The Adventures on the Road to the Celestial City (3)
Loved one in Christ Jesus, I believe you are growing in the strength of the Lord. This is lesson three on my teachings, the adventures on the road to God’s kingdom. I explained in lesson one and two that the world (unbelievers) and some religious groups would attack us with abusive words, persecute, and falsely accuse us if we walk on the path of Jesus Christ. Kindly read them for a more profound revelation.
In this lesson, I will share with you some encounters; Apostle Paul had on his missionary work. Following Jesus Christ can be painful because there are seasons. We can learn from the experiences of the early Apostles.
When you know the experiences of the Apostles, you will not feel surprised when you encounter their challenge. The scriptures help us understand our future as we follow Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (See Matthew 7:13-14).
Many Christians want a simple path. Some will walk in deception than to walk with the Holy Spirit. Most Christians hate the truth. Meanwhile, the Holy Bible commands Christian ministers to reprove, rebuke, and exhort the Church (See 2 Timothy 4:2).
If your church leaders cannot preach repentance, there is a question mark on that church. Jesus Christ started the ministry with the doctrine of repentance (See Matthew 4:17). That was the first sermon of Jesus Christ preached about the Kingdom of God. Jesus knew that without repentance (change of mind), one could not walk in truth and Spirit.
True repentance makes us serve God with all our heart. Repentance empowers us to dominate the suffering and persecution. I know some persecutions come out of ignorance and sin.
Some characters and personality disorders (imperfection) can generate persecution. We have to build our character with God’s Word and fellowship with the Holy Spirit (Prayer and spiritual songs). Sin also opens the door for the unbelievers and religious people to persecute a believer.
We must repent from any behaviour that opens the door for the unbelievers to persecute us. The gate to the lake of fire is broad, and many Christians find it pleasurable to walk on such a path. Today, we see some ministers preach false grace.
Some Christians use the grace of God as a license to sin. The grace of God does not permit us to live in willful sin (Meditate on Titus 2:11-12, and Romans 6). The true grace empowers us to live above the desires of sin. If you are full of God’s grace, you find it challenging to sin. The grace of God makes us love righteousness and hate sin with a passion.
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 John 3:9 KJV
If you are full of the Holy Spirit, you don’t have the desire to sin because the seed (the Holy Spirit) in you makes you desire holiness as you rekindle your spirit with the Word (Holy Bible) and renew your soul with the Word (Meditate on Romans 12:1-2).
We must sanctify ourselves daily with the Word to enable us to stand strong in this end time (Meditate on John 17:17). Apostle Paul writes.
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2 Timothy 2:12 KJV
First and Second Timothy are the letters Apostle Paul wrote to his ministerial son Timothy when he was in the prison of Rome. In his letter, Paul describes that we (Christians) must suffer because there will be a time we will reign with Jesus Christ in the celestial city (Heaven). Remember, Jesus Christ will destroy this earth and make all things new (New Earth) at the appointed time.
Apostle Paul admonishes his ministerial son Timothy (includes Christians), that we must persevere and endure trials because it is part of the Christian journey. It is a season every Christian must pass through. If you cannot stand this painful season, then it means you cannot enjoy the glories with Jesus Christ.
Apostle Paul emphasizes that if we deny Jesus Christ because of the mockery, insults, persecutions, slander, jealousy, false accusations the world (unbelievers), and some religious groups will throw at us, Jesus will also deny us on the final day (Meditate on Matthew 7:21-23).
Christianity is full of trials. The unbelievers hate our principles (Holy Bible) because it opposes their philosophies and concepts. If you are a Christian and you always agree with the decisions of the unbelievers, you become an enemy of God (Meditate on 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
The Word (Holy Bible) must be our greatest treasure because it is the Word (Jesus Christ) that will judge us on the last day (See 2 Corinthians 5:10). No man or woman can destroy the Word (Holy Bible). Our life is in the Word.
When you reject the Word and follow the ungodly decisions of your friends, boss, parents, and neighbours, you deny Jesus Christ. Paul said,
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:12-13 KJV
Living in the reverential fear of God attracts enemies. These enemies will falsely accuse, slander, mock, and oppose us. It is a cost we incur as we follow the path of Jesus Christ. We cannot escape this persecution!
Some people will fight the church and generate false doctrines and prophecies to destroy our faith. People will create evil, and contagious virus and vaccines to ruin our lives in these last days.
Evil men and women will emerge in the last days. Some will use occult and witchcraft powers to fight us in these last days. In the workplace, church, homes, schools, and social gatherings, the unbelievers will oppose us. Be ready to face these calibers of people in the last days.
1. Proud people.
2. Selfish people.
3. Boasters.
4. People who love pleasures and hate the things of God.
5. False Accusers.
6. People who despise honourable people.
7. Traitors.
8. Blasphemers.
9. Disobedient people and
10. Covetous people.
Meditate on these scriptures.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV
Child of God, don’t be surprised when you encounter these people in your life because it is a prophecy. This is a decreed prophecy. Decreed prophecy means no man or woman can change it. Expect to see these people in your homes, workplaces, churches, schools, hospitals, and your environment. Apostle Paul continues in his letters.
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
2 Timothy 4:10 KJV
Paul further writes to Timothy that Demas, one of his closest associates, forsook him because of temporal things. Some people will reject us and denounce their faith because of the pleasures of this world.
Expect rejection from your loved ones because some cannot stand with you when the pressure of the world hits them (Meditate on Luke 4:1-12). Some Christians will allow their jobs, education, assets, money, and other perishable things to destroy their faith and love for God in the last days.
Some of your loved ones will become your enemy in these last days because it is a decreed prophecy. Expect people to leave you in the trial season because Paul suffered the same faith.
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
2 Timothy 4:14-18 KJV
Paul continues in his letter that Alexander the coppersmith worked wickedness against him. His trusted ministerial associate opposed and condemned his teachings and doctrines. There are times you will face opposition from your associates because they did it, Paul.
Sometimes people will oppose you out of ignorance and immaturity. Some people will also fight you intentionally. We must be strong in the Lord, in this season, by putting on the whole armour of God (Meditate on Ephesians 6:10-18).
Intercede for your loved ones and those connected to you in the ministry because demons have targeted them. Open the door (your heart) for Jesus Christ because He stands at the gate (See Revelational 3:20). Don’t open the door for the enemy to access your life because he has nothing good for you (Meditate on John 10:10).
The devil can use your family, friends, and enemies to destroy your faith. Be vigilant, sober, and prayerful (Meditate on 1 Peter 5:8-9). It is not everybody that will leave you. The faithful ones will stand by you. Call on Jesus Christ when you feel like giving up, and He will answer.
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