BEWARE OF SECRET DISCIPLES: ALL THEY WANT IS YOUR BODY FOR BURIAL.
John 19:38-40 states: "And after this, Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus..."
Beloved, one troubling observation I've made is the presence of so-called Christians who are secret disciples. Let’s reflect on their roles in our lives and in the life of Jesus.
The Bible highlights two notable figures, Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus, both of whom were secret disciples. They loved Jesus, but their love was overshadowed by a greater fear of losing their own lives.
Firstly, their fear prevented them from demonstrating their love for Him openly. Secondly, both men were influential and successful in society, with access to those in authority. Thirdly, they were aware of each other and had the potential to form a powerful support group, using their influence for Jesus if they chose to do so.
However, what were these credentials worth to the life and ministry of Jesus? They never contributed to His ministry while He was alive; they were absent from His crusades and gatherings, following Him from a distance instead.
The first requirement for following Jesus is self-denial. If you cannot love Him openly, your secret affection contributes little to the expansion of His Kingdom. Matthew 16:24-26 reminds us: "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
These men followed Jesus from a distance until His arrest and crucifixion, at which point they came for His body. But what good is the body of Jesus for the advancement of the Gospel?
Imagine if these men had united to form a powerful association to support Jesus, similar to the gatherings of Mary and Martha. The enemy is actively recruiting the wealthy and influential into secret societies to undermine the Gospel, while believers and secret disciples remain hidden out of fear.
2 Timothy 2:12-13 states: "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself."
It's time to join the Kingdom Billionaires Club and participate in God's agenda to expand the Kingdom through mass evangelism and mission work. We must reach the poor but also safeguard against the enemy using secret cults to lure the wealthy away from amongst us.
As Apostle Paul said in Galatians 2:2, "And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain."
There are people who will not come to church or our crusades because they believe so much in their reputation, Paul said, we also need to reach them with the gospel.
Let us unite as blessed individuals of like mind, forming the strongest association in the world to reclaim those who have been drawn into secret societies and cult groups. May the Lord bless you for your willingness to support the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus openly.
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