A Better Perspective

Introduction

Exodus 1:11–14 KJV 1900

11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

Body

Two things are coming down the pike

Tribulation

Revival

What are we ready for, prepared for, and have faith to receive?

Blessing

Revival

Which one is scriptural and which one isn’t?

Most of our preaching and teaching is geared toward getting us to believe in God for great things, but without cost

Scripture, as well as history, teaches us that we receive these great things from God, sometimes with great cost

Expound on church history as relates to Persecution & Revival

Revival comes most powerfully through persecution

“I thought it was through prayer!!”

Every 5 minutes a Christian around the world is killed for their faith

Iran

Iran & surrounding areas are the fastest growing church today

Lots of conversions through dreams and visions of Jesus Christ

After conversion their intense hatred of Israel always turns to intense love for Israel and the Jewish people

Their prayer is that persecution would continue so that the church might continue to grow

They don’t want us praying for an end to persecution, but that they would remain strong in the midst of it so that Jesus would continue to work as He is

China

China suffering the most intense persecution they’ve experienced in 40 years

Elders in the church state that persecution is a blessing for two reasons

It facilitates revival and church growth

It purifies the church and keeps it pure

They say the real church killers are prosperity. Ease. Comfort.

In 1949 there were an estimated 1 million Christians in China and the new communist regime sought to destroy them

Today there are, on the conservative side, over 80 million Christians in China

They spend long hours in prayer for their country

They endure continual persecution

In one church, they all wake up at 4:30 AM to come together for two hours to pray and worship. They do this EVERY DAY

This church meets the only place they are safe…a cave

In Shanghai alone there are over 3,000 house churches led mostly by young people

They think a 4 hours sermon is short

In one service, it was 120 degrees inside, and they met for 12 hours straight

One missionary visited a remote village in China and was asked to preach. He asked how long he should preach. They asked him if it would be alright with him to preach from 8:30 to 7:00. Then they asked him if he could do the same tomorrow. And the next day. He asked when he should take breaks, and they said “don’t worry. The people will wait for you/” “What should I preach on?” he asked. “Everything” they said. “Everything from Genesis to Revelation”

Nigeria

Nigerian Christians experiencing 20 years of genocide against Christians

On Sept 29th, 2014 a man was attacked for his faith, and as related by his son, “Around 10, I got a call that they have killed my dad…they asked him to deny Christ and when he refused they cut his right hand off, then he refused again and they cut his arm off at the elbow. He refused again and they shot him in the head, the neck and the chest.”

Matthew 5:10-11 “10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”

I Peter 4:13-14 “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.”

Conclusion

John 15:18-20 “18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”

II Timothy 3:12 “12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

God may yet forgive this nation, but if not, He will bring to pass all the words He has spoken against any nation that chooses to forsake Him.