Godliness / Persecution

[Latreia]

I thank God for those of you who are willing to suffer ridicule and other forms of persecution, yet still stand up for your beliefs.

Thank you for that, Valentine. Yet it is not just for the sake of my faith that I stand up for God and Christianity. It is for all the precious, quiet, family-loving, every Sunday congregations world-wide and the many kinds of fellowship of Christian posters on Christian Forums that I struggle to defend and protect.

Many consider my words not Christian enough, not humble enough, not showing a willingness to suffer attacks enough. Yet I owe my life and my heart to God and I spend all my strength trying to serve God in the ways that He shows me.

That I have endured despite the attacks, insults, and damage to my name, which in itself, reveals my truest heart and soul, that I have perservered, serves only to further enrage those who have judged me so wrongly,

The skills that have been given me in rhetoric and posting seem to fall short of having any credibility in the struggle of Christians to walk spiritually in their faith.

Yet I continue, not from the kind of arrogance and egotism that others accuse me of having and which, with startling irony, they themselves display. My unwavering goal is the cause of those loving, warm, honest, caring Christians who bless this world with their precious love in the name of Jesus.

Thus have I always been, and ever shall be, obedient only to God, not to man.

 

[Rayzdprayz]

It seems like my church is under attack. People have just stepped back from leadership positions and you just see them in church on Sunday. I have tried encouraging people and asking them why they aren't active but i keep getting this "It's not my season..." line. I am a leader in a men's Ministry in my church and the membership has gone from moderate numbers between 10- 20 to a faithful 3-5. I am praying so hard at times. I even prayed that If I am not the person for my position that God would reveal tyo me that I need to leave the position. I solicit all of your prayers in this!!!

 

[Qidron]

It seems like my church is under attack. People have just stepped back from leadership positions and you just see them in church on Sunday. I have tried encouraging people and asking them why they aren't active but i keep getting this "It's not my season..." line. I am a leader in a men's Ministry in my church and the membership has gone from moderate numbers between 10- 20 to a faithful 3-5. I am praying so hard at times. I even prayed that If I am not the person for my position that God would reveal tyo me that I need to leave the position. I solicit all of your prayers in this!!!

Lord, I agree with Raysdprayz that You will make it clear if there is to be a different walk at this time. I know you have been making changes Father, and that it has been strange and difficult to understand. But all Your moves only bring us closer to You...for this we are most grateful.
Be at peace Brother. He truly is working all things to our benefit and His glory.

 

[gracechick]

Don't know if I would say persecuted, bcause so many have been tortured, lost their homes & killed for the name of Jesus.
But here yes in some ways I have. I come from a more conservative church & then went to a less strict one. Then the Lord begain to start using a few gifts of the Spirit through me. I've walked a long hard road getting to here. Going from a more strict peace church to more penecostal.
I've never told my dad the things I've seen & experienced...Don't begin to know what he would say. I've told 3 of my family & they're fairly accepting, but really don't understand. I have a few friends that give me their wisdom & guidance which helps.

& it's hard when one goes to the people you believe you need to go to & they don't accept what you tell them Which I've experienced & I know so many others here have gone through.
& rite now Im facing grief from a very wicked lie that was told about me by an ignorant person. I believe the Lord has given a few dreams lately to express to me that He knows & He's there, but He said there would be fiery trials...but He will stand in the furnace with us.

Im rambling, but as you can tell the devil has truely turned up the heat lately.

Oh & Ray. my are with you. We just recently went through something similiar. Our little church was going strong & God would really show up & do awesome things, but we went from about 15 to 3 as well. Churches have problems, bcause we live in a fallen world, but there are times when I believe many cannot stomach a hard(mature) teaching...IMHO I think that is why some of these little churches have such experiences.

Whew...yes Im done if you're wondering.

 

[Rayzdprayz]

Lord, I agree with Raysdprayz that You will make it clear if there is to be a different walk at this time. I know you have been making changes Father, and that it has been strange and difficult to understand. But all Your moves only bring us closer to You...for this we are most grateful.
Be at peace Brother. He truly is working all things to our benefit and His glory.

Thank you for your prayer Qidron