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Entries for September 2015
"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."Matthew 5:11,12
The opposition against Christians in America is related to what happens to Christians in other parts of the world. It is Satan's master plan and is aimed primarily against the Lord. Satan who leads, directs and devises persecution against those who love the Name of Jesus, has raged and burned with an intense jealousy against God himself ever since he opposed His sovereignty in Heaven.
Christians suffer for Christ in America, victims of culture-wars, jailed without bail. Each day reveals increased confrontation by those who wish to rid our country of all evidence of Christianity. But Jesus says, 'Rejoice!'
Christians suffer in many parts of the world. Christian families are forced to leave their homes and flee for their lives as ISIS takes control. Their world, as they have known it, will never be the same. But Jesus says, "Be exceedingly glad!"
RID THE WORLD OF CHRISTIANITY! That is the purpose of the pressure groups who cry out against Christians here in America. They labor to get rid of all Christian influence in our country. Their hateful conduct to force surrender to judicial tyranny and to re-define marriage is an evil plan to not only change our American culture, but a plan to change the world.
JESUS WILL REWARD -those who witness to His victory. They are part of a much larger plan than Satan has devised. It will come as a great surprise for those who oppose Christianity to discover that their opposition propels Christians to rise up with bold faith that can change the world.
PRAYER: Jesus, I give praise for all those who suffer persecution. Thank you, Lord for all those who love you more than life, willing to die rather than to disown you as Savior. May the opposition stir all of us to rise up as bold witnesses in these last days. I pray for those who unwittingly are a part of Satan's age-old hatred against You. I pray our enemies will repent, so they can receive eternal life. In Your name, Amen
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"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." I John 4:10
If love is what makes the world go around, then let it speed up a lot! Especially the special love Jesus gives. Angry groups clash across our world and many bleed. News commentators add opinionated arguments to the conflict. At times their discussions infer religion is the cause of our problems. Sometimes that may be true, but not always. It should never be said what Christians believe breeds hate and conflict in their hearts against others.
That is exactly the opposite of our heavenly Father's intentions when he sent his Son to the cross. Love is what makes Christianity more than a religion.
Christianity cannot be defined simply as a religion. It is personal love relationship of the deepest and highest affections between God and a sinner. It is an amazing divine love affair, initiated by God who first loved us. God's love catches fire and burns deep into a personality, to evict all conflicting loyalties, to purify all remaining affections within the soul. It changes us and it can change the world around us.
The love-relationship is activated when one surrenders to God's Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior. The degree of love we have for God should reveal a similar degree of care and concern for others.
WE LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US and gave Himself to die in our place upon the cross. He took our sins and bore the judgment for our sin as the Lamb of God. May we share a place in our hearts with those who need God's love. May our love for Jesus grow each day. Allow his love to change us on a daily basis. Let the changes his love makes in us show in our daily relationships and alter our behavior. Let's be willing to take another's burden, rather than another's life.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, my heart cannot comprehend it, but I know your love continues to change me. I love you, Lord. I humbly desire to serve you with all my heart and soul. I long to live in a way that will cause others to know your transformational love. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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