A BAD SEASON

                                                                    A BAD SEASON 

   At the end of his life on EARTH Paul wrote to Timothy a young man who he had mentored . He warned him of a time each Christian could and encounter if they preach,teach or speak the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   In 2 Timothy 4 Paul says "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

   There is a season "a time" when a person , city or nation will refuse listen. "they will not endure sound doctrine"  They will not actually try to seek the truth, or listen but will suppress the truth. They will do this with words, laws,and persecution all the way to murder. This is where we are increasingly finding ourselves in the Western World. It has been this way for our brothers and sisters in the Lord in the non-western world for centuries. Now many times there is little "tolerance " of the views of biblically based believers in Christ on many topics. They want silence at a minimum and affirmation of many views that oppose the Gospel and iBble. So we have conflict as Christians become more marginalized.    

  The book of Acts shows an example of how this took place in one city.   Paul on a missionary journey would when possible go and give the Gospel to the Jews first in synagogues.  He would reason from scripture . He would " Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching."  Afew would listen but most would reject the Gospel.

  ACTS 13 42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. .........49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 

   In ACTS 13 we see one example where the Gospel was preached and Paul met with Jews and gentiles who wanted it explained. When the majority of the Jews in the city rejected the Gospel Paul and Barnabas continued to speak to the gentiles until they were "expelled them from their region."  Once the majority of those in power would not tolerate "sound doctrine" they refused to listen or let other listen. here it was persecution but many time this has meant death through history for Christians.

   The truth was rejected with no desire to listen or discuss. Romans 1:18 says that the truth when this happens is being suppressed. Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness," 

   It is one thing someone not to listen but persecution and what is now taking place in the West is the start of the suppression of the TRUTH" . If possible we have to do  as Jesus told the disciples. He said  in  Matthew 10:14 :And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet."  He told them do not argue just leave !  Paul and Barnabas did that city  " 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet " We are now in the season of intolerance to: Gods word, biblical truth ,the Gospel , and  Christians . I recently read in a famous magazine an article  mocking  a young man who died on a missionary journey to a tribe.  Mocking him for beleif in what they called a "myth and calling his desire to share the Gospel a form of cultural arrogance. So this spirit of intolerance and rejection comes from governments ,corporations, media, schools,magazines and many ordinary people.   

   The bibles answer?  " .. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." Then if possible "shake off the dust from your feet" and move on to someone who wants sound doctrine, truth and most importantly Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Written by SSligh blog creator/moderator/