The 'church' in America ( oops)The Homeland,has not faced any type of Persecution,that would cause any type of change,such as the first century CHURCH went through.
Persecution strengthens the believers,yet without Presecution,the believers in this country are weak,and fearful,even of being Persecuted.
Persecution seperates the Wheat from the chaff.
When persecution arises because of Yeshua and his Word,the chaff quickly falls away.
During times of Persecution,believers have lost this worlds goods,yet have faithed into Yeshua.
When persection arises here,will the believers be willing to lose everything,even their lives.
Persecution reveals true and false Teachers,Prophets,
Teachings,and false Gospels.
It also reveals false Messiahs.
Persection reavels what each person believes.
Persecution is promised to the believers.
Joh 15:20 Remember the Word which I said to you, A slave is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted Me, they also will persecute you. If they kept My Word, they also will keep yours.
Since Persecution has so many benefits,i have this Question for the Professing Christians.
WHy does the 'church' in America ( The Homeland)avoid Persection at all costs.
At the cost of losing all things in this life,
And the cost of losing ones life.
Could it be possible that the 'church' in the West might be those labled as DWELLING UPON THE EARTH.
The perfect will of god is as it was in Genesis, so we need to be accurate we do not say god allowed Satan to become God of this world, that is totally upon man not the lord.
The perfect will of god is as it was in Genesis, so we need to be accurate we do not say god allowed Satan to become God of this world, that is totally upon man not the lord.
Does not the Bile teach us as believers thatPersecution is to be expected? The prophets of old were persecuted, Jesus was persecuted, the apostles were persecuted, and we have been told that we as believers will also suffer offenses for the gospel and name sake of Jesus Christ.
As Jesus warns his disciples and all believers, that He wish persecution would not come, but expect it, because even those who say they are Christians and love God, but are in sins will not care to hear sound doctriens of Gods word, and they too will turn aginst thsoe who try to enlighten them with the turth.
Jesus encourages and warns us in Matthew chpater 5, You are blessed when people will revile you and persecute you and will say all manner of evil against you falsely because of the gospel you teach or preach for His sake... this became truth throughout the history of the church both physically and by personal attakcs of slander.
Paul persecuted the church of Jesus Christ and killed new converts who had converted from Judism to Christianity both Jews and Gentiles... the he himself after his conversion suffered the same persecution when he started preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
But as you both Asher and PJ have stated, its our response to the persecution that makes the difference, and Paul tells us that when we have done all we can do to Stand, contijue to STAND dressed in the whole armor of God... and God will handle the rest.
Persecution, Suffering and all adversity come in this life for one reason Satan desires to get the children of God to question their salvation and it's benefits.
Jesus overcame him that by faith in his redemption of mankind we might also overcome satan in this life.
Meanie:
Phil,let me get this straight,you are saying that the Author,creator,and sustainer of everything we can see and cannot see;
Yeshua needed faith in order to overcome Ha-Satan.
WHERE in all of Scripture did The Almighty Son of GOD need FAITH,in order to overcome Satan.
Please show me where you get your THEOLOGY FROM.
Oh i forgot,you do not believe THEOLOGY has any value,The studying of GOD as found within the Word of GOD.
Theology according to you,has no place in the life of the believer.
For you do not believe a persons mind is necessary to knowing YWHW.
Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Persecution, Suffering and all adversity come in this life for one reason Satan desires to get the children of God to question their salvation and it's benefits.{?????}
I Peter 2:20b,21: �But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow IN HIS STEPS.�
I Peter 4:12,13: �Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But **REJOICE** that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is *REVEALED!�:applause:
Matthew 5:10-12 Jesus says, �Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. **REJOICE**:applause: and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you!�
2 Timothy 3:12: �In fact, **EVERYONE** who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted!�
Romans 5:3: �But we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope.�
Philippians 1:29: �For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him!�
Philippians 3:10: �I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings!�
Revelation 12:17: �They overcame him {Satan} by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death!�
Rev 2:10: Jesus says, �Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the Crown of Life.�
� Matthew 24:3,9-13:� The disciples asked Jesus, �What will be the sign of your Coming and the end of the age??
Jesus answered�.. {During the Great Tribulation} �Then *YOU* will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and *YOU will be hated by all nations because of Me.� At that time many will turn away from the Faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of *MOST* will grow cold,{THE GREAT APOSTASY} but he {The Called, Chosen & Faithful-Rev 17:14b} who stands firm to the End will be saved.�
This will come as a tremendous shock for those who teach the Prosperity Gospel:devil: and who are mainly seeking earthly treasures rather than eternal Heavenly Rewards. They:devil: teach: If you accept Jesus as your Savior you have a free pass to Heaven and God forbid that you should suffer any persecution or go through the Great Tribulation; which fits in with the Prosperity Gospel doctrines:devil: which are designed to increase church membership at the expense of the Truth.
When is the last time you heard a sermon on the virtues and courage of the many thousands of present-day martyrs in the USA?? And this is probably why there will be a great FALLING AWAY {THE GREAT APOSTASY} at the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
George I have your comments on faith and I know what Jesus taught and lived know you tell all that beg attention from what faith is and how it operates.
My father does all he does by faith, if yours does not by your own words you have another spiritual father would you enlighten us to who he is.
