Most Hated Thing

09/12/09

“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (NKJV)

IS THE WORD!

THE WORD o

Hated by infidels n n

unbelievers have always scoffed at the scriptures; hate the Bible also hate God William Pope (died 1797) o ridiculed everything religious o he and comrades are said to have kicked the bible around and tear it up as one of their exercises o “I have no contrition. I cannot repent. . .nothing for me but hell. . .I hate everything God has made, only I have no hatred for the devil—I wish to be with him. . .Do you see him? He is coming for me” (Lockyer, Herbert, All the Last Words of Saints and Sinners, p. 132)

THE WORD o

Hated by Deists n n

n

“Voltaire” –François Marie Arouet, (died 1778) "One hundred years from my day there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity seeker." (1776, www.psychcentral.com) At his death he told his doctor, “I am abandoned by God and man! I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months’ life. Then I shall go to hell; and you will go with me. O Christ! O Jesus Christ!” (Lockyer, Herbert Last Words of Saints and Sinner, p. 133)

THE WORD o

Hated by religious people n

n

“The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” (Jer. 5:31, NKJV) “That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the LORD; Who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ And to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits’” (Is. 30:9, 10, NKJV)

THE WORD o

Hated by religious people n

“So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. . .’” (2 Chron. 18:7, NKJV) o

many folks do not like the preacher unless he speaks good of them!

THE WORD o

Hated by denominationalism n

n

n

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Lk. 6:46, NKJV) “Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (Jn. 14:23, NKJV) “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15, NKJV)

THE WORD o

Hated by denominationalism n

NOT hated in “word” o

n

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven. . .” (Matt. 7:21, NKJV)

IS denied in “deed” o

“They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (Titus 1:16, NKJV)

Denominationalism Destroys Jesus’ Prayer 20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: (John 17:20-22, NKJV)

Is there unity: o

in calling preachers “father” n

o

“Do not call anyone on earth your father. . .” (Matt. 23:9, NKJV)

in passing a collection any day of the week? n

“On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside. . .” (1 Cor. 16:2, NKJV)

Is there unity: o

in telling men that we are saved by “faith alone”? n

o

“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24, NKJV)

in keeping the Sabbath Holy? n

“Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (Acts 20:7, cf. 2:42, NKJV)

Is there unity: o

in calling men by hyphenated names? n

o

“And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26, NKJV)

sprinkling in place of immersion for baptism? n

“buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Col. 2:12)

Facts about the Word o

shows us plainly what we are (a mirror) n n

James 1:21-25 Prescription for success with the word: o o o

n

lay aside all filthiness (v. 21) receive with meekness the implanted word (v. 21) be doers (v. 22)

“The Bible is a searchlight. It reveals the secrets of the soul; that is why men hate it so!”

Facts about the Word o

it judges all n

“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48)

Facts about the Word o

it judges all n

Revelation 20:13-15, “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Facts about the Word o

shows us plainly what to do “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’” (Acts 2:37)

Facts about the Word o

The answer given in scripture n n n n n n

hear (Rom. 10:17) believe (Heb. 10:6) confess (Matt. 10:32, 33) repent (Lk. 13:3) be baptized (Acts 2:38) fidelity to Christ (Rev. 2:10) o o

regular study (2 Tim. 2:15) regular worship (Jn. 4:24; Heb. 10:25-31)

Facts about the Word o

defeats those who oppose it n

n

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matt. 24:35) “ ‘But the word of the LORD endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Pet. 1:25)

Facts about the Word o

defeated n

Jezebel o

o o

“For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD. . .” (1 Kin. 18:4) tried to kill Elijah (1 Kin. 19:2-3) perished by violence (2 Kin. 9:30-37)

Facts about the Word o

defeated n

Herod Antipas o o o o

n

beheaded John (Mk. 6:14-29) treated Jesus with contempt (Lk. 23:11) was sent into perpetual banishment, died in Spain foster brother was a teacher in the church of Christ (Acts 13:1)

Saul tried to destroy the church dragging off men and women (Acts 8:3) o

was later converted to Christ and was dragged away by unbelievers (Acts 14:19; 16:19; 21:30)

Do you stand OPPOSED to the Word or FOR it?

"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matt. 12:30)