But remember the earlier times! When you were first enlightened, you went through great struggles and suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public reproach and physical abuse. Sometimes you stood alongside people who were being treated in that way. You even shared the sufferings of those who were imprisoned. When people looted your property, you actually welcomed it joyfully, because you knew that you had a better possession, a lasting one.
So don't throw away your confidence. It carries a great reward. What you need is patience, you see; then, when you've done what God wants, you will receive the promise.
We are not among the hesitators, who are destroyed! We are people of faith, and our lives will be kept safe.
When Jesus came to the disciples behind locked doors after the resurrection they were amazed and he breathed new life on them and then told them to go wait until the promise came. When the promise came, He blew the doors off and they were on the Way. We call this Pentecost and it is what some have called the independence day of the church. You can read about these things in John 20 and Acts 2 if you are so inclined to do so.
We are here to share the world's burdens and to suffer alongside the wounded and afflicted. With the Spirit of God upon us everything is magnified, it's Jesus own spirit so we begin to not only be convicted of our own sin as He is cleaning house, but Jesus knew the hearts of men. He was able to discern intentions and fears and hopes and faith. Add to that the attacks of the Accuser and all the demons we carry around and never deal with in confession...many times not even knowing they are there. Now all we can do prepare our selves with his help to take them on, fully armed. Are we though? I wasn't. Do we know who we are in Christ enough to bear confronting our own junk? How about sharing in the sufferings of Christ?
I'm convinced that Jesus gave the disciples that time waiting for Pentecost for a reason...the flesh is weak and it is faith that carries us. Often times we really 'can't handle the truth' the weight of our sin is a heavy burden and when our eyes are opened to the sheer magnitude of it, well it'll scare the hell out of you 'it is a terrible thing to fall in the hands of the living God'. Praise God for his mercy and the taste he gives, how can one not live a life in trembling reverence after that type of thing. Now we have opportunity to be truly fruitful and we can battle, by the power and grace of God, not only our own but the weight of our brothers and sisters as we share in one anothers sufferings and battles.
Now you're a different person and you stand against the grain, that kind of love that is not interested in borders and knows it's inheritance launches you into arenas most had no intention of going into.
To say Jesus is Lord and I belong to Him therefore I'm not concerned with all the arguments going on between these infighting sects and Rome and etc, etc. That's a violently political stance for someone with no interest in politics. It's saying I reject your world, the old world whether pagan or Law based, liberal and/or fundamentalist.
It's all old and dying, indeed if anyone is in Christ there is a New Creation. So we reject the way things have been done because God is sovereign and is ultimately in control, moving things forward...so all I'm interested in is the Kingdom agenda. I'll submit to authority except where it conflicts with His authority, but ultimately God's justice will prevail and so those in Christ will be vindicated. In the meantime, for those with ears to hear, hear...with eyes to see, see! We will endure tyranny for the sake of love, persecutions for the sake of Christ, battling with demons for the sake of healing, carrying the burdens in ourselves not one mile, but two for the sake becoming a living sacrifice, we will endure legalism, liberalism, nationalism, paganism, imperialism, materialism and mysticism because we were once caught up by these things too and stumble at times too but we have learned more and more to live and serve like Jesus lived and served. With unwavering confidence and connection to the Father by His awesome grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Oh Lord, do we pray for patience to endure in love all these things, boldness to call things to account when we hear the cry of the oppressed come to our ears and the you directs us how to bear the burden for them in whatever way we can from ministering to pregnant teens to connecting an inmate back to a broken family to whatever and whereever and whenever You call. So let us not hesitate to walk humbly and do what is right...whatever the situation calls for. Lord help us not to judge by what we see, but to judge rightly. We have utmost faith that you will keep us Lord and so you have.
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