Christian Persecution Spikes

“Christian persecution spikes in Pakistan, prompting calls for US to exert pressure.”

This was the Headline of November 2, 2015 on FOX News.com. It is a shocking Headline that is being printed in one form or another almost daily. There is a lie in the world and it is that our enemies pressure and hardships towards us is going to destroy us. This is an absolute lie and I will be honest, I far too often begin to believe it. But that is alright, because the Truth that sets us free is far greater than this lie.

Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Romans 5:2-4

So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:10

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. A-men. 2 Timothy 4:18

Blessed and happy and [enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!. Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Matthew 5:10-11

Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]-- Jude 24

I also will, as so many people do, look to the U.S., the Police, or some other entity to protect us. This is a such foolish gesture because these forces will fail, but their inabilities doesn’t mean that we are going to be destroyed. Our Father will never leave us and He will never forsake us and the Truth is the harder things get for us in this world, the better things will get for us in our spirits. Pressure and hardships will empower us to trust in our Father and He will never allow us to be tempted above that which we can stand.

Right now there are many who are being attacked and persecuted by radical Muslims around the world. Our Father is well aware of this Truth and we should be rejoicing over it not seeking America to retaliate for us. We should rejoice, because our Father is obligated to keep His Word and that means He has to empower us to bless those who curse us. Our Father has to create a way for us to feed our enemies and they need the spiritual food that will set them free. So our Father has to empower us to give it to them. Jesus has to make us more than conquerors. He has to keep us from failing at delivering the Truth to everyone, including our enemies. This is what excites me, because I will be honest it doesn’t look like it can happen, but that is exactly when our Father usually makes it happen.  

I know that I live in America and that I have never had to endure threats on my life for having Jesus use me. But I have seen how our Father empowers those who He does use in these areas of the world. How awesome is it that our Father causes people to trust in Him and confess Him even though they might be killed for it? These people who are being attacked are full of joy too. The world calls this crazy, but for those who are going through it, they have an empowerment that goes beyond worldly wisdom and understanding. Our peace is that if our Father asks us to do the same, we too will have the same empowerment. Our Father will never leave us or forsake us, so we don't have to fret about what we will do if called on to suffer. We can see what we will do in the lives of our brothers and sisters who have been called on to go through it and their peace is not from a Country it is from our Father!