Persecution and Poverty - Part Three

The answer I gave yesterday is true - it should be both an inward and outward pressure that would move us to be true Christians.

As a true follower of Christ - I should expect some level of persecution.  I should be considered both "poor and rich"because I have nothing I consider my own, and yet I have everything I need.

In Revelation 2: 8-10, the church had Smyrna had no rebuke given to them because "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but, you are rich)..."

The Bishop of Smyrna was Polycarp who was martyred in 155 A.D.  He refused to be nailed because he was not resisting the stake at which he would be burned.  Before they burned him, he said, "Eighty-and-six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong.  How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?"  With that, they tried to burn him but he would not burn.  They stabbed him and the blood put out the fire.  But here is an example of the leader of the church at Smyrna knowing well that to follow Christ would mean death.

Then during the days of the Anti-Christ, two things will be evident for all who do not receive the mark of the Beast - persecution and poverty.

"And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name."  Revelation 13: 15-17

So does this mean we pray for persecution? or sell everything and move into a monastery?  I don't think so.  But it does mean we are not shocked when persecution happens, but rather we expect it. And we give everything away to the Lord and live dependent on Him alone.

My final word:  Christians - tough times are here and it will be worse.  But don't be afraid or shocked, being a follower of Jesus demands it and the kingdom of God advances due to it.

Persecution and Poverty - Part Two

On June 30, 2013 was the Sunday after the Supreme Court ruled "The Defense of Marriage Act" as unconstitutional and took the decision of same-sex marriage out of the hands of the people of California with the decision on Prop 8.  I spoke briefly about the decision by saying that it may be a bad day for our nation, but not for the church.  I believe good days are ahead for the church.

Last week all of these thoughts came together as I caught up on some podcast sermons from Dr. Johnny Hunt, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA.  The message was in late February, 2013 when he said that he has noticed one of two things (or both) is characteristic of the church where God is moving mightily:  persecution and poverty.

So, I ask - can we have a mighty move of God without the outer demands of persecution and poverty? And in reality, are these two elements not "normal" for every Christian?

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  Matthew 5:10-12

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:34-39

Sounds like to me if you are a disciple/follower of Jesus, you will be persecuted whether you live in China, Cuba or Elgin.

But it is comforting to know that the early church "had turned their world upside down," but came to a point where they needed "outside pressure" to move them to obedience.  Acts 8 the Lord used persecution to get out of Jerusalem and be scattered to the ends of the earth.

What about poverty?  Does it mean we sell everything we have and move to monasteries?  Or is it that we give everything to God?  We know that we can have wealth, as long as wealth does not have us.

So, which one is it?  Does persecution and poverty come from within causing us to live a life sold out to Christ greatly impacting others?  Or does persecution and poverty come from without that will produce a great movement of God?  My answer - BOTH.  More tomorrow.

Persecution and Poverty - Part One

Yesterday, July 21, 2013, I shared with the congregation at CrossRoads Baptist Church something that has been on my heart for a long time and just recently received new revelation concerning.  In the next 3-4 days I will share my thoughts via this blog.

Have you ever wondered why we in America are not seeing the might manifestation and growth of authentic Christianity like many places of the world are currently seeing?  Many are being saved with evidence of not only personal transformation, but communities and even nations are being transformed.

Places like China, Cuba, and areas of Africa are revealing a thriving church.  Places like South Sudan and Uganda (in Africa) are becoming Christian nations.

We saw in the magazine Prayer Connect a story of Dr. Jim Denison who recently was in Cuba.  He reported more than a million Cubans have come to Christ in the past ten years.  In his first trip, he told a local pastor he would pray for persecution against the people to lessen.  He asked Dr. Denison not to do that, explaining how the suffering had birthed the revival.  The pastor went on to say that other Cubans are praying for increased persecution to come to American Christians.

We know from Evangelist Ed Lacy who has been going to Cuba for many years also gives witness of the glorious church that is there in that Communist country.

Why China? Cuba? Southern Sudan?  I'll give you what I sense is the answer in the days ahead.

Sunday Sermon July 7, 2013

This is the sermon from Sunday, July 7, 2013 "Final Instructions for the church" from Romans 15:1-13.  This was the last message in the topic of Romans 14:1-15:13 in dealing with the division between the "weak" and the "strong" in the church.

Here is the audio of that sermon:

Sunday Sermon from Sunday, June 30, 2013

I apologize for not posting sermons more, but we have had issues with some recordings.

This is the sermon from Sunday, June 30, 2013 "The Essence of the Kingdom of God" from Romans 14: 17

Here is the audio of the sermon:

Brennan Manning

Listen to Brennan Manning sharing about the love of God.

Disciple Yourself by Ryan Whitley

My staff is always working on discipleship.  We first work on discipleship by discipling ourselves.  We then work on discipleship by discipling each other.  Our ultimate goal, however, is to disciple others.  That is our plan for discipleship.

What kind of plan do you have for discipleship?  Do you have a plan?  What does it look like?  You do know it is the call of every Christian to make disciples of the nations.  And one of the keys to discipleship is the ability to disciple yourself.  It is the ability to place yourself under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit in order to allow Him to mentor you.  You cannot make disciples of others until you allow the Lord to make a disciple of you

Here are five keys to discipling yourself.

1.  You must develop personal intimate time alone with the Lord.

We cannot teach others about personal intimacy with Christ unless we develop intimacy with Him.  Even as the Son of God, Jesus spent intimate time alone with His Father.  Several times the Gospel writers referenced personal times Jesus spent alone in prayer:

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

Matthew 14:23

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Mark 1:35

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Luke 5:16

If Jesus considered personal intimacy alone with the Lord a priority, how much more should we?

2.  You must devote yourself to reading and studying God’s Word.

Let me be forthright: IF YOU ARE NOT READING AND STUDYING GOD’S WORD, YOU ARE NOT GROWING SPIRITUALLY. 

There is a direct correlation between God’s Word and personal spiritual growth.  Before you teach others from God’s word, you must learn from God’s word yourself.  True disciples are constantly in the Word of God, studying, reading, and learning.

3.  You must practice consistency.

One of the greatest deterrents to personal spiritual growth for many believers is lack of consistency.  So many are on again and off again in the disciplines of their faith.  Too many Christians take three steps forward and two steps backward because they do not practice constancy.  One of the greatest guarantees for personal spiritual growth is to be more constant.  To disciple yourself you must be consistent in worship, Bible study and prayer.

4.  You must find a way to be record your thoughts.

I record my thoughts by keeping a daily journal.  I find it necessary and helpful to write down all God is doing in me, for me and around me.  I also find it helpful to write my prayers.  This discipline keeps me focused on what matters.  I am not easily distracted when I write my prayers.

5.  You must fine tune the skill of reading.

Reading is a discipline.  It is a discipline that can become a skill.  Reading is important because it keeps the mind sharp.  Reading also produces lessons, ideas and insights you would not have otherwise about the kingdom of God.  To disciple yourself, you must fine tune the skill of reading.

So, before you think about discipling someone else, you must learn to disciple yourself.