The Testimony that Confirms Us

 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Lk 12:8-12).

Words are powerful. The words of the born again disciple of Jesus Christ should spring from a heart that is overflowing with thanksgiving for His saving grace and mercy. Words that praise and glorify God are certain evidence of a born again heart… “My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day” (Psalm 71:8). The Spirit warns through the pen of the Apostle James that confusion and contradiction reign in the hearts of the unrepentant and their words confirm the lost condition of their hearts… “With it (the tongue) we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:9-10). Today we see that Jesus prepared His disciples for their future ministry with a lesson about how words reveal the condition of the heart and with encouragement to share with the world around us the testimony that confirms us.

Our testimony before men confirms that we are not of this world. God’s word transforms the heart and mind of the born again disciple, making us think and speak differently than the world around us… “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). When our hearts are filled with truth from God’s Word then His truth overflows from our lips… “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34) and our words identify us as being set apart from the world… “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:16-17). The testimony of diligent Biblical truth seekers confirms that we are not of this world.

Our testimony before the Holy Spirit confirms that we are born again. When we receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord we are born again as children of God… “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). Because we are His children, God places the Spirit of His Son in our hearts… “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Galatians 4:6). The truly born again child of God cannot blaspheme (Greek: blasphēmeō – vilify, defame, rail on, revile, speak evil) against the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit if that Spirit is consuming their heart… “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). The testimony of maturing, Spirit-filled disciples confirms that we are His born again children.

Our testimony before authorities confirms that we are subjects of the sovereign Lord. As born again disciples we imitate our Teacher Jesus who was silent when he was brought before the authorities of His day… “And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, ’Have you no answer to make?’… But he remained silent and made no answer” (Mark 14:60-61). In our silence the Holy Spirit gives us words to speak that glorify Christ, our supreme authority… “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14). The testimony of obedient disciples confirms that Jesus is our Lord.

As we grow up into Christ, at every opportunity with increasing confidence we learn to share…

The Testimony that Confirms Us.

The Hypocrisy that Hinders Us

 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Lk 12:1-7).

As the crowd grew and the ministry prospered Jesus seized an opportunity to teach His disciples an important lesson about true discipleship. Growing up into Christ is not about public appearance but it's about the private, inner transformation that's taking place in the heart as we become more like Christ and reflect His image to the world around us… “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Our primary enemy in this perfecting process is hypocrisy. In this brief discourse Jesus revealed three indispensable virtues that lead to victory over the hypocrisy that hinders us.

Hypocrisy is conquered when we pursue Integrity – be consistent with Christ: Jesus taught here that there should be no difference in our public and personal lives. If we agree with the truth of God’s Word that Christ lives in us and He is working within us to make us more like Him, then we should consistently seek and apply His truth to every part of our lives. We do this corporately through fellowship, worship, and Bible study; and we do this privately in Bible study and prayer… “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). Hypocrisy is overthrown as we consistently obey God’s Word.

Hypocrisy is crushed when we fear no man – be confident in Christ: Jesus taught here that we should fear no person, place, or thing but God. If we agree with the truth that God is absolutely sovereign over every particle of His creation, including every bit of our lives, then there is no room for fearing anything else beside Him. When we consider the depth of love that God has for us because we are His children… “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1), we know we can be confident in Him as our loving Father… “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18). Hypocrisy is overshadowed by confidence in God’s love that conquers our hearts.

Hypocrisy is clobbered when we accept our worth – be conformed into Christ: Jesus taught here that we are of the highest value in the eyes of God. When the Father looks at His children He sees us through the blood of His Son… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). When our spouse, our children, our friends, our boss, our bank balance, or any other person or circumstance begins putting us down, God challenges us to see ourselves like He does, created to worship, fellowship, and serve Him as Jesus does… “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10), and to glorify Him as we are being made over into the image of Christ as, “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:7). Hypocrisy is overcome as we are conformed into Christ.

As we grow up into Christ, consistent, confident, and conformed in Him, we are delivered from…

The Hypocrisy that Hinders Us.

The Law that Frees the Heart

One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say (Lk 11:45–54).

The lawyers could not help feeling convicted by the woeful words of Christ that were directed at the Pharisees. That’s what happens when the Word of God… “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13) and the Spirit of God… “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8) are working together to grasp and transform the hearts of sinners. In reply to their confession Jesus reveals how even the most zealous followers can be deceived unless they have been transformed by the law that frees the heart.

Some who call themselves followers of Jesus burden themselves and others with legalistic and religious burdens. True discipleship is not obeying a long list of rules that only modify external behavior. We don’t need the grace of God for such legalistic manipulation. True disciples are born again with a new heart that is hungry for God’s Word, holiness, fellowship with Him and other believers, to serve Him and His Church, and to share His precious gospel. A heart freed and compelled by the love of Christ is an obedient heart where Christ abides richly… “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” (John 14:23).

Some who say they are Christ followers honor the prophets but do not honor or obey their words. True discipleship is not possible apart from the nourishment… “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4), equipping… “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and sanctifying… “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17) Word of God. That’s why the hearts of true disciples are immersed in God’s Word… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

Some who claim to be Jesus followers take away the key of knowledge. The key to knowledge is the Holy Spirit who leads earnest seekers deep into the truth sealed in God’s Word… “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). True disciples rely on the Holy Spirit to teach God’s truth so they are transformed by the truth of God’s Word. They don’t want to miss the revelation of Jesus Christ in every part of scripture… “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39). The hearts of true disciples are transformed and filled by the Spirit that replaces sin and death with the life of Christ… “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2).

As we grow up into Christ we grow and are transformed by the grace and mercy that accompanies…

The Law that Frees the Heart.

The Change that is from the Inside Out

While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it” (Lk 11:37-44).

Jesus accepted an invitation to dine with a Pharisee. This is extraordinary when we remember that the Pharisees led the attacks against Christ and His message. Jesus willingly went to the home of this enemy and shared fellowship and a meal with this adversary because He loved him as much as He loved anyone else. But Jesus used this invitation to attempt to change this skeptic’s heart and not his skin. He revealed that evidence of the truly born again life is not merely a change of behavior but a change of motive because trusting Christ produces the change that is from the inside out.

The new life in Christ is identified by generous giving. Like the Pharisees, our old nature was enslaved by the deceitful notion that we own everything we have. When we gave something away we thought we were parting with something of ourselves. The old man’s giving is a reflection of impotent self-righteousness. When we are born again our spirit is quickened to receive and believe the truth that we are stewards of God’s creation because all things belong to Him… “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever” (Romans 11:36). Jesus commended tithing here at the same time He condemned unholy motive because tithing is the acknowledgement that because we are His born again children, God entrusts us with stewardship of His creation. The new heart of the new believer, where possession is replaced by stewardship, overflows with holy generosity that moves us beyond tithing and makes us cheerful givers… “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). God loves to bless generous, cheerful givers so we might steadily increase our stewardship and participation in His good work… “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

The new life in Christ is infused with gentle humility. Like the Pharisees, we used to crave the attention, admiration, and acceptance of others. We spent lots of energy investing in the right relationships that could help us build an attractive reputation for ourselves. Many try to build a reputation for themselves even in the church, but the truly born again disciple knows that Christ sees through even the haughtiest man-made reputation… “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). True disciples have died with Christ and now Christ lives in us… “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Genuine disciples have exchanged reputation for humility, following Christ’s example… “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8 KJV).

The new life in Christ is inspired by genuine compassion. Like the Pharisees, we were controlled by selfishness. But selfishness is replaced by compassion in the love-driven heart of true disciples… “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

As we grow up into Christ evidence that we are truly born again and becoming more like Him is…

The Change that is from the Inside Out.

The Light that is in Us

“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light” (Lk 11:33–36).

Jesus just finished teaching that the Son of Man is a sign to this generation as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites in his generation. But what about other generations? What about our generation? In His very next lesson, with light as the object of the lesson, the Teacher exhorted His disciples to be a reflection of the sign of the Son of Man to their generation. The Bible reveals that Jesus Christ is life and light for all people… “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The Spirit moved the Apostle John to further identify Jesus as the only true light… “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9). He went on to teach that we are born again when we receive Christ, so the logical result is that the true Light now lives in us. The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to write down every detail of this powerful lesson for earnest disciples in every generation. Today, the Spirit of Truth exhorts us to be productive disciples and to illuminate our generation with the sign of Christ that is revealed by the Light that is in us.

The world is the objective of our light. Receiving Jesus Christ has immediate and eternal blessings for us individually. But receiving Him also brings the responsibility of sharing Him with those around us. If we believe the whole truth of the gospel, we see everyone as either on their way to heaven or hell, based upon whether they have heard and believed the same truth about Christ as we have… “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18). The Spirit moved John to explain that it is the light of Christ that confronts and convicts the hearts of men and women, making their response to His light the deciding difference in where they will spend eternity… “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). Where might Christ want you to shine His true Light on someone today?

Christ is the origin of our light. While it’s true that the Light of Christ indwells the heart of the true believer, we also struggle with the sin nature and are tempted to fill our hearts with the darkness of the world that surrounds us. Knowing this, Jesus taught His disciples to keep their eyes healthy because the eye is the lamp of your body, or the doorway into your heart. He was so concerned about the power of what we see in the dark world around us to corrupt our heart that He said… “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell” (Mark 9:47). Jesus wants us to keep our eyes on Him so He can fill us to overflowing with His true Light… “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Are your eyes fixed on the Light of Christ today?

Holiness is the outcome of our light. If our eyes are focused on Christ then His Light fills our hearts and overcomes any hidden darkness… “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). As we walk closely with Jesus through this dark world, His light within us keeps us free from sin and in close fellowship with other true believers… “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Are you growing so close to Christ that others see His light radiating from your heart?

As we grow up into Christ we become a brighter and more powerful reflection of Jesus…

The Light that is in Us.