Loyalty, Who Deserves It?

As we study scripture, lets remember that we are to embrace the truth of scripture and our loyalties do not belong to the church, our friends, or our denomination. Our loyalty is to be too God first. If our loyalty to God is correct, then we will choose the right church, the right friends, and yes the most biblical of denominations.

When we place loyalty to a man, method, church, creed or dogma, we are essentially setting up ourselves for failure. We are also become susceptible to ushering in a cult like atmosphere within the local church. When we have loyalty in our relationship with God then we truly understand it's meaning and have developed a proper respect of Him.

"Our loyalties must start with God, and end with God!!!"

If our relationship to God isn't where it should be, then everything else in your life will ultimately fall apart. Our opportunity or position should never determine our loyalty.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Notice that the Bible says we must be approved unto God. Not ourselves or those we choose to read after or fellowship with.

Phillipians 3:8-10 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that whichis through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

It's so important for us to remember that regardless of the circumstances, we are to allow the whatevers of life to draw us closer to god in that we may know him. The apostle Paul had a powerful ministry because His desire was to know God, not just know about God.

It's not easy to have the touch of God on your life in the society we live in today. If it were, everybody would be doing it.

One of the hardest lines to be drawn out by the believer in todays day and age is that which divides our personal separation and persecution.

#1 Don't let your separation divide you too far from those who need the gospel.

There is no doubt that the Word of God teaches separation. In fact it is one of those sub-doctrines that some folks either completely ignore...or major on depending upon to which camp you belong. Yet we need to remain vigilant and watchful that our separation doesn't become the ultimate defining factor in our lives.

The defining factor of our lives out to be that we know Him, not our separation. Our separation will only matter if we are living lives that are defined by Christ and Him crucified. We are called to make an impact upon todays culture, and not let the culture define us.

For most of us, Matthew 28:18-20 is known as the great commission. We are called to go into all the world- teach all nations. That's not just the country, We are to go to all people groups that are within the nation.

The word nation comes from the greek word, ethnos. It's the root word where our English word ethnicity comes from.

When we see a persons ethnicity, we not only see which country or region of the world they may have come from, we can recognize the prevailing or pre-dominant culture they adhere too.

So we look at todays culture in America, what do we see?

Easy access to sin and lasciviousness.

A growing handout mentality amongst the youth.

Anger at the establishment, which coincidentally they want to take care of them.

What is shocking is that the worlds philosophy and the predominant culture of today is slowly and methodically creeping into the church?

It's marketed as church growth methods or a catalyst or new seeker sensitive method of reaching the world by bringing the world into the church. It becomes appealing to the world because it appeals to their flesh.

Yet what our culture needs today isn't the world creeping into the church and hybrid form of worship. The world is desiring authenticity. The reason why people are so wrapped up in reality television is because their own personal reality has become lifeless and dull. We've become experts at living vicariously through those in the entertainment. If you ask me, personally I believe America needs a reality slap and it starts in the church house!!!

#2 The local church needs to focus on their Jerusalem.

We as believers will never make an impact on the world if we don't begin by making one in our own backyards. I often wonder if our missions giving is based on a bit of pride rather concern of reaching the lost.

Our Jerusalem will be impacted by sharing the gospel to each person. Not picketing or radical and extreme forms of separation. I'm not going to fight another preacher who is spreading the gospel in a Bible way.

Nothing changes hearts more than the gospel and nothing can unite the fellowship of the local church with other local churches than a common goal of winning the lost to Christ.

Its so easy to focus on the greener pastures in somebody else's area Perhaps when we are contemplating another churches greener pastures, it's the Holy Spirit telling us to water our own pasture. Psalm 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed , shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with Him.

No where in the aforementioned verses does it mention that the man has a burden before going. First he goes, then he weeps, then he reaps. It's a simple biblical way of reaching the world. You don't need a burden to reach your community. You only need to be obedient and realize folks are headed to a devils hell if we don't win them.

#3 Principle driven not purpose driven church

Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we are we are supposed to be and fully embracing who God called us to be.

The easiest way to live an authentic life has nothing to do with being a Baptist, having a large fleet of buses the size of your church staff and the amount of money put in the plate each Sunday am.

Living an authentic life is based upon our actions, and most importantly our reactions.

Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil things 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.

We don't have to be perfect, but we do have to be real. Bible Christianity is unpopular. Christ taught His disciples that they would be persecuted, beaten, robbed, and left for dead. And many times to be right with God, it means you have to be wrong with man.

Who is going to stand in your pastors place when he gets arrested for preaching the gospel?

Who is going to openly profess their savior when they are facing the gallows?

Hebrews 13:3-Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Perhaps we need to get ready for the days of persecution by remembering those who are being persecuted today.

Countless Christians in muslim countries are being martyred for their faith as we enjoy the fat of the land in America. Yet we wont even go to our neighbor with the gospel. We must begin to expect the persecution if we are living as God wants us to live. However, we shouldn't be getting persecuted because of our foolishness and disobedience.

John 15:8-9 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.. If ye were of the world, the world love it's own: but because ye are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

The world is at enmity with the things of God. But we don't, run and hide. We don't go around looking for a fight either. I often contemplate that one of the reasons why the world doesn't act right, is that it's b church doesn't act right.

#4 The average church doesn't act right, because the average church doesn't believe right.

Over the past thirty years the growing trend has been to focus on the methods and trends, not

the fundamentals of the faith. The fundamentals are what strengthens the believers faith, not the growth of a ministry.

My loyalty is based upon the God I serve. If the God I serve says I'm supposed to believe and worship Him a certain way, then I need to worship and obey in that certain way. If the God I serve tells me not to fellowship with certain individuals due to their false religion and sinful ideals, then I do not fellowship with them.

I'm a fan of the local church that is God ordained and God equipped according to the scriptures . They deserve my loyalty, not a denomination or fellowship gathering of preachers.

In closing let me remind you once again, if your loyalty to God is where it should be according to His Word, then the rest of your loyalties will fall into place.

- Evangelist Steve Livingston

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