| “In the Minority and Losers ”
The Right Word © with Brother Scott : scott@portervillepost.com
In the repertoire of topics that I have shared over the last 27 years of my formal ministry I have talked a time or two under the theme “Being in the Minority”.
Listen :
In what a person believes or how he or she publicly does things that are not the way nearly all other people believe or how
they do things usually causes such a separatist to feel awkward and can be uncomfortable when among those that do not agree with him or her, yet they (
we ) persist.
Those in the majority on any subject believe that they are right in their beliefs or ways and that people that do things in the old ways or unconventional ways or even in opposite ways are misguided or just plain wrong.
The majority rolls their eyes and smirks, makes fun of, criticizes, talks behind the backs of any that are eccentric, and usually tries to change the ways of those that are in the minority.
In time, this can even evolve to the point of shunning the contrarians or even persecuting them for not agreeing with how most people think or do things.
But have you ever considered that on the important things in life that those in the majority are rarely right ? Some examples:
ℍ ere Are. Some examples:.
⊳
⊳
⊳
⊳
⊳ no matter the English translation ) is still just an old book, many historical accounts couldn’t possibly be true, its lessons are metaphors and didn’t really happen, it has contradictions and errors, and they do not believe the Bible is important to being redeemed (if you don’t believe me, just ask 10 Christians that you know how often they read their bibles )
⊳
⊳ refuse to take the beast’s mark will be in a tiny minority and the vengeful focus of all that do—in fact, it is one of the reasons that alleged Christians will betray unto death the true believers
( † † † )
† John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. . .
† John 16:2 … the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
As true followers of Jesus Christ and students of the Word of God we are in a minority—not just a minority among all humans but also among all those that think themselves, call themselves, or say of themselves that they are Christians (officially >70% in the U.S. ).
What is a Christian ???
“A person whose life is defined by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ—in His person, death and resurrection, and coupled with repentance from sin and having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. One who believes in and lives-out the teachings of Jesus and faithfully adheres to the practices of biblical Christianity.”
Does this describe even half the population of the people in our country? Not at all!
Another related point is that if we say we are Christians, we are each called to be “disciples” of Jesus, and generally what does that mean? “A disciple is a pupil (a learner, student of ) or an adherent of the doctrines of another; a follower.
Being a disciple describes a person that accepts and helps spread the teachings of another and lives according to those principles.” Does that aptly describe all those that you know that seem to think they are a follower of Jesus? Some things that Jesus said:
( † † † )
† John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those (Jews) which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. . . 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. . . 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. . . 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
† Luke 12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. . . 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. . . 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. . . 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
† 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup [of My sacrifice, My body and blood ], ye do shew (declare, teach, proclaim rooted in the Gr. angelos : messenger [“spread the teachings” as a true discile ]
) the Lord's death till he come.
As I have taught over the years, in my view there are the three types of Christians, if someone is truly born again:
Believers (new Christians or ones that have never progressed beyond believing on Jesus, milk -needing believers, if they will drink the Word in, its meat is too hard to digest ),
Disciples (those that make modest spiritual gains as followers of Jesus ), and ...
Over-comers (those as believers and disciples that are dedicated to His words and ways, students of the Word, and walk in victory over the flesh, the world, and the devil’s attempts to cause a failure of their very active faith ).
There are more believers than disciples and more disciples than there are over-comers, even though we are all provided what we need to live an overcoming life by the resurrected and indwelling life of Jesus and the Word of God. Indeed, the segment of Christians that are over-comers is itself a tiny minority of the true church.
Today’s professing Christian should look closely at their walk to see which of these 3 types of believers he or she is and move to higher levels of their discipleship.
. Not long before Peter was martyred, he wrote this :.
( † † † )
† 2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Today’s discussion title is “In the Minority—and Losers ”; what is that about? Well, in this physical realm given over to the law of sin and death, there is much that true believers lose, should choose to lose, and will lose in these last days.
Such “losses” are the evidence that we are indeed followers of Jesus !!!
What things we lose are indications that we are in the tiny minority of those that love God and are “the called according to His purpose”.
( † † † )
† Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called (invited, appointed his purpose.
† Matthew 22:14 For many are called , but few are chosen (selected , from chosen out of
† 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation [those fewer in number that rise from all that are called ], a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
As a genuine follower of Jesus , being on the losing side of things in the world’s opinion is not a bad thing at all, especially when you and I view our losses as Heaven does; let me elaborate. When by faith we believe on and we genuinely surrender to the Lord as Savior and are forgiven of our sins and washed clean of them by the shed blood of Jesus, we lose things like these:
𝕎 e. lose things like these:.
⊳
⊳
⊳
If we will then participate with God in His plan to thoroughly redeem our lives during this time on the present earth, we lose things like these:
⊳
⊳ for many ) loneliness
⊳ or should lose ) wrong affiliations and ambitions
( † † † )
† 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit… 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly… 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it [when we cooperate with His plans and purposes ].
𝔸 nd here are things that. the Bible tells us. we will lose as those living at the end of the age.
⊳
⊳
⊳
⊳
⊳
⊳
In a fashion, psychologically frightening storms carrying the likes of hurricanes and tornadoes and destructive downpours of fear and doubts upon our hearts, minds and faith are planned by the devil and confirmed by prophesies in God’s Word.
The antichrist world will consider us “insignificant numbers” and “closed-minded losers ” but are yet are some how a people that are standing in the way of the many good things the majority that will embrace of the promises of the Satan’s New World Order .
The goal then of such evil plans against the people of God is to take from us the things we have worked to provide for ourselves if we don’t comply, deny us the needful things of our physical life, and disrupt the comforts and simple joys that we had found by being with family, friends and in the fellowship of the saints.
I remind you again that to be on the losing side of these things intended to diminish and destroy your faith, feeling like what you had said you believed about God seems like it is slipping away, and moments of questioning yourself about the veracity of trusting in God instead of man’s system, [I remind you that to be on the losing side of these things ] is the evidence that you are actually on the winning side of the only things that are worth having—peace with the everlasting and holy God, peace within yourself that you have been forgiven, and having the promise of a glorious eternity with Jesus and all that love God.
You and I are in the minority and it is a minority that grows even tinier with each passing year. That carries with it some hard challenges at times and can be an uncomfortable place to be against the growing majority crowd but it is not the wrong place to be as a Holy Bible-believing, God-trusting, and blood-washed-clean follower of Jesus; there’s no other group on the planet I’d rather be in!
Where the world is concerned, we are on the losing side by being against all the things it believes are acceptable and good, and as such, we are in the way. The Pharisee named Saul believed this of the followers of the dead Jesus—losers that had to be exterminated.
The idol makers of the false goddess Diana wanted those of “the Way” that were standing in their way gone and rioted against the tiny number of believers in Ephesus. And what did the crowds in the Roman coliseums think of the Christians facing lions but that they can’t possibly survive against those beasts and will die for nothing—what losers!
In our day soon , by legislation, by propaganda, by prejudice, and eventually for reward, our countrymen will look at Christians as insignificant losers, may try to win them over to their side, and if not successful, will seek to eradicate us from the earth.
That is how we know that we are not on the losing side when (as a very small minority) we are perceived as the number-one-threat to their future under the one world leader.
What they fear is the Person of Jesus Christ that lives in us by His Spirit
( † † † )
† Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
† Mark 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
† John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. . . 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
† 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world... 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
† Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
As the smallness of our numbers and being on the wrong side of what non-Christians family, friends, neighbors and co-workers want become more apparent, do not be dissuaded or discouraged.
. You! are in the tiny group! that's headed for Heaven!.
~ Brother Scott ... With ... The Right Word © ... For Today~
.
E stab. Jan 2008
Welcome to the newest on-line news service in the Porterville area. Our goal is to report the right news at the right time. In doing this, we believe that the community will get a greater sence of being connected.
The Right News @ The Right Time
Our second goal is to report above and beyond the main stream media.
Politically Inform and Educate
Our third goal is to politically inform and educate the public at large.
A Conservative Publication
The Porterville Post is a conservative publication and news service and when the Post makes a mistake in our reporting, we'll address it "Right Here" and if needed, with an appology. Please feel free to contact us with your comments or suggestions.
Writers | Columnists | Reporters
The Post, in the next few years, we'll be looking for new writers, columnists and reporters. We understand the need for new writers to have the chance of starting a new career and we'd like to offer a free internship at the Post.
Preparing For Amos 8:11
