going during that season, one month after I lost my father, and yet God provided the string that I needed to keep proclaiming his word. During those difficult things I'm very grateful 40 years we've seen this kind hand of fate on this ministry.
When you consider all the challenges and difficulties along the way there's no doubt that the Lord has blessed our work here, which is only been possible because of the ongoing faithful support from listeners like you. Today's message simply titled unapologetic comes from Tony's brand-new teaching series divine reset look at how to respond to God's reminders to focus on the truly important to leave the past behind and live a life consistent with your identity in Christ you discover ways to develop a better focus on God enabling you to enjoy his presence while living your life free from cultural and worldly confusion and for a limited time. We are also including a bonus of Tony's popular booklet winning your spiritual battles. This practical resource offers down-to-earth guidance on using the tools and tactics.
God is provided giving you victory over the spiritual challenges in your life will send you all 10 messages in the divine reset series and the winning your spiritual battles booklet is or thank you gift when you make a contribution to help support Tony's ministry. This offer is only available for a few more days, so visit us right away@tonyevans.org or call our 24 hour resource request line at 1-800-800-3222 for details before time runs out. I'll have her contact information again for you after part two of today's lesson and this makes it clear that you know when God is lying when it's fathers all the way to Dr. Tony Evans says that what becomes of the next generation of men depends on what happens with this kind of man write down with the help of the Tony Evans training centers course called the man he will teach you see past the bony images of manhood society surrounds us with and become the loving leader and a white family wouldn't want to follow. As with all of our courses. There is an in-depth study material. You can work through at your own pace.
Lots of exclusive content from Tony tightly focused Q&A videos and online form, you can collaborate with other students. It's almost like having a seminary on your smart phone, check out the free course called kingdom man, and the growing list of other subjects waiting for you visit Tony.org today and follow the link to the Tony heavens training center opposition to Christ must be reflected under Christ. As we grow in our relationship with Christ. So how do you know whether you have made the Lordship decision you know that Luke 646.
He says this. How do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say how to use the term and you call me Lord and then you telling me you doing some opposite to what I say. I say this about a man saying something else I say this about a woman usually some else confidence about marriage you say something else.
I say this about finances say something else to say. What say you keep coming up with all the stuff you say and mingle. Call me Lord, Lord, Lord, and don't do what I say I'm Lord that means you adjusted live in a world where Christians asking God to adjust so we can make folks happy in the coach sure we are to be sensitive sure we are to be kind and compassionate, loving, not do that is also not to do what he says but you do not do that by jettisoning truth to placate a society that is already rejected your site, but what you must understand is a simple principle is pointed out in St. John chapter 2 verses 24 to 25 says Jesus knew what was in man and he would not commit himself to them and is talking about those who believed they believed in him, so they became Christians, but he wouldn't commit himself to them because he knew what was in going to put it another way, Jesus doesn't have the same commitment equally to every Christian were all equal children, but he's not equally committed to every child because of you are ashamed of him and says he would not commit himself to even though they believed we understood that our failure to confess Christ keeps him in a long distance relationship with us like in a marriage where there legally together but they not connected, you can be legally connected to Christ, but not together.
Romans 1013 says no you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord. Since cup to fix it says you will be delivered by delivered there. He's not talking about going to heaven as he said you get that by the righteousness he's talking about God's involvement with you on earth you can see that in Romans chapter 5 verses 8 to 10 God demonstrated his love toward us while we were sinners, Christ died for us, but then he says, having been justified by faith. You say he says we shall be saved or delivered by his life already say but you think involvement with you in history is tied to your confession. Many says in Romans 1013 says anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be safe. The problem is, or what people know it's the only time that phrase is used in the New Testament of calling on the name of the Lord is by Christians, not not not non-Christians. In other words, you can call if you can confess you can confess, don't bother to pray. First Corinthians 1 verse two talks about the saints and Karen who call upon the name of the Lord asked chapter 7 verse 59 it says when Stephen was ready to die. He called on the name of the Lord and saw Jesus standing on the right-hand side of that if you welcome fast, don't bother to call because he has no obligation to folks who do not know. I have to tell you the whole story because Matthew 10 makes it inextricably clear about the price tag about the price tag of confession. I know you hear about blessed and blessed is blessed that I got another lesson that's true that's true because she says you can call but he also wants you to know verse 34 not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth did not come to a peaceful sword. I set a man against his father.against his mother, daughter, log into mother-in-law's enemies will be the enemies of his household and explains what he means. Verse 37 he who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Okay, let's talk about the sort of confession. Once you are willing to appropriately, lovingly, compassionately, but clearly he identified Jesus Christ will create in the because there is the public denial of any will even happen. He says in your own family father mother daughter mother father and son, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, he says, because when you are those who reject me will reject you happen work In the neighborhood still happen in the pool.
The cost to take your stand on God's word to take your stand on Jesus is perspective on the issues of our day that so many are about to take your stand there will create a conflict and so he's not just talking noisy saying I'm telling you upfront.
It's going to create a conflict not because it is you're trying to access your confessing my bed the night and not the problem. But then he goes on to say he who found life are starting to lose it, and with loss of life for my sake will find it. He says because you have been publicly identified with me, you lose in terms of what the deniers essay with them, but you just want with me in the life you lost for allegedly questioned me that you will find it. You will be more concerned about losing them, losing him to take a stand for Jesus Christ. Relationships are affected by love the way Luke 14 puts it. Verse 25 now large crowd was going along with Jesus with him and he turned and said anyone who comes after me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life he cannot be modified to become a being is a Siebel owner and he says anybody who charms me you lose me, and I don't care how much you love them. A woman's first commitment is not to her husband's to her Christ commands first commitment is not to his wife to his Christ parents first commitment is to the Christ. Children's commitment is to the Christ. He said that if you don't have me you cannot be my disciple. If you want to build a tower verse 28 count because verse 29. Lay the foundation of the building. One of you want to calculate so you can finish it allows legal make fun of you are starting this man began to build and was not able to attend those in the battle he sets out to meet another want to battle verse 31 is a strong enough you consider the cost when you're building a building you consider the cost when you going to battle, and the question you're asking is cannot finish what I just got stuck with a lot of Christians were bailing out on Jesus. You know what we barely know we are told the whole story so will talk to suffering or difficulty problems they bail. The blessing part. Yes, the lost part two many comes with this concluding thought. Listen to it in Luke 14. Therefore, verse 34.
Salt is good, but if salt has become tasteless with what will it be salted all season.
It is useless even for the soil to a pile is thrown out here, whereas it is to hear many thoughts about so there is no longer something is lost in space. Guess what is usually so soft is not something you have to know me stomach, people you think I got a lot of useless Christians they go to church when push comes to shove, they did not be the get so compromised by the world and want to make the world happy. They do it at my expense and I can use because they want to satisfy the populace not represent me with love with clarity with compassion but with sincere confession says that useless to me. Is are you ready to confess that we not talk about your belief in God talking about the Lord Jesus.
If you need a reminder of what Jesus Christ did for you never fully heard about or understood his sacrifice on your behalf. We encourage you to visit Tony up and start toward and click on the link that simply says Jesus there. Dr. Tony Evans lays out the essence of the good news. God is given to the world and what it means for you.
When you accept and embrace it. That's the Jesus link on the homepage of Tony Evans.org Tony will come back with a closing comment for today's message just a moment but first, what we been listening to today as part of his brand-new series called divine reset and for limited time we are offering the full-length versions of all 10 lessons in this series on CD and digital download along with Tony's booklet winning your spiritual battles there yours as a thank you gift when you make a donation to help us continue this ministry to a world desperately in need of the good news of Jesus Christ. Call us right away at 1-800-800-3222 our resource Center never closes.
Don't wait again, dial 1-800-800-3222 or visit Tony Evans.org to make the arrangements while you're there, be sure to sign up for Tony's free weekly email devotional again that's Tony and.org.
You know, we don't expect much from newborn babies, but as they grow toward adulthood, they increasingly demonstrate more responsibility will next time Dr. Evans will explain that God expects the same type of spiritual growth in Christians right now though he's back to wrap up today's message.
The roller coaster is designed to be scary is the nature of the raw, but they also designed to give you the thrill of a lifetime. About becoming a disciple and confessing Jesus Christ. But once you get a thrill because the life you thought you lose you get so is time to cast your vote where you take your stand so that God can do a divine reset in a culture of Christ be not come because without it divine reset. This nation is going to hell and back divine reset must start with his church. We're not perfect on the person you're not perfect. We have flaws. That's why he created so that we could give me a line and cast out the alternative with Dr. Tony ever since my Q5 is an alternative celebrating 40 years of faithfulness. Thanks for the generous contributions of listeners like you