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The Word of God does not depend on the majority
Your salvation does not depend on the opinions of a majority and neither does the Word of God depend on acceptance by the majority.
Do not get bothered by people who call good as evil and evil as good. These will surely be rewarded for their misdeeds on Judgement Day. So never partake of their stupidity in calling whatever lie they want as truly nice to follow just because they might be a majority. Just because the majority decide to call the sun as a planet does not make it a planet. A majority consensus among people does not turn a crab into a turtle.
Similarly, the Word of God will remain the truth no matter how many people leave the church or even become apostates. Christianity is never a numbers game and it never was and never will be. It’s about being in a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. And the Lord God will never love you less even if all those around you disapprove of you believing in Christ his Son. So leave these vile little tricksters who want to hate the Lord to their own little fantasy world if they refuse to believe in the Gospel. You instead continue to love the Lord God.
The below Psalm speaks about receiving safety by the Lord God. And this can also be applied to your salvation. It doesn’t matter how many people are sinners around you, you are going to heaven only because of your faith in Christ and not their unbelief.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. (Psalm 91:7-10)
Simply focus on the Word of God. Empires and kings have come and fought against the Christian faith, they tried their worst to prevent the worship of the One True Savior of the Word and yet they all went down in life instead. The Word of God has prevailed against the test of time and will continue to do so. All praise and glory to the Lord God.
A few verses for your personal reflection:
- Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. (Psalm 119:89)
- The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.(Isaiah 40:8)
- “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
- For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:18)
- “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.(Matthew 24:32-35)
I recommend that you put the following verses to memory and also to action so that you glorify God in all that you do:
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.The grass withers, and the flower falls,but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:22-25)
God be with you!
Know wisdom by reading God’s Word
To know the wisdom of God for your life you don’t always need to wait for an emotional event with some grand piano music playing around. Nor does it always have to be mysterious nor mystical. You can pray that you get the wisdom of God. And then do the simplest thing to receive his wisdom; READ THE HOLY BIBLE.
For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)
There are people who can prophesy the words of God to you in true holiness. Then there are people who have studied the Bible and can so remind you of God’s words as per your situation. But what do you do when you don’t have such blessed people around you? No need to fear, just open up your Bible and read it.
In the Bible you can refer to the Gospel for your salvation. About the end times you can refer to the various books of the prophets such as Daniel, Ezekiel etc and also the Book of Revelation. For reflection and comfort in God you can always read the Psalms. To get instructions on wise conduct you can read the books of wisdom such Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. All these books are in the Bible. Don’t stop at them, there’s a lot of other books and verses in the Bible that you can read to get inspiration, knowledge, testimonies, protection, counsel that the Lord God has desired for you to receive since the creation of time.
Is correcting and judging others a sin?
Matthew 7:1-5 1You shall not judge, lest you be judged. 2For with the judgment that you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure that you measure, it will be measured to you. 3Why do you notice a chip that is in your brother’s eye, and you do not observe the plank that is in your own eye? 4Or how do you say to your brother, ‘Let me cast out the chip from your eye’, and behold, a plank is in your eye? 5Hypocrite! First cast out the plank from your eye, and then you will see to cast out the chip from your brother’s eye.
These verses from the Bible are indeed good. They tell you to use the right measure when judging others and first being correct yourself before correcting others. Even atheists like to quote these verses though they reject the Gospel. There are some who use these verses to save a corrupt secular or religious leader. However what is more bad is how some believers interpret these verses. They hold that you are to totally refrain from judging any one, as you will be judged the same so just KEEP QUIET about anything wrong in anyone’s behavior.There are scriptures on correcting others which you will get you read further.
In the mean while, I can prove that at some point of time, you WILL judge someone invariably. Let me ask you a quick question. Is Satan a bad person?
If you said yes he is a bad person, then my friend you have JUDGED Satan but you are correct with that. If you said no, then unfortunately you still used judgement are HIGHLY wrong and need a reality check ASAP. If you refrained from saying yes or no, then you have DENIED the Gospel and judged it because the Lord Jesus called Satan the Evil One. Matthew 5:37 But let your word ‘yes be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no be ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.
Now what is my point in all this.
My stand is that if you have the light of the Gospel in your belief and actions, then help others who are in their sins to get back to God and for that you are going to need to tell them they are WRONG in their ways. Now you can do that CALMLY without getting irate. If they accept correction wisely then its good for their souls. But if people do not change after hearing you, it will still benefit others.
1 Timothy 5:20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
Stop thinking that people seeing your good behavior will then leave their wicked ways so you have an excuse to be quiet. Jesus before he started his public ministry on earth, lived a 100% holy life but tell me how many people saw the good in him and started trying to live holy lives? None at all. Why so? I answer using the below verse.
2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
However, when Jesus PREACHED the Gospel, it was then that lots of people who were sinners repented of theirs sins and chose to live holy. That is why its important that you preach the Gospel to unbelievers and remind others to hold on to the words of the Gospel.
With that said, this is a not an excuse to go on a correction spree especially with your kids and spouse! What matters is that the correction is timely (not years later to pick up a quarrel) and that it is done without hate.
We need to be right in our approach. For this we need to be aware of the scriptures regarding this and act as per that.
Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2 Thessalonians 3:15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
1 Timothy 5:19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Titus 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
2 John 1:7-11 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
James 5:19-20 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Related articles
How to pray silently?
Here are a few tips from me on how to pray silently. The numbering doesn’t imply which tip is more important that the other. All tips are equally important. Learn them for they are simple and easy to remember. Here we go:
1.) Sit or stand in a suitable prayer posture. Sitting posture is good for long hours of praying. Standing is good for a short time of prayer.
2.) Go to a place where you’re least likely to be disturbed. Switch off or put your mobile/pager/beeper on silent.
3.) Joining hands in prayer is a good choice. Some may find raising both hands in the air helps to focus on God in a better way.
4.) Avoid munching, chewing gum/food while praying. This is a sign of respect, that you don’t put bodily needs over your prayer needs.
5.) Read the Bible or if you don’t have the Bible try to pray out some of the Psalms or the words of Jesus that you remember preached to you.
6.) Voice out in your mind the same things to God which you’d voice out when normally speaking to Him.
7.) Always have an idea about what you’re praying for e.g. peace, guidance etc. This is particularly useful when two or more are supposed to pray silently about the same thing.
Disciples of hope 