Stand Firm

The Lord tells us to Stand Firm. In multiple verses in His word God tells us that we will be persecuted for our faith, as in the days of Jesus and His

So you see, we are not the first to endure persecution, Jesus walked that path while he dealt with discrimination, humiliation, torment, brutal assault, torture and death. If our Lord and Saviour could (and did) walk through this world and endure such persecution and cling to the Father amongst it’s evils, so can we.

Christ has proven by example that all can be accomplished with God as our Strength and our Hope. Keep the faith and always remember His promises, for God is not mocked.

Titus 1:2

“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

 

2 Timothy 3:12 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

John 15:18 – If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

Matthew 5:44 – But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

1 Peter 3:17 – For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 3:14 – But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 Peter 3:16 – Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Matthew 5:10 – Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 6:22 – Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

1 John 3:13 – Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

 

1 Peter 4: 12-14

12.) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13.) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14.) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

 

Romans 12:17-21

17.) Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18.) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19.) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20.) Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21.) Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

2 Corinthians 4:8-12

8.) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9.) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10.) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11.) For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12.) So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

What If I Backslide?

Backsliding, also known as falling away or described as “committing apostasy”, is a term used within Christianity to describe a process by which an individual who has converted to Christianity reverts to pre-conversion habits and/or lapses or falls into sin, when a person turns from God to pursue their own desire.

 

 

 

Backsliding is a sliding back. Though it is not sudden in onset, it may escalate rapidly.

Backsliding is different from falling away or apostasy, which is the extreme end of backsliding. Apostasy or falling away is the act or state of rejecting the Christian Faith and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

How do I deal with backsliding?

There are events in life, such as the death of a loved one, that may cause us to question God. This is understandable, as long as we go to God with those questions rather than using them as excuses to live in rebellion.

 

 

The result of a crisis of faith is often that we come to know God more intimately than before. In times of trial, we should delve into the Word, pray with persistence (Luke 18:1), and surround ourselves with those whose faith is strong.

Accept your backsliding as a mistake that happens to many people. Acknowledge that the Lord is forgiving and ask for forgiveness. Instead of running away from God, draw near to Him and find peace and comfort in Him. See it as part of your human fallibility, but don’t give up on the Lord. He hasn’t given up on you!

Start anew! Begin attending church or return to the church you left, read your Bible, listen to Christian music, and hang out with Christian friends or join a Christian group. Abide in the wholesome atmosphere and good company of Christians.

 

We must always fight against backsliding, but if we do backslide, we know that when we renounce our sin and return to…

Posted by In God’s Service on Friday, January 12, 2018

 

Featured Photos by Karsten Winegeart , Annie Spratt , Nathan Dumlao and Ahtziri Lagarde on Unsplash