Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. NKJV



All the law does is give people the knowledge of sin. In other words, the law says, if you do “this” it is a sin.



Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. NKJV



All the law does is define sin. Even without the law people died. What law were the people under who that died from Adam to Moses?



Genesis 4:2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." 8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. NKJV



The commandments had not been given. None of the law of Moses, written laws or laws of any kind had been given. All that had happened at the time of Cain and Abel was, through Adam, man had gained knowledge of good and evil. Yet, Cain was envious and committed murder. Therefore, Cain knew the 7th and 10th commandments. When sin was defined sin revived and Cain sinned.



The entire world fell into sin when Adam gained knowledge of good and evil. They started to die at that time. The thing that Adam knew was, when he got the knowledge of good and evil he would surely die. Therefore everyone, when they get the knowledge of good and evil, has the knowledge of sin and because we are slaves to sin, we sin. When we have knowledge of good and evil it revives the sin within us and we die.



Does that mean that Cain was judged for his sin of breaking the 7th and 10th commandment. If he was then God lied because Romans 5:13 states that sin is not imputed where there is no law? Cain was not under the law, all he had was the knowledge of of good and evil.



Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. NKJV



God passed over the sins Cain committed. He did not impute the sin of breaking the 10 commandments to Cain. We must look at verses Genesis 4: 3-7 to determine what Cain did wrong. Verse 3 Cain brought an offering of his work. His work, as well as our work, will not get us justification.



Compare Cain's offering to Abel's offering. Verse 4 Abel brought the firstborn of his sheep. Abel brought the best of his flock. Abel's offering proved that he believed God. Abel's offering was accepted because his offering was the offering God required.



Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law. NKJV



The law required animal blood offerings for sins. As shown by Cain and Abel God required a blood offering prior to the law.



Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. NKJV



The offerings required, under the law, did not take away sins, it provided a temporary covering for sin. When the people made the offering for their sins it proved they had faith in God's word. Therefore, the law did not remove a person's sins. It was the faith the people had in God's word that justified a person under the law.




Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God NKJV




Faith does not void the law. The law and the prophets provided witness to righteousness through faith in Jesus. Justification by faith confirms the testimony of the law and prophets. Faith justified under the law and continues to justify under grace.

Long story short: I am, slowly but surely , dying. My body is getting weaker and weaker each day, I started to sleep a TON .... I'm diagnosed with something which triggers cancer in early to mid 30s , and I am in early 30s now so ..... Basically - illness is a death sentence and nothing I can do about it ... So I am cool with this from long time ago. Everybody dies anyway so ... xD

Anyway ... few weeks ago I was searching for some stuff on YouTube, and video bumped into my recommendation with title something along the lines - " The Holy Spirit test when you leave Earth , and you can't skip it . ". Something along those lines ...

So I wanna know , what does Bible or your belief say about this matter ?

I am dying ... and I know someone will wait for me after my spirit leaves body .... But how can I prepare for " test " , cause I assume death is not " straight forward thing " , sure there is some like .... " trap " there. xD

So ... any thoughts? Thanks. <3

In the PCA denomination, to be a Pastor requires a master of divinity or higher. Ensuring smooth operation and prevention of common issues. Roles such as elders, deacons, and treasurers do not necessarily require to have a master's degree in Divinity or equivalent, The question posed is whether all Christian denominations should adopt this standard. The argument for universal adoption includes:

1. Educated clergy are less likely to misinterpret scripture or provide misguided advice, as understanding ancient languages and biblical interpretation typically requires formal education.
2. Clergy without an education tend to have a low view of Scripture and they'll either twist the word of God or they'll declare it or church attendance unimportant when both are essential to the Christian faith. This can happen even from people with an education as well but it's much, much easier for this to happen in an uneducated clergy member than an educated one.
3. A uneducated clergy member can take advantage of its congregation and can abuse the authority given to them by God. Generally clergy who have an education tend to take God's word more seriously and will take their duty to educate, help and lead the flock of God. It takes an education in theology and pastorship to learn how to lead the flock of God and to help people come to Christ and to learn the importance of church worship.
4. It generally takes an education to understand the word of God and biblical interpretation should be left to the theologians and Clergy who know and understand what the word of God says.
5. (Biased opinion) A Pastor without an education is like a hunter without a gun. They are unequipped to handle everything that being the leader of a church entails and they tend to be as John MCarthur puts it, "unqualified".
   
   The suggestion is that these reasons validate the need for educational requirements across all Christian denominations to maintain high standards of leadership and guidance within the church.
   
   

Psalm 132


‘Horn’ means descendant. ‘Branch’ means descendant. ‘Jesse’ is the father of David, thus we have a descendant of David in Isaiah 11 below just as in Psalm 132:17 above. ‘Horn’ means ‘Branch’.


This ‘Branch’, this ‘horn’, takes over 3 countries: Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites. In the Psalm 83 coalition, there are 10 countries (the sons of Lot are Moab and Ammon).


What happens when the horn gathers the exiles? He confirms the covenant.


That is why Revelation is based on Daniel 9:26b and 9:27

It is these events in Daniel 9:26b, that are also described in Trumpets 1-6 (until Revelation 9:21), that cause Israel and Judah to become scattered and thus 'go into the wilderness' and are 'gathered' (not 'raptured'). Then the covenant is confirmed.

What is the Daniel 7 4th Beast kingdom?

It is the remnant of Israel gathered under the Daniel 7 Little Horn (who is Tyre and Mystery Babylon) after the Assyrian has attacked Israel and then Judah (during the 5 months of the 5th Trumpet plus the month of the 6th Trumpet war occurring in Revelation 9:13-21). This ‘remnant of Israel’ is the ‘woman in the wilderness for 1260 days (Rev 12:6). Why is the woman in the wilderness? Jerusalem has been attacked (Matt 24:15-16’s ‘when you see the abomination of desolation, let those in Judea flee’). ‘She’ flees into the wilderness as seen here in Micah 4:10:

Micah 4:10 Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!

• The 4th Beast has ‘great iron teeth’ – so does the remnant of Israel (Isa 41:15).
• The 4th Beast goes around crushing and breaking into pieces the world – so does the daughter of Zion that has gone into the wilderness (Micah 4:10-13).
• The 4th Beast is ruled by a little horn – so is the daughter of Zion (Micah 4:13 & Micah 5:2).
• The 4th Beast has ‘bronze hooves’ – so does the daughter of Zion (Micah 4:13). (The word for ‘hooves’ in Daniel 7:19 is ‘tephar’ which can mean ‘nail, claw, or hoof’.) This idea of Ephraim having ‘hooves’ is repeated in Hosea 10:11 Ephraim was a trained calf that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will put Ephraim to the yoke; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself.
• the Daniel 7 Little Horn plucks up 3 out of 10 horns - Edom, Moab, and Ammon of the Psalm 83 coalition

• 'Lucifer' is the 'king of Babylon' (where the woman went to!) and is the 'wicked Branch' (Isaiah 14:4-19). The 'woman' is given the 'wings of an eagle' - the Daniel 7 Lion (representing Babylon) has his eagle wings ripped off and given to the woman.

The saints are given into the Daniel 7 Little Horn’s hands for a ‘time, times, half a time’ (Dan 7:25) (the first half of the covenant that is confirmed), after which the 4th Beast is burned by fire (Dan 7:11).


This is when the ‘harlot of Babylon is burned by fire’ in Revelation 17 (at the 7th Trumpet when the covenant is broken):



When the 4th Beast kingdom is burned with fire, then the remaining 3 beasts (the Leopard, Bear, Lion, the same beasts mentioned in Revelation 13:2) are given an extension for a ‘season and a time’ (Dan 7:12). This ‘season and a time’ is the shortened version of Rev 13:5’s extension for 42 months. This is part of the meaning of Jesus saying in Matt 24:22 that the ‘great tribulation would be shortened’. It is shortened from 42 months to a ‘season and a time’.


When the ten kings in Revelation 17:12 are given their kingships, this is when the Revelation 13:1 beast from the sea is given 10 crowns:

When your partner leaves for work​

More important than forgetting your keys.

Trump ally Michael Whatley and daughter-in-law Lara Trump take over at RNC

I would wander what kind of political savvy she brings to the table and what would be the motivation to choose someone so unqualified.

And then I noticed the last name and I have a feeling this isn't really a "merit hire".

Remember how America should strive to be a meritocracy cause AA is bad? And Hunter Biden is somehow benefiting from nepotism.

Is this a bothersome, wiley, cunning, or predictably Trump move for the RNC? Does it strengthen the party?

The following text in Ephesians is to often ripped out of context to imply it doesn't matter what we do because we are saved by grace.

Eph 2:8.9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.



Ephesians 2, verse 10. It says we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God had before ordain that we should walk in. The fact that verse 10 starts with the word “for” Lets us know what is about to be said is the reason for what was just said. So the reason why It is not of works that we do is because we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God preordained that we should walk in. That we should be holy and without fault before Him in love. Eph. 1:4
Ephesians 4:24, says in context to us, being his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, that we are to put on the new man which, after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Then in context to us being his workmanship, and putting on the new man created in Christ Jesus, in righteousness and true holiness verse 25 in chapter 4 starts with the word wherefore. This shows us that there is a contingency or condition in respect to us, having put on the new man which, according to God, was created in righteousness and true holiness. It says for us to put off speaking falsehood. And that we are to speak truth with our neighbor, because we are one with one another. That when angry, we are not to sin and let the sun go down on our wrath. Giving no place for the devil. Then in verse 29 in relation to the quote above, it says, let no corrupt communication come out of our mouth. But only that which is good and edifying in respect to other people’s needs.
Then continuing, and in the same context, chapter 5 starts with be therefore imitators of God, and walk in love. Not letting fornication,uncleanness and covetousness be named among us but be as saints. For this, we know that no fornicator or unclean person or cuffs, who is an idolator has any inheritance in the kingdom of God and his Christ.
Be not deceived. Because of these things comes the wrath of God. Because they are disobedient. BE not partakers with them.

Pray that The Holy Spirit ensures Palestinian innocent civilians are provided with food & medical aid in a quick, efficient, effective & proper manner:
Will Joe Biden’s new plan bring relief to Gaza?

When we share the truth of the gospel, and when we refute the lies of the enemy, not everyone is going to thank us for that, not even all who profess faith in Jesus Christ. Many people will ignore us or will refute what we are teaching, for they have been taught a different gospel from what we are teaching. And they have been taught a different God, a different Jesus from the one we profess. And they have accepted a different “church” from the one we proclaim, too.

For they have been taught a God/Jesus Christ who does everything for them and who requires nothing of them, or else they will make his requirements optional as though they are mere suggestions or recommendations, but not requirements (commands). For I hear so many say, “This is how we are supposed to live, but of course, none of us live like that,” or something to that effect, as though that is okay to know the will of God for our lives and to refuse to do the will of God, if just by ignoring it.

But so many are teaching today that faith in Jesus Christ requires nothing of us, no works at all, no obedience to the Lord’s commands, and no forsaking of our sins. For again they claim that Jesus does it all and we are not required to do anything other than to “believe,” which is rarely biblically defined. For they forget that belief is persuasion of God and that it is gifted to us by God and that it is not of our own doing – not of the will nor of the flesh of man. So we don’t get to define belief. God does. His word does.

[Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; John 6:44]

So how does what I am saying here fit with the passage of Scripture quoted? In every way! For Paul was a teacher and a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And he taught the people the requirements of God, and he rebuked and corrected and disciplined those who refused to submit to God’s requirements and who chose to go their own path, instead. And that caused the people pain and suffering, because some truth is painful to receive. It does not make us feel good all over and shouting “Yippee!”

And this takes me to another part of this whole thing of teaching what the Scriptures teach with regard to how we are to live. It appears most people who profess faith in Jesus Christ don’t want to be reminded of how they are presently living and of what God requires of them in the way of holy living, and of how they need to change and go with God and not with their flesh. They regard such teachings as negative, judgmental, harsh, unloving, and intolerant, etc., and so they will just tune you out.

But if you read the New Testament, especially the epistles, that is what it largely teaches. And even the encouragements in the Scriptures have conditions attached to them. They are only for specific people who meet particular qualifications, and the qualifications are not just a mere profession of faith in Jesus Christ, if read in full context. The qualifications are obedience and submission to Christ as Lord and the forsaking of our sins and walking in holiness and in righteousness.

But if you teach what the epistles taught, some of which even the people of Paul’s time considered negative, you might have other professers of faith in Jesus Christ regard you as someone who is generally negative and who gets pleasure out of correcting error and speaking truth. But look at Paul’s words here:


I promise you that is where I am, absolutely! I totally agree with what Paul said here. This is my motivation, too, for why I do what I do – that and obedience to my Lord and to his calling upon my life. I teach the truth of the Scriptures, even the hard truths, because that is what we need to hear, and that is what we need to obey if we are going to see God in eternity. And that is the ultimate in love and sacrifice knowing that we are going to be hated and rejected and ignored, in return, by the majority.

So, what is the gospel? The Scriptures teach us that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, and that we might live for him and no longer for self. They teach that Jesus poured out his blood for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our slavery to sin so that we will now honor God with our bodies. And they teach that God’s grace trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return.

They teach that by faith in Jesus Christ we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin but as slaves to God and his righteousness. And Jesus taught that to come after him means denial of self, dying daily to sin, and walking in obedience to his commands. But if we refuse, we will not have eternal life in him. And he taught that not everyone who calls him “Lord” is going to enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God.

[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15,21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Titus 2:11-14; Romans 6:1-23; Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23]

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ,
Every morning you greet me.
Meek and pure, truth and light,
You look pleased now to meet me.

Flourishing, growing in Him each day,
Live with Him forever.
Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ,
Blessed to know Him forever.

Based off the song “Edelweiss”

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While I am grateful to have a job, it gets overwhelming sometimes with my supervisor & manager adding more workload onto my plate. It feels like I get used to some of the workload and then all the sudden more work is added. I am a supportive coworker and of course, know that I work for the Lord and not man but I need this to dissipate. I don't like feeling overwhelmed and then deadlines to certain projects. I like that they keep the lines of communication open. Please pray that it gets better in my company for us all.

Please and thank you.

God bless.

-Angel David

Does anyone notice, every single person, speaking these days on this forum seems to be exactly as God testified for how people were before Jesus Christ came to save all, with no faithfulness in their mouth, showing great wickedness, and their throat only open graves, with nothing pure, clen or worhtwhile coming from them, and flattery or deceit from their tongues ...




Psalm 5:9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

Psalm 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

Psalm 36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

Psalm 50:19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

Jeremiah 9:8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.


Romans 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:



Notice the mouth of Christ is not deceptive as theirs, neither HIs followers are supposed to be as these forum talkers shows it is.



Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Zephaniah 3:13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

So Christians would often tithe (give 10% or more to the church/etc) but what about loving your neighbor as yourself? Should you keep 50% of your money for yourself and 50% for your neighbors? Or the least amount you can survive on then the rest to people who really need it like starving children? (ones who end up dying of malnutrition)

Or are starving children not really that important and is spreading the gospel what is really important? Maybe children would go to heaven anyway since they might be too young to be accountable to God.

Hey Joe Biden, looks like Bidenomics ain't nearly as good as you and the rest of the ruling elitist class wants us Americans to believe!!

The book of John 20:19-23 says that the disciples can REMITT SIN ?

In verse 22 , Jesus breaths on the disciple and saith to them receive ye HOLY SPIRIT .

In verse 23 , whose sins ye REMITT , they are REMITTED unto them ;

and whose soever (( sins )) ye Retain , they are RETAINED .

How did the disciple REMIT SINS ??

dan p

פר בן בקר is typically rendered in English translations as either a bullock, son of the herd or simply a young bullock. However, is that truly what it means according to the scripture? Every so-called sacrificial animal has multiple possible meanings and a par ben bqr is no different. Par may be understood as fruit, while baqar may also be boqer, (morning), and such differences were only understood by context and love for the Father and His Word before the advent of niqqud and the Masoretic Hebrew text. Moreover there are signs for the appointments and appointed times in the Torah, and these are very ancient things, and it appears that the Master refers to some of them, at least in the following passage. I will therefore open with his words. In the following passage we find G2540 καιρος, (kairos), which is not just a time or times, as in most translations, but is primarily a set time, an appointed time, and it is often employed in the LXX for mo'ed, which is also primarily used for an appointed time and the appointed times of the Father in the Torah.

Matthew 16:1-3
1 And the Pharisees and the Sadducees came, tempting, asking him to shew them a sign from heaven.
2 And answering, he said to them, Evening having come, you say, Fair weather: for the sky is fiery red.
3 And morning time, Stormy weather today: for the sky is overcast fiery red. Hypocrites: truly you know to discern the face of the sky, but the signs of the appointed times you cannot!

This idiom at the time had already become a well known saying, and it would have been especially used by sailors, (fishermen, think Galil), but it goes way beyond that time, even all the way back to the time of Mosheh and the giving of the Torah.

Red sky at night, sailors' delight: red sky in the morning, sailors' take warning:


What is a fruit, (par), a son of the morning, (boqer)?
It is a morning offering, and it is fiery red, and it has a leathery skin like a bullock or a red heifer.



Hosea 14:1-2 KJV
1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves [פרים] of our lips.

The calves of our lips? Um, no.

Hosea 14:2 LSV
2 Take words with you, and turn to YHWH, || Say to Him, Take away all iniquity, and give good, || And we render the fruit [פרים] of our lips.

.

Sudan​

Sudanese Christians can attend church services openly, but activities that threaten Islam’s dominance can still lead to believers (especially church leaders) being detained and imprisoned. Pray they would be wise especially in how they share the gospel.
Number of Prayers 0
Sudan

Sudan​

Pray that God will build His church in Sudan, where there are estimated to be around two million believers, and that Christians will be a strong witness to God’s love amid the current power struggles.
Number of Prayers 29
Sudan


ERITREA

Pray for Rev Haile Naizgi, who is from the same church as Dr Kiflu and has also been imprisoned since 2004.
Number of Prayers 56
Eritrea

Eritrea​

Pray that God would comfort the family and friends of Pastor Tesfay Seyoum as the first anniversary of his death approaches. Tesfay died in prison, having spent ten years behind bars. His family could not bury him in his hometown because of his faith in Christ.
Number of Prayers 38
Eritrea

Eritrea​

Pray for Milion Gebreselassie, a nurse and anaesthetist, who has been imprisoned for his faith in Jesus for more than nine years.
Number of Prayers 52
Eritrea

Eritrea​

Pray for Jospeh, who has been imprisoned several times for his faith in Christ. Give thanks for his unwavering faithfulness in spite of the fierce persecution he faces.
Number of Prayers 44
Eritrea

Eritrea​

Dr Kiflu Gebremeskel will have spent 20 years in prison this May. Dr Kiflu has never been charged with a crime or been tried in a court of law. Please pray for him and his family: wife Elsa, sons Yosias, Daniel and Senai, and daughter Hermala

So back when I used to listen to secular music, some of the stuff I used to listen to were: Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, Delain, The Birthday Massacre, Alice In Chains, Black Sabbath, and Blue Oyster Cult. The problems with those bands is they all had Satanic songs with Satanic lyrics and if possible, I would like to find Christian bands that sound like the bands I mentioned, except the Christian bands would have Godly lyrics in the songs, not the Satanic ones. So would any of you guys happen to know some Christian bands or singers that sound like the secular bands I mentioned above? Thanks in advance. God bless!

Hi, I'm a 16 year old girl from SC; I recently moved to Europe w/ my parents and sis. It isent easy living here for a Christian girl, it seems like no one cares about religion. I hope to make friends with some other girls my age on the forum.

Hopefully I am posting this in the right place. Forgive me if I'm not.

I've been thinking about my attempts of evangelism over the years and while I've never once been successful at leading someone to saving faith, I've noticed a similar theme. Every time I have convinced someone to come to church or a gospel outreach event, or anything, there is always something that comes up that either prevents them from coming or hearing the gospel.

For example. The last time I got someone to come to church, they received notice that a family member had died and had to take a phone call right as the preacher was getting to the gospel. They never came back to church. Another time, a friend of mine wanted to go, but it was a Sunday when I was scheduled to serve in the Sunday school, and since I wouldn't be there for the service, he decided not to go. Still yet, another time I convinced a friend of mine to come to my church's weekly volleyball meetup where the gospel is preached halfway through. But sure enough, something came up and he had to leave right before that happened. I can't tell you how many times someone has expressed desire to come to church or a bible study and continually remind me that they want to go, only to not show up and ghost me the day of. I could go on and on.

This is not just limited to me. There are friends of mine at the church who will often ask me to sit with a coworker of theirs who is visiting because they're up for serving in Sunday school/nursery. These people again leave before the gospel is preached. I can even think of someone who got a coworker to sign up for and pay to go on our yearly men's retreat. This is a 2 hour drive away, but when they arrived, his coworker realized he had accidently taken his wife's car keys with him and had to go back.

This happens so much that it surely cannot be a coincidence can it? There must be some kind of spiritual things at play here given the nature of it. Am I crazy? What do you all think?

Let's hope that Microsoft and other important tech companies improve their cyber security.

So many people these days have this idea that we should keep all of our sufferings to ourselves, well, unless it is physical suffering. That kind is acceptable to share, like if you are having surgery or you have cancer or you are in the hospital. But if you are suffering persecution and mistreatment, like Paul and the other apostles did, and like Jesus did, it is not generally acceptable to share that with others. They usually want you to just keep that to yourself. But that isn’t biblical.

Now we should not be gossipers and whiners and complainers who just go around complaining about anything and everything. But we are to bear one another’s burdens, and we are to pray for one another, and we are to encourage one another, and that can’t be done if we are prohibited from sharing our sufferings and our persecutions with others. And another aspect of that is if no one else shares their sufferings and their persecutions with us, we will not know how to pray for them and how to support them, either.

So, what happens in these cases is that many hurting people are suffering in silence because they are being told not to share their sufferings, if they are in the realm of persecutions and mistreatments. And so they feel all alone. And I can still remember the first time I watched a video series of married couples talking about the same situation I have been going through and how much that encouraged me and validated me, too, to know that others out there understood what I was going through and gave me some hope, too.

So, I really like how Paul starts this off with, “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia.” Why did he not want them to be unaware? He needed their prayers. He needed their spiritual support. And some of them would suffer in much of the same ways, and so this was to prepare them for that eventuality so that they were not surprised when it happened, and so that they were encouraged in advance in how to handle that suffering. For it is terrible to have to go it alone.

And then there are people who will just advise you to get out of those situations, but easier said than done, and that isn’t necessarily God’s plan. For God allows us to be in these situations to grow us in him, and to teach us perseverance, so that we can encourage others who are going through similar trials, and so that we learn to rely on the Lord and not on ourselves. And it is to humble us, to mature us in Christ, and to make us stronger and more determined to follow the Lord. But we still need prayer.

I know that for myself, if I had not gone through all that I have gone through, I would not be spiritually prepared for what the Lord has been having me do these past 20 years. And that is biblically supported. For we are promised that if we follow Jesus with our lives that we will be hated, rejected, abandoned, cast aside as unwanted, forsaken, forgotten, fought against, falsely accused, mistreated, and the like. So we don’t run away from it all and look for our own comfort, unless God leads us to leave.

We remain faithful to the Lord, we learn what he wants to teach us through it all, and we keep pressing forward in doing the will of God. And we ask for other believers in Christ to pray for us, and this is biblical. This is what Paul did and the other apostles did. They went into situations where they knew they were going to be persecuted, but in order to lead other people to genuine God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ and to holy living. They didn’t run away unless the Lord directed them to go someplace else.

And through it all, through all the sufferings and persecutions, we are to be people of integrity who behave in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom, but by the grace of God, and in the power of God and in his wisdom and understanding. We are to remain strong in the Lord without wavering even in the face of much suffering and persecution and rejections. And we are to keep on doing the will of God in sharing with others the truth of the gospel and in refuting the lies of Satan.

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-19; Jn 15:1-21; Jn 16:33; Jn 17:14; Ac 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]

All Through the Night

An Original Work / December 7, 2013
Based off Various Scriptures

Blessed are you when you’re persecuted
Because of your faith in Jesus Christ.
Blessed are you when people insult you,
And falsely say what leads folks to doubt.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is
Great in the heavens. You’re not alone.

When you are persecuted in one place,
Flee to another. God will be there.
You will be hated by all the nations
Because you testify of God’s grace.
Many will seize you and persecute you,
And put to death the foll’wers of Christ.

Yet do not fear what humans may do to you,
For I’m with you all through the night.
I tell you, love your enemies with my love,
And forgive as I forgave you.
Pray for those who do evil against you.
Rest in my love and grace from above.

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