TODAY’S PROPHETIC WORD
Stop pleasing man and start pleasing God! God is looking for those who have a heart toward Him. God’s thoughts toward you are good and they are all that matter.
HATED FOR JESUS
There’s no more blatant example of Matthew 10:22-24 than Tim Tebow.
Heisman Trophy winner, tremendous leader, athlete, and drop-dead, sold out Jesus freak, Tebow has earned legions of haters inside and outside of the arena of sports. Why? Because he openly celebrates and honors Jesus.
This really breaks my heart. I know he’s not a Dallas Cowboy, but as a bad motor scooter for Jesus, we should be glad men like Tebow are on our side. I’ve had the great privilege of meeting his family. They are some of the finest people among us. Yet they, like me, are bad guys because we come in the name of Jesus.
I can tell you, being a pastor or being in the spotlight today, in the name of Jesus, is a lot like a disciple running for office. Look out!
However, if I’m being honest, a big reason why I’ve had a hard time dealing with my haters is because I have an incredible burden to represent the heart of Jesus well. You and I have the potential of being a church that misrepresents the heart of Jesus.
Not on my watch.
The church and its people certainly haven’t gotten everything right, but I want people to know God is the good guy. And if God is going to be known as the good guy, then the people of God need to represent God’s goodness. It is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance.
Tebow is a missionary kid. He’s served in the field and continues to feed, clothe, house and bring Jesus into some of the darkest places on the planet. For this, he is despised. Jesus told us that in these last days, people will call good “evil” and evil “good.”
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.
– Isaiah 5:20
When you are attacked for his name be just like Tebow, do good anyway! Feed and clothe people anyway. Do it in the name of Jesus because you and I are not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God to salvation.
No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper, God’s Word says it and I believe it. While Tebow may be hated for a short time by small minded people here, he is loved eternally by a good God and celebrated in heaven as an overcomer. Are you?
“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
– Matthew 10:22-24
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO CELEBRATE BEING HATED FOR SERVING JESUS. PLEASING GOD HAS ETERNAL REWARDS SO GET AFTER IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
From my sermon series I LOVE MY TRIBE
