After watching a disturbing video on YouTube how Christian brothers (and sisters) in India were clubbed to death for their faith, I felt prompted to write this posting. After receiving encouraging words on this blog from a sister in India who ministers her faith from village to village, I determined to do so in my concern for her safety and for that of all believers everywhere.
Why trouble comes
Our safety is highly important to God. Listen again to these well known words from our Master, “The thief (Satan) comes only in order to kill, steal and destroy (you)….” John 10:10
Jesus is saying that Satan is out to kill you. Beware! He will use people and circumstances to do it. Let's understand just why he wants to do it. We find the simple answer in Mark 4:15-17. When you receive God’s word, Satan immediately brings about trouble and persecution in your life so that you give up or no longer believe that God’s word is true. This is true whether you are trusting God for eternal life, healing, deliverance, provision or protection. I don’t believe for a minute as many preachers do that God brings trouble your way to test you. (James 1) Difficult cicumstances do test your faith, but God did not send them your way. He loves you, and in Mark 4 Jesus tells us who the real author of trouble is.
Fill your thoughts with promises, not circumstances!
Regardless of what you are trusting God for, you need to hang on and trust in God’s word with you dear life, no matter how impossible it may seem to your senses and logical mind. Satan will turn both people and circumstances against you and turn up the heat to try and get you to deny that what God has promised you will come to pass. Refuse to believe his lies. Refuse to think of the problem. Stay your eyes on Jesus and His promises of protection.
It is hard to build a house in the midst of a storm. That means that you need to build your faith in God’s promises before a storm of persecution comes. Learn and memorize His word on a subject, lay the foundation of your faith in His promises deep in your soul, meditate on it day and night and then your ways will become successful. (Joshua 1:8)
God is bigger than the problem.
The story in Daniel Chapter 3, of Daniels three friends who refused to worship an idol even when confronted with dying in a blazing fire is the standard we need to aspire to. Their level of trust in God was greater than what confronted them. God was bigger and stronger than the heat of the furnace! The lesson here is to always see or think of God as bigger than the problem. Whatever it is confronting you, God is able to deliver you. Circumstances are natural events, but God is supernatural! The scripture in John 10:10 continues by Jesus saying, “but I have come that they (you) may have life and have it more abundantly.”
God does not desire your death but came to give you life more abundantly. Have that promise so strongly in your heart that nothing will shake you.
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper” Isa 54:17. Saying these words of God continually in the midst of persecution will bring angels to your defense. Remember that the kingdom of God operated by love and faith. We do not fight against people but against demonic powers that Satan inspires steal from you and to destroy you. Even on the cross Jesus asked the Father to forgive his persecutors. Stay in love for people no matter what. They are only tools in the hand of our true enemy, the devil.
Psalm 91
Years ago when I was newly married and lived in a South African town where people were being murdered around us on a regular basis, I asked my wife to learn Psalm 91 off by heart to cope with the fear that Satan uses to try and destroy us. Friends, believe me, it is worth the effort! Teach it to you children too. You never know when you may need to recall the many promises of your safety in that beautiful Psalm. You may well disagree with me but I believe that many that have been martyred for the sake of the gospel may not have been aware of God's promises of protection just as many have died of disease that could have survived had they build the promises of healing strongly into their hearts by regular meditation.
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