General Articles

More than Just a Candle in the Wind :: By Edwin Tan

Published on: by RR10

Ideology has been and still is the devil’s sledgehammer of torment against the Body of Believers. Totalitarian regimes base their actions against specific groups of individuals that run counter to their ideology. The woke ideology has, of late, been the driving force behind the persecution of people who stick to the inerrant Word of God. It is not the case of guns and cudgels; the legal system has become the preferred tool of suppression under the hate crime definition. Such is the case in nations where some semblance of democracy still exists, or could we say it is in a tainted form?

Pressures on the courts to toe this line come from groups that were once on the fringes. These folks are screaming about their rights. What about the rights of other people in the broad societal spectrum? They sidestepped this notion because it is all about me, myself, and I. Plain wickedness.

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (1 Timothy 3:12).

For the soldier of Christ, it is part of the requirements in the path of righteousness. This translates into unyielding adherence to Holy Writ; no room for accommodating the sins of humanity – no space for omissions and additions in accordance with the demands of the flesh.

As these persecuted ones face the likes of insurmountable odds while standing wholeheartedly for the faith, they do draw comfort and encouragement from Matthew 5:11-12.

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be extremely glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

In the eyes of the unbelieving crowds, these bold and unwavering servants of the Lord look like a bunch of buffoons. These folks err greatly when they see things through an earthly lens; the severe testings are short-term in nature versus the riches and glory which are eternal. The brave ones know this too well and take it to their hearts. Have their critics ever considered this: caving to the whims and fancy of the woke crowd has only a brief moment of relief – but in the long term, they really have a lot to lose. They will almost certainly be around for the worst moments in the history of mankind, but it only gets a whole lot worse. Their eternity could be one that is devoid of joy but filled with never-ending torment.

It is all about faith and belief in the inerrancy of the Living Word that keeps these soldiers of Christ going, no matter how brutal the repression. But by doing so, they are indeed holding back the corrupting influence that has mowed down numerous churches that once walked in the Living Word. Zero tolerance for woke at all costs! With this, the Bride of Christ can be preserved, standing firmly against the venomous apostate tsunami.

While these persecuted ones put up quite a formidable resistance in the legal battles that ensue, there is one clear message to those who seek to wipe out godliness – it would not be a walk-in-the-park pushover! The Heavenly Father is for them all the way. The competent defense teams that enthusiastically make the going tough for the opposition are not an accidental inclusion. It is ordained by the Lord.

Across the globe, there are instances of believers hauled to court for their unshakable walk in the Living Word. But they are truly tough nuts who never take it lying down. These folks are setting up quite a lot of stuff with their perseverance. Their plight is given attention by prayer groups, talk shows, and presentations that do not bow down to woke-driven apostasy. The purity of the Body of Believers is more than sustained!

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:1-5).

If there was any form of disappointment, it would take the form of a move away from the truth. Even if the drift toward embracing the LGBT agenda is like a tidal wave, do consider a significant number of churches that stay put in the Living Word by refusing waywardness. They are sustained by the grace of God and not the praise of flesh and blood. Likewise, those who firmly refute unrighteousness in the face of recrimination are upheld by the tender mercies of God.

There is undoubtedly a legitimization of evil as many societies shun God and His Word. High-sounding terms glamorize this diabolical trajectory. Much of it is creeping into established legal systems. A good example of this wickedness is that seen in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) clarion call for social justice. It is nothing more than an excuse for evil to be accepted if not tolerated.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).

There would be more instances of believers being hauled up before the judiciaries for an unwavering profession of their faith. The evil one, through his minions and earthly foot soldiers, could throw the highest-sounding kitchen at the servants of the Lord. But God shall prevail in a way that is beyond human understanding.

If you are called to take a stand for His Kingdom and Glory, rejoice when you are directed by Him to do so. Please Him and not the world. There is much treasure in heaven for those who take a stand for Him. Heed His still, small voice while you disregard the rantings and ravings of the fallen planet gone woke.

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (Hebrews 10:35).

Keep up the Good Fight!

Edwin

Contact me at edwinuk13@gmail.com

 

Hebrews Lesson 42: By Faith, Pt. 3: :: By Sean Gooding

Published on: by RR10

God Is Not Ashamed of Us

Chapter 11: 13-16

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

Millions, maybe even billions, of saved Old Testament and New Testament saints have died over the past 6,000 years since the fall of man. Notice verse 1, ‘these all died,’ but none of them got to see the promise of the Messiah in the Old Testament, and none of the New Testament saints got to see the redemption of the whole earth. Yet, they all lived by faith, looking forward and focused on the PROMISES OF GOD. These were accepted and taken by faith. We explored last week that faith was not just believing but also action based on the belief.

These folks patterned their lives and the lives of their children in a way that showed that they always looked toward the future that God had promised.

Just this morning, I was reading Genesis 50; Joseph made his brother promise to take his bones out of Egypt when they left. Joseph was about 37 or so when the whole family moved to Egypt. He died at 110, so the next generation, for more than 300 years, had to pass on the belief that they would be leaving Egypt and charge them to take Joseph’s bones. They patterned their lives around the promise that one day God would give them their own land. A promise He made to Abraham (in Genesis 12:1, 7) changed Abraham’s life so much that he taught it to Isaac, Isaac to Jacob, and on and on for generations. They built their entire heritage around the leaving of Egypt, so much so that they could pack and move in one night.

  • They Embraced and Confessed the promises, verses 13-14

This is so important and why we encourage the people in our churches, and in truth, anyone who is saved and looking for the return of Jesus, to constantly review the promises that were made in the Bible. Read them, repeat them to each other, repeat creeds, and sing songs that teach these doctrines. One of the major problems that a lot of our modern ‘Christian music’ faces is that there is a lack of doctrinal teaching in them. The best way to teach is by song; Sesame Street has been doing this for decades. This is how we teach our children, by embracing the promises of God and then confessing them to our kids, our friends, and our church family.

My ‘life’ verse is 1 John 3:1, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.“ When I get down, get broken, get beaten down by my own sin and flesh, get tired and feel unappreciated, I turn to this verse. I say it, repeat it, go over and over it in my head, and it reminds me that God has called me His child. He has bestowed His love on me; I did not earn it or buy it; He gave it to me. This is just one example. Maybe you have an example of your own – a verse that keeps you, focuses you, and comforts you.

These patriarchs and matriarchs embraced the promises of God; they held them close as if they were precious and cherished. We should be the same way. God’s promises to us are precious, paid for in the blood of Jesus, His only Begotten Son.

  • They Embraced Being Aliens, verses 13-15

They left their home; Abraham left his people and all that he knew. He left all that he had, tangible things, and traded them for a promised land. He gave up what was secure and seen for the promised and the unknown. He had to accept and then teach his kids that they had a home here, in this wilderness, and then in an even greater place that God had made.

His kids stayed: Isaac was a tent dweller, and Jacob left to find safety from Esau, but when God called, he willingly came back and dwelt in tents. Abraham was a resident alien, a sojourner here on earth. Peter tells us that we are resident aliens as well (1 Peter 1:1, 2:11), called to understand that this world is not our home. We, like these stalwarts of the faith, wait for a homeland whose builder and maker is God. I believe in aliens; we, the children of God, are the aliens.

  • God Embraced Us, verse 16

God embraces us, and we embrace Him and His promises. He embraces us, and we serve Him and look for a place that we cannot see, a place that we cannot touch, and a place that is as real to us as the ground we walk on. God, the scriptures tell us, is not ashamed to be called our God. He identifies with us. We are His, and He welcomes us to call Him ‘Abba,’ the common name for Dad in Hebrew. ‘Our Abba’ who is in Heaven. I am as much His, and He mine. We are united in a Promise, paid for in the death and sacrifice of Jesus, our Savior, eternally secured in the power of His resurrection.

God embraced these sinful men and women: adulterers, murderers, thieves, schemers, liars, and on and on we can go. He embraced men and women just like us – sinners saved by grace, secure in the Promise of eternal life that we have from God. The reciprocal love we have is from God the Father; He embraced us, He loved us, He endowed us with great promises and hope, and we, in turn, embrace His promises and confess them to one another. This way, we help each other to be secure in our faith, strong in our hope, and comforted by His hand.

John 10: 28-30, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.“

God bless you,

Dr. Sean Gooding
Pastor of Mississauga Missionary Baptist Church

How to Connect with Us

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MississaugaMissionaryBaptistChurch
Online: https://mmbchurch.ca/
Email: seangooding@mmbchurch.ca; support@mmbchurch.ca