Preaching Jesus In Spite Of Persecution

Acts 5:29-42 KJV; 1st Sunday after Easter; The apostles continued to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ even as they were persecuted and faced death. Will you?

What Is There To Fear?

Psalm 27:1-6; Romans 8:31-39 KJV There is nothing to fear if God is for us. Our desire is to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

He Is Risen - Easter 2022

Let That Light Shine

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

                             (Matt 5:14-16 KJV)

I have seen a few social media posts lately from younger people talking about where they hid to smoke their weed when they were still living at home.  The only thing I hid when I was a teen-ager was the light of a small lamp. So yes, indeed, I hid my light.

I was an avid reader. But, my parents were very strict about when lights out should be.  Lights out was at 8 pm. Sometimes on weekends, as I got older, I could stay up until 9 pm. That definitely curtailed my reading time. So I put a chair and lamp in my closet and shut the door so I could extend my reading time for at least another hour. I don't think my parents ever found out.

Sadly, in many countries the light of Christ is hidden or at the very least dimmed. The light who is Jesus the Christ cannot be as openly shared as it ought to be for fear of persecution and even prison or death. They meet in secret even know their lives and the lives of their families are at risk. Although, they cannot always share the good news with their lips; they can glorify our Father in heaven by living the good news; by loving their neighbors; by helping those in need. 

We are still fortunate in this country to be able to let our lights shine. But, many who profess to be Christians do not. They are afraid to be laughed at or persecuted and indeed that does happen all too often. Christians are mocked by those who have no clue what we actually believe. There are those who not only would dim the light of Christ they would put it out if they could. Thanks be to God they cannot.

Jesus was mocked. He was persecuted. He was executed for sharing the good news; for bringing into and being the light in the world. Many do indeed fear and hate the light because it means change. It means we will no longer be living in the darkness where we have been comfortable for so long. 

Consider the orchid.  It lies in the darkness for months without any growth; but, when it is brought back into the light of the sun it sprouts new growth and will bloom again. 

Christ is the light of the world and that light shines on and is in all who believe. Let that lie shine so not just you; but, those around you might blossom to the glory of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

In Times Of Trouble God Is With You

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.

Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. 

                                                                                  (Isa 50:4-10 KJV)

When it is said that the Lord will help us it does not necessarily mean our lives will be all peaches and cream.  It means he will be with us in the times of trial. The Lord will comfort us and give us the strength to stand under the unjust scrutiny and persecution that is directed at us. Sometimes we will see relief from the trials immediately. At other times it may take some time to see our way out of darkness that surrounds and threatens us. Know this: God is with you and for you, trust in the name of the Lord and you shall see the light even as those who condemn you unjustly shall wax old like a garment.

Christians will see persecution from even family and friends. They will be some who will try to extinguish the light of Christ that shines within and through you. Have no fear. Jesus told us that even as he would despised so shall his followers be despised. 

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." 

                                                                                         (John 15:18)

Jesus was despised by many. He was persecuted and killed because he was feared; because he was even hated. Yet, he lives. He rose from the grave and because he lives all who believe in him shall also live. On the night he was betrayed and arrested he had told his disciples:

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also."

                                                                                       (John 14:18-19)

God grant everyone who is being troubled unjustly comfort and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus our Savior and Lord we pray. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Fallen Asleep

On the night he was betrayed the disciples slept.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

                                                                                 (Matt 26:36-56 KJV)

The disciples slept while tragedy was about to strike their beloved teacher. While Jesus was preparing for his earthly demise by praying the disciples were totally oblivious. It was not as though Jesus had not told them. He had warned them his life would be taken. But, for some reason they were oblivious. 

Nuorena Nukkunut or Fallen Asleep While Young written by Frans E. Sillanpaa is the story of The Maid Silja. Silja was, as were so many people of her time and place, oblivious to the tragedy that was stalking the Finnish people and lands. She had a pretty hard life and consequently focused on her own life and the very small circle of people around her. She was asleep as were so many others to what was going on in the larger world until it affected her. She had no clue that there was a movement afoot that would threaten to take their freedoms away.

Years ago, my congregation held an overnight prayer vigil. We were to pray for the church, the community, and the world at large. I was to pray during three very early morning hours as no one else would sign up for them. I knelt next to the baptismal font in front of the altar. My three hours were completed when I woke up to see the husband and wife who were after me kneeling at the altar praying. I had fallen asleep while praying. Falling asleep while praying is not all that an uncommon a thing. Knowing that did not make me feel less guilty for sleeping when I had committed myself to praying. 

Even if the disciples had stayed awake they would not have been able to prevent Jesus' persecution and death. There are many things that happen that we cannot control. But, God can and we can stay awake enough to know what is truly going on in the world around us. We can stay awake and we can pray. 

The disciples slept as tragedy was about to strike. Even though they could not have stopped it if they had stayed awake. They could have been there for their friend. 

Jesus died to make us free; free to love and serve our God and one another. I wonder how many sleep today while many plot to take our freedoms away. They might try. But, God has a plan just as he had a plan for his Son, Jesus. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Word Shall Stand Forever

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

                                                                                    (Isa 40:6-8 KJV)

Like all things material, our flesh will wither and fade away. But, the word of God will never fade away. No matter what or who might work to extinguish the word it will never happen. No one, nothing can destroy the word of God.

Take comfort in the fact that although there have been societies that have previously tried to stamp out the word of God it has not happened. For years the Soviet Union tried to eliminate Christian but it did not happen. Thousands of clergy were rounded up and sent to prison or executed. Christians were  ordered not to teach their own children about Jesus. Yet, Christianity persevered. The word of God continue to be heard and taught and passed down to the following generations. 

Persecution of Christians continues this day in many countries. But, take comfort in the fact that the word belongs to God and he will never let it fade away. The word will always be there for you and for your children and your children's children. Teach them so that they too might know the comfort of the eternal promises that the word brings.  

God's Peace - Pr. J.

His Love Endures Forever

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; (Deut 7:9 KJV)

To a thousand generations; he keeps the promises of his covenant. How awesome is that! Those promises that he made thousands of years ago to have mercy on us and to save those who love Him the Lord keeps. 

The covenant He made through the blood of Jesus were not meant just for the people of that generation; but, to you and me and to our children and to their children. His love for His children will endure forever.   

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

                                                                                            (Rom 8:35-39)

Do not neglect to tell the generations; your children and their children that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus; not any troubles and especially not time, because His love for them endures forever.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Maundy Thursday

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

                                                                                (1 Cor 11:23-26 KJV)

On the night in which he was betrayed the Lord delivered to us the promise of life. Life was delivered to us when his body was broken and his blood shed on the cross. In the Sacrament of Holy Communion we receive his body and his blood. In the eating and drinking we receive him into ourselves. We do not receive death. We receive life. We receive the living God in this Holy Sacrament. As we remember his betrayal, his persecution, and his death, many we also remember that he rose from the grave and lives. As he lives, so shall we!

Please, join your local congregation this Maundy Thursday and remember what Christ has done for you; to remember his journey to the cross for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

He's Got You In His Hands

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Rom 8:35,37 NRSV)

The world is full of people who are facing challenges of every kind. It is often felt that the challenges are being faced alone. Sometimes, it is not a mere feeling of being devoid of any support of any human kind in facing these hardships. Sometimes, people do, in fact, have to face persecutions and hardships totally alone.

Whether the world has deserted us; whether the people around us have in reality or in our imaginations deserted us, we can be confident that we are never truly alone in this world. As children of the Most High God, we are never alone. God is with us always.

Every now and then when I get very weary of this world, I remember what I did when I was a child and felt so alone and weary, even depressed. When I became afraid at night when it seemed trouble most often stirred it's ugly head; that old song "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" would run through my head. I would imagine myself curled up resting in these magnificent, protecting, comforting, huge hands and I would fall asleep.

When I find myself stressing out today, I remember those comforting moments with the Lord and I know that the Lord has still got me in His hands. There is nothing that can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. He is with me always. He is with you always.

God's Peace be with you today, tomorrow, and for all eternity!  Pr. J

Spit Out Of His Mouth

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Rev 3:14-16 NIV)

A good percentage of the church on earth appears to be quite lukewarm; neither openly denying Christ or openly affirming Christ. There are way too many who confess that they are Christians on Sunday morning or in any Christian gathering of people. But, when it comes to witnessing to those who do not know Jesus; the church becomes pretty quiet. Yes, of course, there are all those television evangelists who make mega-bucks for their proclamation. But, then there is also the question regarding what they are really proclaiming. Do they proclaim that in order to be followers of Jesus we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him? (Matt 16:24) Does our message include the fact that the road Jesus took here on earth was not one of self-indulgence; but, of a homeless man (Matt 8:19-20) who endured much persecution (John 15:20) and then went to his execution (Matt 27:32-37) for speaking the truth. 

There are way too many who profess to be Christians who really are not ready or willing to get off the fence and follow Jesus. They are afraid for their hearts to be on fire for Jesus. It might mean they have to focus on the Kingdom of God rather than the material things of this world. It will mean persecution. (2 Tim 3:12) 

God did not push the people of Laodicea off of the fence. He warned them and he warns us that if we do not want to be spit out of his mouth, we need to get off of the fence. 

May our hearts be set on fire for the Lord Jesus!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Not Ashamed of The Gospel

Share the Good News that God so loves us that He gave His

only begotten Son to die for us that we might be saved and live!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16 NIV )

Most of us would say that we would be willing to save our loved ones if they were in harm's way. We might even say that we would give our lives to save them. But, what would we give to save them from eternal death; of separation from our loving Father for all eternity? Would we dare to share the Gospel with them? Or would we be embarrassed because they may ridicule us for our faith? Would we be afraid of some persecution that might follow; even if it were very slight?

Paul was not ashamed. He was a well-esteemed Roman and Jew. Yet, when he came to know Jesus and the message that Jesus died so that all might live; Paul was not afraid to share that Good News. He shared it with everyone and not just those whom he personally knew and loved. He was not ashamed nor was he afraid of being persecuted for the truth. His desire that all should receive the truth and be saved was much greater than any fear that he may have had. His faith; in fact, overcame any fear.

Paul was not ashamed to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. Are you? 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Receiving the Gospel; Living in the Light

For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last." 1 Thess 2:14-16 NIV

The gospel is not always received very well. There will always be opposition to the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. St. Paul continued to proclaim it for the sake of others in the face of much opposition. The truth can be quite offensive to those who follow in their own ways. The light of truth can bring us to rejoice in in Jesus; but, it can also send those who reject it scurrying further into the darkness as they attempt to hide from the truth. The truth sometimes stirs up fear and hatred and ultimately the persecution of those who do believe. In spite of hardship and persecution, those who follow Jesus will continue to share the good news with others so that all might know the joy of living in relationship with God our Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

May God grant us the knowledge, wisdom, courage and strength to speak the truth no matter what the opposition might be so that we might all know the glory of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Forgive That You Might Live Life

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Col 3:13 NIV)

Life is just way too short to spend any of it being angry at others. God intended for us to live life. We ought to put up with each other the best that we can. Sometimes, that is not so easy. Sometimes, we do have to walk away because; you see, bearing one another works both ways. We are human beings and can only endure so much persecution before we become non-functional and unfruitful. There are times in our lives when we must forgive and move on. Sometimes, that moving on means distancing ourselves from the one who would continue to have you bear them up and constantly push you down.

Jesus instructions to his disciples when he sent them out to share the Good News of his Kingdom included this:  "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet." (Matt 10:14) Do not hold a grudge. Forgive generously. But, remember that you ought to be moving forward in life and sharing the gospel. Do not allow yourselves to come to a standstill, locked in grief or anger. God gave you life to live it. Live life in Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Persecutions Will Come

"But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life. (Luke 21:12-19 NIV)

I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about the most recent attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt. Jesus said that those who follow him will be persecuted. (John 15:20) Sadly, Christians in many countries are. They are persecuted and killed for their faith.

But, something else bothered me. It is that in the western world we are not persecuted by those who are outside of the church. The persecution is a very crafty model the devil would use against us. The visible church in the western world, if and when it is persecuted, is most often persecuted by members of the church. While people in other parts of the world are being killed for their faith, Christians in the western world tend to quibble and even attack one another over worldly things. Disputes over the color of the carpeting is not a wives tale. They actually occur. It is amazing to me how things that should make no difference (adiaphora) can cause division within a congregation and become such a distraction that the real mission of the church comes to a standstill. I sometimes wonder if Jesus looks at the church in the western world just as he looked at the Pharisees and Sadducees when he walked on the earth as true man.

While Coptic Christians; as well as others, are dying for their faith; much of the western church is not willing to let their self-wills die to follow Jesus; in order for God's will be done. We have pretty much made gods of ourselves. I have seen many models for the church and for church growth. I have sadly heard the proposition that in order to grow we should not treat the church like a family; but, more like a business. The church is most definitely a family! We are the children of God! Sadly, as Jesus predicted that family members will betray one another. This seems to have come to pass for Christians in their birth families as well as in the family of God.

Today, I grieve and pray for the faithful who have been injured or murdered on account of the name of Jesus. But, I also grieve and pray for a dying church in other areas of the world, in the western world, where the church and it's members are often more worried about making a name for themselves rather than standing firm and decreeing and declaring the love of God for all people in the name of Jesus.

May God help us all to stand firm, both living and dying for the love of God in Christ Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

We Shall Not Retreat In Fear

"When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" Psalm 118:5-6 NIV

What indeed is there to fear? President Franklin Roosevelt in his first inaugural address said, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."

Many parts of the visible church on earth have been in retreat. The Gospel is not proclaimed rightly. Injustices are not addressed for fear of persecution. Members are so concerned about being politically correct that the truth is not spoken for fear of offending someone. Well, the truth be told, you cannot please everyone all of the time and not everyone is going to appreciate the truth. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Cor 1:18) Those who speak the truth about the cross of Christ will be hated by the world. That is just the way it is. The world hated Jesus and it will hate his followers as well. (John 15:18) Just because we might be persecuted that is not an excuse to hide the truth from the world. We do not hide the truth in order to protect ourselves because God, Himself, is our protector. We must have faith that His plan is a plan for the good of all who love Him. (Rom 8:28)

What can keep us from moving forward; from advancing the Good News of the Kingdom? If God is for us who can be against us? (Rom 8:31) If our greatest desire; our ultimate concern, is to live in the presence of God and to love Him as He loves us is there any hardship in this world that we cannot endure?  

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

'For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:35-19)

We may face death all day long; but, we shall not fear. There is nothing in this world or in the spiritual realms that can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God help the whole church on earth to make the proclamation of God's love for all people, through Jesus the Christ, always our ultimate concern. Help us, Lord, to advance the Gospel!

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

We Are One

Valaam Monastery

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all." Eph 4:1-6

It does not matter where you live geographically; if we are heirs of God's Kingdom; if we are members of the Body of Christ, we are one. We are not separate; but, one in Christ.

Many years ago, I visited Russian Karelia on a mission trip. I found the region to be very much like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I also found the people to be very much like the people who live there, as well. They were struggling with very much the same issues; except that their poverty level was much greater than ours at the time.

It saddens me that as countries and their leaders battle for political supremacy it seems that sometimes we forget about the people who live in these countries. It is as if foreign countries or even political parties within our own country, are inanimate objects; without flesh or blood or the Spirit. We forget to consider the harm that we might be doing to others, to ourselves and the world at large when we fail to recognize that our words and actions, due to our personal egos, harm and sometimes destroy children of God, our brothers and sisters in Christ. We sometimes seem to forget the many faithful brothers and sisters that live throughout the world, outside our own little circle of friends and family (sometimes we forget or ignore even them).

The Body of Christ is beyond comprehension. The members are spread throughout the world. They are in: Syria; Russia; Cuba; Iran; Iraq; Africa; India... They are everywhere; and, yes, even here in the United States. There is only One Body. So let us not forget in our prayers the many members of that body who suffer persecution. As we form our personal political agendas; let love and concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ; as well as for all people, guide our hearts, our minds, and our actions. so that no one suffers persecution by our own hands.

God grant that we should live in peace, reconciled to God and to one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J