A Test of Our Faith

 Appointed to Affliction

Book of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 3

The Bible is clear concerning the fact that God's people will suffer persecution!

We may not like it but it is a fact and we need to be prepared for it.

The persecution of Christians takes place all around this world we live in.

It is not that God causes our suffering, but God does have a purpose in our suffering.

In fact, the suffering of the Christian is another way that actually proves that the Bible is true.

The suffering of each Christian is a test of faith!

The one main thing that is needed in the Church today is a strong faith!

The is a faith that honestly knows the Lord Jesus Christ and knows what it is to be walking with Him day by day, trusting Him.

Walking means we are not to be standing still but growing in our faith.

Chapter three verse one.

*****1Th 3:1  Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 

1Th 3:2  And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

Paul only spent three weeks in Thessalonica before he had to leave because his life was threatened.

It was a group of unbelieving Jews who were trying to stop the growth of Christianity so, Paul was anxious to know how this Church was doing and he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to confirm this new church full of babes in Christ.

Paul was now alone in Athens Greece.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit can do His greatest work in us when we are alone.

It is a sad thing that this world is determined to stamp out and destroy the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is this world so afraid of?

Paul may have been in Athens but his heart was still in Thessalonica.

Timothy was like a son to Paul, but at the same time a brother in Christ and a great man of God.

Every true preacher is concerned about the establishment of believers not because of the truth of God, but simply because this world is so full of hate for the Lord Jesus Christ.

This new church was standing its ground against the Devil.

We can see that it is a must that we stand by our faith, or this world will try to walk all over us.

The one thing true in Athens was that Paul saw the whole city given to idolatry.

It is this thing that stirred up the Apostle Paul.

Then, Paul went into the Jewish Synagogues and preached at the market where there were many philosophers speaking on all types of subjects.

It is always a good time to get busy serving the Lord!

Timothy had the same concerns for the church in Thessalonica as did Paul.

Before the Lord Jesus Christ, this world had nothing firm to base their lives upon. This world had no solid foundation to place their faith.

Many of them had good intentions, but these intentions could not prosper in a land full of lies and deceit.

The "Gospel" gives us a sound foundation for a moral life where we can grow in the "Grace of God".

We all need encouragement from time to time and this is what Timothy gave to that church in Thessalonica.

Persecution is not going away, in fact it will get worse, but our faith will carry us through it all.

No amount of persecution can change the fact that our souls are saved and will be in Heaven in the end.

*****1Th 3:3  That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 

We should be able to see that the same afflictions that make us better Christians will harden the heart of a sinner.

An example in the Bible are the plagues of Egypt every plague caused the heart of Pharaoh's to harden even more.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

When we are recognized as someone trying to be like Jesus Christ, then this should make us feel good and even bring joy to us because this is should be our goal until the day we die, to be more like Jesus.

As our faith endures such afflictions, it will make us to be stronger and purer Christians!

God may give riches to some in this world, but the stores of Heavenly treasures are far greater than anything on this earth and are set aside for God's children when they go home.

2Ti 4:18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

Every Christian will suffer some from the afflictions that come from this world, because this world hates the Lord Jesus Christ even though there is no reason to do so.

The only things Jesus ever did was all good things. Jesus never did one bad thing!

*****1Th 3:4  For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 

1Th 3:5  For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 

There was a direct attack upon the Apostle Paul to destroy him.

It began with rumors and lies. These people felt if they could destroy the reputation of the Apostle Paul that they could destroy the early Church.

This is impossible!

They forgot what Jesus said: "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", referring to the Church.

It is impossible for this world to destroy God's Church!

The shameful treatment of God's people will only stir up the wrath of God.

There may come a time that the Church will speak with martyrdom but it has not yet.

The truth is that we should not be moved by these afflictions.

We must understand that we are not of this world and this is the way this world will treat all aliens.

Joh 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 

The Christian is hated because we point out the sin and the lies and the immoralities of this world!

The Christian is hated because we live in world where everyone wants to be their own god.

The world believes that a true God should fulfill all their desires no matter their own personal behavior.

The truth is God is love, but God is also "just" and God "demands righteous behavior"!

This is what the world rebels against the most.

As Christians, we must keep in mind that it is Satan who is behind all afflictions aimed at believers.

The truth is, that Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we would not perish in a sinner's hell.

It is Jesus Christ who gives us the privilege to live with Him in Heaven.

We must not give in to the temptations of this world!

Our faith is the key to life everlasting in a place that the word paradise cannot describe sufficiently.

*****1Th 3:6  But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 

A wise man once said, “As cold water is to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” 

A strong faith is a faith that gives an excellent testimony!

Timothy brought relief to the Apostle Paul. Those believers were standing fast in their faith in Jesus Christ.

They were continuing to study the Word of God, and to pray and to worship together.

They were witnessing for Christ as the opportunity arose and His promise of eternal life.

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 

They were meeting the needs of those in the Church who had a need.

They remembered the one who had set them on the path of righteousness, the Apostle Paul and had a longing to see him again.

What is the message of our Church?

We have faith that will stand fast in the face of opposition.

We have a faith that demonstrates the love of God.

We have a faith that longs for the fellowship with our Pastor.

We have a strong faith in the truth of God.

*****1Th 3:7  Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 

1Th 3:8  For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 

What is the greatest motivation we can give to our Pastors?

Our own faith in the truth of God that he preaches!

The Apostle Paul was in Corinth at this time and he was facing fierce persecution against him and the new church in Corinth.

Again, it was that group of Jewish religionists that had stirred up much trouble for Paul and early Christians especially those Jews who had converted to Christianity and were excommunicated.

They had dragged Paul before a Roman court.

Many believe that some threat or some savagery happened to Paul at this time that is not recorded, and it brought great affliction to the Apostle Paul.

This good news of the faith of the Thessalonians had brought great comfort to Paul, the comfort he desperately needed.

The strong faith of the Thessalonians stirred renewed life and purpose to the ministry of the Apostle Paul and those with him.

Paul had been discouraged but not defeated!

Paul was stirred to share Jesus Christ as never before.

This church of the Thessalonians were a testimony to the Apostle Paul.

They were suffering persecution and they were remaining steadfast to the Lord.

They were a great example of the true Church.

As we go about serving the Lord we never know when our own faith and our own strength in the Lord are needed to help some other believer.

We must always stand fast in our faith in the truth of the Gospel and in all the Word of God.

Our faith will certainly help our Pastor as he goes about answering his own calling to serve the Lord.

If we stand fast in our faith we will grow more to be like our Savior!

Php 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 

The heart of Paul was touched by the actions of these Thessalonians.

*****1Th 3:9  For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 

1Th 3:10  Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Paul's grief had turned to joy.

A wise man wrote: Of all the emotions and affections of the soul, love is the only one we can interchange with God.

We can try to love Him like He loves us!

God has that perfect love a love that we need to seek and show to Him.

This is love that comes from the heart. 

We can show our joy to God by fervent thanksgiving.

There is never a day that we should not be thanking the Lord for what He has done in our lives!

Paul prayed earnestly that he could return to this Church and preach to them the meat of the Gospel.

We never have so much knowledge in the Word of God that we cannot learn more!

We never have so much faith that we cannot increase our faith.

We never have so much love that we cannot increase our love.

We can also pray continuously for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for the men of God who carry God's message to the world.

The more we get busy serving the Lord the more joy we will see in our Pastor!

The more we get busy serving the Lord the more joy we will see in our Church.

The more people who get saved in our community the more joy we will see in our community.

It is a joyous feeling to know you have missed out on Hell.

I know it was for me.

You just want to be around people like that.

This is one of the greatest testimonies of the true Church.

Why would anyone want to be around a bunch of sad sacks?

A sad church is a miserable church!

Like my Pastor says, "who wants to be around a bunch of people who are mad because they are saved"?

The relationship of the Pastor to his people is so close and vital, that they have within their power to make his life happy or they can make his life miserable. 

A good Pastor will not stay in a miserable church!

The church in Corinth was at that time full of problems and it was telling upon the Apostle Paul so of course he had a great yearning to be with a people who had joy in their salvation.

It took some time, but the church at Corinth did become a good church.

A true church will have sympathy for the lost, a faith that is rock solid, a steadfastness to the Word of God, and a spirit of joy for missing out on Hell.

Another thing every church needs is to grow in the Spirit and Grace of the Lord.

A church that is standing still is losing ground and may stumble and fall at any time.

Php 1:25  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 

Php 1:26  That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

Paul had a great goal of making every Christian perfect for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul had a Pastor's heart but God called him to be an evangelist and church planter.

The goal for the Christian Church is for every Christian to come to a unity of the faith in Jesus Christ!

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

In some churches the Lord Jesus Christ is no longer present so they have no Holy Ghost power!

*****1Th 3:11  Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 

For the true Church to be stronger then, we must be sure about God and know who Jesus Christ is!

It is God alone who can fill the desires of His servants!

How do you see God?

God is the Supreme and Matchless being in our universe, the Supreme Intelligence, the Creator and Maker of all things, the Giver and the Sustainer of Life and of everything else. The person who dwells everywhere in Perfect and Supreme Power, Knowledge, and Being.

Some people only think of God as someone who lives in Heaven, in outer space somewhere, and does not really care what is going on in the world.

In fact God is much, much more!

God is intimately involved in our lives.

God is actively involved in our lives!

God is not only in Heaven, but He is also right here with us!

God is our Heavenly Father!

How do you see the Lord Jesus Christ?

The Lord Jesus Christ has existed eternally in Heaven and loves us enough to become our Lord.

The Lord Jesus Christ who loved us enough to come to this earth in the person of Jesus, the Jewish Carpenter from Nazareth.

The Lord Jesus Christ who is the promised Messiah and the Savior of this world.

It is this God who Paul prayed to and it is this same God who we are to pray to.

If this not your God then you are wasting your time praying!

It is only this God who can direct our ways!

He is also the Lord of love!

*****1Th 3:12  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 

Love is what this world needs and not that lustful existence that is in our world today.

Every believer needs love!

Every believer needs to show love!

Every believer needs to grow in love!

We need to grow in love toward all mankind and not just love for each other.

In the Bible it is called "agape" love.

The English language has only one word for love to describe affectionate experiences whereas the Greek language has four.

1) There is "eros", a passionate love. This physical love between the sexes, the patriotic love a person has for his nation, or the ambition of a person for power or wealth. Eros can be a good love or a bad love.

2) There "storge" love or affectionate love. This is the love that exists between a parent and a child and between a loyal citizens and a trustworthy ruler.

3) There is "phileo" love or endearing love. Phileo love is the love between a husband and a wife for each other. Of brothers and sisters, and sometime close friends.

4) Then there is "agape" love. A selfless and sacrificial love. Agape love is a love of the mind, of reason and of will.

Agape love loves a person who is undeserving of that love. Agape love is love for a person who is unworthy of that love.

Agape love is the love God has for us. Agape love is the love Christ Jesus demonstrated on the cross.

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

It is the love for unworthy sinners.

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

It is the love of God for undeserving enemies.

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Selfless agape love is a gift of God.

There is no agape love without a relationship with Jesus Christ because this is the love that comes to us by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will not come into us without a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

After our salvation and prayer, the next greatest gift we get from the Lord is agape love.

Without the love of God, He would certainly be that distant God who would not care what we are doing at any time but He loved us before we even knew Him.

1Jn_4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1Jn_4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

The result of this love is that we will be presented unblameable before God when the Lord Jesus returns to take us home.

*****1Th 3:13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 

The great result of God's love is that the Lord Jesus will present His Church unblameable before God His Father when we meet Him in the clouds.

The Lord Jesus as our Advocate will stand before His Father and say, "these are the ones I have been telling you about".

The Lord Jesus will confirm our relationship with Him!

No one else has the power nor the right to present us before God, than our Redeemer.

That word unblameable means that we will be without a blemish and without a spot, free from fault and free from blame.

We will be free from all the charges that Satan has brought against us.

If it our Savior who is the only One who can make us unblameable before God!

If Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not have the power nor the desire to present us before God, then we are all doomed.

Jesus is the only One who has ever risen from the dead to live for evermore.

Yes, the Lord raised some from the dead when He was upon this earth, but they later had to die again.

He will present all those who died in Christ.

He will present all those who lived until the Rapture of the Church.

We will one day not too far into the future be presented face to face to the Almighty Living God.

This is the promise of God Himself.

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

We know our Lord does not ever break His promises!

Amen

The Church Will be Persecuted

Jesus Warned Us About Persecution

Book of John 15:18-27

We should understand that in all the ages since the Lord Jesus Christ went back home to Heaven to prepare us a place to live, Christians have been persecuted in one form or another. We talk about persecution here in America but in reality, we have never seen persecution like those who live in many other parts of our world.

As Christians we are never to seek the propagation of the Gospel by force. We are to understand that all those in Heaven will be there because they chose to love the Lord with all their heart. Not one hypocrite will be in Heaven.

Not one persecutor of the true Church will be in Heaven unless they repent of their evil ways as did the Apostle Paul.

Paul never forgave himself for persecuting the church even though he had been forgiven of all his sin by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psa 7:10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

Psa 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

Psa 7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

Psa 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

All unbelievers will see the wrath of God, we can be sure, but those who persecute the Church that the Lord has built cannot escape the judgments of the Lord.

The Lord has prepared for them special instruments of death. To me this is very frightening!

What did Jesus say to us?

*****Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

If this world hated all those who are mean, or who are selfish, or who profit from lies, or who are dishonest and who live by immoral standards then the world may be right, but the truth is, evil is not the object of hatred in this world we live in!

This world we live in hates goodness. Too much profit is made in the things of evil for the world to give up on evil and turn to goodness!

Jesus said that all Christians would be hated because we no longer belong in this world, our home is in Heaven. We are the aliens that this world spends so much money looking for!

Heaven is that world that cannot be seen by the greatest telescopes.

Heaven is that world that cannot be reached by the greatest of all spaceships.

Heaven is the world that can only be reached by and through the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Bible remains the bestselling, book in all the world and the Lord Jesus Christ the most hated of all persons in the world.

Today in America, we have a president who claims to be Christian. He is not hated because of what he has done. He is hated because he claims to be Christian along with his wife who also claims to be Christian.

This is what America has become. Our nation which was established upon Christian principles is being attacked by those who want an evil nation and want to be supplied with every evil thing to keep it that way.

This is why the Bible says these things would only get worse.

2Ti_3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Notice it is not because people are being told the truth, it is only because people are being deceived that all these things are happening!

This does not allow for change in the way of the Christian!

1Th_5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

The Lord also did not never say that to be a Christian would be easy.

*****Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

All those of the world are the same as those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because it was our Lord Jesus Christ who taught the real meaning of sin!

Jesus makes it really simple, this world loves its sin to much to give it up!

This world refuses to accept that there is a God and His name is Jehovah!

Those that reject that there is a God, named Jehovah, are all those who are of the world! They are those who are lost, and they are those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Even a blind man can see that this is true!

As Christians these must not be see as strange things that just happen, the Lord tells us all that these things will happen!

The Muslim hate the Christian because they are being deceived.

The Hindu hate the Christian because they are being deceived.

It is the same for all false religions and all those who twist the Word of God into a lie.

Once our Creator is understood then many more will come to Christ to be saved.

This is why it is so important that we not give in to any thing that challenges the Word of God in the Book of Genesis nor any other book of the Bible.

We have the truth, it is not up for discussion with those who reject the truth!

God is not some supreme grandfather, He is God even though He is a Loving God and a Just God!

We must understand that only by the "Grace" of God are we any better than those of this world.

We must also understand, that though we will one day meet the Lord "face to face" we will never be equal to our God.

*****Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

We may never understand Christian persecution, but we should see that it is a test of our character and an evidence of living as a Christian.

We have seen all over the world how Christians have gone to prison before they would deny the Lord.

We have seen all over the world of Christians who have been beheaded before they would deny the Lord.

What will we do when persecution comes our way? We need to ask ourselves this question because persecution could come our way at any time!

We must also understand that persecution is not some test that comes from God.

The world hates believers because they are convicted of their sin.

It is the "Gospel Message" that convicts this world of sin because sin cannot hide from righteousness.

Righteousness is doing things right according to the Word of God.

Joh 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

The world does all these things because the world rejects the true God!

*****Joh 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Joh 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

Joh 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

This world hates goodness and it shows more each day!

If the Lord had never come to this earth the world would have been happy to continue on until death and Hell just as it was in the days of Noah.

Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Gen 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

We are fools if we cannot see that the wickedness of man is growing again at a rapid pace.

The children of God again are turning toward the world!

Gen 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

Gen 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

God had promised that He would not send a flood to cover this entire world again and He gave us the "Rainbow" to remember this promise.

When God came to this world in the flesh of Jesus Christ with the message of salvation, He pointed out the sin of this world which would again lead to destruction this time by fire.

As the world hides behind race and poverty, the Lord says there are only two groups of people, the Church and the World.

We see so many of the Church are not as hated because they have become part of the world. The Church is sinking in the sea of the world and may not ever rise again!

We all have to work in the same places, enjoy the same things, and become friends to those who oppose the Lord.

There is still a great gulf that is growing between right and wrong, goodness and evil, and many are not willing to give up the things that the Lord hates.

There is no bridge to cover this division between the two.

There must be a complete separation.

2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2Co_6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

There is a growing hatred between these two groups.

The Lord Jesus Christ did many things just to prove that He is God and we live in a world that increasingly denies these things because they cannot disprove them!

*****Joh 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Many say they believe the Word of God, but they just cannot believe the Word of God is Divine even though it is!

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Jesus then said if we cannot believe that all the Word of God was sent from Heaven, then just believe the miracles that are recorded in the Word of God.

Many do believe that the Word of God is an accurate history of the time of Christ Jesus.

Joh 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

Joh 11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

Joh 9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

Joh 9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

These enemies of the Lord could not deny the miracles that were seen by so many people, yet many today, still say these things were impossible and that is the whole point.

The Lord Jesus Christ did the impossible, yet He is still denied. We live in a very foolish world!

There is truly no reason for this world to hate Jesus, but it does!

Joh 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Joh 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

Joh 5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

We can only deduce that this world we live in is truly ignorant!

It astounds me that our younger generation can believe the lies of the liberal politicians, who have never proven they hold to the truth, yet they can deny Jesus Christ.

Many in this world say they believe in a God but when they deny Jesus Christ, they have denied the only God that exist!

Many today talk of sin and ways to get to Heaven yet they deny the only means to do so!

The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin of "unbelief"!

Over and over many will say "I do not pretend to be a Christian and yet in their next breath they will say "But I do not hate God". How foolish are they who say such things!

Loving Jehovah is the key to salvation!

All those that say they love God but hate or deny Jesus Christ are certainly not trying to please the God they say they love!

Obedience is the first sign of love!

You want to see the face of anger, just mention the name Jesus in a crowd! Makes no sense at all!

Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

We must also understand some things of the Holy Spirit.

*****Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

We must clearly understand that our salvation can only happen by the work of the Holy Trinity, the Triune God!

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit! Not three Gods but one God in three persons!

Things we cannot deny:

1) God is three persons!

2) Each person is the same God with all the same characteristics and powers!

3) There is only one God!

Any group of religionist that deny the Triune God then are only cults and certainly not Christianity!

The Holy Spirit has a mission and that mission is to draw us closer to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

It was the Holy Spirit who caused the Apostles to remember all the things of Jesus Christ!

It was the Holy Spirit who gave miracle making powers to the Apostles!

It was the Holy Spirit that these Apostles the words to say when they were brought before the government!

It is the Holy Spirit who will teach us the deep things of God.

It is the Holy Spirit who travels with the Word of God to bring conviction to those who hear God's Word's!

It is the Holy Spirit that shows our ownership to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

It is impossible for the Holy Spirit to lead us anywhere except to the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is impossible for the true believer to not be endowed with the Holy Spirit!

It is the Holy Spirit that causes us to be a Temple for the Father and His Son to abide in upon this earth!

1Co_6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

It is the Holy Spirit who shows our ownership to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Lord Jesus Christ will present us to His Father!

When Pilate ask the Lord Jesus, "what is truth", Jesus Christ was and is Himself the Truth!

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the strength to overcome persecution!

Amen

Let's Pray!

The Praying Of The Persecuted Church

The Praying Of The Persecuted Church

Book of Acts 4:15-37

What does the word "Prayer" mean?

If we reduce prayer to it's most fundamental element then prayer is "talking to God" on a personal level!

Prayer is all forms of communication with the God of Heaven!

There are basically five categories of prayer:

Praise, petition, supplication, imprecation and intercession.

Today, for the most part, we will see the power of a "petition" in prayer and prayer that offers "praise".

Every prayer should begin with "praising" Our Father in Heaven!

"Praise" is honoring and glorifying Our Creator and Our Maker!

A "petition" prayer is a formal request of Our Father in Heaven and it cannot be made in a general, or vague or a careless manner!

This prayer is begging God to do what only He can do!

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. "The effectual fervent prayer "of a righteous man" availeth much".

The first need for "answered" prayer is for God's people to be doing what is right.

The Bible is very specific here:

Psa 66:18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, "the Lord will not hear me":

Unconfessed sin still stop a prayer before it can begin!

Let's begin:

*****Act 4:15  But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
Act 4:16  Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

We can see that these that sat in council that day were not moved by the preaching of Peter. They were only in a dilemma!

They could not deny the miracle of the healing of that once lame man because, that once crippled and once lame man was standing before them with these Apostles.

They could not explain how simple fishermen from Galilee could perform such a miracle whose only fame was that they had been with Jesus of Nazareth.

It is important for us to keep these things in context:

This miracle was not proof of the "Resurrection" of Jesus!

This miracle was not proof that Peter's message was even true!

Even Satan can perform miracles:

2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And false prophets can also perform wonders:

Deu 13:1  If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2  And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

The truth of Peter's message is that  The Lord Jesus Christ is "ALIVE"!

That Jesus was working in "His Church" through the "Power" of the Holy Spirit!

Peter preached from the Old Testament to show the truth of the "New Testament Gospel" to these that were Jews.

BUT, Miracles Are Not A Substitute For The Word Of God!

This council of the Sanhedrin court were not seeking the truth, They Were Seeking A Way To Avoid The Truth!

Sounds a whole lot like our courts of today!

They had no interest in the truth of the evidence "that was in their presence" this day!

It had been some of these same men that had tried to trap Jesus in His words!

We can see the proof that "a miracle", in itself, "cannot bring conviction" to the lost!

It is only by the "Power" of the Holy Spirit that conviction can come to those that are lost!

The problem was not of their mind, the problem was in their heart!

The Bible says:

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

*****Act 4:17  But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Act 4:18  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

They now came to the conclusion that like all false doctrine that had come before this, that this was a new fad and would die a natural death in a short period of time.

They Were Very Wrong!

This religious group forbade the preaching of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

AND, The entire religious world is trying to do this same thing today!

Satan has been trying to silence God's people ever since the time of Adam and Eve!

Sadly even today many of us have become "silent" Christians and even our own governments are
being caught up  and swayed by these things of false religion!

We know that this is a sign of the end-times because in the Book of Revelation we find a Religious Babylon and also Secular Babylon.

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon "is fallen", "is fallen", that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

1.) We have the apostate Church, the "Harlot".

2.) We have the spiritual Sodom, "The Unholy Worldly Alliance".

This council did not want the Gospel Message to spread!

BUT, Satan's attempts to silence the Church only leads to a stronger witness of the Lord!

When the world is trying to silence the truth of the Gospel, this only lends to the truth of God's Word!

*****Act 4:19  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

Who or what should we obey?

Peter said judge this your self!

After all these men did claim Our Creator as their own God. These men had placed themselves above the Word of God and had even made their own laws and added them to the Word of God.

When "we are sure" that we have a "clear" understanding of the teaching of God's Word then we "may" one day have to defy our own governments BUT we are "always" suppose to deny the teaching of every false religion!

God has given us the Great Commandment:

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

This commandment must not cannot be denied!

We can see this throughout the Bible:

Exo 1:17  But the midwives feared God, and "did not as the king of Egypt commanded them", but saved the men children alive.

It is always wrong to murder anyone and that includes babies!

On the average 3700 babies are aborted in America every day.

Heb 11:23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; "and they were not afraid of the king's commandment".

Moses's parents also knew this truth!

Dan 1:8  But Daniel purposed in his heart "that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank": therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

It is always wrong to eat food that has been offered to Idols!

Dan 3:17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18  But if not, be it known unto thee, "O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up".

In other words O king, "do what you have got to do, we are not going to give in to you"!

There are many biblical principles that we must adhere to rather than what our governments write into some laws!

Peter, John and every other believer are under the orders of God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ until the end of our lives or the Rapture of the Church or whichever comes first!

We must remain in good conscience toward God no matter the suffering!

1Pe 2:19  For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

*****Act 4:20  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

The Bible teaches us:

Heb 2:3  [How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation]; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Jesus teaches us all, that a righteous protest against injustice will always bring sacrifice and suffering but we cannot and should not, conduct a "holy war" just because of our frustrations!

*****Act 4:23  And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

Peter and John when they were released did not go somewhere and hide. They went back to where the Body of Christ was located. They immediately assembled together and reported their good news.

*****Act 4:24  And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Act 4:25  Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

The greatest concentration of "power" in Jerusalem that day was in this "prayer meeting" with the New Church.

Peter and John had come in from their first battle with Satan and the Body of Christ was meeting to over come that enemy of the Church and all our battles need to always begin with prayer!

These first Christians firmly believed in a personal "omnipotent" Creator, who had now become man in the person of Jesus Christ.

It is Jesus Christ who has been rejected by the religious leaders and by the government of Israel and by the World!

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that God our Creator had made all things according to His written word!

And there was no doubt that this same Creator had come down from "His place in Heaven" and taken on the "body of a human" just for the purpose of saving His creation!

The early Church was glad to suffer persecution for His name's sake!

BUT, it seems most Christians today are silent and tend to hide from persecution.

The early Church gave praise for the opportunity to preach the Gospel "at all costs"!

Today, it seems that many of the Church question our Creator and His "written record" of our creation in the Book of Genesis.

We cannot be saved unless we believe "with all our heart" that Christ Jesus is also Our Creator!

This reference to the "heathen" which means the "Gentiles" was meant to apply to Herod, and Pilate and the other Gentiles who persecuted Christ Jesus.

The term "Heathen" denotes the "nations" that are not of the Jews, and "rage" denotes an assembly such as an unruly "mob".

This reference to the "people" refers to the Jewish mob, the Jewish religious leaders and the Jewish government who were also guilty of the same crime.

This a picture of the many nations that plan to unite in rebellion against God that we see today as we get nearer the end of the Church Age!

The Apostle Paul best describes the phrase "vain things".

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; [but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened].

All these Jews had said that they knew God but they did nor know Him at all because they did not believe His Word.

This Is The First Act Of Knowing Him!

Paul also added:

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Our own worldly wisdom will always make us foolish when compared to the Word of God!

The Bible adds:

Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Though the world we live in has lost it's fear of God all that does is make them all truly "foolish"!

*****Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

Today as we live in America there is a thing called the United Nations who are counseling together to seek a humanistic world government and departing from the Word of God.

We can see the outcome of these things in the Book of Revelation:

Rev 16:14  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, [to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty].

For the Apostle Peter to make reference to [Psalm 2] indicates that he knew that the secular world would not accept the Church of the Living God!

The early Church felt the urgency to pray about these things yet the Church in our day does not have that same urgency and is not as strong as it could be!

Most of us Christians are just too comfortable in our walk with God. Shame, Shame, Shame on us all!

*****Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Though the world gathers against the Body of Christ, the fact remains that it is God who is in control!

That phrase "determined before" is the same in the Greek as "predestined"!

God has told us that these things will happen.

AND, There is nothing that we humans can do to catch God off guard!

We have the complete Word of God and praise the Lord we are on "The Winning Side"!

AND, We should have a clear understanding the more we are active servants of the Lord, the more spiteful will be the agents of Satan!

The Bible teaches us:

Pro 19:21  There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

*****Act 4:29  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: [and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word],
Act 4:30  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done "by the name of thy holy child Jesus".

This is the prayer that was  made.

They did not pray for the persecution to cease.

They prayed for the power to speak the Word of God with even more boldness!

They did not pray for an easy Christian life.

They prayed for the courage to endure all persecution!

These are some of the things that we need to do today in order to get back the strength that the early Church had!

The early church clearly understood that God had a plan for all His believing children!

And they all were in one accord and knew "the work of the Church" is to glorify The Lord Jesus Christ.

For without Him we are "nothing"!

*****Act 4:31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Now we can see a second time the early church was filled with the Holy Ghost.

The filling of the Holy Spirit is not a once in a lifetime event!

The filling of the Holy Spirit must be often, even daily and comes through "earnest prayer"!

We can see that there was no "languages" or "tongues" involved with this filling but only the "Power To Speak Boldly"!

AND,  also for a joyful and godly Christian life.

What is the will of God?

Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding "what the will of the Lord is".
Eph 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and "spiritual songs", singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Eph 5:21  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

The filling of the Holy Spirit is necessary for our maturity in the Word of God!

We cannot walk the Christian walk without the Holy Spirit!

The filling of the Holy Spirit is essential for every child of God to be that useful and that available servant to the Lord!

The Bible "does not" command the believer to be indwelt or sealed with the Holy Spirit because this is the "gift" of God!

The Bible "does" command each believer "to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit" in order to to be of use to Our Lord!

In order for this to take place then we must not "grieve" the Holy Spirit!

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

When we "grieve the Holy Spirit we can also quench the Holy Spirit!

1Th 5:19  Quench not the Spirit.

We can quench the Holy Spirit when we despise the  preaching of God's Word!

How do we grieve the Holy Spirit?

Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

How do we not grieve the Holy Spirit?

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

*****Act 4:32  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

According to the Bible the "Heart" is the center of spiritual activity and controls all the actions of the human life.

The "heart" is the seat of our "conscience"!

The "soul"  can be said to be that life breath that is given by God!  It is the "soul" that retains the knowledge of God in every individual and it is the "soul" that is saved by the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Our Savior!

That word "common" simply means "ordinary". Some believers were "well to do" but most "became poor" because of the circumstances caused by the unbelieving Jews.

The early Church considered their personal possessions  as just "common goods" which could easily be given up.

This was not an early example of socialism!

This was not an early example of communism!These things were "entirely voluntary"!

These things were not planned!

Nor were these things enforced nor caused by the Church!

They only gave their possessions "as were needed" and were "very" willing to do this.

We of the Church should always be willing to share "as the needs" of our Brothers and Sisters arise!

BUT, this does not mean we are to turn over all our possessions to the Church leaders.

God does not command more than the "Tithe" and all other things are "free will" offerings.

It is that "free will" offering that gains God's Blessings, not the "Tithe"!

To neglect the "Tithe" is to ROB GOD!

*****Act 4:33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Even the Apostles needed to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit but they had one thing we do not have today.

They had that personal, eyewitness, knowledge and irrefutable evidence that Jesus Christ had certainly raised from the dead!

This is the crowning proof of Christianity!

Only God Himself can defeat death!

Jesus had demonstrated that He was and is God when He walked out of the grave!

It is this knowledge that gave boldness to Peter, And Paul, And John and all the Apostles!

It is this same knowledge that gives every believer the right into God's Heaven!

Jesus said to doubting Thomas:

Joh 20:27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Joh 20:29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: [blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed].

Questions?

Let's Pray!