Thursday, November
07, 2013, 3:00 a.m. – I woke up around 2:30 a.m. because I was cold. I
added a blanket and crawled back underneath the covers, but I could not fall
back asleep, so I began praying for my brothers and sisters in Christ throughout
the world, in particular for those who are suffering persecution for their
testimony for Jesus Christ. Then, close to 3:00 a.m. the song “My Cry For Mercy” began playing in my
mind, so I got up to hear from the Lord. I read Philippians 1 (NIV), and then I asked the Lord to show me how this
applies to me or to my world today. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
Not Christian
I went back to sleep at 4:30 and then got back up at 6:13
a.m. The Lord Jesus led me to read two news stories – one concerning political
talks going on in Geneva, supposedly concerning Iran’s nuclear activities, and
another concerning the US Supreme Court deciding a case on the appropriate use
of prayer at government meetings, in particular with regard to a case in Greece,
NY. [News references are at end of this writing.]
There was another song going through my mind at this point,
but this one was not a Christian song. This one is called “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and is taken from the 1945 musical “Carousel” by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
The song sounds Christian in nature, but is very ecumenical, has been sung by numerous
famous artists, adopted by sports teams, in particular in Liverpool, England in
the early 1960’s, and is accepted by people of many faiths because it makes no
declaration of any particular faith or God.
The talks in Geneva were between Iran, the United States,
Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China. Apparently, as reported, there is
discussion going on there with regard to the US asking Tehran to “agree on a
first step to stop advancing its programme further.” And, then in the story
about the Supreme Court case on prayer, the concern mainly seems to revolve
around the concern that the prayers are mainly Christian. So, the court is
examining the situation by asking several questions. For one, they are asking
if it might be possible to construct a prayer designed to interest followers of
all faiths, “including Wiccans and Baha’i.” One thing being considered here is
allowing the town of Greece to continue its practice of prayer at government
meetings, but what needs to be examined, evidently, “is whether the prayer
proselytizes for or denounces any particular religion.”
What the Lord Jesus was showing me here, in combining the
thoughts presented in both news articles, is that what is really going on here,
in both cases, is a global effort to suppress Christian proselytizing, i.e.
Christians sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others in an effort to win
people over to faith in Jesus Christ. I agree with the separation of church and
state. I agree that not one religion should be forced on anyone, yet I believe
the very thing they are contending is exactly what they have in mind to do
globally, and that includes here in America, too. In other words, the plan here
is to go toward a global one-world religion, similar in nature to Baha’i, which
is all-inclusive. And, it will be forced on everyone. We can still keep the
very basics of our individual faiths, at least for now, as long as we don’t try
to preach Jesus only, or as long as we don’t try to win people to faith in
Jesus Christ. It is ok to say we are Christian as long as we don’t get too
radical about it, in other words, i.e. as long as we don’t advance our beliefs
any further than beyond ourselves. Even the new Pope is speaking out against
proselytizing and for oneness and unity of faith.
So
the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest
of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of
Jesus. ~ Rev. 12:17 NASB
Partnership in the
Gospel
I
thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I
always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first
day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~ Phil. 1:3-6
Paul was thankful for the believers’ partnership in the
gospel from the beginning of their decision to receive Christ as Savior and
Lord of their lives up to and including the time when he wrote that letter. A
partnership is “a relationship between two or more people or organizations that
are involved in the same activity; or cooperation between people or groups
working together” (Encarta). So, if we are partners with the gospel, it means
we are in agreement with it, we are actively involved in it, and we are
cooperating with it by how we live our lives in the power and working of the
Holy Spirit within us. These were not just professing Christians or church
goers. These believers were actively involved in living, believing and in
sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, this is where we all need to be -
understanding that Jesus Christ is the one who began this work in our hearts
and lives, and he will carry it on to completion until the day he returns. He
will not allow the true gospel or the true church to be completely destroyed.
Amen! His word endures forever!
And
this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and
depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be
pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. ~
Phil. 1:9-11
Advancing the Gospel
Now
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has
actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear
throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for
Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become
confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
~ Phil. 1:12-14
These news stories I shared above both had to do with not
advancing some belief or practice. The second one was definitely concerning not
advancing in the proselytizing of Christianity in public prayers in government
meetings, yet the other was speaking of not advancing a nuclear weapons
program. I believe these leaders are acting hypocritically, because the US
definitely has advanced in its nuclear weapons program, and apparently so has
Israel. As well, I believe very much so that the Lord Jesus has been showing me
for some time that the US and its allies are truly guilty of doing what they
accuse other nations of doing. Also, it appears they (the global government)
are coming against the proselytizing of Christianity, yet that does not keep
them from proselytizing their various beliefs and practices which they are
forcing on the nations and people of this world. So, this is truly about the
persecution of believers in Jesus who are actively advancing the gospel of
Christ.
Yet, we are to be encouraged! I believe the Lord Jesus is
saying to us, even today, that the persecution we are facing or will yet face will
only serve to advance the gospel even more; that the persecution will serve
only as a tested and proven testimony to the unbelieving world; and that the persecuted
believers’ faith and perseverance will serve only to encourage other brothers
and sisters in Christ to become more confident in the Lord Jesus to dare all
the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. Amen! Hallelujah! Praise Jesus!
Life and Death
Yes,
and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s
provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out
for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed,
but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted
in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to
die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor
for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I
desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary
for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will
remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the
faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus
will abound on account of me. ~ Phil. 1:18b-26
Wow! Don’t you just love these words? First of all, we need
to be encouraged here to pray for one another, not just over trivial matters or
even over matters of this temporal world, but we need to pray for courage and
strength and boldness for each other in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ
wherever we are or wherever God places us. And, we need to pray that we would
all have this attitude of Paul that while we are on this earth, our lives
should be lived by, through and for Jesus Christ, while holding on to the
promise of eternity with God in glory one day. Yet, we must be willing to
remain, if God wills, for the spiritual growth and development of our brothers
and sisters in the Lord, even if it means we will be here during the
tribulation period and we will have to suffer, as Christians throughout the
world are presently suffering for their testimony for Christ. We should do all
for the glory of God, for the salvation of souls, and we should not give way to
fear to those who oppose us.
Whatever
happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then,
whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know
that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith
of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This
is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and
that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to
believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the
same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. ~ Phil. 1:27-30
My Cry For Mercy
/ An Original Work / October 31, 2013
Based off Psalm 86
Hear my prayer, Lord,
I am needy.
Guard my life, for I’m
devoted to You.
Save me! I’m Your
servant.
You are my God. I
trust in You.
O, Lord, have mercy on
me,
For I call to You.
Bring joy to me, for
to You
I will lift up my
soul.
You are giving and
forgiving.
You abound in love to
all who
Call upon You. Hear my
prayer, Lord.
Listen to my cry for
mercy.
In days of trouble I
call to You,
Knowing that You will
Do marvelous things,
Because You are my
God.
Teach me Your way;
I’ll walk in it.
In Your truth, Lord,
You will guide me.
A pure heart, Lord,
You will give me,
So that I may glorify
You.
Turn to me, Lord, and
grant
Strength to Your
servant.
O, Lord, You are my
help,
For You love and You
comfort me.
Teach me Your way;
I’ll walk in it.
In Your truth, Lord,
You will guide me.
A pure heart, Lord,
You will give me,
So that I may glorify
You.
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