THE BIBLE SPEAKS DAILY (NOVEMBER 28th, 2024)

TODAY'S TOPIC: Are You Defending or Defacing The Gospel?

TODAY'S VERSE: 2Timothy 1:8.

"...Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the power of God,..."

To deface is to act intentionally to damage or destroy the surface appearance of something, often this is done in a malicious or vandalistic manner. 
This may cause harm to individuals or communities affected by the defacement. Defacing the Gospel of Christ will contribute to the loss of decency and respect for the authority of God, leading to chaos and disorderliness. 
"...Let all things be done decently and in order." 1Corinthians 14:40.

Over the years, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has suffered untold hardship, attack and defacement of its purity, simplicity, and completeness, from the hands of its enemies. 
Men have sought to destroy and set at nought "...the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,..." Romans 1:16.
This evidently was also true in the days of Paul, the Apostle of Christ, for the Bible recorded him saying: 
"...knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel..." Phillipian 1:17.
By this resolve it was evident that Paul had a fixed purpose, one carefully thought out and expressed, not only in word, but in action. His mind was strongly made-up. 
In the lives of Paul, this was manifested faithfully  on a number of occasions, by his defense of the Word of God.

It was not his purpose to defend the religion of the Jews (Judaism), in which he was so well instructed and in which he excelled, or the various positions handed down by the traditions of his fathers. His avowed determination was to defend the Truth and he was "set" for it. In defending the Truth, he defended the positions that the faithful are to hold.

In same manner, we should "be set," not for the defense of inherited positions, personal opinion, pet projects, or previously espoused doctrines, but for the defense of the Gospel of Christ, for the truth that "frees from sin." To do so involves learning God's will (and how badly some need to do so) that we may know what we stand for and why, and that because it is authorized in the Divine Scriptures.

Indeed, our position should be, and must be, to defend the truth, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. 
When this is our position, we are at liberty to accept the Truth as we learn it, and are not bound to try to defend and justify an unscriptural position in which we may find ourselves, sometimes by association. When one takes a stand for a certain position, he is obligated to attempt to defend it, regardless of what the Word of God teaches. One can very easily find himself in difficult circumstances by not being careful about what he accepts. 

Truly there is a difference in defending the Truth, and in defending a certain position or practice. To defend the truth is not only easier, but it is the honorable thing to do; so, may we determine to "...earnestly contend for the faith once for all delivered unto the saints..." Jude 1:3.
By so doing we can save ourselves and them who hear us (1 Tim. 4:16). 

Be careful to defend and do not deface the Word of God, because: 
"...But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other Gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please Men? For if I still pleased Men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ..." Galatians 1:8-10.

"...Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,..." 1Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:13.

Lastly,
"... 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. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, ..." 2Timothy 4:1-5.
To do otherwise is to tread on dangerous ground which leads farther away from the Lord.

TODAY'S PRAYER:
My Heavenly Father, Glory, Honor and Dominion, be to You, for ever and ever, Amen!
Father help me to endure to the end, in the defense of the Gospel of Christ, Your Begottened Son. Help me to speak as the Oracle of God. Guide my conduct, and let me walk in the footsteps of my Savior Jesus Christ.
Please, heal the Sick, and provide for the Needy among us, AMEN!!!

credits: Eugene Crawley, and Benson Omole.

For questions and comments please contact us on: +2348060066660; +2347069554486; +2347070020042.
Or: benoomole@gmail.com; omolebenson@gmail.com 
Listen to us on:
a. FRCN PROGRESS FM ADO EKITI 100.5 every Thursday by 6.30pm.
b. FRESH FM ADO EKITI 106.9 every Friday by 6.30pm
This work is under the oversight of the Church of Christ Ekute Quarters Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria.

THANKS.



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