SHALL YOU SIT HERE WHILE YOUR BRETHREN GO TO WAR?

Dear Friends,
I am thankful for those of you who read my articles. I pray the messages have been and will continue to strengthen and bless you in your walk with God. I know that some of you face persecution and hardship because you have taken your stand for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 
In my times of intercession, I pray that special grace and strength will be upon those of you who suffer for Christ's sake. I pray HE will open the windows of heaven and will reveal Himself to you as HE did for Stephen when Stephen was stoned (Acts 7:54-60). And remember there were those who, by faith, did wondrous things and had great miracles of deliverance during their persecutions (Hebrews 11: 30-35).  But there were also others who by faith were mocked, stoned, and slain, and gave their lives for Jesus' sake. Whether a miracle of deliverance, or a life laid down as a martyr for Jesus sake, they all stood in faith.

Jesus told us to forgive those who persecute us, and to pray for those who spitefully use us (Matthew 5: 43-45). The Apostle Paul tells us to return good for evil. We must love the oppressor and pray for them, and leave room for God's wrath (Romans12:17-21). He will avenge us when He comes to judge. In the book of Revelation we see that God will ultimately judge wickedness and sin, and HE will judge those who slew God's children. 

"We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The one who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.  The nations were angry, and Your wrath  has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy (corrupt) the earth" (Revelation 11: 17-18).

The Apostle Peter encourages us with these words:
"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy...if you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:12-14).

Most of us in the western world have not faced persecution, torture, imprisonment, and death like those of you in other parts of the world. However, we stand with you in intercession because we are members of the same body (the body of Christ), and if one member suffers, all the members should suffer with it.

Therefore, we appeal to those who have been comfortable and who have not faced persecution. We ask them to obey the words of scripture: "Remember the prisoners as if chained with them---those who are mistreated---since you yourselves are in the body also. (Hebrews 13:3).

We should remember the words of Moses: "Shall your brethren go up to war while you sit here?  
There are those of us who have not yet resisted unto blood. But we can go into our prayer closet and cry out to God in behalf of those who are enduring and standing under great suffering. May the Lord rend the heavens and come down and pour out His Spirit of boldness and power upon the church.

The early Christians, when threatened and commanded not to speak in Jesus' name, they prayed for courage, were filled with the Holy Spirit. They went out and spoke the word of God with boldness. And with great power they gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them (Acts 4:29-33).

May He pour out His Spirit of courage, strength, and power upon us all.


  


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