Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The Church Under Fire
This week's message on the Running A.M.O.K. Podcast is on the church in Smyrna from Revelation chapter 2. This message talks about the church under persecution, the struggles that Christians face and the importance of the church. Here's an excerpt.
Luke 6:22Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. Jesus promises a great reward for us when we are mistreated because of Him. I need to say this again. Tough times are not a sign that God has given up on you. If anything tough times that come for the sake of righteousness are a sign that the opposition is cranking up against you because you are on the verge of a breakthrough or of doing something great for the kingdom. Consider Paul. Here’s the guy who took the Gospel to the gentiles, here’s the guy who wrote close to half of the New Testament. What was His life like?
1 Corinthians 11:21What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
I read this passage and feel like such a coward. This guy had it tough. Was he in God’s will? Absolutely. The question is, are you? See if your struggles come from your own sin then the answer is no, you need to be honest with yourself and you need to repent. But if you’re seeking God and trying to do His will then maybe what you’re facing is opposition trying to stop a major breakthrough in your life. Is God going to stop the opposition? Maybe, maybe not. Pray that He does, but trust Him, persevere, come to your brothers and sisters who are instructed to help you bear your burdens and keep going. Resist the enemy and hold on to Jesus.
To hear the whole message, go to www.RadicallyReal.com
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This week's message on the Running A.M.O.K. Podcast is on the church in Smyrna from Revelation chapter 2. This message talks about the church under persecution, the struggles that Christians face and the importance of the church. Here's an excerpt.
Luke 6:22Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. Jesus promises a great reward for us when we are mistreated because of Him. I need to say this again. Tough times are not a sign that God has given up on you. If anything tough times that come for the sake of righteousness are a sign that the opposition is cranking up against you because you are on the verge of a breakthrough or of doing something great for the kingdom. Consider Paul. Here’s the guy who took the Gospel to the gentiles, here’s the guy who wrote close to half of the New Testament. What was His life like?
1 Corinthians 11:21What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
I read this passage and feel like such a coward. This guy had it tough. Was he in God’s will? Absolutely. The question is, are you? See if your struggles come from your own sin then the answer is no, you need to be honest with yourself and you need to repent. But if you’re seeking God and trying to do His will then maybe what you’re facing is opposition trying to stop a major breakthrough in your life. Is God going to stop the opposition? Maybe, maybe not. Pray that He does, but trust Him, persevere, come to your brothers and sisters who are instructed to help you bear your burdens and keep going. Resist the enemy and hold on to Jesus.
To hear the whole message, go to www.RadicallyReal.com
