The Patriot Post® · Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort With all Longsuffering and Doctrine

By Gary Kelly ·
https://patriotpost.us/commentary/16339-reprove-rebuke-exhort-with-all-longsuffering-and-doctrine-2013-01-17

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Jesus, Matthew 24:24)

“One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation.” –Thomas Reed 1886

“…while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.” –Alexis de Tocqueville

“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 12:2)

Christian conservatives can no longer look to Republicans, the “conservative” media, commentators, and pundits who appear to be only “preaching to the choir.” Christian conservatives must begin to confront family, neighbors, friends, preachers, and “Christian progressives” to “reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” in righteousness and justice as defined by the Word of God.

Christian conservatives must also keep in mind that progressives do not respect facts and history, but reject these truths using unjustified diversions that Stalin and Hitler would be proud of. Progressives, who have no valid definition of how boundaries are to be determined will lie, distort, omit facts, attack and falsely accuse conservatives by deflecting from specific issues and facts. This plan to be evasive and redirect blame in an attempt to discredit conservatives has been greatly successful, due in large part by the willing collaboration of the Marxist media.

Recent headlines include: “Homosexual Group Releases ‘Queen James Bible’” and “Piers Morgan Scolds Pastor: ‘It’s Time To Amend The Bible.’”

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle (iota) shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Jesus, Matthew 5:17-20)

“The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” … “So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper as I intended.” (Isaiah 40:8, 55:11)

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” (Jude 14-19)

“And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:4,8)

Because many “progressives” on the left, the biased Marxist media, education administrators of indoctrination, Marxist politicians, and “progressive” judges, have been duped by “reprobate minds” as outlined in Romans 1, Christians need to return their focus on their calling.

The culture wars cannot be blamed solely on the left’s immoral quest for uninhibited sex with anyone, including young children, same-sex relationships, and criminalization of Judeo-Christian Biblical concepts and virtues. Christians, whether shepherds or layman must also take responsibility for having allowed this deprecation into darkness. While there are organizations and Christians that have honored Christ’s command to shine His Light and be the salt of the world, many Christian appear to simply be spectators, with no oil left in their lamps. This apathy has resulted in the myth of separation of church and state becoming an unwritten law of the land. Yet, separation of church and state does not exist in America’s Constitution or Bill of Rights.

The left has also been successful in deceptively redefining words like “normal, bullying, morals, values, bigotry, hate, tolerance, safety, discrimination, and diversity,” all in an effort to criminalize Christianity in the hopes of silencing God’s elect completely. As Jesus declared: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that is truthful comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:19-21)

Without sufficient resistance, the left has advanced their agenda of obliterating America’s foundation of how “unalienable Rights” were to be “entitled,” only if they adhered to “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.”

Progressives prefer selective laws as defined by progressives, even at the expense of health risks and dire consequences to our children. So long as it satisfies their self-pleasing impulsive vile unnatural pleasures.

Thus as the majority of Christians remain silent and do not “gird up their loins” like men, the immoral agenda of the left meticulously proceeds.

Therefore, as a reminder of our Christian calling in Christ, hopefully the Word of God will encourage more of His followers to take up the Armor of God instead of being spectators in this culture war and make use of the “sword of the Spirit” to engage and confront the darkness that is permeating this nation.

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:1-4)

Do not fall prey to those who say we are not to judge, another successful ploy of progressives. As “ambassadors for Christ,” are not Christians called to “reprove the world of sin,” to be the “salt of the earth” and the “Light of the World?”

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (Jesus, John 7:24)

“Then said he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest. … Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Jesus, Matthew 9:37-38, 10:16)

If this is not the Christian calling, then Christians are essentially giving progressive’s free rein to have their tyrannical, Marxist way with the lives of their sons and daughters.

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (Jesus, John 15:2)

“You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Jesus - Matthew 5:13-16)

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11)

“And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” (Jesus - Luke 14:27-28)

“If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (Jesus, John 15:18-19)

Imagine if Jesus and His followers did not declare these teachings. If today’s Pastor, Preacher, Ministers, and Priest continue to ignore declaring these teachings, then you won’t have to imagine much longer.

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father has sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21)

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. … Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 3:12-17, 4:2)

Gary Kelly’s web site is EarsToHear.net and the author of Lessons of The Holy Spirit: A Guide for Entering the Kingdom of God and Discover Why It Pleased God to Hide His Kingdom from the Wise.