Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:20 (NASB)
If reading the news and watching all that is going on right now is very difficult for you, please remember it is not flesh and blood that we struggle against. ” For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Eph 6:12(NASB)
In these times we should ponder the words of Jesus. “Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.” Matt 18:21-22 (NASB) We need to forgive those that will do us harm in the future.
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants on account of Jesus.” 2 Cor 4:3-5 (NASB) Ray Comfort tells a story of a blind man walking toward a cliff. The right thing to do is to stop him from going off the cliff. It would be silly to get mad at the blind man for walking off toward the cliff since he is blind. In the same way, the world that we live in is full of blind people. When we Christians have been persecuted the people that are persecuting us will think they are doing a good thing. They will think they are helping others, but really they are blind. So when you are persecuted forgive them because they do not know what they are doing. They are blind.
““These things I have spoken to you so that you will not be led into sin. 2 They will ban you from the synagogue, yet an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering a service to God. 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. However, I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because I was with you.” John 16:1-4 (NASB) I believe he was talking about times that have passed already, but I think the verse still gives insight. Those who will persecute us in the future will believe they are doing good. We will have to forgive them because they are blind.
Take up your cross daily and die to yourself. The antidote to the fear of death and the life coming is to die daily to serving yourself and your desires and live for Christ alone. ” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?” Matt 15:24-26 (NASB)
Do not cling to the things of this world. Decide that Jesus is enough. This is not our home. We are passing through and cannot take anything from this life with us. If you are not clinging to the things of this world, then what can they threaten you with. They cannot take your soul. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” Matt 10:28 (ESV)
Gather in small local groups of trusted Christians that you can build one another up. A place you can speak the truth, remembering the true history. A place you can speak with words that have real meaning. Monthly and/or weekly gatherings of Christians will be very important. Gather in your homes and gain strength from each other. “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecc 4:12 (ESV)
We need to stay in God’s word, memorize it and trust in him. God has made us for such a time like this.
“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,” Eph 1:11(ESV)
“Who has spoken and it came to pass,
unless the Lord has commanded it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that good and bad come?” Lam 3:37-38 (ESV)
God Bless you and thank you for praying.
Pray for Christians to share truth in their every day lives.
Pray for Christians to hide scripture in their hearts.
Pray for Christians to find local fellowship.
We had a gentleman that told me that I am racist scum just because I am white the other day. I asked him what I did specifically to him or anyone else that he knew about. He said that is the issue you have done nothing. He told me I was handing out pamphlets that spread hate. I asked him to read what I was handing out and show me what was hateful. It was a million-dollar bill tract. He refused to read it. I tried to tell him that it says that if you hate someone you are a murder. Christians are against hate. I told him the Christian Worldview is that there is only 1 race the human race. I tried to get him to admit that I am human and that he is human and he refused to admit I am a human being. I told him he was made in the image of God and that I was made in the image of God. He yelled at me to get out of the USA and that I am wicked and evil for being white.
I am hearing this worldview more and more. Cultural Marxism is an issue. He would not listen to me about the gospel because he believes the Bible was created by white people to oppress him.
The Bible is not about oppression of others. It is about God having mercy on people that have broken his law and deserve hell. God took on flesh and was born of a virgin. His name is Jesus and he lived a perfect life. He died in the cross and took the full wrath of God for those that repent and trust Jesus. 3 days later he rose from the grave. Repent and trust Jesus.
The gentlemen in this picture were Christians and we had a wonderful friendly conversation with them.
Here is what most Million Dollar Bill tracts say:
THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION: Will you go to Heaven when you die? Have you lied, stolen, used God’s name in vain, or lusted (which Jesus said was adultery, Mt. 5:28)? If so, God sees you as a liar, thief, blasphemer, and adulterer at heart. If you die in your sins, you will end up in a terrible place called Hell. But there’s good news. Though we broke God’s Law, Jesus paid the fine by dying on the cross: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). Then Jesus rose from the dead and was seen by hundreds of eyewitnesses. He fulfilled all the prophecies of the promised Savior. Please, today, repent and trust Jesus, and God will forgive you and grant you the gift of eternal life (Eph. 2:8,9). Then, to show your gratitude, read the Bible daily and obey it, join a Christian church, and be baptized.
When engaging in difficult conversations remember to always ask questions and make people defend their position. You can use Greg Koukl’s questions.
- What did you mean by that?
- How did you come to that conclusion?
- Where did you get that information?
I made the man above prove what he was saying and it turned out he did not have any proof.
A large group gathered to share the gospel in Reading PA this past month. The outreach was very encouraging. They have been witnessing in Pottstown as well. The weekly witnessing group is growing. Many people are hearing the gospel. The conversations have been very encouraging as well. Pray for many to repent and trust Jesus.
Many wonder what will happen in the future. They wonder what they can do to stand in this tide. We will need to gather in small groups and talk about the Bible. We need to stand for truth. We will need to go out and share the gospel. We need to live not by lies as the book title says.
I have a challenge for you. Mention the name of Jesus with everyone you talk to. Make that your challenge to bring up the name of Jesus. Give truth to those you talk to.
