Today so many Christian believers have been suffering persecution, and it seems like more than before ..huh. Breaks your heart. You see it if you’ve been reading the news lately. I hate hearing about it, and seeing it happen. Don’t want that at all. Something must be said!
The trials and beheadings happened before. They keep happening and something more must be said and done! I'm grateful for the leaders that are doing something to try and stop the madness. Wanna do my part to help.
This world system and even some governments have sure been friendly to Islam and even this so called rad-islam these days. And to other world religions too, but not been friendly not to Christianity or to Christians. Duh!
The criminalization of Christianity has been going on for awhile now. Today, the media has been calling it SO wrong and evil, but been calling real felony crimes ..right... even giving a pass to those who have committed many felonies.. and have run for office here in the USA. Duh! People don’t seem to care, or feel they can do anything about the corruption. If you live for and clearly share your faith in Christ, they will call it a hate-crime.
The Gospel message is exclusive. Any can come to Christ -- all can be included -- but only those who repent and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior will enter heaven. Jesus explained that He is the only way. Nope.. there is none other name given among men whereby we must be saved.
Was I expecting other than all this treatment from the world? No. You indeed are living in a sin-cursed fallen world.. livin’ your last days. I am too -- life here is like a vapor and then we’re gone. Perhaps these really are the Last Days.
What picture comes to mind when you hear: Take Up Your Cross bro, and 100% Follow Jesus? Is it a pic of goin' the distance and dying to self? The Bible says, "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?'” Matthew 16:24-26
Suffering isn’t something I like, I don’t seek it. If I did, I’d be weird. If you did, you would too be that way. Some religious people teach.. you must choose to intentionally suffer. That’s dumb, but since I chose to follow Christ, then I obviously have chosen a life with suffering in it. He suffered and died for you and me, therefore we too will suffer in Him. It’s still so worth it to follow Jesus, so take up your cross and follow Him where He leads you. You’ll be so glad you did.
Counter cultural, that’s what it really is..I mean living and walkin' no-compromise (spiritually) in Him down here. Every viewpoint and type of worship on earth here is tolerated and even celebrated today.. except the biblical Christian viewpoint and the worship of God. The family is under attack, the local church is, and your faith, believer, is too.. but God gives more grace. Have you noticed that more and more local churches ..even the ones with really good teaching.. that don't allow true worship to happen are getting shoved aside as believers bail on em? I don't think that the sound Bible teaching should get shoved out on radio stations as people hunger more and more for praise and worship, but this too is a sign of the times -- these times of increased suffering pre-rapture. We need both, but I must admit.. I too some years ago bailed on a church that had top notch teaching but wouldn't allow fresh biblical praise and worship of Jesus.. together as a Family. That's what heaven will be all about. Worship is not about one; it’s about many. In an age when Christians are dropping out of church and shunning weekend teaching services, we’re kind of in danger of becoming individualistic worshipers. People sometimes tell me: I don’t have to come to church to worship. I can walk along the beach, or hike in the mountains, or—some have told me this—I worship on the golf course. Oh yeah, well, wait it you miss a shot out there. David Jeremiah says, "The worship John saw in heaven was united, corporate worship. In fact, in the entire book of Revelation, the only time there is any independent worship is when John periodically fell down and worshiped God in light of the incredible visions he received. All the other worship in Revelation involves vast groups whose hearts are bound together in praise, such as:
- Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” —Revelation 5:11-12
- And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. —Revelation 14:2-3
- And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” —Revelation 19:6
Get the picture? If choirs and orchestras can elevate us to such heights of enjoyment here on this earth, what will it be like when we hear the celestial choirs, accompanied by heaven-trained orchestras, lifting praise to Almighty God around the throne?"
I say it's gettin' intense out there and believers have been suffering. Fierce trials! Please don't think this stuff ain't gunna happen. Many are losing a lot -- even their lives. It's time to fast and pray as the Spirit leads. It's time to praise and worship.. the Lord. It's time for planting sound churches with Bible teaching and all out worship. It's time for hangin' out with world changers and then for world-changing ..in Jesus' Name!
"The best rubrics of worship are those which are written on broken hearts." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon
Be born again and stay the course. Shine your light and be salty. Spread your salt, but do this with respect for people.. with meekness, with reverence and holy fear. In heaven you’re never gunna look back and feel bad about what you lost by standing firm in Christ. So call on Him for grace and endure to the end. He who endures to the end will be saved. Don’t quit.
Acts 5:41 - So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.Acts 9:16 - for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."Romans 8:17 - and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.Romans 8:36 - Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."2 Corinthians 1:7 - and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.2 Corinthians 11:23 - Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.Philippians 3:10 - that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;2 Timothy 2:12 - If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;Hebrews 11:25 - choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,James 5:10 - As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.1 Peter 2:20 - For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.1 Peter 3:14 - But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,1 Peter 4:16 - but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.1 Peter 5:10 - After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.Matthew 5:11 - Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.Matthew 10:22 - You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.Matthew 10:39 - He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.Matthew 19:29 - And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.1 Corinthians 4:10 - We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.2 Corinthians 4:5 - For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.2 Corinthians 4:11 - For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.2 Corinthians 12:10 - Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.Philippians 1:29 - For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.. Read more Facebook.com/shareJesus
