Don't be ashamed of your Christian identity!

Rev Enoch Thompson | MARCH 29, 2023 | Matthew 10:32-33

KEY VERSE:

"³²Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. ³³But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

One way to avoid being persecuted with the citizens of the Kingdom, those who identify themselves as believers in the message and person of the Lord Jesus Christ, who have become citizens of His Kingdom, who are therefore strangers in this world, and are therefore not part of the world-system, is to deny this identity in the face of opposition. The Apostle Peter was pushed into one such hole when during the arrest leading to the crucifixion of the Lord, while the Lord was being harassed by the shambolic trials in those early hours, he was confronted with his being a disciple of the Lord. For self-preservation, and maybe in the confusion within his mind as to why the Lord was not doing something miraculous to save Himself, Peter denied knowing the Master, let alone belonging to His band of followers.

Whenever we are tempted to renounce Christ let us be reminded of what He said: "³²Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. ³³But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV). In the matter of our day-to-day life we need representation before the Father in Heaven, and how we relate to Christ and own up to our relationship to Him speaks for or against us in the corridors of Heaven. When it is clear to us, and we make it a matter beyond any shadow of a doubt that we are Christ-followers, He identifies with us in Heaven, at the right hand of the Father, in the place of authority.

But let us be warned in very clear terms, that when we shrink from acknowledging the Lord Jesus, He is bound by the natural rule of friendship to disown us, for He cannot be friends with those who shy away from Him before mere mortals.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

It is better to lose human companions because we identify with the Lord Jesus Christ than to lose the Lord’s favour because we fear humans and love their favour. Are there ways in which we tend to disown the Lord? Let’s repent.

PRAYER:

Lord, please forgive me for the times I have denied you. I declare now and hold to it forever, that Jesus Christ is my Saviour and my Master. Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!