If You Are Obedient to Christ, Get Ready for Warfare

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Philippians 1:27-30

WHEN we are rejected, Jesus told us to “rejoice” and not to mope, mourn, or nurse a wound. Hello.

WHEN’s the last time your favorite idol preacher preached deep Bible truth on the reality of persecution? If not recently, repent of supporting the wolf and RUN! … Persecution is ALL OVER the Bible and so if someone isn’t preaching it, they are intentionally avoiding it! WOLF!

Ever notice how the prophesied and “many” ear-tickling wolves today never mention the kingdom reality of the persecution of the righteous? (Matthew 24:11; 2 John 4:1, etc.) Do we realize that the Bible is full of examples and teachings about persecution – Beginning in the fourth chapter of the Bible and extending to the last book?

GET READY FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE – that is, if you are obeying God by communicating His truth.  Many times this warfare comes in the form of confusion through “false brethren” who think they are saved and yet are not (John 8:47; 2 Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 2:4). The evil one uses professed Christians to attack those few who are truly on the narrow road that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14).  We will need to know how to rightly divide the Word of truth which comes from studying to show ourselves approved unto God, being taught of Him (2 Timothy 2:15).

For example, when you preach the Word, showing how GOD (not you or mere man) but GOD Himself clearly told us that certain classes of sinners will be in hell, you will be opposed. One thing some will attempt to do is tell you to stop trying to divide the wheat and the tares as Jesus says the angels will do that (Matthew 13). Yet, think about this: Preaching the judgment or Word of God is not the same as attempting to divide the wheat from the tares (Matthew 13). Preaching the truth that God will damn those who die in sin is what God calls you and I to do. He will use His angels to divide the righteous from the wicked in the end but that in itself doesn’t mean He contradicted Himself nor does it negate our responsibility to speak His holy truth.

Jesus says “rejoice” when persecuted and “Woe unto you” if you’re not being persecuted (Matthew 5:10-12; Luke 6:26).

YOU want to see devils manifest? Just preach the Bible truth which tells them they can’t live like hell and go to God’s holy Heaven!

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:26

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

“I don’t care who hates me. I care who loves me. Especially, when the One who loves me has power over the one who hates me.” John Cameron

“All that matters is Jesus loves me, and to preach the Gospel to everyone, even if they hate me.” Terrence Przybylski

When the heat of the truth comes, people living in sin (I supposed) get outraged. When the light of truth hits that darkness, some folk get livid and begin to attack the messenger. Why? Jesus says:

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their (own) deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21

When men love darkness more than the light of Christ’s truth, even though they claim to be saved, they will many times react violently to the truth, seeking to defend darkness by twisting and misusing Scripture.

The root cause of blindness is rebellion, unrepentance! (2 Corinthians 3:14-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

Anybody know what I am talking about here? Have you seen this pattern?

The Bible commands us to “Preach the word … in season and out of season.” (2 Timothy 4:1-4) Then, when we do, Satan raises up people to come against that Word of truth and try to confuse the issue as he and his human pawns oppose the truth while claiming to be defending it. Preaching the Gospel and calling out those who claim to be Christians and yet are living in open sin, is the exact thing Jesus did when addressing the pharisees who feigned to be representing the LORD while brazenly teaching and living contrary to what the LORD Himself told them in His Word. Read Matthew 23 where Jesus lambasts the Jewish “hypocrites” and told them three times that they were going to hell. Then, in contrast, Jesus deals very differently with the sinners who have never come to Him yet and do not claim to be representing Him (John 4; 8, etc.).

When attacked and called judgmental, I have learned to boldly declare: “I am not the judge but God is the Judge and I AM preaching HIS judgment for which we are ALL accountable!”

Preaching the Word of God is preaching the judgment of God. Speak with His words to others and fret not for those who persecute you (Isaiah 51:7, 12).

The truth divides between the mere professors and the genuine possessors of salvation. Read Christ’s words carefully:

“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47

According to the above statement, who did Jesus tell us is “of God” and who did He show us is “not of God”?

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34

The “sword” represents judgment and division. The truth – via those who believe it and those who don’t – separates those two classes of people. Embracing or rejecting Bible truth shows us the fruit of our own lives and the lives of others, revealing to the true saint who is truly “of God” and who is “NOT of God” and what Paul called “false brethren.” (John 8:47; 2 Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 2:4)

“If you don’t know or follow the Bible, anything goes.” Pastor Joseph Gros

What passes as “Christian” and is accepted these days among some people simply shows the hearts of the people and how they have only a mere “form of godliness” but do not know His holy reign in their personal lives (2 Timothy 3:1-7; 4:3). This means they have not truly repented which means coming to full surrender, turning from our own way and wholly to Him and His ways.  If they knew Him, they would not be blinded and following falsehoods that contradict His very Word (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Men of Corrupt Minds | The Accuser of the Brethren

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