The Sin of Buried Talents

Why Are We Failing the Great Commission?

The Sin of Buried Talents

The dynamic of spiritual ministry is like teaching sheep how to fly!

 Perhaps one of the greatest failures of present Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism is the failure to see the broad spectrum of professing Christianity from the perspective of the New Covenant epistles such as I Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, Hebrews, I and II Peter, II Timothy, and Jude.  When the substance of these epistles is ignored, the fact that MOST of professing Christians are still lost in their sins is totally missed.  Churches, calling themselves Christians, are filled with lost people who have never been “born again.”  In fact, when this subject is even addressed, many Evangelicals and Fundamentalists will become enraged against those pointing out the substance of these epistles.  The point of these epistles is that there is a vast and constantly growing mission field amid professing Christianity.  The second issue is that faithfulness to Christ has been redefined by Ecumenicism and Pluralism so as to exclude faithfulness to the Great Commission in reaching these churched lost souls. 

“¹¹ And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. ¹² He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. ¹³ And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds {one pound to each}, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. ¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading” (Luke 19:11-15).

Luke 19:11-27 (like Matthew 25:14-30) is a remarkable and frightening portion of Scripture.  The parable of “ten pounds” (“talents” in Matthew; both words refer to weight of coins) is a parable about what defines faithfulness in earning rewards for faithful “born again” believers determining their positions of authority during the Kingdom Age.  Jesus expects a return upon His Blood bought redemption of the believer’s soul.  Unfaithfulness is failing to invest one’s “born again” life in the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. 

In the text of Luke chapter nineteen, Jesus has just passed through Jericho on His way to Jerusalem (19:1).  He is accompanied by a large crowd of disciples (19:2).  The crowd is very excited.  Until we understand what this group of disciples thought was going to happen, we will not understand the degree of their excitement.

Zionism means Jesus will physically rule over a literal worldwide Israeli Empire from Jerusalem during the Kingdom Age.  Jesus will share His rule over the world (Kingdom) with faithful believers from throughout the Church Age.  Faithful Church Age believers will constitute a new consecrated Melchizedekian priesthood under their Great High Priest Jesus.  The metaphor of Jesus as the Bridegroom and the “church of the firstborn” as His Bride is integral to our understanding of the Kingdom relationship of Christ to His Church.  The espoused Bride becomes the wife of the Bridegroom when the Bridegroom brings the Bride home to His Kingdom.  The “marriage supper of the Lamb” takes place in Heaven during the seven years of Tribulation on Earth.  Obviously, if the “marriage supper of the Lamb” takes place in Heaven before the Bridegroom brings His Bride to His Kingdom to reign with Him, the Bride must be in Heaven for the “marriage supper of the Lamb” to take place.

          From Luke chapter twelve to this point, Jesus had been teaching about the coming Kingdom on earth.  These disciples thought “the Kingdom of God should immediately appear” (Luke 19:11).  Most of these disciples were Jews. Their anxiety was because they were familiar with Zechariah chapter fourteen.

“¹ Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee {glorified believers that return to Earth with Jesus}. ² For I will gather all nations {of the world} against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. ³ Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle {Armageddon}. ⁴ And his {Jesus’} feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. ⁵ And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. ⁶ And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark {not light on certain parts of the Earth and dark in others; the whole world will be lighted by the glory of Christ’s coming}: ⁷ But it shall be one day {never ending daylight from this point throughout the Kingdom Age}which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. ⁸ And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. ⁹ And the LORD {Jehovah/Jesus} shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” (Zechariah 14:1-9).

          This group of disciples of Jesus were excited.  As they approached the city of Jerusalem the excitement was growing to a frenzy.  They thought they were standing on the brink of a monumental change in the course of history.  They thought the prophecies of Zechariah would be fulfilled at any moment.  

          Jesus decides He must calm the storm of anxiety raging in the souls of these disciples.  In the middle of all this excitement, Jesus stops.  He wanted to restore order and establish the reality of His entry into Jerusalem.  He uses a parable (teaching truth through illustration) to correct and instruct these people about the establishment of the Kingdom on earth.  This parable was intended to instruct disciples from all generations of the Church Age about what defined faithfulness to the Great Commission.  The parable is both a promise and a warning. 

¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. ¹⁷ And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. ¹⁸ And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. ¹⁹ And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. ²⁰ And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: ²¹ For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. ²² And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: ²³ Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? ²⁴ And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. ²⁵ (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) ²⁶ For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath {gained profit} shall be given; and from him that hath not {gained no profit}, even that he hath shall be taken away from him {Kingdom poverty and shame}. ²⁷ But those mine enemies {Christ rejectors; John 1:11}, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me” (Luke 19:16-27).

The “Nobleman” is Jesus (Luke 19:12).

“Nobleman” refers to someone of noble birth who is heir to a kingdom.  “Far country” emphasizes the time span before his return, more than the distance.  During this period of history, distance was measured by the time it took to make a journey.  The purpose of the journey was “to receive for himself a kingdom.”  Once he received his kingdom, he would “return.”  This is a key word to understanding the parable.  The parable begins with Jesus going to His Father in heaven to receive the prophesied Kingdom on earth. 

The parable details Jesus testing/proving His disciples for their positions in the coming Kingdom by their faithfulness to His investment in their redemption.

This parable is extremely relevant to all believers during the Church Age.  When we talk about the Kingdom, it should not be confused with heaven.  This is not talking about salvation, but rewards.  There will be a time span between His going and His return.  During this time span, the faithfulness of His servants is being tested.  

The ten servants represent all believers of the Church Age (the number “ten” represents the completion of a cycle in Scripture).  By the test, we understand Christ has the same expectation of all believers equally.  He expects every believer to multiply (“bring forth fruit”) to some degree. 

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:23).

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:6).

The servants would be rewarded proportionate to the degree of their faithfulness as measured by the gain they make upon the Lord’s investment in them (read Luke 19:16-19).

“¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. ¹⁷ And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. ¹⁸ And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. ¹⁹ And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.” 

This “authority” refers to the rule over literal cities of the Kingdom Age.  The disciple who multiplied himself by ten will govern ten cities in the Kingdom Age.  The disciple who multiplied himself by five will govern five cities in the Kingdom Age (compare Revelation 2:25-27).

“²⁵ But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. ²⁶ And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: ²⁷ And he {the faithful believer given rule by Jesus over cities} shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they {the nations} be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”

“As the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers” refers to the city/nations of the world.  They shall be “broken” into smaller areas and given to individual faithful Church Age saints to govern.  “Even as I received of my Father” means these believers will be given the same authority as Jesus possesses to govern their groups of cities.

Luke 19:13, “Occupy till I come;” Christ has expectations regarding His investment in redeeming your soul.

Christ expects a profit on His investment.  He expects gain (Luke 19:15b, “gained”).

“¹⁰ As every man hath received the gift {indwelling God-kind righteousness and enabling grace in the indwelling Spirit of Christ}, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹ If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (I Peter 4:10-11).

Luke 19:15, “And it came to pass.”  What Jesus says will come to pass.  He will come again and He will establish His Kingdom on earth.

Every believer will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and receive God’s accounting of what they invested themselves in during their lifetime.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10).

You are presently determining your Kingdom position each day of your life.  The faithful disciple will be given position directly proportionate to the degree he multiplies himself in life.  The emphasis is that all believers have one basic task.  They are to live their lives in such a way as to multiply themselves to their highest potential for Christ. 

Luke 19:20 “I have laid up in a napkin;” the disciple who buried his treasure.

          The doctrine of grace is the supernatural enabling work of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the lives of consecrated and sanctified believers.  This supernatural enabling is what distinguishes the Age of Grace (the Church Age) from every other dispensation of God.  For most Christians, the doctrine of God’s supernatural enabling (Grace) has been so distorted we find Christians arguing Christian “liberty” to the point of license to sin.  

One of the great truths of the New Covenant is that EVERY believer is a Priest before God and is responsible to live consecrated to God to offer sanctified service/ministry before God.  Consecration and sanctification are what prepares the believer to be supernaturally enabled for the service/ministry God has commissioned us to do.  Apart from complete consecrated and holy living, the “light” of God’s glory and Power is trapped inside the “earthen vessels” of these human bodies in which we presently live. 

“³ But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. ⁵ For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (II Corinthians 4:3-7).

A Broken Ball of clay

My life was just a ball of clay

Tightly packed with diverse sin.

One day I turned things all around

When I asked the Savior in.

Once saved I was told to yield to Him

And through my life He’d shine,

This ball of clay was so tightly packed

His “light” was trapped inside.

I prayed and said, “What ere it takes,

Any trial, struggle or scrape,

Make me Lord, break me Lord,

And let your light escape.”

The trials came in steady flows,

I wrestled with Divine.

Then God, He finally broke my heart,

Now through the cracks He shines.

The Lord Jesus has indwelled us in the Person of the Holy Spirit.  The “ten pounds” represents the believer’s potential in the Holy Spirit.  Every believer has the same potential to multiply himself.  The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit provides every believer with the enabling power of God.  Everything we need to live successfully and fruitfully for Jesus is ours in the Holy Spirit.  There is no excuse not to multiply.

“³ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: ⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (II Peter 1:3-4).

The business of the Church is to “perfect the saints for the work of the ministry.”  That means the Church is about teaching Sheep to fly.  That means the purpose for the existence of any local Church is to teach people how to live enabled by the supernatural power of the indwelling Holy Spirit so as to be enabled to do things completely beyond their human capabilities (the “impossible”).  The continual enabling power of the indwelling Holy Spirit is Christ’s investment in you. 

          When you live your life yielded to His will (“filled”), you will bear fruit and multiply yourself for Christ.  When you live your life selfishly according to your own will, you will bury the treasure of the indwelling Holy Spirit and your life will be fruitless for Christ.  

If you are a sheep that has never learned to fly, it is because you have never learned the dynamic of the doctrine of Grace.  If your life is fruitless, this is the reason.  You have buried Christ’s treasure.  You are living selfishly.  Buried treasure brings no profit.  Buried grace is abused grace.  It is selfish and it is carnal.

“Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame” (I Corinthians 15:34).

          If your life has never multiplied itself, your body is nothing more than a hiding place for Christ’s buried treasure of enabling grace.  However, the potential is still there.  Begin to realize that potential by making it your daily goal to win one soul to Jesus Christ.  Go into each day prayerfully looking for that one soul.

          Every family member, friend, neighbor, and co-worker should be included as part of your goal.  You should have a Soul Winner’s Prayer Card made out for each of them.  You should be praying for them daily.  You should be living your life under the control of the Holy Spirit each day.  Then, when the time is ripe for the harvesting of one of these souls, your potential can be realized. 

          Every Christian is Christ’s grace-investment.  Then, every Christian must invest in others what Christ has invested in them.  If you do not, your life is just a buried treasure chest.  Christ did not save us to be a treasure chest for truth.  He saved us to be a distribution center.  He did not save us to be vessel to contain His love.  He saved us to be a funnel through which His love flows to others.  

          Only you can decide in what you will invest your life.  It will be invested in what you determine to invest.  The worst kind of action is in-action.  

Christ expects fruit from His disciples!

“⁶ He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. ⁷ Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? ⁸ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: ⁹ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down” (Matthew 21:6-9).

Anonymous comments will not be allowed. 
Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: 
http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist. 
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.

Overcoming the Fear of Man and Bearing Reproach for Christ

Why Are We Failing the Great Commission?

Chapter Thirteen

Overcoming the Fear of Man and Bearing Reproach for Christ

“Our fears do make us traitors.”  (William Shakespeare; Macbeth)

          Matthew chapter ten is Christ commissioning and empowering His twelve apostles to preach to the children of Israel.  This is the context of Matthew chapter ten.  There would be a time when these men would be sent to the Gentiles as well, but the context of Matthew chapter ten is the “house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). Although the principles of the text apply to all Christians, certain aspects such as healing and power over demons (Matthew 16:1) is specific only to the Apostles as signs to the Jews.  The “councils” and “synagogues” of Matthew 16:17 are Jewish apostates who rejected Jesus as the Messiah.  In simpler words, like “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” (Daniel 3:19-20), Jesus was sending these men into the fire.  When a Christian has already consented to being kindling for the Lord’s purposes, he does not object to the potential of the fire of persecution. 

Most of the Apostles did not understand of what Jesus spoke until they witnessed the brutal torture and crucifixion of Jesus.  They were willing to consent to the “baptism” and the “cup” (Matthew 20:22-23) of Jesus until they actually saw to what that “baptism” and “cup” referred.  

First, let’s explain was appears to be an Eschatological problem in the text. The fact that Matthew chapter ten pertains to the “house of Israel” is the point of Matthew 10:23, which refers to the seven-year Tribulation.  The point of that text is that all the physical geography of Israel will not be completely evangelized in those seven years prior to the second coming of Jesus. 

“¹⁶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; ¹⁸ And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when {not if} they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. ²⁰ For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. ²¹ And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. ²² And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved {as evidence of genuine salvation, not a condition for salvation}. ²³ But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.” (Matthew 10:16-23).

          It is inconsistent with the commands and expectations of Jesus for a believer to think faithfulness to the Great Commission can exist without difficulties.  Confronting fears and inconsistencies with the Word of God is a necessity for overcoming them.  Biblical Christianity does not exist within a vacuum absent of the “mystery of inequity.”  Biblical Christianity involves confronting temporal thinking and feelings with the eternal realities known only through a real faith in the things to come.  

A fear of man can cripple Christians in doing what God has commanded them to do.  When we succumb to the emotion of fear, we become spiritual cowards.  The issue is not the presence of fear, but rather our succumbing to that fear and hiding in our fox holes.  In Matthew 10:21-39, God gives three perspectives of life to overcome fear, two commands for overcoming fear, one principle of encouragement, and two proofs of real discipleship (each proof has a warning with it).  If we do not understand and apply these truths to our lives, we will find ourselves cowering in the darkness, warming ourselves by the world’s fires, and denying the Lord Who bought us.

“²⁴ The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? ²⁶ Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. ²⁷ What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. ²⁸ And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. ³² Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. ³³ But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. ³⁴ Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. ³⁶ And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. ³⁷ He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. ³⁹ He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:21-39).

Matthew 10:24-39 is intended to give us God’s perspective towards the world’s reproach of Christ.  Christ gives us three different eternal perspectives for life that will work to help us overcome fear of persecution and death to become faithful, witnessing believer-priests. 

Perspective one: “²⁴ The disciple {follower} is not above {causally does not hold a position above, beyond, or more than} his master {teacher; the One whose teachings are followed/lived}, nor the servant {purchased bond slave ‘bought with a price;’ I Corinthians 6:20} above { causally does not hold a position above, beyond, or more than } his lord {the One who purchased you with ‘His own blood’ from the bondage of sin; Hebrews 9:12}. ²⁵ It is enough {sufficient or satisfying} for the disciple that he be like {comparatively} his master {in truth and wisdom}, and the servant like {comparatively} his lord {in life and practice}” (Matthew 10:24-25a).

          The person who has committed himself to serve as a disciple of Christ should expect to bear similar rejection by the world to what Christ experienced.  Bearing some reproach for the cause of Christ is a normal part of Christian service and experience.  If you have not experienced rejection because of your service and witness for Christ, it is probably because you are not serving or witnessing for Christ.  If that is the case, your Christianity is abnormal from the Scriptural standard.

“⁴ Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. ⁵ My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. ⁶ Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. ⁷ Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness {gifted in salvation by grace}, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. ⁸ For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation” (Isaiah 51:4-8).

Perspective two: “If they have called the master of the house {the ‘last Adam’ and ‘firstborn’ of the New Creation} Beelzebub {Chaldean name for their dung-god; another synonym for Satan; the point is that Jesus was leading people away from the corrupted priesthood of Israel and therefore the Pharisees considered Jesus to be evil.  Therefore, when believers leads people away from false religions, false gospels, or false doctrines, expect those people to think you are evil.}, how much more shall they call them of his {the Master’s} household {‘born again’ children of God}” (Matthew 10:25b)?  Ridicule by this Christ rejecting world should be a normal part of the Christian experience.  The point of this perspective on the “ministry of reconciliation” as “ambassadors of Christ” is that the Truth we preach will not automatically be received as truth from God.  Expect accusations and unbelief!

“²² Blessed are ye {faithful ministering ambassadors}, when men shall hate you {for being faithful ministering ambassadors}, and when they shall separate you from their company {for being faithful ministering ambassadors}, and shall reproach you {for being faithful ministering ambassadors}, and cast out your name as evil {for being faithful ministering ambassadors}, for the Son of man’s sake {because of the unwillingness to compromise one ‘jot and one tittle’ of the teachings of Jesus}. ²³ Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven {Judgment Seat of Christ}: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23).

          Since all fallen people tend to create God in their own image, expect lost people, and Biblically ignorant people, to make their wants and desires the standards for right and wrong.  This is what today is called Political Correctness.  Political Correctness is just a Liberal’s way of saying his beliefs are right and God’s ways are wrong.  That is a doctrine of fools! 

“¹⁹ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. ²⁰ For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: ²¹ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³ And changed the glory {the visible attributes of the nature and character of God revealed through God’s creation} of the uncorruptible {undecaying in essence or continuance; eternal and immortal i.e., never changing} God into an image {something physical and tangible} made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things” (Romans 1:19-23).

The central reason people deny God’s existence is because they can then justify anything and everything in their practices of sin.  Paganism is just do as you want idolatry so the unbeliever can make the worship of his deity (even if the deity is himself) take any form he desires and there is no source of Truth to govern those worship styles.  This is essentially what Isaiah 5:20 says when “evil” is called “good,” “darkness” is exchanged for “light,” and “bitter” replaces “sweet.” 

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20)!

Perspective three: “Fear them not {those who reject you and the Truths you present to them, for they are really rejecting Jesus}, therefore; for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and hidden that shall not be known {all Truths will eventually be revealed and all lies and liars will be judged}” (Matthew 10:26).  We should not determine that conditions under which we presently exist are the way things always will be.  We must learn to look beyond the present realities to the second coming of Christ.  When we see the corruptions of this world from the perspective of the Satanic influences of the “mystery of inequity” working in the world, we can then see our critics and accusers compassionately as merely deceived people being used by Satan.  We MUST be able to see them through the eyes of God’s compassion or we will never risk life and limb to persuade them to repent.  This compassion is revealed by Christ towards the very people who were crucifying Him as they were doing so.  “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).  Judgment Day is coming for them, but until then there is still opportunity to persuade them to repent. 

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (II Thessalonians 2:8).

          Eventually God will turn the tables on this world.  Even though living and witnessing for Christ is presently considered religious fanaticism compared to the world’s standards, this world will one day be changed.  Satan’s present covert actions (“the mystery of inequity”) against the cause of Christ will one day be revealed including the judgment of each person involved.

“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel” (Romans 2:16).

Christ gives us two commands to obey in order to overcome fear.  Command one: “What I tell you in darkness {privately; somethings are taught privately and deeply because lost people will not understand}, that speak in the light {publicly; what you understand deeply can be explain ed simply and with the time necessary}; and what ye hear in the ear {that you understand and that are explained to you}, that preach {proclaim and explain} upon the housetops {to everyone and anyone that will listen}” (Matthew 10:27).

          God does not work covertly through manipulation and deception.  Although the illumination of a believer to the truths of God is usually done in quiet times and with the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit as He gives us understanding, those truths are intended to be proclaimed and explained boldly and publicly.  God wants this world confronted with the truths of the Gospel message.  Man is a sinner, lost in his sin, condemned to an eternal hell.  Christ has paid the wages of sin.  God is propitiated.  Anyone can be saved if he will call out to Jesus to save him, recognizing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-13).

          The more we think about the possible negative consequences of witnessing for Christ, the higher the probability of our never getting out of our fox hole and doing anything for Christ.  Yes, the very people to whom you witness may kill your body.  But death is where this world’s power ends!  They can never touch your soul.  Your soul is ALREADY secure in the Father’s hands.  The more you focus on the Commander, the more the potential is there for your life to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Command two: “And fear {imperative voice; i.e. a commandment} not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear {imperative voice; i.e. a commandment} him {God} who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell” (Matthew 10:28).

          The believer must fear God for the lost.  The lost do not know enough to fear God for themselves.  Although the believer need not fear God for himself (except for chastisement in disobedience), God will one day judge this world and lost mankind without mercy.  This includes the people Christians fail to witness to because of a fear of being rejected.

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment” (James 2:13).

“²⁸ He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: ²⁹ Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.  And again, The Lord shall judge his people {lost, Christ rejecting Jews}. ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:28-31).

Christ gives one principle of encouragement for overcoming fear

Principle one: “²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?  And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are numbered.  Fear not, therefore; ye are more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).

          The “farthing” was 1\4 of one cent.  Not one of these sparrows die (which to the world seem worthless) unless God gives His permission.  God’s concern with the details of the believer’s life is so involved, He knows the numbers of the hairs of our head.  Therefore, the believer who trusts in the sovereignty of God in his life should not fear what man can do to him.  Man’s power over the believer’s life ends with death.  

          Overcoming the fear of rejection or persecution will happen when we change our perspective on life, when we obey Christ’s commands, and when we understand that God is intimately involved with every detail of our lives.  A continual refusal to be a testimony for Christ exposes the hypocrisy of our Christianity.  

          When was the last time you really worked at trying to bring a soul to Jesus Christ?  Do you really believe Jesus is the answer to all of man’s needs?  If you believe that, why isn’t getting that message out the central priority of your life?  What did you do this last week that proves your Christianity is real?

“³⁵ And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. ³⁶ But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; ³⁸ Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:35-38).

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Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist. 
He has served the Lord for over 50 years.