Whose Fool Are You?*

The title of this message is based on the humorous expression: "Yes, I'm a fool for Jesus...whose fool are you?!" The Church shouldnt be about introducing someone to salvation through Jesus Christ, and then leaving the person on their own afterwards. The Church is about discipleship, and coming into the full stature of Christ. Discipleship is a process in our walk with Christ. While it has a beginning moment, it is also ongoing, and incorporates a way of life. Discipleship affects how we interact with the world, and our fellow believers, as well as our interaction with our Savior and our walk in the will of God. Paul in Romans 12 gives us a good look into our discipleship: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, tht ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ...I say... to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (v. 1-3). So much of the Church is caught up in worldly things, thinking only of self, when there are many suffering around the world who need the ministry that we have to offer through Christ. Romans continues in Chapter 12 to describe the relationship of believers to each other. Although there is one body of Christ, there are many members within it, "...every one members one of another." (v. 5). We are members of the body, but also members of each other. The gifts given to each member through grace including prophecy, ministering, teaching, exhorting and more, are done faithfully and selflessly: "Let love be without dissimulation (meaning hypocrisy, insincerity). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." (v. 9-10). We have often seen lately Christians involved in political and even racial strife. Are we seeing faith or foolishness? We see Christian babes without understanding or maturing. This is not what the Word of God expects of discipleship in Christ. How should disciples treat those who persecute or accuse them? "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not...If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men...Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (v. 14, 18, 21). Peter said the same things concerning Christian conduct: "...be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing...Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts..." (1 Peter 3:8-15, excerpt). Peter wrote that in maintaining this good conscience and manner of living, those who do falsely accuse us are put to shame (v. 16). What is our life saying to those who are watching us? With who and what are we closely associating ourselves? Paul wrote: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?...And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (2 Cor. 6:14-17). God has called us not just to be His servants, but His sons and daughters (v. 18). Because of this, Paul urged: "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 7:1). The Book of Proverbs is filled with the call to be children of wisdom, rather than followers of fools and foolishness. T Proverbs says that the lifestyle of wisdom avoids evil and evil doers, and the fools who will not receive wisdom or correction (see Prov. 13:20), while receiving instead instruction, wisdom, understanding, justice, judgment and equity (Proverbs 1:1-15). This life of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding starts with the fear of the LORD, the attention to the Word of God, and instruction from our parents. Today we see children disrespecting their parents, and parents not instructing their children in godly wisdom. James also wrote regarding our unwise connection to things that are not godly: ",,,know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4). The church has definitely made friends with the world and the ways of the world. James concludes that the fighting and lusting, and inappropriate desires expressed even in our prayer requests made to God, are a direct result of being connected to the world and the things of the world (v. 1-3). As God deals with strongholds in the end times, those who have connected themselves with these strongholds will suffer in their fall, which is promised. Scripture gives the city/spiritual stronghold of Babylon as an example of this in Revelation Chapter 18. Bebylon has allowed itself to become the habitation of devils, demons and every foul spirit. All nations have participated with it, and have "drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." (v. 3). We already see this same ind of corruption touching every one of our institutions today. To this Babylon, the Lord pronounces: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen..." (v. 2). A voice from heaven warns God's people, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." (v. 4-5). The prophet Isaiah also wrote the same warning from the LORD: "The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD." (Isa. 52:10-11). Seek the God-kind of life. Who you companion with is who you are going to be like. Lot and his family lived in the wicked city of Sodom. Although he and his family were removed almost forcibly from Sodom by the angels of the LORD just before that city's destruction, they had already been corrupted by the ways of Sodom. His wife was destroyed soon after by her disobedience, and his daughters sought an immoral and ungodly remedy to their childless circumstance. We cannot touch, associate, join with, compromise with, or make friends with ungodliness without affecting our lives, and our walk with God. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/31/21 message to the church. To contact, give a praise report, submit a prayer request, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and at endtimeschool.com.