𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛, 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦

IN PREACHING THE TRUTH, YOU WILL MAKE MORE ENEMIES THAN FRIENDS

INTRODUCTION

From the Old Testament prophets to the apostles in the Dispensation of Grace, one reality remains unchanged:

Truth has never been popular.

Whether it was Jeremiah in the Kingdom program or Paul in the Church Age, every messenger who boldly proclaimed God’s revelation was opposed, rejected, resisted, and ridiculed.

Truth divides.
Truth exposes.
Truth confronts.

And anyone who stands for truth must be prepared to stand alone.

1. THE REALITY OF HOSTILITY — “TRUTH PRODUCES OPPOSITION”

(John 15:18–19)

A. The World’s Rejection — “It hated Me before it hated you.”

The system governed by Satan resists truth.

B. The Word’s Revelation — Truth reveals sin and provokes hatred.

C. The Worker’s Reaction — Believers must expect resistance when preaching God’s Word.

2. THE REJECTION OF PROPHETS — “TRUTH-TELLERS WERE ALWAYS ATTACKED”

(2 Chron. 36:16)

A. They Mocked the Messengers

Israel ridiculed the prophets for delivering God’s warnings.

B. They Misused the Men

Many prophets were persecuted, beaten, or killed.

C. They Missed the Message

Judgment came because they refused truth.

Dispensational note: Israel’s prophetic program consistently revealed their tendency to reject God’s spokesmen.

3. THE RESISTANCE TO CHRIST — “THE TRUTH INCARNATE WAS HATED”

(John 7:7)

A. Christ Exposed Their Sin

That exposure produced hostility.

B. Christ Endured Their Scorn

They accused Him of blasphemy and broke the Law to kill Him.

C. Christ Experienced Their Swords

The cross shows how far the world will go to silence truth.

4. THE REVILING OF APOSTLES — “PAUL’S GOSPEL WAS UNPOPULAR”

(Gal. 4:16)

A. The Friend Turned Foe — “Am I therefore become your enemy?”

Grace preaching angers legalists.

B. The Flesh Troubled — The cross offends human pride (Gal. 5:11).

C. The False Teachers Targeted — Paul was attacked for preaching truth for this dispensation.

Dispensational note: Paul’s message—the gospel of grace—was resisted by religious and legalistic systems.

5. THE RESPONSE OF RELIGION — “RELIGION HATES TRUTH-PREACHERS”

(Acts 7:51)

A. Their Hearts Hardened

Religion is stiff-necked toward spiritual truth.

B. Their Hearing Halted

They resist the Holy Ghost by resisting Scripture.

C. Their Hatred Heightened

They killed Stephen for preaching the truth.

6. THE REQUIREMENT OF BOLDNESS — “TRUTH MUST BE PREACHED ANYWAY”

(2 Tim. 4:2)

A. Preach Constantly — “In season, out of season.”

B. Preach Correctly — Reprove, rebuke, exhort with doctrine.

C. Preach Courageously — Stand firm despite opposition from the world, religion, or carnal believers.

Dispensational note: This is the command for the Body of Christ today.

7. THE REWARD FOR FAITHFULNESS — “GOD HONORS TRUTH-PREACHERS”

(2 Tim. 4:7–8)

A. The Finished Race — Faithfulness is the measure, not popularity.

B. The Fought Battle — Spiritual conflict is expected.

C. The Future Crown — Christ rewards those who stood for truth in the Grace Age.

CONCLUSION

Truth has never been a crowd-pleaser.
Those who preach it will often feel isolated, misunderstood, and attacked.

But God never called us to be liked —
He called us to be faithful.

Whether in the prophetic program or in the dispensation of grace, God’s men were hated for speaking His Word.
Yet truth always triumphs, and those who stand for it will be honored by the Lord.

CALL TO ACTION

1. STAND for truth even when you stand alone.
2. SPEAK truth with courage and compassion.
3. SEEK to please God, not man.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Truth exposes darkness.
Darkness hates exposure.
Religion hates correction.
The world hates conviction.
Carnal believers hate confrontation.
Satan hates dispensational truth.
God honors those who stand anyway.