Matthew
10:16-20
"Behold,
I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as
serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you
up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall
be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them
and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye
shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
For it is not Ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in
you."
**The
opposition of the Pharisees would be like ravaging wolves. The disciples' only
hope would be to look to their Shepherd for protection. We may face similar
hostility. Like the disciples, we are not to be sheep like in our attitude but
sensible and prudent. We are not to be gullible pawns but neither are we to be
conniving. **
Matthew
14:3-5
"For
Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias'
sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for
thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the
multitude, because they counted him as a prophet."
Matthew
14:10-12
"And
he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a
charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. And his
disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told
Jesus."
Matthew
24:9-10
"Then
shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be
hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and
shall betray one another, and shall hate one another."
**The
Word of God is not merely a collection of words from God, a vehicle for
communicating ideas; it is living, life-changing, and dynamic as it works in
us. With the incisiveness of a surgeon's knife, God's Word reveals who we are
and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It
discerns what is within us, both good and evil. The demands of God's Word
require decisions. That is why so many go against the Word of God. **
Hebrews
4:12
"For
the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the diving asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
(Peace
is received for our pains)
John
16:33
“These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
**With
these words he tells his disciples to take courage. In spite of the inevitable
struggles they will face, they are not alone. Jesus does not abandon us to our
struggles either. If we remember that the ultimate victory has already been
won, we can claim the peace of Christ in the most troublesome times. **
(Jesus
prays for disciples)
John
17:13-16
“And
now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have
my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath
hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I
pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not
of the world.”
**The
world hates Christians because Christians values differ from the world’s. Since
Christ’s followers don’t cooperate with the world by joining in their sin, they
are living accusations against the world’s immorality. The world follows
Satan’s agenda, and Satan is the avowed enemy of Jesus and his people.**
2
Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed
be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and
the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may
be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort werewith we
ourselves are comforted of God.”
**Many
think that when God comforts us, our hardships should go away. But if that were
always so, people would turn to God only to be relieved of pain and not out of
love for him. We must understand that comfort can also mean receiving strength,
encouragement, and hope to deal with our hardships. The more we suffer, the
more comfort God gives us. If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort
you. Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people
who are suffering similar hardships. **
Christians Waking Up To
Realization That Biblical Beliefs Are Resulting In Job Loss, Educational
Discrimination And Even Travel Restrictions
(Discriminated for
beliefs)
Romans
12:2
"And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God."
**Christians
are called to "be not conformed to this world" with its behavior and
customs that are usually selfish and often corrupting. Many Christians wisely
decide that much worldly behavior is off-limits for them. Our refusal to
conform to this world's values, however, must go even deeper than the level of
behavior and customs; it must be firmly founded in our minds: "Be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind." It is possible to avoid most
worldly customs and still be proud, and covetous, selfish, stubborn, and
arrogant. Only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducates, and redirects our minds
are we truly transformed. **
1
Peter 2:9
"But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light."
By Dinah Ramos
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