Click to join the conversation with over 500,000 Pentecostal believers and scholars
Click to get our FREE MOBILE APP and stay connected
| PentecostalTheology.comIdeology has been and still is the devil’s sledgehammer of torment against the Body of Believers. Totalitarian regimes base their actions against specific groups of individuals that run counter to their ideology. The woke ideology has, of late, been the driving force behind the persecution of people who stick to the inerrant Word of God. It is not the case of guns and cudgels; the legal system has become the preferred tool of suppression under the hate crime definition. Such is the case in nations where some semblance of democracy still exists, or could we say it is in a tainted form?
Pressures on the courts to toe this line come from groups that were once on the fringes. These folks are screaming about their rights. What about the rights of other people in the broad societal spectrum? They sidestepped this notion because it is all about me, myself, and I. Plain wickedness.
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (1 Timothy 3:12).
For the soldier of Christ, it is part of the requirements in the path of righteousness. This translates into unyielding adherence to Holy Writ; no room for accommodating the sins of humanity – no space for omissions and additions in accordance with the demands of the flesh.
As these persecuted ones face the likes of insurmountable odds while standing wholeheartedly for the faith, they do draw comfort and encouragement from Matthew 5:11-12.
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be extremely glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
In the eyes of the unbelieving crowds, these bold and unwavering servants of the Lord look like a bunch of buffoons. These folks err greatly when they see things through an earthly lens; the severe testings are short-term in nature versus the riches and glory which are eternal. The brave ones know this too well and take it to their hearts. Have their critics ever considered this: caving to the whims and fancy of the woke crowd has only a brief moment of relief – but in the long term, they really have a lot to lose. They will almost certainly be around for the worst moments in the history of mankind, but it only gets a whole lot worse. Their eternity could be one that is devoid of joy but filled with never-ending torment.
It is all about faith and belief in the inerrancy of the Living Word that keeps these soldiers of Christ going, no matter how brutal the repression. But by doing so, they are indeed holding back the corrupting influence that has mowed down numerous churches that once walked in the Living Word. Zero tolerance for woke at all costs! With this, the Bride of Christ can be preserved, standing firmly against the venomous apostate tsunami.
While these persecuted ones put up quite a formidable resistance in the legal battles that ensue, there is one clear message to those who seek to wipe out godliness – it would not be a walk-in-the-park pushover! The Heavenly Father is for them all the way. The competent defense teams that enthusiastically make the going tough for the opposition are not an accidental inclusion. It is ordained by the Lord.
Across the globe, there are instances of believers hauled to court for their unshakable walk in the Living Word. But they are truly tough nuts who never take it lying down. These folks are setting up quite a lot of stuff with their perseverance. Their plight is given attention by prayer groups, talk shows, and presentations that do not bow down to woke-driven apostasy. The purity of the Body of Believers is more than sustained!
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:1-5).
If there was any form of disappointment, it would take the form of a move away from the truth. Even if the drift toward embracing the LGBT agenda is like a tidal wave, do consider a significant number of churches that stay put in the Living Word by refusing waywardness. They are sustained by the grace of God and not the praise of flesh and blood. Likewise, those who firmly refute unrighteousness in the face of recrimination are upheld by the tender mercies of God.
There is undoubtedly a legitimization of evil as many societies shun God and His Word. High-sounding terms glamorize this diabolical trajectory. Much of it is creeping into established legal systems. A good example of this wickedness is that seen in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) clarion call for social justice. It is nothing more than an excuse for evil to be accepted if not tolerated.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).
There would be more instances of believers being hauled up before the judiciaries for an unwavering profession of their faith. The evil one, through his minions and earthly foot soldiers, could throw the highest-sounding kitchen at the servants of the Lord. But God shall prevail in a way that is beyond human understanding.
If you are called to take a stand for His Kingdom and Glory, rejoice when you are directed by Him to do so. Please Him and not the world. There is much treasure in heaven for those who take a stand for Him. Heed His still, small voice while you disregard the rantings and ravings of the fallen planet gone woke.
“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (Hebrews 10:35).
Keep up the Good Fight!
Edwin
Contact me at edwinuk13@gmail.com
The post More than Just a Candle in the Wind :: By Edwin Tan appeared first on Rapture Ready.