Are We Willing???

[Tammy Roesch]

As I read this passage this morning, I couldn't help but wonder how many of us are willing to accept persecution for the TRUTH? I don't believe we should DO things to BRING the persecution on ourselves premature....but neither should we compromise to AVOID the stigma of persecution.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

[appy]

I think we all would like to think of ourselves as being bold, but we really don't know how we will respond or feel until we cross that bridge. Peter, who was so sure and spoke with great confidence that he would defend Jesus when confronted. At the time, he felt bold and brave before Jesus was arrested by the roman army.

But that is not what happened after Jesus was arrested? Instead of standing up for what he knew was right and true, he ran in fear, and then denied even knowing Jesus. My point about mentioning Peter, is that he did just the opposite of what he was so sure he would not do. He couldn't even prevent it, even though Jesus told him long before he did it, that it was going to happen.

 

[TheBlade]

On 7/19/2021 at 3:56 AM, appy said:

I think we all would like to think of ourselves as being bold, but we really don't know how we will respond or feel until we cross that bridge. Peter, who was so sure and spoke with great confidence that he would defend Jesus when confronted. At the time, he felt bold and brave before Jesus was arrested by the roman army.

But that is not what happened after Jesus was arrested? Instead of standing up for what he knew was right and true, he ran in fear, and then denied even knowing Jesus. My point about mentioning Peter, is that he did just the opposite of what he was so sure he would not do. He couldn't even prevent it, even though Jesus told him long before he did it, that it was going to happen.

 

Amen so true..until that moment we don't know.  There is a truth you said about Peter yet Christ had not died yet and Peter was not filled with the holy Spirit "you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.". After that we see the rock on which Christ has built His Church. There is a boldness that comes when we stay in prayer and praying in the spirit. 

Is there no greater reward then to suffer for Him.. so many right now are suffering. I get these petitions from a lawyer and one was for 140 baptist children in Africa that were kidnapped.  And they were right.. we won't be hearing about this in the news. When I searched I found 4 links  praying

[Hopefully]

Many get practice by posting about Jesus online. Posting the truth then being attacked by many yet standing in the truth. Good practice for when it’s so offline and some do experience it offline as well. 

[Selah7]

4 minutes ago, Hopefully said:

Many get practice by posting about Jesus online. Posting the truth then being attacked by many yet standing in the truth. Good practice for when it’s so offline and some do experience it offline as well. 

Amen.  I’m willing.

John 8:31-32

The Truth Shall Make You Free

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know thetruth, and the truth shall make you free.”

…Selah

 

[Marathoner]

Another anniversary approaches. I can mark the time when the memories start to surface, always at this hour of night. I look at the calendar and it's only a few weeks away. 

Willing to face children of the devil with their guns? Willing to stand between them and a stranger with nothing in my hands? Willing to give my life so that stranger might escape with theirs and live to see another day? Yes, willing to die. No man had my back. 

Only I wasn't alone, for the Lord was with me. The day before He had spoken of what was to come and His Spirit opened a vision before my eyes: I was standing in fire, only the flames didn't burn my skin. The wind began to howl and the flames surged, stretching outward to burn everything before me to ashes. So it would be when the enemies arrived after the morning of the next day, the Lord said.  

In that hour, if I would focus upon His voice according to His instruction, the Lord would scatter the enemies like leaves in the wind. The fire will not harm a hair upon my head but the wicked shall flee in terror before the flames. The fear of the Lord would be upon them. 

It came to pass according to the words of the Lord: those children of the devil scattered and fled. They never returned to terrorize that stranger who became my dear friend again. 

I love the Lord, for He delivered me with a mighty hand when my own was broken. I love the Lord because He gave me life --- His life --- when my own was nearly extinguished. I love the Lord because He is with me always. I love the Lord because He will never leave nor forsake me, remembering me in these bonds.
 

Psalm 116

I love the LORD, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. 

The pains of death surrounded me,
And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;
I found trouble and sorrow.
Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
“O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!”

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from falling.
I will walk before the LORD
In the land of the living.
I believed, therefore I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted.”
I said in my haste,
“All men are liars.”

What shall I render to the LORD
For all His benefits toward me?
I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD
Now in the presence of all His people.

Precious in the sight of the LORD
Is the death of His saints.  

O LORD, truly I am Your servant;
I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the LORD. 

I will pay my vows to the LORD
Now in the presence of all His people,
In the courts of the LORD’s house,
In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.   

Praise the LORD!

Edited July 22, 2021 by Marathoner

[Riverwalker]

I have always held to the notion that you have to stand for something or you will fall for anything.

And when you stand up in a seated crowd, you will garner attention, both good and bad. Many will come at you with the most hateful comments to get you to sit down and shut up

But that is one thing we must not do, 

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

[Dennis1209]

I don't want to come across as a "Debbie downer", but I believe there is a good possibility we may experience true Christian persecution here in the US. before long. The stage has been set, the agenda made clear and the implementation now starting. Culture, society and the government are calling good evil, and evil good. The minority are dictating to the majority. Fake and lying media controls and censors a sitting US. President. Outside of the Bible, truth is harder to come by these days.

Biden and his anti-Semitic leadership has distanced themselves from Israel. Biden and members of his appointments, have more or less called Christians "domestic terrorists." We are the ones causing the problems of disunity, hate speech (Bible), exclusion, bigots, homophobia and intolerant. Jewish and Christian persecution has escalated faster globally than I could ever have imagined. 

I want to think and reassure myself, that no matter how bad it gets, I can and will withstand it. But I cannot say that, I've never been tested, and much better people have been tried by persecution and failed miserably. I would solely have to rely on the strength the Lord provides to sustain me, and not rely on myself. 

In the past I've wondered how the millions of martyr's faced immanent execution and not recanted their faith in Jesus. The answer seems to be obvious, He gives us the strength and faith to endure to the very end. Until tested, I cannot be sure?

In a somewhat comparable manner, when I was 18-19 years old, I was training in the Army to be an assault helicopter door gunner going to Viet Nam. I tried to self example myself, on how I will react the first time enemy fire is directed and aimed at me, with the intent of killing me? Would I cower, freeze, panic and become useless when, not if, it happens. I couldn't give myself any reassurances or predict what I would do. I will not know until that day comes? 

Upon arrival in Southeast Asia, it didn't take long for that question to be answered, and I was tested, and fortunately I did my job. But what I overcame was not the same as certain martyrdom and persecution, but the best example of personal testing I can come up with. I can't count the number of times I called upon the name of the Lord to see me through this, and He did. I believe if the day ever comes in my lifetime, He will also see me through until the end; as He has done for millions of others who has faith and trust in Him, even through death and martyrdom. 

Thinking more rationally now with age and change; I was willing to put myself in harms way, for my family, country, freedom and our ideals founded in God and morality. I will not answer the question of; would I put myself in harms way today, to protect America, and the laws it has enacted and how it morphed into a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah. 

I guess my point is: Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His word, grace, love, promises and compassions stand, and never change. What myself, millions of much braver soldiers did throughout our nations history, for the freedoms we have enjoyed up to this point. Have and are being squandered away, and the historical cycle of a nations fate is coming full circle, back to bondage and tyranny. 

What we do for the Lord today is what counts and matters, for the eternal Kingdom of God, that will never change or perish, unlike our present nation, and all historical empires crumble. What really matters with our life on this earth; is not what we do for ourselves, our country or family; but what we do out of love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Sorry, I got a little too emotional and personal with my experiences and thoughts.

Edited July 23, 2021 by Dennis1209

[missmuffet]

3 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

I have always held to the notion that you have to stand for something or you will fall for anything.

And when you stand up in a seated crowd, you will garner attention, both good and bad. Many will come at you with the most hateful comments to get you to sit down and shut up

But that is one thing we must not do, 

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 15: 18-19

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you

[Waggles]

If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Proverbs 24:10