⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2Cor4:8-10)

Living in times of Hardship and Persecution – Soldiers of Christ!

Last night I watched a film on TBNUK called ‘Love Costs Everything‘ its about the Persecuted Christians around the world. From Nigeria, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq and many more. Today Christians around the world are finding it difficult to proclaim their faith, but never has there been a greater opportunity than the season we are in to Proclaim from the ‘Roof Tops’ that indeed JESUS IS LORD!.   BIBLE SAYS WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Matt8:36

The world around us is fast plummeting into darkness and in such a rapid speed that you wonder when Rapture will come. The World is in such Chaos and far away from the truth. Depression, anger, greed, hatred, murder, destruction is everywhere. All you have to do is read the news or switch on your TV and see the effects of being ‘away from GOD’. A one time multi millionaire Lamar Odom, with the world at his feet,  beautiful wife (Kardashians!) and kids missed his way, got hooked on drug and found himself rock bottom just like the prodigal son who had it all and lost it all. No wife, no family, left to wallow in a brothel with blood coming out of his nose. To mothers whom their minds have been consumed by darkness throwing their own children to death’s mouth.

There is hardship everywhere you turn, loneliness on the rise, homelessness is on the rise, sex trade and prostitution is on the rise, drug addicts and Alcohol abuse is on the rise. The employed have become slaves to their jobs, working more than 18 hrs a day and then still taking their work home. People are dropping like flies from exhaustion, life has become one tedious vicious lifecycle.  The survival of the fittest, a man eat mans world, where greed, selfishness and the seven sins reign!.  Lust, Gluttony, greed,  sloth, wrath, envy and pride.  Its more self gratification and  self satisfaction, what pleases me!. Men are killed because of their beliefs, war fuelled because of greed and hatred. Human Blood shed in most of the Countries around the world including Israel and Palestine, human blood which is the life of God has become nothing to the ISIS.

Yet the Bible tells us that ‘God is in the midst of it all’. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. Psalm 46

MANY WILL SUFFER. SOME WILL DIE. MANY WILL RISE. MAYBE EVEN YOU!

God is choosing for Himself a Nation or people who will not be afraid to fulfill their calling. People overflowing with BOLDNESS and COURAGE. People who will go against the flow, who will move mountains. People who will speak and situations and circumstances will obey. People who will fulfill the will of God, who will FEAR GOD MORE THAN MAN. A people who will be moved by the power of the Almighty God…..Sunday Adelaja

Swapping your personal needs to having a heart for Gods people and a compassion to see people shift from darkness, oppression and bondage to a place of peace, tranquillity and hope. Of course the devil does not want this to happen and will try and distract you with things of this world (financial crisis, marital issues, problematic child etc) to distract you from your calling and Gods purpose for YOU.  Sadly also the Church has been hit by its own ‘woes’. More Churches are Politically correct than Spiritual, its more about titles, positions, power and money than CHRIST. Hence the Church is loosing ground, loosing its power and also its people. More and more people are bewildered and perplexed, disillusioned about the Church, you go in looking for answers and leave with more resentment.  A high percentage has deserted the church, trusting the Online Church and staying indoors.  Never has there been such a time like this that your presence is needed, your compassion to stand the gap, to intercede, to have a voice, to speak when you see wrongdoing to cater for the weak, to pray for the persecuted Christians, the missionaries, Gods prophets and generals.

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” (Matthew 9:35-38).

I once heard a testimony of a Christian brother who was jobless and rather than waste precious time he joined his intercession group in Church and decided to have a heart for his pastor and the need to set a hedge round their pastor by lifting his arms up in the spirit and so he started an all year night vigil prayer group just for the pastor and Gods ministry, he became so strong spiritually that He was called to lay hands on the sick and they received their healing. Amazingly the Lord blessed him the same year with a job, and a godly wife. In his testimony he said never in his wildest dreams will he have thought just serving God will bring him so much blessing!. That will  be your testimony IJN.

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”II Timothy 2:3 & 4.

A Soldier of Christ therefore means:

(1)   Enduring hardship

(2)   Be a Soldier of Jesus Christ

(3)   Preparing to Engage in Warfare

(4)   Entangles himself not in the affair of this Life

(5) Desires above all to Please our Commander Jesus Christ

Remember the battle is not yours says the Lord. All he needs is your availability and commitment and He will do the rest, just as He used Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt, as He used Esther to deliver the Jews, make up your mind and make a decision to join the ‘Soldiers of Christ’. Fight the good fight of faith so that you too will be ‘crowned with glory and honor’ in this life and on the last day when the trumpet sounds.  Commit to praying for the world, for its peace, for its people and for the body of Christ.

We are not alone and the Lord who knows the heart of man will reward all your labour of love.

SHALOM!