BYM ONLINE DESK Jan 2019 Blessing E-magazine | Page 7

January 2019 | www.bymonline.org
kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.”
In the days to come, incidents of persecution will be
on the rise. Not only physical persecution, but also mental
warfare against God and His children will become
rampant. Several years back, when we were ministering in
a particular place, we faced severe persecution. The
buildings were demolished, lawsuits were filed and
believers were scattered. The peaceful atmosphere of that
region vanished. It was at that time I felt that we were
totally unprepared for what was happening to us. We have
read the Biblical incidents of persecution a hundred times
and have preached about it many a time, but when it struck
us personally, we were not prepared. I find the same thing
now among the Christians who live in these days. Let us
remember God has promised that the gates of Hell will
come against the Church but they will not prevail (Mat
16:18).
Let not any persecution shock us. God is bringing
back the glory of the early church. So let us not be worried.
They will come and fight but will not overcome us. Let us
endure till the last. Persecution will reveal the glory of
God. People will see God fighting for us. Let us not think
that any particular political party will help God's people.
We are God's children and our help is from above. Let us
not worry about who sits on the earthly throne. Let us look
to God who is the Lord of lords. Let us prepare ourselves
and prepare the other believers. During the times of severe
persecution, some of us may have to sacrifice our lives.
Let us not be afraid to stand for the truth and die for Him.
If it is in God's plan, so be it. We might be put on trial. Let
us not worry how to fight lawsuits. Words will be given
and it will become a testimony to a lot of people.
Authorities asked apostle Peter to stay quiet (Acts
4:17-19). Keeping quiet would have saved Peter's skin.
But it was not possible for him. Even today, if we keep
quiet and not preach the Gospel, everything would be fine
and we would be in the good books of the people around us
and the society will love us. But that would displease our
Lord. The world and the society treated all the false
prophets likewise (Lk 6:26).
“Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”(1 Cor
9:16). When one door closes, let us run to the other. When
one village rejects let us go to the other. There are people
who are in need of the message of love and hope, the
message of Jesus Christ. We have the message of hope, of
love, of healing, of truth and of Eternal Life. Keeping quiet
and doing nothing is an offence in the Kingdom's
perspective. Let us do what is possible. Let us introduce
Jesus to our friends and relatives. Carry Gospel tracts
always. Let us not shy away. It is our duty. Our reluctance
may cause somebody's eternity. It is not about religion, it is
about eternal life. It is not a choice, it is an obligation.
Whatever Church or Fellowship you attend, involve
yourself in the ministries of that Church or Fellowship. Do
not be a mere Sunday-Church-goer. Be involved in
Evangelism and Missions.
Mar 8:38 -“For whoever is ashamed of me and of
my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him
will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the
glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
6) Unabating Temptations
Mar 14:38 “Watch and pray that you may not enter
into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak.”
And finally, we need to watch and pray. The enemy
is aggressive. Darkness is falling. It is possible that we
might start operating in the flesh. Peter did not understand
the times that he was living. It was Jesus' final night and
final fight. It was going to be severe. Jesus was going to be
betrayed and be handed over to the authorities. Jesus had
sufficiently warned his disciples, especially Peter (Lk
22:31). But it fell on deaf ears. For Peter, the night at
Gethsemane was just another night. It was going to come
back. He relaxed and slept. Alas! He was dead wrong. That
night turned out to be a crucial one in the lives of both
Jesus and Peter. When God the Holy Spirit says that we
need to watch and pray, we need to take it as a warning
signal. It is not a call for another prayer meeting and
another fellowship dinner. Many things are going to
happen which we may not understand. The Church needs
to watch and pray and be ready to face the challenges
ahead.
Hence my beloved, as God's children, let us set
aside at least an hour to pray for our Nation. If you are an
individual, organize small prayer gatherings in your house
inviting two or three like-minded believers. If you are a
church Pastor, plan to increase prayer awareness among
your believers. Pray that the last days' burden might come
upon your church. If you are part of an organization or an
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