The Election Count – Part 16
Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 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. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
This is where the greatest rewards are. Being persecuted for His sake… and (suffering) allowing it.
Look, most didn’t persecute the Lord’s prophets because they called themselves His prophets. Mostly they didn’t revile the Lord’s prophets for what they “stood for” or “how they lived”. They reviled them and persecuted them because they prophesied the word of God; the truth. The persecution of the Christian comes not because you name the name of Christ, but because you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. For righteousness’ sake – preaching and also doing righteousness (because you keep and obey the word of God when its inconvenient, hard, or even foolish to the world)!
Christian persecution is going to come to America. I think things are already moving there. We’re not too far away. Persecutions are coming to a church near you. Get ready. Arm yourselves with the mind of Christ: the mind of suffering (allowing) persecutions with humility, patience, and faith in God. Wait, and God will help. Be persecuted and afflicted, and He will avenge. But don’t suffer with a heavy heart! Rejoice! Count it all joy! Because great is your reward in heaven.
Acts 5:40-41 … and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
They didn’t fear the persecution, or relent their preaching, or flee Jerusalem. But as Jesus told them: they rejoiced! That takes tremendous faith!
Counted – Will you be counted as one born in Zion? And will you be counted worthy to suffer shame for His name? Will you count it all joy when you suffer for the name of Christ? You should. I hope you do… Because, great is your reward in heaven.
Philippians 2:5-9 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: … 8 … being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Jesus suffered persecution unto death, humbly, patiently, and for this cause, He is now highly exalted. Let this mind be in you, because God will do the same for you. Suffer (allow) persecutions now, despise them, because great will be your reward in heaven.
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: … 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Look, This is life. You’re going to suffer temptations and trials. You’re going to die. That is unavoidable. No matter where it comes from, that is assured. Whether you do good, or do evil, you will suffer. Whether you fight or yield. So is it not better, that ye suffer for well doing? But there is no reward when you suffer for evil doing. Is it not better if you die for Christ? That is rewardable. Then, you will be given eternal reward – joy, power and authority.
Christ suffered ONCE, and is forever lifted up on high. You just have to suffer once, die once. So which is better?
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Wow… That is an Apostle! That is a strong man of God. That is the mind of Christ in a man. That is some Godly wisdom and faith! Paul believed this, and so he suffered these things with JOY. Knowing that his spiritual and eternal reward far outweighed the fleshly persecution. (Like taking a charge/penalty!)
Matthew 10:17-18 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
He doesn’t say this so that you will fear men (beware of false prophets, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees). He says it so that you will be aware, beware not to be deceived, or discouraged, or hindered by men; to not be OFFENDED when they persecute you.
John 16:1-2 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
He’s told you before. Beware of persecutions for Christ’s sake. So don’t be surprised or afraid or discouraged when it happens to you. It’s all part of your glory. It’s all well in hand. The Lord isn’t punishing you, He hasn’t abandoned you.
Don’t be afraid, or doubt, or hindered from service Christ, or flee, or resist the persecutions and reproaches of Christ. On the contrary, we should glory in them.
These are hard things.. to preach, to hear, and to do, but I’m just giving you what I read in the Scriptures! We ought to suffer persecutions with joy, and not be afraid of them.
It’s scary to think of this country changing for the worse. It’s worrisome to think of a less than free country for us and our children to live in. Its troubling to think of Christians being attacked and persecuted! These things are fearful, naturally. But spiritually, Scripturally, why should we fear?
Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
There’s two types of fear. The fear of men, and the fear of the Lord. One is natural, one must be taught.
You can’t fear both! You must choose who to fear and serve, and who to despise.
The power of man is scary to man. The power of man is not scary to a son of God. The power of flesh is not scary to a heavenly-born spirit.
Luke 21:16-18 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
A man can kill your body. Persecute and torture and kill your flesh. And yet, he cannot hurt a single hair on your head. How is that? How can those both be true? Because he cannot touch your soul. He cannot harm a single hair on your head in the Spirit.
Don’t fear them that destroy the flesh. Don’t consider the flesh anything. Don’t love the flesh! Despise it! Count it dung!
It’s a flower, a vapour, a shadow. It lasts just a short time. Just a few days. While your true body, head, and hair, cannot be touched. But while they persecute and harm your flesh for Christ’ sake, rejoice, they are giving strength to your spiritual body.
We ought not, and we need not fear man’s ability to persecute and kill us. Don’t fear what men shall do unto you!
Hebrews 13:5-6 … for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
In those persecutions, the Lord is with us.
If we fear the Lord, we need not fear them that kill the body.
If there is an evil time coming, don’t be afraid of it. The Lord is with us. And if we are wronged during it, the Lord is the avenger.
The Lord is our helper… and we shall be delivered. We have been delivered from death spiritually, and shall be delivered in whole, with finality on the day of God.
Will you be delivered from death in this life? In fact, Yes, I believe if you live godly and suffer (allow) persecutions, you will see His salvation in this life.
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
The godly are promised this life so long as God desires and requires them here. You are promised life (He will feed you, clothe you, protect you, keep you alive). If you live Godly and suffer persecutions, I believe you will see The Lord’s hand save and deliver you from carnal persecutions and death.
But the godly are not promised this life until they are 80+ years old. We will not always be delivered in the flesh.
You’re going to suffer and die. But is it not better if it is for Christ’s sake?
The godly can be killed by the wicked, and often is. And the Lord allows it. He allowed His Son to be killed, His prophets and Apostles to be martyred.
Why? If we have promise of the life that now is? Why would God allow us to suffer and die?
- Because there is a great REWARD in it.
- Because it’s a MERCY to the righteous.
Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
If you’re destroyed for living after the flesh, that is what you’ve chosen. You knew what was good, and you chose to live after the flesh over sowing to the Spirit.
But if you are righteous, and the Lord lets you die, choosing not to protect you, He’s done it for your good. He’s done it as a MERCY to you. Given you a great honor, and has taken you away from the evil to come.
Have you considered that? Have you considered a martyr’s death as a MERCY? No, you haven’t!
None consider that a righteous man’s death is a good thing, a mercy. Why? Because we fear sufferings, we don’t rejoice in sufferings, and because we love this life more than eternal life.
Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Look, there is no promise to us as Christians that we will forever be delivered from persecution or from death in the flesh. Though there is a temporary promise of life to those living godly. Noah, Job, Daniel, David, Peter, Paul, all delivered from death while alive, but all died.
Job did absolutely everything he could to protect himself and his children, and evil still came. But the end of the Lord is mercy.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
If you’re Godly and righteous, and the Lord still ALLOWS your suffering and death, He does it not because you did wrong, and not because He hates you, but because He is being merciful to you. He hasn’t forsaken you, but He is with you. He is bringing you home, He is delivering you from the evil to come, and He will shortly be blessing you tremendously!! (I hear the televangelists, “oh the blessing is coming soon!”, but No, not in this life! That is just covetousness and garbage!) Great is your reward IN HEAVEN! What a mercy! What a gift!
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
He has given to you, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. It’s a gift! Suffering for the name of Christ is a gift, a mercy, and a blessing!
1) He is giving you an opportunity to be glorified, to gain tremendous blessing and riches and glory in eternity and 2) He is mercifully delivering you from this evil world.
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
As long as you are here, you can’t be what you really want to be, what your spirit yearns to be. To be free, to be home, to be glorified. As long as you are here, you are an unhappy wicked sinner. To die is to be set free from this corrupt body. Paul knew this.
Paul was like, “I wish someone would kill me already! Deliver me! I wish God would take me already!” Of course, he knew that while he was here, he was needed by the church and by the lost elect. But he also knew that it was far better to depart. He knew that TO DIE WAS A MERCY. It was true life and happiness.
Romans 8:35-37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
It’s true that the godly are killed all the day long. They are counted as sheep for the slaughter. But its also true that God will deliver the godly out of temptations/persecutions. How do you reconcile these two things? I believe God will continue to deliver you, until the time appointed to die, at which time He will again deliver you “from the body of this death”.
So when you’re threatened for Christ’s sake, don’t be careful to fear the Lord. Don’t let them “scare you with heaven”! Don’t let them scare you with a mercy from the Lord.
We shall be delivered from death! In this life, yes, it’s a promise to the godly. Until that day comes to die, then no, not deliverance from dying carnally. But remember this, its not a punishment, it’s a blessing, and it’s a mercy.
Man, don’t we sound like a suicidal cult!? “We should all die! Dying is a blessing!”
I’m just giving you what I read. These are true things… but hard things!
Don’t worry about what the world thinks. They don’t have, nor do they understand life. They love death.
But here is the best part: when WE die, we will die IN CHRIST. And in death, we shall conquer. We shall conquer death, as death has already been overcome by Christ, and shall be defeated once again, at the end; the last enemy. So don’t fear death! Death isn’t a problem for us. Its been solved. Its been conquered. And when we are slain for Christ’s sake, we are conquerors… more than conquerors… through Him.
Feb 28 2021
The Election Count – Part 16
Downloadable Word document:
The Election Count – Part 16
The Election Count – Part 16
Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 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. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
This is where the greatest rewards are. Being persecuted for His sake… and (suffering) allowing it.
Look, most didn’t persecute the Lord’s prophets because they called themselves His prophets. Mostly they didn’t revile the Lord’s prophets for what they “stood for” or “how they lived”. They reviled them and persecuted them because they prophesied the word of God; the truth. The persecution of the Christian comes not because you name the name of Christ, but because you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. For righteousness’ sake – preaching and also doing righteousness (because you keep and obey the word of God when its inconvenient, hard, or even foolish to the world)!
Christian persecution is going to come to America. I think things are already moving there. We’re not too far away. Persecutions are coming to a church near you. Get ready. Arm yourselves with the mind of Christ: the mind of suffering (allowing) persecutions with humility, patience, and faith in God. Wait, and God will help. Be persecuted and afflicted, and He will avenge. But don’t suffer with a heavy heart! Rejoice! Count it all joy! Because great is your reward in heaven.
Acts 5:40-41 … and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
They didn’t fear the persecution, or relent their preaching, or flee Jerusalem. But as Jesus told them: they rejoiced! That takes tremendous faith!
Counted – Will you be counted as one born in Zion? And will you be counted worthy to suffer shame for His name? Will you count it all joy when you suffer for the name of Christ? You should. I hope you do… Because, great is your reward in heaven.
Philippians 2:5-9 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: … 8 … being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Jesus suffered persecution unto death, humbly, patiently, and for this cause, He is now highly exalted. Let this mind be in you, because God will do the same for you. Suffer (allow) persecutions now, despise them, because great will be your reward in heaven.
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: … 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Look, This is life. You’re going to suffer temptations and trials. You’re going to die. That is unavoidable. No matter where it comes from, that is assured. Whether you do good, or do evil, you will suffer. Whether you fight or yield. So is it not better, that ye suffer for well doing? But there is no reward when you suffer for evil doing. Is it not better if you die for Christ? That is rewardable. Then, you will be given eternal reward – joy, power and authority.
Christ suffered ONCE, and is forever lifted up on high. You just have to suffer once, die once. So which is better?
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Wow… That is an Apostle! That is a strong man of God. That is the mind of Christ in a man. That is some Godly wisdom and faith! Paul believed this, and so he suffered these things with JOY. Knowing that his spiritual and eternal reward far outweighed the fleshly persecution. (Like taking a charge/penalty!)
Matthew 10:17-18 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
He doesn’t say this so that you will fear men (beware of false prophets, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees). He says it so that you will be aware, beware not to be deceived, or discouraged, or hindered by men; to not be OFFENDED when they persecute you.
John 16:1-2 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
He’s told you before. Beware of persecutions for Christ’s sake. So don’t be surprised or afraid or discouraged when it happens to you. It’s all part of your glory. It’s all well in hand. The Lord isn’t punishing you, He hasn’t abandoned you.
Don’t be afraid, or doubt, or hindered from service Christ, or flee, or resist the persecutions and reproaches of Christ. On the contrary, we should glory in them.
These are hard things.. to preach, to hear, and to do, but I’m just giving you what I read in the Scriptures! We ought to suffer persecutions with joy, and not be afraid of them.
It’s scary to think of this country changing for the worse. It’s worrisome to think of a less than free country for us and our children to live in. Its troubling to think of Christians being attacked and persecuted! These things are fearful, naturally. But spiritually, Scripturally, why should we fear?
Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
There’s two types of fear. The fear of men, and the fear of the Lord. One is natural, one must be taught.
You can’t fear both! You must choose who to fear and serve, and who to despise.
The power of man is scary to man. The power of man is not scary to a son of God. The power of flesh is not scary to a heavenly-born spirit.
Luke 21:16-18 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
A man can kill your body. Persecute and torture and kill your flesh. And yet, he cannot hurt a single hair on your head. How is that? How can those both be true? Because he cannot touch your soul. He cannot harm a single hair on your head in the Spirit.
Don’t fear them that destroy the flesh. Don’t consider the flesh anything. Don’t love the flesh! Despise it! Count it dung!
It’s a flower, a vapour, a shadow. It lasts just a short time. Just a few days. While your true body, head, and hair, cannot be touched. But while they persecute and harm your flesh for Christ’ sake, rejoice, they are giving strength to your spiritual body.
We ought not, and we need not fear man’s ability to persecute and kill us. Don’t fear what men shall do unto you!
Hebrews 13:5-6 … for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
In those persecutions, the Lord is with us.
If we fear the Lord, we need not fear them that kill the body.
If there is an evil time coming, don’t be afraid of it. The Lord is with us. And if we are wronged during it, the Lord is the avenger.
The Lord is our helper… and we shall be delivered. We have been delivered from death spiritually, and shall be delivered in whole, with finality on the day of God.
Will you be delivered from death in this life? In fact, Yes, I believe if you live godly and suffer (allow) persecutions, you will see His salvation in this life.
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
The godly are promised this life so long as God desires and requires them here. You are promised life (He will feed you, clothe you, protect you, keep you alive). If you live Godly and suffer persecutions, I believe you will see The Lord’s hand save and deliver you from carnal persecutions and death.
But the godly are not promised this life until they are 80+ years old. We will not always be delivered in the flesh.
You’re going to suffer and die. But is it not better if it is for Christ’s sake?
The godly can be killed by the wicked, and often is. And the Lord allows it. He allowed His Son to be killed, His prophets and Apostles to be martyred.
Why? If we have promise of the life that now is? Why would God allow us to suffer and die?
Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
If you’re destroyed for living after the flesh, that is what you’ve chosen. You knew what was good, and you chose to live after the flesh over sowing to the Spirit.
But if you are righteous, and the Lord lets you die, choosing not to protect you, He’s done it for your good. He’s done it as a MERCY to you. Given you a great honor, and has taken you away from the evil to come.
Have you considered that? Have you considered a martyr’s death as a MERCY? No, you haven’t!
None consider that a righteous man’s death is a good thing, a mercy. Why? Because we fear sufferings, we don’t rejoice in sufferings, and because we love this life more than eternal life.
Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Look, there is no promise to us as Christians that we will forever be delivered from persecution or from death in the flesh. Though there is a temporary promise of life to those living godly. Noah, Job, Daniel, David, Peter, Paul, all delivered from death while alive, but all died.
Job did absolutely everything he could to protect himself and his children, and evil still came. But the end of the Lord is mercy.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
If you’re Godly and righteous, and the Lord still ALLOWS your suffering and death, He does it not because you did wrong, and not because He hates you, but because He is being merciful to you. He hasn’t forsaken you, but He is with you. He is bringing you home, He is delivering you from the evil to come, and He will shortly be blessing you tremendously!! (I hear the televangelists, “oh the blessing is coming soon!”, but No, not in this life! That is just covetousness and garbage!) Great is your reward IN HEAVEN! What a mercy! What a gift!
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
He has given to you, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. It’s a gift! Suffering for the name of Christ is a gift, a mercy, and a blessing!
1) He is giving you an opportunity to be glorified, to gain tremendous blessing and riches and glory in eternity and 2) He is mercifully delivering you from this evil world.
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
As long as you are here, you can’t be what you really want to be, what your spirit yearns to be. To be free, to be home, to be glorified. As long as you are here, you are an unhappy wicked sinner. To die is to be set free from this corrupt body. Paul knew this.
Paul was like, “I wish someone would kill me already! Deliver me! I wish God would take me already!” Of course, he knew that while he was here, he was needed by the church and by the lost elect. But he also knew that it was far better to depart. He knew that TO DIE WAS A MERCY. It was true life and happiness.
Romans 8:35-37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
It’s true that the godly are killed all the day long. They are counted as sheep for the slaughter. But its also true that God will deliver the godly out of temptations/persecutions. How do you reconcile these two things? I believe God will continue to deliver you, until the time appointed to die, at which time He will again deliver you “from the body of this death”.
So when you’re threatened for Christ’s sake, don’t be careful to fear the Lord. Don’t let them “scare you with heaven”! Don’t let them scare you with a mercy from the Lord.
We shall be delivered from death! In this life, yes, it’s a promise to the godly. Until that day comes to die, then no, not deliverance from dying carnally. But remember this, its not a punishment, it’s a blessing, and it’s a mercy.
Man, don’t we sound like a suicidal cult!? “We should all die! Dying is a blessing!”
I’m just giving you what I read. These are true things… but hard things!
Don’t worry about what the world thinks. They don’t have, nor do they understand life. They love death.
But here is the best part: when WE die, we will die IN CHRIST. And in death, we shall conquer. We shall conquer death, as death has already been overcome by Christ, and shall be defeated once again, at the end; the last enemy. So don’t fear death! Death isn’t a problem for us. Its been solved. Its been conquered. And when we are slain for Christ’s sake, we are conquerors… more than conquerors… through Him.
By Pastor • Christian Life, Suffering Persecutions • 0