BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER

October 21   Brother Against Brother    Matthew 5:11-12

***Due to the rise in COVID19 related illnesses, we are strongly encouraging the use of Masks, within the sanctuary, and to continue to observe “Social Distancing.”  Together, with a faithful reliance on God, we will overcome this present challenge!!***

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”  (Matthew 5:11-12)

This world is becoming difficult for the true believer.  Sharing Jesus, and His Love, has become offensive and the sharer has the potential, to be considered, to be spreading “Hate Speech!”  Sadly, none of us are insulated from the Evil and the Chaos that Satan is churning up among God’s people.  Just recently, I was asked to intervene in a “Squabble” between two brothers.  It was difficult to “cut through the hyperbole,” in order, to determine the cause of the riff.  Finally, I determined that one brother had shared the Plan of Salvation with the other brother, and the brother that heard the message was totally and completely offended.  “How dare he say that I am a sinner!  I could tell you who is the sinner!”  I forgot to mention that these boys are twins!  They have been together, doing things together, dating sisters, marrying sisters, yet, about this one thing and about the message of Christ, the one brother broke ranks and began to criticize the other and say terrible things about him and his God.  Finally, I realized that the brother that shared Jesus with the other, was doing it out of Love for his twin.  Now, the brother that was on the receiving end of the message was having no part of this, in his words, fantasy!  They were shouting at one another and saying terrible things to and about one another and I, in a stern and loud voice, told them to stop it and sit and listen!  I was praying, in my spirit, that the Holy Spirit would provide the words necessary to calm the situation and to touch the brother that was offended and to minister to the brother that shared Jesus, in order, to bring the “Lost” brother to Christ!  The one brother got us and stormed out of the house and there was the, well intentioned, brother, with tears in his eyes.  The brother that left, before leaving, said some hurtful and “hate-filled” words to his twin brother.  The brother that was left with me, looked at me and asked, “what can I do now?”  I told him that he had to be aware that his brother had to make up his own mind and that all he could do is share the life changing message of Jesus Love, and the Holy Spirit would handle the outcome.  Then he asked how he was to handle the hateful and hurtful words of his twin, the one individual that was the closest to him, in every way.  I shared this scripture for today: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”   Remember, God’s Word is offensive to this world, and we must “Armor Up” and keep serving Him, regardless of the worldly challenges, even if it is our own brother!  Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!