Lesson 146: TAKE YOUR STAND – PART 3

INTRODUCTION: In the third part of this series, we learnt that since man is a trinity of body, soul and spirit, he needs more than ordinary bread to survive. Therefore we should not allow our search for daily bread to obstruct our spiritual vision or goal.
Similarly, we learnt that if we sign a contract of total submission to God like
Daniel and co did, then the lions of this world and the fires of hell will not have power over us. Now, we continue our series exhorting you to take your stand against shame, fear of death and for Christ. May God bless us as we study at His feet in Jesus Name, Amen.

1. GOD PROMISES YOU BLESSINGS AND SONGS OF PRAISE, NOT SHAME
If you take your stand absolutely for Christ, you will be a blessed person and have no cause to be ashamed. It is unbelievers who will find Christ a stumbling block. It is blessings and songs of praise that God promises His people not shame. If you suffer for Christ’s sake, that is an opportunity to praise God. In any case” you are not sure of eternal life beyond doubts until you are willing to loose your life for Christ’s sake. And if you abide in Him totally, you will have no cause to be ashamed before Him when He comes again.

Ps. 119:1-6; Rom. 9:33; Joel. 1:26; Is. 50:7-9; I Pet. 4:15-16; Matt. 15:25; II Tim. 2:11; I John 2:28; Acts. 5:29-41; I John 4:15-18.

2. IF YOU SERVE CHRIST WHOLE – HEARTEDLY, GOD WILL HONOUR YOU
If you are completely for Christ, you should be bold because through Christ you have access to God. And if you are bold enough to visit God Himself, why must you be afraid of any man? Also, you do not need men’s honours because if you serve Christ, whole-heartedly God Himself will honour you if your entire love
is focused on Christ, the following are part of your blessings: (i) deliverance (ii) promotion (iii) answered prayers (iv) Divine presence in the day of trouble (v) honour (vi) long life and (vii) salvation.

Eph. 3:11-12; Heb. 4:14-16; Heb. 10:19-23; John 12:26; Ps. 91:14-16; Ps. 40:8; Ps. 143:10.

WHO IS A CHRISTIAN?
Some people believe that tradition can or must be embedded
into the true worship of God. This is wrong. Such people cling to
a common saying that “this is not too bad”. They fail to realize the
fact that what is not too bad has an element of it being bad in it.
You cannot serve God and mammon. God has a standard and
his standard cannot be compromised.

Matt. 5:20; I Pet. 4:16; Is. 3:16-24; I Pet. 3:3-4; John 13:34-35; John 15:14, 23; Rom. 8:35-36; I Pet. 4:16.