A Fundamental Shift
Posted by appolus on December 24, 2013
There is a fundamental shift taking place in our world. God is preparing His children for a paradigm shift in attitude towards them. For many generations in the west there has been a general accepting attitude of Christianity.
And He said to them, When I sent you without purse and wallet and sandals, did you lack anything? And they said, Nothing.And He said to them, But now, he who has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his wallet. And he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. Luk 22:35-36
When Jesus sent out His Disciples by twos, they encountered many blessings and walked in the miraculous. So much so that Jesus had to remind them sternly that they were not to rejoice in the fact that they had power over demons or signs and wonders but they were to rejoice in their salvation, a fact lost on many today. Salvation is always the focus of those who truly follow Jesus. Now in Luke 22 we see Jesus preparing His disciples for a sea change in attitude towards them. No longer would they find a warm and accepting attitude towards them, in fact quite the opposite.
Now why was this? Well Jesus was about to suffer and die. The battle was about to intensify. Death and hell was about to suffer its ultimate defeat. That was the spiritual battle and we are facing the same battle today. Jesus is coming back. He is at the door. The enemy knows that His time is short and he is gathering all the forces of hell for his last great battle. We are now living in the relative calm before the storm here in the west. In the rest of the world the battle is already raging and our brothers and sisters are being slaughtered and persecuted.
Now why did the people’s attitude towards the disciples change and what can we learn from that today? Well up until Jesus reveals His true purpose here on earth, the general population of Israel had always believed that when Messiah came He would restore Israel to its rightful place. He would establish Gods Kingdom here on earth and they would be the rulers of it and the Romans would be destroyed, their oppressors would be judged and defeated. And along comes Jesus and he walks in the miraculous power that only God could walk in. He heals the sick and He delivers the demon possessed. He speaks with a wisdom and authority that could only be of God. The people rejoice in Him, and would even make Him their King. We witness that as He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. Joh 2:23-25
What did Jesus know? Why would Jesus not commit Himself to these ” believers?’ What was in these men that was diametrically opposed to Jesus even although they openly believed in Him? He knew that once they found out that He had come to suffer and die that they would reject that message. Everything was great while He healed them and delivered them and fed them and gave them insight into heavenly things, yet when he revealed that He had come to suffer and die, in fulfilment of Isa 53, they not only rejected Him, they were the ones who cried out for His blood. An insight into this can be seen in one of the chief Apostles, Peter.
From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him, saying, God be gracious to You, Lord! This shall never be to You. But He turned and said to Peter, Go, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you do not savor the things that are of God, but those that are of men.Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever desires to lose his life for My sake shall find it. Mat 16:20-25
Brothers and sisters we live in a day and age where the notion of suffering for His sake has become repulsive. We live in a day and age in the west where most profess to be believers. We have already seen that Jesus refused to commit Himself to believers who only followed Him because of the miracles that they saw and for what they could get from Him. Jesus was and is looking for a people who would take up their cross and follow after Him and join Him in His sufferings and death. We are soon to see this fundamental shift in Christendom. The majority, who in one fashion or another have been and seek to live their best lives now, will react just as Peter reacted, just as the “believers,” of Jesus day reacted, they will soundly reject any notion of suffering for the sake of Jesus and then they will turn on those who do embrace it.
Persecution is coming. Jesus is coming. The majority will reject the true calling of Christianity. It will be repulsive to them. They will turn on those who embrace the true Christ and who follow the narrow path. Yet for those who embrace the cross, the narrow path, who follow Jesus they will be empowered from on high. He equips those He calls. He does not leave nor forsake His children. God will pour out His Spirit upon His children and they will walk in His power. And so the question becomes ” why are you following Jesus?’ The dividing line will be between those who mind the things of men and those who mind the things of God. God is revealing to His people all over the world that they must suffer for His sake. To those of us in the West, this is a fundamental shift. How shall we react? God knows what is in a man. He is shaking everything that can be shaken. He is sifting ” believers,” prior to His coming. There can be no middle ground, no neutrality. You cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in His Kingdom. You will either love the brethren and take your place with them as they suffer for His sake or you will call for their blood. It is coming brothers and sister. It is time to embrace the cross. Those who do will walk in resurrection power, the power of the Living God. Those who do not will become enemies of God and His people.
A Call To The Remnant 
KMH said
Thanks for this post Brother Frank. I recently have been pondering Luke 22, which, I believe also contains verses when Jesus was in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. I believe this whole chapter deals with spiritual warfare. Satan “demands permission” from Jesus to sift Peter like wheat. (the contrast of demanding permission could be a whole post) Jesus prays for Peter “that his faith may not fail.” and that Peter would “strengthen his brothers.” Then there is the whole discussion of the fundamental shift you discuss, to now carry swords, but later Peter chops off the high priest’s slaves ear with the sword without first asking and Jesus says “Stop! No more of this.” Jesus tells the disciples in the garden, to “Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” They had fallen asleep. I always thought this meant that Jesus was saying “Can you not tarry with an hour?” (Matthew 26) and that I needed to “do” more in the flesh.
After careful time with the Holy Spirit on this chapter, I believe Jesus is saying don’t be tempted into despair. TRUST HIM. Strengthen one another so our faith may not fail in these times. May we trust that Jesus has already rendered the work of the devil powerless. May we do the work He has called us in the sermon on the Mount to do… help the poor, sick and bonded. This is spiritual warfare. Lord…we do believe but help our unbelief. You are the author and perfecter of our faith… may it not fail because YOU hold the keys to heaven and hell. You are the guardian of each person’s soul…NOT satan…. YOU! May we see what you are doing in us, in our loved ones, in our oikas. Merry Christmas Remnant Saints! The battle should be FUN because we have WON!
appolus said
Hi KMH,
The tension lies in what we expect from Jesus. Peter along with the Jewish community expected a certain kind of Savior, one who would restore their pride and their position in life. The taking up the sword was simply part of what any men who traveled in those days would have by their side. When they asked Him how many swords you see Jesus answer with some frustration that it is enough. ( 2 swords between 12 men who will soon face an angry mob, this is not nor never was a call to arms by Jesus as some gun toting folks would have us think)
Gethsemane is a huge part of this story. This is the true battle, poor Peter is so off the mark. We already get a clue into his mindset when Jesus says to him ” get behind me Satan.” That is a huge rebuke but Peter was saying to Jesus, who was so shortly to face Gethsemane and Calvary just exactly what Satan said to Him when he tempted Him with all the nations of the world. Satan was saying to Jesus that if He would just bow down and worship him then He could have all that He came to save and avoid the cross. Peter was saying to Him that He would not allow Him to suffer. Obviously the truth is that life springs forth from death. In order to walk in resurrection power we must take up the cross. Christendom will face the very options that Peter faced. Shall we embrace a God that calls us to Martyrdom or shall we take up the sword and by our actions deny Jesus? The notion of suffering is still offensive, Calvary is an offense to those who are perishing but it is the very beginning of life to those who are surrendered. Suffering divides those who are called from those who believes in a Jesus that serves them……………..bro Frank
Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said
“We have already seen that Jesus refused to commit Himself to believers who only followed Him because of the miracles that they saw and for what they could get from Him. Jesus was and is looking for a people who would take up their cross and follow after Him and join Him in His sufferings and death. […] It is time to embrace the cross. Those who do will walk in resurrection power, the power of the Living God. Those who do not will become enemies of God and His people.”
Yep, that’s it, Frank. There is nothing left that could be added. Nonetheless, I’d like to quote your fellow countryman John Thomson here, who is on the same page with us since he wrote,
“The gospel makes it plain that the death and resurrection of Jesus are not simply events that we believe and confess, but they are realities in which we share. […] The only way I can take up the cross and follow Christ is through the enabling power of his resurrection life in the Spirit. […] And it is the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead in resurrection life who works in our hearts, we who were dead in trespasses and sins, have been made alive with Christ that we may be given over to death for him.”
http://johngreenview.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/the-power-of-his-resurrection-the-fellowship-of-his-suffering-conformed-to-his-death/
appolus said
That’s a great quote from a fellow Scotsman sister to which I say amen………………bro Frank
Leslie Manto said
Wow, brother. The Holy Spirit gave you this message so succinctly. This is truly the message of the hour for all who believe in Jesus as Lord. I weep that so many have already grown cold. Trusting Him is the only way to endure the cross but I rejoice that others are hearing this word from our soon and coming King. May the Lord bless you and keep you sounding the trumpet blast in these, truly, the last days.
Sister Leslie