Feeling Beat Up?

We are living in turbulent times. Many believers find themselves at a loss of how to live their faith when the dangers are growing. In Middle East ISIS/ISIL continues to kill Christians for their faith, while in United States of America Christians are censored and persecuted for disagreeing with the social norms and newly established violations of their beliefs. From East to West, believers are getting beat up, wither it is literally by the likes of ISIS, emotionally by censoring committees in US, or spiritually by the demons driving the destruction of the church on all fronts.

Do you feel beat up? Does it seem that everything you do is obstructed, filled with frustration, and even seems like spell is upon you for agitation, inconvenience, and suffering? Can you feel a change in the climate spiritually? That people seem more godless and that your displays of the One True God around you neck with crucifix or cross is scrutinized or makes you a target for trial, tribulation, and terrible behavior from others? Does it appear that when you pray things get worse, more severe, and even more difficult than better? Have you noticed that nobody at church seems to have answers or that compassion of Christ that you need? Are you sick on your stomach? Are you ill and no getting better, even though in past God healed you quickly? Do you feel like shouting, "what is going on?!"

First step, breath. Second step, its ok, this is normal. Jesus foretold these times and people like the prophets have predicted them. The Lord said, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). The Lord consoles us with these words, letting us know that there will be trials and sorrows, tribulation in other translations. That they will happen, but He has overcome them and will keep you. But the Our Savior then says, "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me." (Matthew 24:9), "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." (John 15:18), and finally, "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10:22).

These verses should reassure us and comfort us, but they are also are warning. What it happening now is the fulfillment of them. We are being beaten up on all sides because the hour is short and Christ' Return soon. The devil and his demons are trying to discourage us in these dark times. Our enemy wants us to feel emasculated and empty, but our faithful Emmanuel is with us! I know it is hard. It feels like clubs are descending on the backs of all Christians right now! Many are exhausted from the enmity that they feel permeating in every part of their lives. But we must hold on and keep faith! Even if it gets worse after we pray. The enemy of our souls wants us to be weary of praying, because in prayer there is two fold power; to gain assistance from the Almighty and the less recognized side which is consolation and a inner strengthening of the peace and spiritual stamina within us. So often we expect praying to compel God to put an end to our trials, but often He sends us the strength to endure! The Apostle Paul says, And endurance (perseverance) develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation." (Romans 5:4).

Perseverance, which is often translated endurance, has become a forgotten virtue. It is not as appealing as peace or as exciting as power of the Holy Spirit. No, perseverance is like patience, it is the last thing anyone asks for and yet is what we need as believers now more than ever. The Apostle James said, "because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." (James 1:3). We as denominational Christians do not want our faith tested, we want to be comfortable. But the Apostolic Father knew that when we are tested is grows perseverance which strengths our character and hope in Christ Jesus. It forces us to rely on our Redeemer more than at any time; save maybe in terrible pain; which can be partner in perseverance.

The culture I live in is one of quick fixes: pop a pill when your ill, and instant everything. Developing perseverance is hard when there are so many other means of dealing with problems. But a pill, a person, and place cannot help your spirit; only the Prince of Peace can and through the tests, trials, temptations, and tribulations we build our perseverance and grow to know Jesus Christ more personally. The Apostle Peter said, "But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:13) The Apostle Paul says, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory," (Romans 8:17) and "I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.." (Philippians 3:10).

So often as Christians we think that when we first believed, it would be perpetual Resurrection Day; that our lives would be full of ease and raisings of the dead. But the truth is that we must follow Jesus Christ the way he said to, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24). We all as Christians imitate in our walk Christ's life. St. Peter said, "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21)  If we really follow Jesus we will follow His example and go through the ministry period of delivering demons, healing the sick, and raising the dead; but then we come to Gethsemane, where I think many who feel beat up are, crying as Jesus did, "Father, if it is your will, take this cup [of suffering] away from me. However, your will must be done, not mine." (Luke 22:42, GWT). It is a comfort that Christ, God himself, experienced what we do. That overwhelming feeling, and that pull of the flesh to want to do it our way, to be comfortable, feeling happy, feeling safe, and not to go through suffering. Jesus understand our plight, because He had to obey the Father. We miss this message. God isn't asking us to do anything He didn't do. Jesus had to obey His Father, and so God who is the Trinity (Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit) totally understands our weakness and when we are weary of heart; He experienced it at Gethsemane. So when you feel like giving up, remember that God Himself felt as you do, but He decided to obey The Father and the result was the only way for us to be reconciled to God and saved from eternal damnation that is the fire of hell.

At some point our Gethsemane moment or years pass and we are on the way to Calvary. We go through a season of dying, using that cross we are called to carry to nail parts of ourselves that will not submit to God to the beams. Its painful and feels like stripping, but If we hold on for the "three days" or three years it will take, we shall reach Resurrection Day. We must endure and persevere, yes our Lord, Savior and God Jesus Christ had to persevere through it all. If we are to be like Jesus, we must be prepared to go through it all; to "fellowship in His sufferings." (Philippians 3:10, KJV).

There is consolation for those who can stand firm in following Christ. The Apostle Paul says, "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:5). Our Lord Jesus Christ will not leave you without comfort. He will be with you through the tempest and the trials. But we must withstand the storms of suffering, not depend on being comforted immediately. We must develop the perseverance. St. Paul said, "if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us.." (12 Timothy 2:12). We must endure! Jesus Christ went through the excruciating pain of torture and tormenting death on the cross for us; are we willing to do the same for Him?
Will we dare to die to this world and even die physically for Christ's sake? He gave us everything, are we willing to do the same in return? Yes, salvation is a free gift, and we need only believe (John 3:16) and confess Jesus Christ as Lord (Romans 10;9), but I am talking about the relationship. How committed are we? Yes we are saved if we believe and trust in Christ Jesus for our salvation and that His blood and death covers our sins. But will we give our lives to the Lord? Will we endure to the end? This is the question Christian brothers and sisters need to contemplate. Because it is not going to lighten and get easier; no the tribulations will become more intense and life will almost be insufferable and the Lord himself in foreboding words says, "But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?" (Luke 18:8).

We need perseverance and endurance. Do not let the devils and darkness of people beat you up so much hat you distrust Jesus Christ. Instead, do as Jesus said, "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also," (Matthew 5:39) and "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.." (Matthew 5:44). You may suffer the beating, but your soul will be safe in the Savior, those who beat you risk wrath and damnation; their future is doom, while yours is delight in paradise. Pray for them, that they may not be instruments of our enemy the devil or drink too much longer in their dark dregs.