For Luke

Hate speech is one thing that is often debated.  Whether there should be laws against it, legistrating freedom of speech of any kind, etc..  Many times a day I am reminded of the evil heart of human kind, even my own.  Some who would be for a Constitutional Ammendment forbiding “Hate Speech” also call for tolerance.

Trial of Faith received a comment a few days ago from “Luke” on one of the articles concerning a Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update.  He signified laughing at the suffering of Christians in foreign lands.  Tolerance is fine for everyone else, except those who will be honest, bold and brave enough to tell the world that there is only one way to God.  Do whatever you will to those Christians, and that’s okay.

The following is the comment approved by this moderator:

Luke said,

July 3, 2008 at 3:49 pm

hahaha look at you christian dogs. now you have to susffer like foul dogs. first you killed people in the days of colonialism. hahaha foul rats. i’m happy you rats are killed. hahahahahaha for killing for you dogs jesus was a gay

Now, tell me who is using “Hate Speech”.  There were a few other comments from “Luke” and other names with similar sounding words.  It was the decision of this moderator that these did not belong on this site, so they were deleted.

We Christians do not enjoy suffering in serving the Lord, but if suffering comes we do not quit because it comes.  Suffering for the cause of Christ gives Him glory, and strengthens our faith.

It angers me to think that there are members of the human race that laugh at the suffering of others.  By there laughing they would participate in the torture and killing of others.  I forgive them, but they need His forgiveness for their salvation.  I left a responding comment to “Luke” concerning his comment:

T. A. Blankenship said,

July 4, 2008 at 8:17 am

Luke,
I would be the first to tell you that as a Christian I am not perfect, however, I do know that I have the assurance of standing before my Creator forgiven and cleansed because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Christians have always suffered and died for our faith, and our suffering in this life is not unlike the suffering of all people. Through our suffering, though, our faith is strengthened.
Luke, Jesus died for your sins, and in His burial He carried the guilt, shame, and reproach and condemnation of them away; and He rose bodily from the dead. One day He is returning, and I pray you will be right with Him before that day.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Believe in Him Luke and be saved.
I forgive you.
T.A.

“Luke” and to any who come here with a hate filled heart for Christians and God’s Son Jesus Christ; I do pray for God to open your eyes, and your heart, and that you will look upon our Lord and Savior, call on His name and be saved, from the terrible wrath and judgment of sins that is going to come upon you.

May God help those of who love Jesus Christ to love as He loved those who nailed Him to His cross, when He said, “Father forgive them; for  they know not what they do”.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Columbian Pentecostal Pastors Martyred

What price have we Christians here in the United States paid for serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Let’s pray that we will be faithful to the Lord God, our Creator, and Lord and Savior.

Here is the report and prayer request from Voice of the Martyrs:

COLOMBIA
Two Pastors Martyred – VOM Sources / Assist News Service
On July 5, two Pentecostal pastors were shot and killed by suspected members of the guerrilla group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in the village of El Dorado. According to the latest reports, Pastors Humberto Mendez and Joel Garcia were taken from their homes by a group of men wearing camouflage clothing. Their bodies were found the next day. Pray God comforts and provides for these families. Ask that the Holy Spirit would convict the hearts of the persecutors and draw them to Christ. Pray for believers in Colombia. Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 23

We Christians in the USA need revival.  Forsaking the world and all that is unrighteous, ungodly, and unjust.  We need to look solely to our Lord Jesus, and not our comforts.  Pray for revival in our churches across the USA.  Not a revival of health, wealth, etc. but of renewed faith in the grace, mercy, and sufficiency of God through all things; even in the absence of comfort.

Remember to pray for the families of these two pastors who were shot and killed. 

Encourage them Lord, to grow nearer to you and become more like YOUR Son Jesus.  Amen.

Prognosis By Fire

In this study I will endeavor to show that through suffering we are prepared for glory.  In the life of Jesus He was preparing for the cross through the things which He suffered, and endured ever faithful to the Father.  It is hard to imagine suffering in order to endure more suffering, but that is what Jesus did; “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;” Hebrews 5:8 (KJV).

To begin this it will be a review of First Peter, and on this article we begin with verses one and two.  “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ”.  This is one who spoke without thinking.  John MacArthur describes him as the apostle with “The foot-shaped mouth” in his book titled TWELVE ORDINARY MEN, and the title of that chapter is “Peter – The Man With The Footshaped Mouth”.

Now here is an epistle through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration written down by Peter himself.  Originally called Simon, Jesus changed his name to Peter/Cephas meaning ‘rock or stone’.  Peter is not the Rock upon which the Church is built (Matthew 16:18 – “And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”).  Peter is part of the foundation (Ephesians 2:20 – “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;), but is not the Rock, upon which it is founded and built.

This letter was written in troublous times for the Christian. According to authorities in this area; the time is around the time that Rome was burned in which Nero set the fire and blamed it on the Christians and set the people of Rome to hating them even worse than before.  In a time of great persecution Peter wrote this letter to comfort and encourage those believers who were in “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”  These Christians were “Strangers” and being that some were Jewish were dispossessed of their homeland.  The Gentiles and the Jews who had become Christians had also become “Strangers” to their families, friends, and work associates, because their home was now in Heaven.

Peter specifies to whom this letter is written.  The “Elect” or “Called” and as Paul wrote, “…Before the foundation of the world”.  This is an assuring thing – it is motivation to continue in faith.  Realizing you are the called of God has a strengthening effect on you.  To be chosen, called or the elect of God, and only so by the work of Jesus Christ on calvary’s cross.

“FOREKNOWLEDGE” is from the Greek word ‘prognosis’ which according to MIRRIAM/WEBSTER DICTIONARY is “a forecast esp. of the course of disease”, only God in His ‘prognosis’ is never wrong.  With God’s prognosis we know the outcome, and in Christ it is wonderful.

“Sanctification” is a process by which we are set apart, made holy in this life for the glory of God.  In sanctification the Spirit convicts us of sin, corrects us in our errors, and comforts us in our sorrows, and by and through the Word of God.  He puts us into “Obedience” and showing forth the sacrifice of Jesus in our lives.

“Grace” is Paul’s favorite word and filled his whole life.  It is also Peter’s.   He had experienced the grace of God extremely.  he denied the Lord three times, and was forgiven.  Where grace abounds there is peace. (Romans 5:1 – “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”; and then in Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which passeth all undestanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.)  In the midst of the fires of trials and tribulation there is always ‘Peace’ in Jesus.  Through Jesus you can have peace in the midst of the storm.