IF THE ENEMY IS USING my name to tell you that I do not like you, want you, love you or care about you; it’s a lie. I know it’s a lie because I do not think that way about anyone. Even if you’ve hurt me, I still care about you. I care what happens to you and I care whether or not you keep your feet on that narrow path. Just because I rebuke you, doesn’t mean I don’t love you.
Quite the contrary. It means I love you with the love of the Lord, I care for you as I care for my own children and it’s how Jesus loves, “Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].” Rev 3:19 Listen up brethren! When you are reproved and you harden your neck, destruction is on the way.
Discipline is good, right, true and cleansing. A rebuke IS love. Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness. You must receive correction with thankfulness. Thank them for loving you enough to correct your steps. They love you. Bow your head in humility for God rejects the prideful and self-righteous man, but gives more grace to the humble. Let your fragrance be the valuable scent of crushed myrrh, not the stench of arrogance. That being said….The encouragement fairy is sprinkling her dust on the wicked and the sinful.
There is an errant theology in the church that tells people there’s no need to repent after you said a prayer to “receive Jesus”. You are good. You are saved. In fact, some say, you cannot even sin. This is a lie from the enemy. If there was no more need for repentance, the Apostle Paul would not have written half of his letters to the churches spread abroad. Jesus’ words to the seven churches would not be needed. He would have said, “continue on! You’re doing great! You got this!” Sprinkle sprinkle sprinkle.
This is the prevailing gospel and words of false prophets, “You are good!” Sprinkle. “Keep going!” Sprinkle. “God is pleased with you!” Sprinkle. “You are under grace!” Sprinkle. All the while Christians are living in adulterous relationships, tolerant of fornication and idolatry, rebellious people gossiping and scoffing, a party spirit abounds in drunkenness. Sprinkle sprinkle. People can pretend to be anything on social media and they get the likes and admiration of others; when their lukewarm souls are poor, wretched, blind and miserable. Sprinkle sprinkle sprinkle.
Christian, you are being called to repent and when you continue in your wickedness, and the false prophets puff you up; it grieves the heart of the righteous, “Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.” Ezekiel 13:22 Repentance is the Word of the Lord during this season. God is disciplining His people and refining us through the fire. Will you receive His correction and repent? Will you humble yourself? Or will you continue to rebel in your stubborn pride? Only a remnant will come forth as pure gold. Do not be washed away with the wicked. #runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
