DON’T BE A SECRET DISCIPLE

DON’T BE A SECRET DISCIPLE

Mark 8:38

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." RSV

Introduction:

The devil will not sit down like a pathetic twit, fold his hand and watch you serve the Lord your God in Spirit and in truth. In as much as he is the landlord of hell fire, he will do all he could to make sure that he wins as much tenant as he can.

Therefore, expect him (devil) to dance around you, trials and temptations from anyone, even from your beloved parents, siblings, teachers etc. 

FACTORS THAT MAKES SOME BELIEVERS A SECRET DISCIPLES

1. SHAME

2. FEAR 

1. SHAME 

(Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…)

Don’t underestimate the embarrassment that Jesus went through starting from the point He was arrested, trialed, crucified till when He was placed inside a tomb, within this time frame;

• He was flogged publicly: (John 19:1) Most of us if we are being flog at school, shame will not let us go to school throughout that week. 

• He was struck: (John 18:22) Can someone slap you and go free? Even if that person is your elder in age? Some of us if we can’t react directly to that person, we turn the revenge to their children, and even keep malice with that person.

• He was mocked: (Mark 15:17-18) They made Him a laughing stock, they make fun of him.

• They Spat on His Face: (Mark 15:19) Though matter how clean the mouth and teeth is, the spit from that mouth can never ever be odourless.  

• They undress Him (garment) and use napkin: (Luke 23:34) As if He was two months old baby. 

• Finally, they Crucified Him openly on a cross: (Mark 15:24) He was suspended on the cross with nail.

All these they did to Him publicly in the midst of great crowd, but He wasn’t ashamed, Why? Because He knew he was doing the will of the Father, He knew that His Heavenly Father was happy with Him. So, Beloved brethren, anything you know that if you do it, your Heavenly Father will be happy with you, please go ahead and do it, ignore the voiceless voices. Any voice that is against the will of God is voiceless, refuse to hear what they are saying.  

2. FEAR 

(Isaiah 41:10 Fear not)

There are some believers that are afraid due to their family religion, perhaps the family believe in another religion, then one of them got saved and accept Christ as His Lord and personal Savior. There are families where such act will lead to the death of the convert. So, for that reason, they tried to serve the Lord God secretly. But that is not possible, Jesus Christ said (Luke 9:23-27 “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me… For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”), you can’t be a secret disciple and please God, because God said, (Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine, that men will see it and give glory to your Father in heaven), so, if you choose to be a secret disciple what light are you transmitting to the world to see?

TRANSFORMING FROM A SECRET DISCIPLE TO A SACRED DISCIPLE

• Stand Firm and Don’t Be Afraid
  (Exodus 14:13, Deut. 31:6, 7, 23; Joshua 1:6,7,9,18; 10:25; 1 Chron. 22:13, 28:20, 2 Chron. 32:7) 

After Elijah ran from Jezebel, the only solution was for him to go back and defeat his fear, Moses ran from Pharaoh for forty years but at last the solution was for him to return back and defeat his fear. Gideon hid from the Midianites for seven years but at the the finally solution was for him to face his fears (Judges 6:1,11; 8:28). He who fight and run away, leave to fight another day 

Conclusion:

Jesus himself can felt shame, so He promise that whoever is ashamed of Him now, He (Jesus) will personally be ashamed of that person on the last day. So, brethren, what does it profit if you call yourself a child of God and pass through trials and temptations for the sake of your faith, then on the last day Jesus stand before God and deny you (Mat. 7:23 I knew you not, depart from me, you workers of iniquity) because you are ashamed of him? 

For that reason, God says, you are more than conquerors, He did not call you conqueror, rather He said you are MORE THAN (Rom. 8:35,37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us

Therefore Beloved Brethren, nothing is qualified to separate us from the love of God and makes us SECRET DISCIPLES.

STAND FIRM AND PROCLAIM THE WORD 

STAND FIRM AND DISPLAY THE LIGHT