Sufferings With Christ

(PERSECUTION FIRE)

INTRODUCTION

I am putting forth my pen to exhort, enlighten and prepare the hearts of those who are open and willing to listen. You will notice there is some repetition in this exhortation, but it is there for emphasis and teaching. What is about to be written will in it change no one, but thou, O Lord, the great Shepherd of the sheep, bring us to awareness and preparedness.

 What you shall confront in this writing is not intended to bring fear nor dread. Remember, many before you were told by the Spirit of God what they were going to face.  Acts 21:10-11; Rev. 2:10

 Be assured, brethren, that I am not setting forth doom and gloom.  Scripture never presents Christ's suffering from that point of view, as we shall see. Neither am I being negative concerning the true church's future. In fact I am positive.  Do I seek to pervert the way of joy and peace?  In truth I seek that you may have it and keep it through all things.  American Christians have known for some 216 years, liberty and very little hostility for their faith in Christ. From the founding of the constitution there has never been any nation-wide law in America, which opened the doors of persecution. Before we became a nation we were only a British colony.  Those who left the persecution of England began to persecute those in the colonies who differed from them. Isn't that what a religious spirit would do with all its legalism.  Many meant well and had some good things to give, but that was the dark side of Puritanism in that day.

 Precious have been these many days of freedom my brethren, but I do believe this shall change for a season.  I also believe this nation shall return to God in the suffering season.

 The true church In America is facing a spirit very much hostile to her and that hostility is expressing itself more and more.  Don't be amazed that righteousness has never met the favor of any man in whom there was not the excellent spirit of the Lord Jesus.  I John 3:13 says, "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you." I want you to realize that if you aren't willing to face reality you won't like what you are about to read, but Jesus is going to have a tough church, a bold church in the days ahead.  If you are called and chosen, then be among the FAITHFUL in the hour that is forthcoming.  Rev. 17:14; Note Matt. 22:14; Isa. 48:10.  The pressure of these days will certainly try the reigns of the heart, but precious to the Lord is the trial of the faith that presently exists in our hearts. See I Pet. 1:7.

 It is a very enlightening thing to read the New Testament and see from the very beginning of the gospel of Matthew to the end of the book of Revelation how much is said about persecution using four basic words as affliction, tribulation, suffering and persecution.  I challenge you to get your concordance and follow these words through the New Testament.  It will greatly help you to see that the early church lived and served God in that hostile atmosphere. 

 Grace and peace be multiplied unto all true seekers of the way, truth, life, and wisdom of the Lord, whether you are in the fire or not. I do not write as one who has already attained, or as one who knows everything.  I submit that without GRACE I can both be and do nothing, apart from His GRACE I have nothing.

             A DREAM DECLARING PERSECUTION

 In April of 1989, shortly after a return trip from Israel and Greece, the Lord gave me a dream.  In Israel I saw some of the remains of the Roman occupation that spoke of the carnal activity of days gone by.  One relic in particular stood as a monument to twisted minds and feelings of pleasure over human suffering. 

 As I lay down for a short period of rest I began to dream.  I found myself in a large arena like unto the Roman Coliseum of old.  In these arenas Christians were executed in various ways before bloodthirsty crowds who hated them. 

 The thing that struck my attention in this arena was that there were no spectators or executioners, only a large execution machine.  While I was looking at this apparatus, I was feeling the emotions that would go with such an occasion.  Another aspect in this dream as I was standing there, was the presence of other Christians directly to the right,  but a little behind me.  There was one common thing in our hearts in those moments.  We knew that the stage was set for giving our natural life for Jesus.  We knew the decision was made and fixed. The scene was like standing in the eye of a hurricane. Everything was quite calm, and there wasn't anything happening.  In our spirit there was the anticipation of the impact of persecuting winds that were forthcoming.  It was as though we were there, yet it was future.  When the dream ended I was instantly awakened with no time to think, and this is what the Lord spoke to me with His voice so clear and authoritatively.... MARTYRDOM IS AHEAD! These three prophetic words still ring in my ears so unforgettably, and I took them ever so seriously. When I heard these words I understood why the stage was set for persecution, yet in the dream nothing was happening, it was yet to be.  No time factor was given unto me, but in my spirit it did not seem to be afar off. What I am about to write is born out of this dream and prophetic word.  There are those now living who have walked in the fiery winds of persecution in the past, and there are those now who are yet to experience it.  Before these winds blow I believe you will see some signs saying it is growing nearer.  Do you realize some of those signs are here?

A PROPHESY UNFOLDING THE TIME TO COME

 Now that I have shared this dream with you, I would like to share a portion of a prophetic word given July 22, 1990, through this ministry.

 Yea, saith God, he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; he that is clean, let him be clean still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still; and he that is unclean, let him be unclean still; and he that is unholy, let him be unholy still, saith God: for this is the way it shall be.  And I say unto thee, though Moses, though Noah, though Daniel, though any servant of this day pray for thee it shall not be answered.  For I will not hear the prayer of any servant that will pray for a man in that day who did not heed a warning in this day.

 Thou art blessed, for I say unto thee, if thou had ears to hear, thou should hear the rumbling in the spirit already; and if thou had eyes to see, thou should see that the storm is closer than thou imagines.   Let not fear take hold of thy heart, but if fear does rise up, know that I am gracious to thee to give thee a season to be purified of it, that in that hour, you may stand fearlessly.  And the Lord would say unto thee, fear not martyrdom, fear not being jailed, fear not being put into prison, fear not being mocked, fear not being beaten, for I speak it unto you this day for a reason, that thou should deal with fear in thine heart, that thou mayest be ready in that day, that thou shall gladly give thy life for thy God, that thou would gladly lay it down.  For I say unto thee, some of thee, yea, as My people, and I speak not necessarily only to thee, but My people, and you are included.  Some of you are appointed unto this way of glorifying Me.  Remember when I spoke unto Peter that when he was a young man, he went where he would go?  And remember when I said unto him that when he would be old there would be others that would take him where he would not go?  And others misunderstood what I said, and this is what I said:  I spoke of the manner in which he would glorify Me, yea, even in death, that would glorify Me.

 For I say unto thee, thine enemy shall ravish, and he shall seek to kill and to destroy.  But he will lay a hand on none that belong to Me, except by divine permission.  And yea, when it is permitted for him to extend his wrath upon them, yea, all that he shall do is causing them to have a crown.  For I say unto thee, anyone who by choice lays his life down for Me, I shall reward him exceedingly, for so did My Son by choice.  Why is there a martyr, saith the Lord, and why is it that way, saith God?  Listen and learn, and perceive this day why it is that way and why I allow the gnashing of teeth, yea, even on some of My sons and who do I allow, even the adversary to try ten days and put into prison?  Oh, nothing shall glorify Me more than the choice of a son to lift his life up and love it not unto death.  And when he gives it, saith the Lord, and lays down his life, even to the oozing of his blood, and the fading of his life in the natural, he has gained a position with Me that is unparalleled.  And I say unto thee, all of thee, and even to this one that speaketh unto thee, fear not that which cometh upon thee, for it shall surely come!  This is why I say unto thee in this hour: make haste to do what is to be done.

                                   AWAKE AND HEAR

 I exhort the Body of Christ in America to awake, to get on her knees, humble herself, pray and seek the God of nations and repent of things in her ranks that is sin before the Lord. Yes seek God with all the heart. Pray, for a storm is coming to America and the nations of the world that will have great waves of trouble.  Again I remind you that I know neither the hour nor the day.  Little have American Christians been taught or even experienced that to choose the life of Christ, and to live it, produces one of two things.  It will produce in the hearts of men either a great HUNGER and ADMIRATION or a great HATRED and RESENTMENT.  Have we realized in America, the land of ease and freedom, that to bear the name of Christ is a great responsibility? It has been Christianity without price, a walk of easy BELIEVEISM, a FAITH that has not been exercised under the fires of persecution.

 No doubt we who live in this land will come to a position of love, spiritual desire, obedience, faith, and commitment. Do you know that to suffer with Christ is truly a matter of the heart?  It is purely a spiritual matter on this earth. The hour will separate, sift and expose all the true seekers from the false, the shallow ones from the deeply committed.  The fence will be empty; no one will be straddling it.  Many will think twice before they call themselves Christians.

 How could we know ourselves apart from a time of trying or proving?  We see such a lack of self-knowing in the Apostles when they were in the garden of Gethsemane. Note: Gethsemane means olive press. The truth we learn here is that the oil is only extracted under pressure.  It is also true that character is brought forth under pressure. Peter said unto the Lord, "I Am Ready,  (Isn't that a familiar statement) to go with thee, both unto prison and to death." Jesus replied, "Peter what you are really going to do is deny me three times this day."  (Luke 22:33)  We learn from Matt. 26:35 that all the apostles said the SAME THING.  Only Peter denied the Lord being in the position to do so, because he alone followed those who arrested Jesus.  The other Apostles who fled were never asked if they knew Jesus or if they were his followers.  Later in their lives they entered into his suffering and drank of that cup of which He drank.  I want to point out that we often speak of more than we can or are willing to perform.  We have many times misjudged our READINESS, because a root of pride is there working subtly, or ignorance of where we are spiritually.  Some are ready and proven ready by the test.  Note Jesus' word to Peter in Luke 22:31-33, "I have prayed for you that thy faith fail not."  The Greek word rendered fail here means, to leave out faith, relinquish it, desert it, and cease to use it.  Peter indeed did make it out of this crisis, and in the persecutions he faced later he proved himself strong.  Let's cry for a prepared heart, a ready heart, and a fixed heart. 

 Grace is God's ability and provision for all of life's crises and circumstances.  What is on the horizon for this country will indeed require an abundance of FAITH AND GRACE.   Do we know how to walk in faith and grace at this present moment?  It is imperative that we do!  Faith and grace are words that speak of total dependence upon God for everything. Question, what is the depth of your dependence.

                                     THE DENIAL SYNDROME

 Are we discerning the seasons we are in?  Are the ears of the Body of Christ in the land of the Eagle ready to hear that persecutions are coming to her doors?  NO!  She does not perceive that she shall experience Christ's sufferings and understand them, plus reap the good fruit of its purification. Neither is ready to hear that judgment is coming to the house of God for sin.  This is why I know it will take the Lord to give an ear to hear.  Hearing is both a gift and a choice, but in this many have been weighed and found wanting.  This is so because they have chosen to hear only what their self-centered soul has desired to hear.  So it could be said that only a few in these days have circumcised ears to hear what God is saying. "To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear?  Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken:  behold the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it," Jer. 6:10.

 This is the prevailing attitude among Americans, both among believers and unbelievers.  This is unrealistic and dangerous, but it is not expressed as much verbally as it is in the closing of the ear and the dismissal of what is unwanted in the heart. This is not only true here but in other countries as well. Therefore a FANTASY WORLD has been set up in the mind, and in that world many are asleep, and they are oblivious to reality. The DENIAL SYNDROME of certain realities that are forthcoming is due to religious doctrines, self-centeredness, doubts, unbelief and disobedience.  Were they not saying peace, peace and safety in Jeremiah's day? Read Jer. 5:31; 6:13-14; 7:8, and Isa. 30:10.  If we are not willing to hear God's Word because our flesh does not wish to embrace it for whatever reason, we are left unprepared, unchanged and filled with regret, and we shall bare the consequences.  When reality appears, it will bring a sure cure to this syndrome of denial and fantasy, because it shall be exposed for what it is and shall vanish like a puff of smoke. We must face reality; we cannot run away from it. Do we wish to make lies our refuge?  Have we come to prefer fantasy to Holy Spirit expressed reality?  Note these words, "Because ye have said, we have made a covenant with death, and with hell  (grave) are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall have pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves," Isa. 28: 15-17.  Our weakness of not facing reality leaves us open to embrace a lying message, which brings deception, which brings lost.

                     THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MINISTRY

 Many are preaching a word to needy people according to wrong understanding, and many with fleshly motives, of which they shall have to give an account.  Likewise, it is true that many are listening according to fleshly motives and taste and they also will have to give an account.  Indeed, a gospel has appeared to meet the hearer's heart, adjusted to the desire of the ear.  So churches (not all) have become like supermarkets, and people shop there for preferable doctrines.  So if in reality, you are not willing to suffer, you can find a teaching that will tell you God doesn't desire you to, because He is a good God.  Do you realize that fantasy requires no grace, but reality does? Unbelief says there is no need for grace for there will not be any suffering. There is a great need now for the church to have a correct knowledge of God. To have that right understanding we would not believe some of the things we do.

 Unless the present day ministry believes the prophetic word of the times and seasons that the church is in and will be in, the church will be unprepared for the days of trial that are coming. For many in other lands it has come.   I also think it is our responsibility to test the prophetic word to see its true source. The ministry needs spiritual eyes and sensitive hearts to hear what the voice of the Spirit is declaring.  If that is absent then any word concerning suffering will be rationalized away.  In some minds it is easier to believe that some things don't exist or will exist.  With this attitude there is no need to exercise or prepare for it now. So in unbelief one does his your own thing now and he doesn't have to spend time preparing.  So there is less activity that one has to give himself to in spiritual preparation.  There is more free time for the flesh, which will be reaped in the storm when it comes. What shall be reaped is the fruit of unbelief and unpreparedness.

 We are in the hour of selective preaching and teaching and also in the day of selective hearing as we have said.  The peril of both is great and we cannot afford it brethren.  If we as ministry know the truth and fail to give it because of a man pleasing spirit, fearing the face of man, protecting our position and desiring a certain number in the flock, we are on dangerous grounds.  Ministry needs to ask themselves what motivates them in not presenting a truth to the body.  Is it ignorance, unbelief or self-centeredness?  But why these when it need not be?

 The fivefold ministry must face the God given responsibility to prepare the flock of God for conflict, persecution and tribulation in the light of Acts 14:22 and the present prophetic word.  If any minister does not desire to warn and prepare the flock, again, I ask in a different way where is the thinking of that one?  Where is the care and shepherd love?  What is the doctrine that blinds the eyes and deafens the ears?  Has the prophetic voice been deleted from the church's experience? In love I say, has it ever been there?  If so then there is no word from God about what will happen.  Yet God says in His word before I do thing I will tell my prophets Amos 3:7.  A shepherd can only fulfill his calling in truth in obedience. But if one doesn't know the truth how can he obey?  Paul said to the flock I have not failed to declare to you all the counsel of God.  Acts 20:27.  The ministry who preaches when there is an abundance of sin that there will be no suffering then he is preaching rebellion.  When he preaches that no persecution can come the United States he is also preaching rebellion.  Why did I say this?  It is because there has been a failure to listen to the prophetic word.  God has indeed already warned us. 

There are two voices in the land.  One says all is well, peace, peace.  We shall not suffer.  The other is declaring awake, the hour or trial is almost upon us prepare your hearts before the Lord.  In the book of Jeremiah we have such an occasion and serves as an example of what I am saying.  God said through Jeremiah that Hananiah taught rebellion against Him when he prophesied to the people there would be peace when God said through Jeremiah captivity if the people didn't repent.  Read the account in Jeremiah 28:1-17.   Evidently, Hananiah was preaching for acceptance and popularity.  When you preach the truth you be willing to bear the suffering that comes with it. 

 Ministry needs to hear the voice of the Lord in this hour concerning what God is saying about the great waves of persecution that are coming upon the earth.  Pastors, you need to warn your flocks and tell them to draw nigh unto God in holiness.  I know many of you have other doctrines, but I am warning in love now, everyone will face this wave of pain and suffering.

 ¨With these words in mind let us turn our attention to 1 and 2 Thessalonians to consider the principals of preparation for prosecution or any difficult days. 

 After Paul had ministered the gospel to the Thessalonians they turned from idols to serve the living and true God.  He then told them they would suffer persecution and it did come to pass.  See 1Thess. 1:9; 3:4,13-15.  When Paul told them they would be persecuted he knew the spirit that was in Thessalonica.  He knew it because he had face it there and that account is given to us in Acts 17:1-11.  This scripture is the background of the letter to the Thessalonians. 

 The keynote to these letters is that everything is to be done in preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus.  The Greek word Paul uses for the coming for the Lord is parousia, which means presence or coming to be present.  This word is used six times in these letters, which expresses the emphasis of our life in relation to the Lords coming. We must understand that all readiness and spiritual preparation is in view of the parousis.  Then let us consider the ministry's responsibility to the church in regards to the Lord's coming.

 ¨  It is the responsibility of the fivefold ministry to prepare, equip the church to   be   established (fixed) in heart at the parausia of the Lord.  1Thess. 3:13.  The ministry is to raise up a people whose entire being, spirit, soul and body is holy and pure with the purpose of meeting the Lord.  See Col. 1:28-29.  They are to be ready and acceptable when He comes to be present. 

 ¨  The responsibility of the five-fold ministry is to equip, prepare God's people to  overcome the difficult times of tribulation before the Lord's parousia, in fact at any time.  1 Thess. 4:15.  Note Paul's words in 1 Thess. 3:1-10.  Ed Corely in his "Manual for Pastors (and others) Who Will Minister the Gospel in Difficult Times", points out as he shares these responsibilities that the words alive and remain in verses 15-17 in chapter four are very significant and are key words in this verse.  Note Weymouth's translation of this verse.  "Afterwards we who are alive and survive will be caught along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

 Here I give my personal study of these words.  The word alive reveals they were alive by divine degree and lived out of His divine provision.  They will be alive by grace, in these difficult days as those who died in grace.  They will live by every word of God.  Matt. 4:4. 

 The next word is remain.  The Greek word is perileipo, which means leftover, left behind, remain over.  Therefore they were survivors.  So this word speaks of those who survive after difficult times of suffering and tribulation.  It stands to reason if there were those who survive in the household of God that there were many who died and are underneath the altar of God in heaven.   The word remain corresponds with 1Cor. 15:15-58.  This reveals no matter how hard the evil one desires to exterminate God's people in the last days there will be some who are alive and remain at the Lord's parousia.

 ¨  It is the responsibility of the ministry to prepare and equip the church to overcome the deception that will surely arise in the last days with regards to the Lord Jesus' parousia.  2Thess. 2:1-2.  We must seek the Lord for more discernment, truth and spiritual maturity for this very day and the days forthcoming.

 4.  It is the responsibility of ministry to seek the Lord now for truth and to go by traditional standards and interpretations of men.  It is also necessary to pray for our spiritual ears to be sensitive so we may hear God's voice.  There are doctrines now that are believed that will leave the church in desperate and unprepared situations in hard times.  I am not implying there is no grace of God in those times even if they are unprepared.  I am not implying that God doesn't care when there is failure to failure to prepare. But it will be tremendously harder and in some cases some will even give up. There is not anything that can substitute for the grace of preparedness.

 We as ministers must put all our doctrines on the altar and ask God to set them afire.  The result of this will be that all that remains will be His.  Our shepherdhood depends upon our knowing the apostolic doctrine of Jesus Christ with the present prophetic word of God in our midst.                                                         

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