Are we developing
CHRIST-centered patience
or
“Our-Political-Rights”-centered
activism ?
? ? ?
But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be
perfect and entire (Complete),
wanting/lacking nothing.
James 1:4
PATIENCE , the virtue , is frightening. It literally means “to stay under.” We think of it as endurance. The endurance , however, is measured ONLY WHEN WE ARE UNDER A SEVERE TESTING.
Notice that the Apostle James exhorts us “to LET” (allow) patience to have her perfect work.
We are NOT to hinder The LORD’S work of perfecting our lives because we
do not “like” these hard, unpleasant, hurtful experiences and events
HE+ calls us to endure.
And ye shall be hated of all men
for My+ Name’s sake.
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
In your patience possess ye your souls.
And when ye shall see Jerusalem
compassed with armies,
then know that the desolation
thereof is nigh..
Luke 21: 17 – 20
Here, The LORD JESUS commends PATIENCE to
us in the midst of HATRED when His+ Followers are being hounded and
hated by all sectors of society … the public, the government, and the
religious alike. We will not have a friend except JESUS. There will be
NO PLACE of SAFETY except by His+ side.
How close is this event ?
Ask the Persecuted Christians in North Korea, in the Sudan, in Vietnam, in Thailand, in Iran, in Iraq, Syria etc. It is worldwide and coming to all lands. That is a Scriptural promise no-one likes to “claim.”
There will not be PEACE under Mr. Trump … at least, not for serious-minded Christians.
There will ONLY be a “new world order” agenda. Note that Mr. Kissinger
is one of his “consultants,” along with others in the CFR club.
We
do NOT JOIN ourselves to the “popular-rights” crowd. We do not become
unequally-yoked with political movements and social rights activities. That would put us with strange bed-fellows.
Instead …
Serious-Minded Christians
join ourselves to CHRIST, Who+ is the Eternal Word of the FATHER. We
receive from His+ hand what HE+ has ordained. HE+ places some in dire
straights.
HE+ places some in terrible persecution. HE+ does this so that we might bear WITNESS TO HIM+ — in the WORST OF PLACES, to the WORST ELEMENTS OF SOCIETY — in this grossly blemished, unrighteous Civilization.
And not only so,
but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that
tribulation worketh patience;
Romans 5:3
It appears the ONLY way to develop CHRIST-centered PATIENCE is in tribulation… TRUE tribulation ( i.e., not a flat tire or a burned supper.)
So that we ourselves glory in you
in the churches of GOD
for your patience and faith
in all your persecutions
and tribulations
that ye endure:
2 Thessalonians 1:4
PATIENCE,
it seems, is tied unfailingly to persecution. Injury gained BECAUSE of
following CHRIST JESUS. Loss sustained because of holding fast to His+
Truth. Sorrow endured because of faithfulness to His+ Word.
For ye have need of patience,
that,
after ye have done the will of GOD,
ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:36
PROMISES
— to be received — are connected to doing the Will of GOD. In order to
do the Will of GOD, though, we must OF NECESSITY develop PATIENCE during persecution and tribulation.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin
which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us…
Hebrews 12:1
There
is a race tailor-made for each one of us. It will touch the “sore”
spots in our hearts. Our particular race will reveal our weaknesses and
weights and faults that have warped our character, warped our faith.
What are we to do
to rid ourselves of these warpings ?
We
are to RUN anyway. We are not to flinch and fling ourselves away from
the race-track that Our LORD has assigned for our particular life-run.
We are not to join a “people’s-rights” movement and campaign for a
lessening of the distresses. We are to STAY FOCUSED ON THE RACE-TRACK which HE+ has ordained.
Here is how we WIN that race:
Looking unto JESUS
the AUTHOR+ and FINISHER+ of our faith;
WHO+ for the joy
that was set before HIM+
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is set down
at the right hand
of the throne of GOD.
For consider HIM+ that endured
such contradiction of sinners against Himself+,
lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,
striving against sin.
Hebrews 12: 2-4
Our Race is to be won on our knees. We win as we DRAW CLOSER to CHRIST. HE+ will direct our prayers against the evil forces and our prayers WILL PREVAIL …. if HE+ is truly directing them and not our own voice.
Yes,
we need to gird our loins to suffer. However, the kingdom of darkness
is going to feel the heat of the Suffering Saints’ prayers !
The
Prophet Daniel tells us this: in the midst of a TERRIBLE on-slaught
against GOD’S people, they will be strong and DO EXPLOITS!
[ The exact word “exploits” is not in the Hebrew, but the meaning involves ACCOMPLISHING MUCH. See DANIEL 11:32.]
May we humble ourselves, forsaking the ways and means of the world. Let us diligently cast aside values and ideologies that are CONTRARY TO CHRIST. Every Follower of JESUS in every society in every country MUST DO THE SAME.
All
of our various societies and governments — tribal, democratic, and all
those in-between — are all run by fallen men. The fallen nature of man
ALWAYS co-operates closely with the ideologies of satan.
The
business of our fallen societies and governments does NOT CONCERN the
Followers of JESUS. We have a totally different nature and our Kingdom
has NOT YET been established, in Power and Glory upon the earth. (
But, that IS COMING! )
We
are passing through our respective lands and tribes for one purpose
only: to turn the hearts of fallen man to Our Heavenly FATHER and to HIS
Glorious SON+ JESUS CHRIST. We are to rescue fallen men … all who are
willing to be rescued … for the sake of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Let us therefore be about
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS+ …
and leave the fallen world’s activities
to fallen men.
+ + +
And at that time shall Michael stand up,
the great prince which
stands for the children of your people:
and there shall be a time of trouble,
such as never was since there was a nation
even to that same time:
and at that time
Thy+ People shall be delivered,
every one that shall be found
written in The Book.
And many of them that sleep
in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some to everlasting life,
and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
And they that be Wise
shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;
and they that turn many to Righteousness
as the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel 12: 1-3
In The Name of GOD,
YHWH ELOHIM Almighty,
and YHWH ADONAI+
HIS only begotten, Eternal SON+.
And YHWH RUACH ha KADOSH
HIS Eternal SPIRIT.
AMEN + + +