VFNRadio Second Hour April 24, 2014

LISTEN NOW! Greg, John, and Pat discuss a recent message shared by Pastor John Kilpatrick on Resurrection Sunday at Church of His Presence.  Brother Kilpatrick’s message was about the stigma that goes with being a Christian.  Today many are doing their best to avoid being stigmatized while being accepted by the world.  The truth is that Christians need to fully and happily embrace the stigma of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He shares three things that are important to know.  The first thing is that it is a privilege to be scandalized or stigmatized for Jesus.  The second is that it is a folly on our part to worry about a diminished reputation by following or allow the fear of man to keep us from obeying God and His word.  Thirdly, the benefits of bearing an offense for Jesus cannot be calculated.  The benefits are more numerous than we could ever imagine but you will live to regret it if you live for reputation rather than Jesus.  Those that mock you will live to regret it too.   They continue to discuss how most Christians in America are of the notion that all we must simply do is receive Jesus.  The Bible says that is not the case, just believing is not going to save you.  “Even though the devil believes I can guarantee you he is not saved” says Brother Kilpatrick.  We must believe in Jesus, receive Jesus and take up our cross and follow him.  We must preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ one that shares the reality that Jesus is not just Savior but he is also Lord and these two must never be separated.  He is Lord and Savior.  Greg shares how people are trying to destigmatize the gospel any way they can. They continue to share how many churches are trying to dodge stigma and are trying to fit in.  Greg continues to share how refreshing it is to hear truth and encourages us to do everything we can do to get ourselves up under truth because of the many lies that are being promulgated in the church today.  There are a lot of messages that are being preached in many churches but rest assured if the “good news” you hear is pleasing to your flesh it’s probably not the gospel.  They continue to discuss that if the church “destigmatizes the gospel the church will lose its power.  Stop trying to be like them accept the fact that when you make Jesus Lord you will have the privilege of being scandalized.  One of the biggest things we as Christians have going for us is that God’s presence is with us.  However, some people don’t even care about God and are more interested in doing the “church thing”.  They would rather choose form over substance and task over relationship.  They further discuss how it wasn’t just lay people getting right with Jesus but many pastors were getting saved as well.   They alert us to the fact that the stigma is going to come but the saddest thing is where the stigmatization comes from.  It will come from your neighbor, your family, brother or even a preacher.  Greg shares with us how it’s not just the world that is being sifted but we as believers are being sifted too as God is bringing your light to the surface.  If you are ashamed of God He will be ashamed of you.  They continue to discuss what was shared regarding how many sports stadiums are banning signs with the loving verse of scripture John 3:16.  Today you are hearing messages that have no stigma associated with them such as the prosperity gospel or gospel of healing however there is a stigma associated with the gospel of the blood of Christ that cleanses away all of our sins.  They encourage us to be loyal to Jesus.  They encourage us to fully embrace the stigma of the gospel and not be cowards for cowards don’t enter the kingdom of heaven.    You may be wondering what is happening in your life when the closer you get to Jesus the farther your friends, family members or coworkers get maybe they are trying to avoid being stigmatized.   They continue to share how many in the Bible were stigmatized and that stigmatization never left their life.   It happened to Abraham, those who stigmatized him leaving everything.  It happened to Joseph when he was stigmatized for committing a sexual act he did not do.  It happened to Paul as he was stigmatized for being in prison.  To this you were called.  It’s time to shake all that off for God is truly looking for faithful and loyal sons and daughters.  They encourage us to put all “religion” aside and be fully committed to Jesus alone.  Commit to Him and tell Him; I am yours.