Tag: Preaching

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Are We There Yet?

Revelation foretells of many coming daunting events, with Revelation 9 at the top. It tells off a mystery being named Abaddon/Apollyon that rises out of the Bottomless Pit and brings destruction and torment on the earth. Many feel as though these kinds of events are so far off that they seem almost futuristic. But is that true? Are these events far off? Or will they take place in our generation? Join Reverend Kenny Yates in his warning message, Are We There Yet?, and you decide.

Revelation 9:1-6
Genesis 1:1
Revelation 9:11
Revelation 17:8

Are We There Yet?

Abaddon/Apollyon

1 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2 He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth.

4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

10 They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11 They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.

Revelation 9:1-6, 10-11

The Beast of the Bottomless Pit

In Revelation 9:11 the only prominent figure capable to kill the Two Witnesses of God is Abaddon/Apollyon. Therefore, we believe that the beast that rises from the Bottomless Pit in chapter 11 and 17 are referencing Abaddon/Apollyon.

1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.

7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 11:1-13

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Fear Not

How to overcome fear. Encourage Yourself in the LORD, for He is with you.

The Spirit of Fear has overrun the entire world. Christians are filled with just as much fear as the rest of the world. There’s no longer any distinction between them. Why? Why has Fear taken a place in our hearts? How has the Spirit of Fear become so prevalent in our societies? But more importantly, how can we overcome Fear? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our minds to overcoming the Spirit of Fear in his message Fear Not.

Joshua 1:9
Joshua 1:9KJV
Deuteronomy 31:6
2 Timothy 1:7KJV
1 John 4:18
Numbers 13:30–33
2 Corinthians 10:5
Philippians 4:8b
Philippians 4:9
Romans 10:17

Fear Not

25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Matthew 6:25-27

1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

Genesis 15:1

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:19

24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.”

Genesis 26:24

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalms 27:2

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:31-37

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Censored

We are seeing more and more censoring of Christians and Christian beliefs. Why? Why has the progression of society caused the censoring of Christianity and Jesus? Could it be that we are coming to the final days? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the Truth behind the senseless censoring of conservative beliefs in his message Censored.

Censoring of Christians

Bible Examples of Christians Being Censored

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

John 8:58-59

“28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

John 10:28-33

We’ve seen the censoring of Christians and Christian beliefs become the norm in our society. But this isn’t new. This was from the time of Jesus. The censoring of Christianity was from the very beginning. Jesus not only experienced censoring of the most extreme, but He also warned us that it wouldn’t end until He returned.

18 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know Him who sent me.

John 15:18-21

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

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Salt & Light: Be The Light Pt. 1

Jesus said that He was the Light of the World, but if He is no longer in the World, but now in Heaven, is the Light in Heaven as well? And if the Light is in Heaven, then are we left here in darkness? Who is the Light of the World if Jesus is no longer in the World? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he shines some light in the darkness in his message Salt & Light: Be The Light Pt. 1.

Matthew 5:13–16
Genesis 1:3
John 9:1–5
Matthew 5:14
Psalms 119:105
Jude 10–13
John 1:5

Be The Light

Jesus is the Light of the World

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

4 We must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 9:4-5

We are the Light of the World

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Philippians 2:14-16

What is the Light?

If we are the light of the World, shouldn’t we know what the light is?

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:4-5

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalms 27:1

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

The light of the World is the knowledge of God. It is Truth and Life. Light overcomes darkness no matter how great it seems because light is the representation of God. As the Church, we represent God on earth. We are His hands and feet to the entire world. We are the light of the world.

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There’s Something Wrong

In today’s world, we are becoming more and more spiritually unaware. Those subtle gut feelings that we once had have slowly dwindled. We used to feel convicted over sin, but now we fully embrace sin without even second-guessing it. If it feels good, do it. Do as thou wilt has become the law, which doesn’t sound too bad. If we’re not feeling convicted, shouldn’t it be okay? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of discernment in his fiery message, There’s Something Wrong.

Psalms 33:12
Proverbs 14:12
1 Corinthians 6:15–20
Isaiah 5:20
Isaiah 5:24–25

There’s Something Wrong

Spiritual Conviction

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

John 16:7-11

23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

1 Corinthians 14:23-25

16 Every scripture [is] divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;

2 Timothy 3:16

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One Opportunity

YOLO has become a phrase used in our society to justify sinful, sketchy, or reckless behavior. Sure, we only live once, but what does that mean? If we only have one life to live, shouldn’t we live our best life? But what exactly does it mean to live our best life? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the hard truth of only living once in his message, One Opportunity.

Hebrews 9:27b
Genesis 3:19
Revelation 20:11–15
Revelation 19:11–16, 19–21
1 Timothy 6:11–14
Matthew 6:19–21
2 Timothy 4:7–8
Philippians 3:13b–16
Philippians 3:17

You Only Live Once

YOLO has been the excuse of many people. We only have one life to live, so live it up, but is that what we’re meant to do with our only life we have to live.

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Hebrews 9:27

We have one opportunity to be saved. Christ died so that we could have new life and have it abundantly. This life is our only chance to accept and receive salvation. We get so busy storing up treasure for ourselves on earth, forgetting about eternity. This earth and everything in it won’t last forever, but eternity will be forever.

7 Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law;
fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. 8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool, but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.

Isaiah 51:7-8

19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Therefore, take this one opportunity to build up treasure in eternity. Take this opportunity to live your life for Christ so that you can reap the rewards of salvation instead of the consequences of rejecting Christ. Take YOLO as more than a way to sin, but as a way to store up treasure in eternity.

16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:16-18

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No Man Is An Island

People often say it’s their own life; it doesn’t affect anyone else. But is that true? Does your life only affect you and no one else? Do your actions affect others? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes in his latest message, No Man Is An Island.

Joshua 7:24–25
Joshua 7:11
Joshua 7:10–12
Joshua 7:20–21
Genesis 30:27
Genesis 39:4–5
Hosea 2:14–15

No Man Is An Island

What you do affects everyone around you, whether good or bad. Your actions aren’t just your own burdens to carry. Your actions affect others.

No Man Is An Island Old Testament Verses

15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Genesis 22:15-18

4 You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:4-6

31 And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes 32 (but he shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 33 because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did.

34 Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes. 35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and will give it to you, ten tribes. 36 Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name.”

1 Kings 11:31-36

6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”

2 Samuel 9:6-7

No Man Is An Island New Testament Verses

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Matthew 24:21-22

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:8-13

Your actions don’t affect you alone. No man or woman is an island. What you do affects those around you, as well as those who will come after you. Whether good or bad, whether you realize it or not, everything has a consequence/reward. Your actions affect others.

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Stop the Bullying

There’s always going to be someone who tries to tell you your dream or call is impossible. Or someone who tries to intimidate you so that you don’t go after or speak the Truth. If we aren’t careful, their words and actions will overcome us. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he shows us the way to overcome the naysayers in his timely message, Stop the Bullying.

Judges 11:1–3
2 Samuel 6:16, 20
Judges 11:4–11
2 Samuel 6:21–23

Overcoming Bullies

God didn’t create any of us to be bullies or to be bullied. We can overcome bullying through knowing who we are in Christ Jesus. We may not be able to stop the physical bullying, but we can overcome the bullying.

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:3-5

Know Who Is In You

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

The Word of God is in us. That means that the light of God is inside of us, and when the light shines in the darkness it overcomes the darkness. It overcomes the bullying and stops the effects of bullying.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:5

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

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The Cost of Following Pt. 6: It’s Worth the Price

All over the world, there is great tribulation for the Church. Christians are being persecuted for the name of Jesus. They give up their lives for Jesus. Why? Why are they willing to give up their lives and endure persecution for the sake of the name of Christ? If the threat of tribulation is coming for the entire Church, even here in the West, the free world, is there hope? Why is paying the price of following Jesus worth it? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he sheds light on the reward for following Christ in his final message, It’s Worth the Price, of his message series, The Cost of Following.

Matthew 13:44–46
Mark 8:36–37 (KJV)
Luke 12:20–21
John 14:1–3
1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)
1 Corinthians 2:10–12
Hebrews 11:5–6
Matthew 5:5
Revelation 21:1–4
Revelation 21:20–27
Revelation 22:6–7
Revelation 22:10–17, 20-21

It’s Worth the Price Summary

Why is following Jesus worth it?

Right now the Church is like a woman in labor pains. The world feels impossible and difficult right now, but there is always hope. It is worth paying the price of following Jesus.

16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?”

18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:16-24, 33

Tribulation will come, but one day Jesus will return for His people. He’ll wipe away every tear from their eyes, heal every wound. There won’t be any more sorrow or pain. But, there is so much more in store for those of us who can find that it’s worth paying the price of following Jesus.

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:1–4
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The Cost of Following Pt. 3: The Joy of Suffering

What are you willing to pay for your Christianity? What a hard and even odd question to ponder in the free world. We can’t imagine what it’s like to actually suffer for the name of Jesus. In fact, we even get offended by the mere suggestion that God would allow us to suffer for His name. But, in the underground Church, they rejoice in persecution. Why? What’s the difference between the underground Church under heavy persecution and us here in the free world? Join Reverend Kenny Yates in his sobering message, The Cost of Following Pt. 3: The Joy of Suffering.

Hebrews 12:1-4
John 1:1-5
Matthew 13:20-21
Romans 10:17-18
Matthew 24:13

The Joy of Suffering

Rejoicing in Persecution Bible Verses

38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Acts 5:38-42

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:8-11

The early Church, as does the persecuted Church overseas, counts it a joy to suffer for the name of Christ Jesus. They rejoice in their persecutions. They rejoice, not because they’re masochists, but because they have been found worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. The persecuted church rejoices because they have been found worthy, and therefore they rejoice in persecution.

Why Should You Rejoice In Persecution?

11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

1 Peter 4:12-16

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Hebrews 11:24-27

It’s not easy to find joy while suffering while being persecuted and tortured, but when we focus on the eternal reward waiting for us, we can retain the Joy of the LORD. For the Joy of the LORD is our strength. The joy that tells us that the night won’t last forever or that this persecution will only be for a little. This is what the persecuted church holds on to so tightly during their trials and tribulations, the Joy of the LORD.

Right now, the persecuted church has withstood much pain and suffering all for the name of Christ Jesus because they hold on to the Joy of the LORD. This is what we have to do in the free world, hold to the Joy of the LORD so that when it’s our time to face persecution, we will be able to stand strong in Christ Jesus.

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