If You Are Obedient to Christ, Get Ready for Warfare
Notice in this glorious Philippians 1 passage below how verse 29 marries together believing and suffering for Christ are integrally intertwined, inseparable, part and parcel with the original Gospel.
“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
HAS anyone called you a wolf, a false prophet, or said you have a devil? This is exactly what has been done to all of Christ’s servants. We are in good company saints! Jesus told us to “rejoice” when we are persecuted for His name’s sake! (Matthew 5:10-12) Check out what the religionists of Christ’s day said of John the Baptist and the Son of God:
“For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He (John the Baptist) hath a devil.” Luke 7:33
“And many of them said, He (Jesus) hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?” John 10:20
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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Abiding
10 Truths to Behold in Isaiah 41:10 [podcast]
“Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not
cast thee away. 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen
thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:9-10
There are 10 truths to behold in Isaiah 41:10:
• “Thou art my servant”
• “I have chosen thee”
• “and not cast thee away”
• “Fear thou not”
• “I am with thee”
• “be not dismayed”
• “for I am thy God”
• “I will strengthen thee”
• “I will help thee”
• “I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”
The soul that prospers is that one who clings to, trusts in and
relies upon Christ alone, day by day, walking ever nearer to
the soon coming Savior. He is with us and promises to “never
leave thee, nor forsake thee”—that is, for those who abide
with Christ (Hebrews 13:5).
1 Peter 1
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Prayer: Dear LORD, thank You for helping me today, and
continuing the good work of salvation You began in me the
moment You saved me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Apostasy
The Goal of the Ungodly Eternal Security Teachers [podcast]
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (license to sin), and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4
“This is AWESOME! You got all over it. It really flowed. Excellent! In the delivery, your excitement and passion for this subject are unmistakable. How can ANYONE listen to this and not want to check out the Word of God for themselves?” Debbie L.
“Thy prophets (false leaders) have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered (exposed) thine iniquity (have not uncovered your sin), to turn away thy captivity (to get you set free from it); but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment (ultimate termination into hell).” Lamentations 2:14
COUNTERFEITS who hide behind their OSAS fairy tale HATE this biblical reality and are willing to call the LORD a liar in order to retain this heresy – “And he that overcometh, and KEEPETH my works UNTO THE END, to him will I give power over the nations:” (Revelation 2:26)
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