Daily Devotional for Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Have you missed any of our devotionals? Remember they can be found in the Archive section of our Website
http://www.gospelines.com Prepare for Persecution Belgaum (Karnataka) INDIA: Pastor Iswar Albannavar conducts a weekly prayer meeting every Friday in his home, mainly for recovering alcoholics. On January 9th, at 6:30 p.m., police entered his house alleging FORCEFUL CONVERSION. The pastor and one believer were arrested and taken to the police station where they remain at this time. Davangere (Karnataka) INDIA: On January 1st Hindu extremists burned a house church in Malai Bennur, Davangere district, Karnataka in the early hours of the morning; they further threatened Pastor Gangadhar that they will burn his family alive if the matter is taken to higher authorities. ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ These kinds of incidents are not isolated to just one country, but can be confirmed by Christians in many nations throughout the world. In some places (where our GospeLines family resides), it is unlawful to receive or transmit the gospel. At great risk, Christians continue to worship in secret and communicate with us faithfully. For those who are living in religious freedom, the concept of endangering our lives simply by practicing our faith is inconceivable. We should not be surprised! Jesus told his disciples that persecution was imminent; “the Son of Man must suffer many things... He must be killed and after three days rise again.” Simon Peter didn’t take that announcement very well so he took Jesus aside and scolded Him. Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mark 8:32-33) Further, Jesus warned that persecution would take many forms: (1) People will insult you and say evil things against you. (Matt. 5:11) (2) We will be accused of being deranged and out of touch with society. (John 8:48) (3) The radical Christians will be forcibly separated from society itself, solely because of their loyalty to Christ. (Luke 6:22) (4) Some will even be arrested and executed. (Matt. 23:34) Beloved, it may not happen within the next few years, maybe not for a decade, but the signs point to the need for every Christian in the world to prepare for persecution. While the prophetic words of Jesus were initially fulfilled during the first century, those same words still have special meaning for the free world today, especially in the United States of America where we have silently witnessed the erosion of religious liberties for a quarter century. Tragically, our biased pluralistic effort to appease all religions has thwarted the Christian mission in our nation. Some people are fearful of losing their jobs if they are too openly Christian; others are now embarrassed to practice their faith in public places. How often do you see a family in a restaurant pause to pray before their meal anymore? Jesus warned about the seed which fell among the rocks in the parable of the sower: “Since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” (Mark 4:17) God help us to find courage to stand and be counted when the time comes for our faith to be measured by the sword. GospeLines Prayer: Father, You didn’t say “if” persecution comes, but you said “when” it comes. O my Lord, I am not a brave man who will run to the front in battle, and I don’t know what I will do when the time comes for me to stand and be counted for You. In the Name of Jesus, I pray that you will help me to prepare for persecution. Amen and amen. O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
