The day and age in which we live is getting spiritually darker and darker still; no surprise there, right? (ROMANS 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light.”).
In the headlines we read of random shootings
perpetrated by psychotic, drugged-out teenagers and young adults: In Oregon. In Ohio, in Texas and Arizona . . .
On the television we witness the
rising of civil unrest and signs of potential race riots, more violence from Black and White Supremacists, Muslims, pro-abortionists and Socialist-style Democrats - while at the same time, an increase in acceptance of Islam, LGBTQ globally. Signs of a
Marxist takeover of our nation are becoming more observable every passing day.
Leaders in our government are
pronouncing the Constitution of the United States as "obsolete",
"antiquated", "a deeply flawed document", "no longer
relevant", and so on. National and historical monuments as well as the Ten
Commandments are coming down by the droves, and meanwhile a Baphomet, a satanic
statue (along with a burgeoning rise of Satanic churches/temples are being erected in America) stands in Arkansas!! We are losing our Judeo-Christian roots -
no, we are being robbed of them!
From the political realm we hear
this:
Gus Hall, the former General
Secretary of the Communist Party, U.S.A., stated (speaking at the funeral of
Eugene Dennis, February 1961, quoted in None
Dare Call It Treason-25 Years Later, Liberty Bell Press, 1992, pp. 39-41):
"I dream of a time when the last Congressman is strangled to death on the guts of the last preacher and since the Christians love to sing about the blood, why not give them a little of it."
Biblical churches are becoming
rare; those who are remaining faithful will find it increasingly a challenge to
remain true to the Word and still avoid pressures to conform by the Federal
government. Others are flying under the radar of the Federal government's 501-c3 tax exempt code and meeting in
private homes instead of public buildings.
Such methods of persecution that will
be Federally mandated under the euphemistically labeled, soon-to-come Department of Peace and no doubt driven by religious motivations of
the Roman Catholic Church which has already begun to infest evangelical
Christianity in a heinous infiltration of iniquity!
It’s no longer the homosexual community that’s demanding equal rights, but now the entire LGBTQ community, along with the ‘MAPs’ or “minor-attracted persons”. Pedophiles, who are now seeking legitimacy in society!
Same-sex marriage is now be recognized lawfully across this once godly nation. And so, goes the world . . . following after the practice of Sodom and Gomorrah which God destroyed in holy offense (recently a couple had sex change operations, each person changing their identity to the other sex and having relationship based on this! This is moral anarchy!!).
Historically and morally this is an extremely significant decision: There has always been those prone to homosexuality, since the beginning of fallen man's reign on this world cursed with sin. In America, it’s been a reality for the entirety of our nation’s existence. What makes this significant is that this unlawful practice has been officially recognized, sanctioned and approved of by our national government. Much like Sodom and Gomorrah (GEN 18; GEN 19) this extreme minority (3-5% of the entire population) has received special status and recognition.
There is a significant benchmark that measures the spiritual development or declination of any nation - the acknowledgement of GOD: not merely of His existence, but of His sovereignty and His Holy Authority and Truth.
Yet ‘Evilution’ has wrought its fiendish work and there are more atheists, agnostics and God deniers than ever before. Because they will not acknowledge God; they have restrained and prohibited the truth (ROM 1:18) and instead they worship the universe as 'god' and a host of other things they deem worthy of worship, but never EVER do they acknowledge the Creator GOD of the BIBLE.
Therefore GOD in the spirit of JUDGMENT is giving up such people to uncleanness and vile affections - homosexuality is drawing souls down a road that leads to spiritual REPROBATION, from which there is likely no return in repentance to the LORD GOD. And they’re not content to engage in abomination on their own - they will take pleasure in seeing others involve themselves in such things. It's not about the right to privacy to do as one wills, it's about promoting a godless 'death-style'. ROMANS 1:18-32.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
For more about this crucial issue, check out the following article from CREATION Ministries (NOTE: Be sure to read some of the linked articles at the conclusion of the one above!).
And now that the SUPREME COURT has passed the law on same-sex marriage, the line is drawn clearly – and biblical Christians will continue to affirm that this is a sin issue! So, this may well become one of the many pillars of perdition upon which persecution could be based here in AMERICA! Here are some others:
It’s no longer the homosexual community that’s demanding equal rights, but now the entire LGBTQ community, along with the ‘MAPs’ or “minor-attracted persons”. Pedophiles, who are now seeking legitimacy in society!
Same-sex marriage is now be recognized lawfully across this once godly nation. And so, goes the world . . . following after the practice of Sodom and Gomorrah which God destroyed in holy offense (recently a couple had sex change operations, each person changing their identity to the other sex and having relationship based on this! This is moral anarchy!!).
Historically and morally this is an extremely significant decision: There has always been those prone to homosexuality, since the beginning of fallen man's reign on this world cursed with sin. In America, it’s been a reality for the entirety of our nation’s existence. What makes this significant is that this unlawful practice has been officially recognized, sanctioned and approved of by our national government. Much like Sodom and Gomorrah (GEN 18; GEN 19) this extreme minority (3-5% of the entire population) has received special status and recognition.
There is a significant benchmark that measures the spiritual development or declination of any nation - the acknowledgement of GOD: not merely of His existence, but of His sovereignty and His Holy Authority and Truth.
Yet ‘Evilution’ has wrought its fiendish work and there are more atheists, agnostics and God deniers than ever before. Because they will not acknowledge God; they have restrained and prohibited the truth (ROM 1:18) and instead they worship the universe as 'god' and a host of other things they deem worthy of worship, but never EVER do they acknowledge the Creator GOD of the BIBLE.
Therefore GOD in the spirit of JUDGMENT is giving up such people to uncleanness and vile affections - homosexuality is drawing souls down a road that leads to spiritual REPROBATION, from which there is likely no return in repentance to the LORD GOD. And they’re not content to engage in abomination on their own - they will take pleasure in seeing others involve themselves in such things. It's not about the right to privacy to do as one wills, it's about promoting a godless 'death-style'. ROMANS 1:18-32.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
For more about this crucial issue, check out the following article from CREATION Ministries (NOTE: Be sure to read some of the linked articles at the conclusion of the one above!).
And now that the SUPREME COURT has passed the law on same-sex marriage, the line is drawn clearly – and biblical Christians will continue to affirm that this is a sin issue! So, this may well become one of the many pillars of perdition upon which persecution could be based here in AMERICA! Here are some others:
New Age Spiritualists claim that
the world is about to undergo a massive paradigm shift where the old ways
(Judeo-Christian faith and Scriptures) will be swept away and the new way will
be heralded in as a global religion suitable to serve and worship 'The Christ'
(read that, anti-Christ) who is coming on the scene very, very soon! They state
(along with pseudo-evangelical Christians; 2 THESS. 2:10-13) that
'biblolaters' (those who they claim worship the book, we know as the Bible) will
have to drop their notions and change, or they will be 'removed'. The method of
'removal' doesn't sound at all benign or non-violent to my ears . . .
Corporate churches are sprinting
into spiritual madness (1 TIM. 4:1-2) as they wholly embrace
liberalism and Post-Modernism as represented in Emergent Churches; or the ranks of Word of Faith and NewApostolic Reformation and follow apostles and prophets who claim that their
word has higher authority than the Word of God: the Holy Scriptures! Many are
even openly adopting New Age philosophy.
Roma Downy, producer of the TV
show Touched By An Angel, and the Son of God film is an open New Ager who
is perceived to be a Christian, has written a book Box of Butterflies (this link brings you to a booklet written by Greg Reid that exposes the New Age dogma expressed in Downy's book) that Christian leaders are promoting) that is absolutely new age/new thought in its
teachings, and it’s being actively promoted by Christian leaders in the church!
The situation here in America is
becoming serious; such New Age Spiritualists that we snickered at in the '80's
like Shirley MacClaine and others that supposedly (?) channeled spirits of
warriors and 'enlightened' (1 TIM. 4:1) beings from millennia ago
are now multiplied, entrenched, absolutely dedicated and determined to see
Christians and the Holy Bible scoured off the face of this planet.
From GOOD FIGHT ministries we have the following:
"...the Piscean Age, as you
know, lasts two thousand years or so, as do other zodiacal signs. Its inception
marked the beginning of the Christian era. It is passing out of manifestation
now, as the new Aquarian age is
coming in." (Vera Stanley Alder, The
Initiation of the World, Samuel Weiser, Lucis Trust, p. 245). Note to
readers: Lucis Trust is the publishing
arm of The Theosophical Society - an
esoteric body of New Age Spiritualists who shape global politics and policies
in the U.N.
Hollywood Hills Astrologer Ed
Steinbrecher, regarding the so-called Harmonic Convergence (this is a new age website!) that had taken
place, claimed that those who were not in tune with what was taking place
"could [experience] death."
A New Ager who anonymously
identifies himself as "Solar Questor" writes in his book:
"These are wondrous times
... because the world has gone through this terrific experience as it spins
slowly back to its rightful orbit in the position that it should be in the
heavens ... And as this happens more and more, more comfort and well-being will
come upon this world ... And those who hinder will be removed ... liquidated
... [they] must be wiped clean off the face of the earth." (Solar Questor,
The World Restored, Not Destroyed: TheAstounding Revelations of the Solar Quest).
Even the entertainment industry,
from the likes of The Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley express New Age beliefs
and their animosity towards Christianity:
"I believe we are moving on to a new age in ideas and events. Astrologically we are at the end of the age called the Pisces age, at the beginning of which people like Christ were born. We're soon to begin the Age of Aquarius, in which events as important as those at the beginning of Pisces are likely to occur. There's a young revolution in thought and manner about to take place." (Brian Jones, from Rolling Stones In Their Own Words, Quick Fox, 1980, p. 29)
"Someday in the near future we'll see how the so-called ministers of God react as they see their worn-out ways and the whole 'old age' start crumbling...they'll get theirs. They've been building up some bad karma. I can't wait till this new age comes, so this stuff will stop." (Elvis Presley, If I Can Dream: Elvis' Own Story, Larry Geller & Joel Spector, p. 140).
And more New Age Spiritualists
chime in regarding this paradigm shift about to occur and the consequences for
those who won't cooperate with it:
"The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old an new - the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism, resplendent with the promise of a world in which the never-realized Christian ideal of 'love thy neighbor' will finally be achieved." (John J. Dunphy A Religion for a New Age: The New Faith of Humanism and Teachers in The Humanist Magazine, Jan-Feb 1983).
New Age writer Foster Bailey has
taught that those who do not live up to "New Age standards" will end
up "irreconcilable outcasts." (Foster Bailey, Things to Come, p. 39).
New Age leader, Barbara Marx
Hubbard, has stated, "people will either change or die [for] that is the
choice." According to those who would concur with Hubbard, Christians will
need to be more open-minded, so they too can receive the mark of the
Antichrist. If they will not join with the global community and its agenda,
they will be killed by the "opened minded" New Agers. Hubbard states:
"This act is as horrible as killing a cancer cell. It must be done for the sake of the future of the whole. So be it: be prepared for the selection process which is now beginning . . ."(Barbara Marx Hubbard, Manual for Co-Creators of the Quantum Leap, pp. 55-57).
The infamous Aleister Crowley
(who died in the early 40s), professed Satanist and patron saint of rock n roll
had this to say: "Judaism is savage and Christianity a fiendish
superstition" (The Confessions
of Aleister Crowley, p. 72).
~ For the entirety of this
article by GOOD FIGHT ministries, go here.
ARE WE SPIRITUALLY READY FOR THIS TIME AHEAD? ARE WE READY TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE LORD and FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS - OR WILL WE SUBMIT TO THIS GODLESSNESS and INIQUITY?
Which brings me to the question that's been on my mind lately:
ARE YOU PERSECUTION PROOF?
I'm asking this question from two different perspectives; firstly:
1) Is your Christianity so weak, so watered down, so seeker sensitive (JAMES 4:4) and allegorized that it wouldn’t even bring a single tid-bit of conviction of sin and express the pure truth of God to this fallen world? This world always finds the Holy Bible offensive (MATT. 13:21)! Has your Christian witness been so dimmed, almost dark, that you are not in the least endangered of persecution by a world full of rebellious sinners who hate the Light of God's Word?
Or secondly:
2) Are you spiritually prepared in your knowledge of the truth, hidden deeply and safely in your heart but able to "speak the truth in love" as this desperate hour requires? Are wel willing to stand for the LORD and His righteousness no matter what the cost? Even if celebrity pastors refuse to, or even your own pastor? When people that you considered solid, strong Christians pale and drop like flies in the face of adversity? What is your faith standing on? Your church, denomination, your pastor, your parents, or the LORD Jesus Christ and His Eternal Word?
ARE WE SPIRITUALLY READY FOR THIS TIME AHEAD? ARE WE READY TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE LORD and FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS - OR WILL WE SUBMIT TO THIS GODLESSNESS and INIQUITY?
Which brings me to the question that's been on my mind lately:
ARE YOU PERSECUTION PROOF?
I'm asking this question from two different perspectives; firstly:
1) Is your Christianity so weak, so watered down, so seeker sensitive (JAMES 4:4) and allegorized that it wouldn’t even bring a single tid-bit of conviction of sin and express the pure truth of God to this fallen world? This world always finds the Holy Bible offensive (MATT. 13:21)! Has your Christian witness been so dimmed, almost dark, that you are not in the least endangered of persecution by a world full of rebellious sinners who hate the Light of God's Word?
Or secondly:
2) Are you spiritually prepared in your knowledge of the truth, hidden deeply and safely in your heart but able to "speak the truth in love" as this desperate hour requires? Are wel willing to stand for the LORD and His righteousness no matter what the cost? Even if celebrity pastors refuse to, or even your own pastor? When people that you considered solid, strong Christians pale and drop like flies in the face of adversity? What is your faith standing on? Your church, denomination, your pastor, your parents, or the LORD Jesus Christ and His Eternal Word?
Do you have your spiritual armor on so that when the onslaught of satanically driven tribulation commences, you won't grow weary in the battle, but will remain steadfast and resolute, totally persecution proof?
We must be keenly aware of what's happening and resist the temptation to bury our heads in the sand!
To remain standing firmly on the truth of God's Word (1 TIM. 3:15; EPH. 6:11-13) is necessary.
To ignore all of this is unwise, but to have anxiety or ungodly fear is unwarranted, and unnecessary - we only have to read the end of the Book to know, WE WIN because CHRIST has acquired the VICTORY ALREADY (1 COR. 15:57; ROMANS 8:37)!
Satan's ploy in his schemes against God's saints (Israel and the church) are a two-fold attack; A Plan A and a Plan B:
A passive, feminine, seductive method known as Plan A with such allurements of sinful pleasures and appeal to our pride as necessary to get us to fall - and if this fails, he uses Plan B which is aggressive, masculine, and violent with pain, suffering, torment and bloodshed.
He has used Plan A here in America for as long as we have enjoyed materialism and wealth. Seduction into pleasure as well as spiritual deception can be seen in our nation as well as in our churches. Yet there are still some saints who are holding fast, denying their flesh and walking with the LORD without compromise or stain from this sinful world.
For those who refuse to follow the global agenda of the new world order of Lucifer, Plan B is in store!
For an explanation of the details in this satanic strategy watch this five-minute video produced by The FUEL Project in the video series KNOW YOUR ENEMY.
What can we do spiritually to
prepare for potential persecution here in America? It's rather simple really
because it’s the same sort of preparation that the church has always engaged in
whenever persecution would rear its religious and ugly head (The religious and
unregenerate sinners of this world have always persecuted the spiritually
righteous children of God!).
WHAT MUST WE DO TO BECOME PERSECUTION PROOF?
Here are five basic steps that we must all take:
~ 1 We must boldly, stubbornly and violently rip away every shred of seduction that Satan, sin and this world may have over us: carnality, covetousness and compromise must all go (MATT 5:29-30)! These represent chinks in our spiritual armor, weak points in our Christianity that the enemy will take advantage of!
~ 2 We must take the Word of God seriously both in its study (not only reading but studying to truly know and understand God's Word) and its application (MATT 7:24-25).
WHAT MUST WE DO TO BECOME PERSECUTION PROOF?
Here are five basic steps that we must all take:
~ 1 We must boldly, stubbornly and violently rip away every shred of seduction that Satan, sin and this world may have over us: carnality, covetousness and compromise must all go (MATT 5:29-30)! These represent chinks in our spiritual armor, weak points in our Christianity that the enemy will take advantage of!
~ 2 We must take the Word of God seriously both in its study (not only reading but studying to truly know and understand God's Word) and its application (MATT 7:24-25).
~ 3 We must as the saints of God determine to walk in obedience to the LORD, holiness and sanctification (ROM. 6:16; 1 PET. 1:2; 1 SAM. 15:22; LUKE 6:46) understanding that God is sovereign and if He allows persecution into our lives, it's for a purpose, according to His wisdom!
~ 4 We must humble ourselves before the LORD (JAMES 4:10; 1 PET 5:5-6) with sorrow (PSALM 30:5; IS. 22:12; MATT. 5:4), prayers (in the development of a faithful, diligent, fervent relationship with the LORD 1 TIM. 2:1-3; 2 CHRON. 7:14) and fasting (JOEL 2:12-13; PS. 69:9-11) for both this fallen nation and our negligence to be "salt and light" (MATT. 5:13-16) which would have held back the corruption that has invaded both our country and our churches (1 COR. 5:7) had we been faithful in our commitment to the LORD by being salt!
~ 5 We must sow the seed of the Gospel to the lost souls of this world, and bring the babes in Christ to maturity through discipleship (MATT. 28:19)! We must be prepared to pray for our enemies, and love them, and show the mercy of God, even if they persecute us mercilessly.
Richard Wurmbrand, founder of VOICE of the MARTYRS once said about persecution of the true Christian church:
"It doesn't matter what
church you attend, or how many verses you have memorized; how clear and correct
all your doctrine is [and may I add - how marvelous your ministry is, or how
great a following you have], none of that will help you in times of
persecution! The one thing that will help you endure in such times is your love
for the LORD Jesus Christ [and even more so], His love for you! (REV. 2:4-5; JER. 31:3; JOHN 3:16)"
For too, too long Christians have perceived this world - and their lives - as a play-ground, when in the reality of the spiritual domain, this world is a battlefield in an ancient war between the LORD God and Satan, the god of this world (2 COR. 4:4). We saints are soldiers, and we have our orders to stand fast and resist the devil and his diabolical agents, both physical and spiritual!
HARBINGER OF HARDSHIPS?
UPDATE (6/24/2019) California Bill Would Dictate What Topics Pastors Can Preach About
~ end of update
The LORD is drawing near (REV. 22:12), the prophecies of the Scripture are forming the final scene before the LORD brings all of this satanically new world order to a screeching halt and establishes His eternal reign of righteousness. Let us, by the grace of God, prove faithful to the LORD, remain steadfast and do all that's necessary in preparation of the coming storms!
For more on this issue of the coming persecution, may I strongly recommend you watch this video by pastor Paul Washer. He brings up what sort of preparations we will need for such a time to come. May the LORD Jesus Christ bless and keep us in the power of His Spirit of grace and truth!
For too, too long Christians have perceived this world - and their lives - as a play-ground, when in the reality of the spiritual domain, this world is a battlefield in an ancient war between the LORD God and Satan, the god of this world (2 COR. 4:4). We saints are soldiers, and we have our orders to stand fast and resist the devil and his diabolical agents, both physical and spiritual!
HARBINGER OF HARDSHIPS?
UPDATE (6/24/2019) California Bill Would Dictate What Topics Pastors Can Preach About
~ end of update
The LORD is drawing near (REV. 22:12), the prophecies of the Scripture are forming the final scene before the LORD brings all of this satanically new world order to a screeching halt and establishes His eternal reign of righteousness. Let us, by the grace of God, prove faithful to the LORD, remain steadfast and do all that's necessary in preparation of the coming storms!
For more on this issue of the coming persecution, may I strongly recommend you watch this video by pastor Paul Washer. He brings up what sort of preparations we will need for such a time to come. May the LORD Jesus Christ bless and keep us in the power of His Spirit of grace and truth!
Paul Washer | Persecution: Is It Coming, How Do We Prepare
ALSO on the subject of persecution check out this teaching on Facebook video from SHINE BRIGHT Church by pastor Sonny Islas: BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED.
What is our attitude about being persecuted? Is it something we look forward
to? Of course not. Yet remember what the LORD said:
MATTHEW 5:10-12
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
MATTHEW 5:10-12
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Why does God allow persecution of
His beloved by the wicked of this fallen world?
ISAIAH 48:9-11
9 For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. 10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. 11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
ISAIAH 48:9-11
9 For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. 10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. 11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
What is the hope we hold tight to
in the face of persecution?
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
What do we believe about God Who
allows such terrible things to happen to His children? Will our faith in God’s
love crumble because such things happen?
ROMANS
8:31-39
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us*. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us*. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
*How
is it possible that we are MORE than conquerors? Because God’s love for us to
far stronger than the hate we receive from Satan and this world. Because any
affliction we may suffer here, will be rewarded beyond imagination in the glory
of heaven. Because evil has already been defeated in eternity by the cross – Christ’s
judgment is coming!
In Communist China, a Colonel entered into an interrogation chamber where he saw a young man tied securely to a metal chair, with two guards standing on either side. He stepped up to him, peering through the dimness, shaking his head in sober disappointment.
The young man looked up and met the Colonel's cold, hateful eyes; he was once the young man's commanding officer, one that the Colonel was grooming for promotion. Then he became a Christian.
"And so you believe in God now, is that right?" asked the Colonel gruffly.
"Yes, sir," the young man nodded meekly.
"And you believe this God of yours is your father now?"
The young man, head bowed, nodded silently.
"And you believe this God actually loves you, like a father does his child?!"
"Yes, sir."
"You are a father yourself aren't you? You have, what? Two children?" asked the Colonel.
The young man looked up, into the Colonel's eyes but quickly looked away.
"You would do anything to protect your children, wouldn't you?" taunted the Colonel, as he nudged a tray on wheels closer to the prisoner; it was filled with thin, glistening knives, hooks, pliers and other nightmarish implements.
"Of course you would!" the Colonel answered for the prisoner. "So let's see if your God loves you enough to protect you, his son, shall we? A little test to prove if God really loves you."
Without another word, the Colonel snatched a scalpel off the tray, reached over and pressed one of the prisoners fingers against the steel arm of the chair he was strapped in. With one deft, swift stroke, he severed a finger at the middle knuckle from his trembling hand. Blood gushed from the stub of what was left of his finger - and the young man grimaced silently, his forehead glistening with sweat.
In Communist China, a Colonel entered into an interrogation chamber where he saw a young man tied securely to a metal chair, with two guards standing on either side. He stepped up to him, peering through the dimness, shaking his head in sober disappointment.
The young man looked up and met the Colonel's cold, hateful eyes; he was once the young man's commanding officer, one that the Colonel was grooming for promotion. Then he became a Christian.
"And so you believe in God now, is that right?" asked the Colonel gruffly.
"Yes, sir," the young man nodded meekly.
"And you believe this God of yours is your father now?"
The young man, head bowed, nodded silently.
"And you believe this God actually loves you, like a father does his child?!"
"Yes, sir."
"You are a father yourself aren't you? You have, what? Two children?" asked the Colonel.
The young man looked up, into the Colonel's eyes but quickly looked away.
"You would do anything to protect your children, wouldn't you?" taunted the Colonel, as he nudged a tray on wheels closer to the prisoner; it was filled with thin, glistening knives, hooks, pliers and other nightmarish implements.
"Of course you would!" the Colonel answered for the prisoner. "So let's see if your God loves you enough to protect you, his son, shall we? A little test to prove if God really loves you."
Without another word, the Colonel snatched a scalpel off the tray, reached over and pressed one of the prisoners fingers against the steel arm of the chair he was strapped in. With one deft, swift stroke, he severed a finger at the middle knuckle from his trembling hand. Blood gushed from the stub of what was left of his finger - and the young man grimaced silently, his forehead glistening with sweat.
"Your God failed you!" the Colonel hissed as he tossed the bloody finger onto the man's lap. He doesn't love you, because HE ISN'T REAL!" growled the commander.
The young man raised his head, and gazed squarely into the Colonel's eyes, which took the commanding officer off guard.
"No, sir! My God does love me, and He passed the test. He suffered and died on the cross to prove His love and He succeeded in passing the test! No, this is my test to prove my love for Him! And by God's grace there is NOTHING you can do to cause me to fail it!"
The young man slumped back into the hard chair but never looked away from the Colonel - he didn't even so much as blink.
The Colonel watched him a moment longer, and glanced at the awe-struck guards who flanked the prisoner. Silently he placed the scalpel, stained with a crescent of scarlet back on the tray, and without another word left the interrogation room.
He never saw the former Soldier of the Communist Party ever again; the young man, that brave Christian who only knew the LORD for a few weeks, was escorted to the prison's courtyard later that afternoon and was executed by firing squad.
He was received into glory in that very moment, and welcomed and rewarded for his faithful witness.
See also Tony Kiar's article: A TALE of TWO CHURCHES
1 comment:
What a glorious exhortation for the body of Christ, for these final days that we are privileged to partake in the sharing of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
May every Saint of God respond soberly and humbly as they reflect on where their walk is with the Lord; And to heed these words to take up the armour of God, and to do valiantly with what time the Lord has given each of us.
May every Saint not shrink back, but fight the good fight of faith laying up a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give at that day.
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