In the Midst of Persecution – Part 2

Michael continues that in the midst of persecution, either you shatter and come to naught or you breakthrough to the other side with the power of God in manifestation. This temporal world shall come to naught, however it is God which works in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. Peter had a shepherd’s heart to bind up the wounds of the flock of God. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not of necessity, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a willing mind. His purpose was to remind the flock that there was a purpose for their lives beyond this present world.  For this light affliction works a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Only through Jesus Christ can we come know God's purpose of our lives.  Our purpose is revealed one step at a time as we walk in fellowship with him. We worship God, not because we have elected the freedom of worship in this land. Rather, we worship God because we are the results of God's election. We are the elect of God, chosen according to his foreknowledge which he wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

In this world we shall have tribulation. Jesus said, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world – John 16:33. In the face of the conflict and the pain of the spiritual battle, the healing balm is the blessed assurance that my life is hid with Christ in God. Peace comes only after having been shattered by the spiritual warfare. He's the healer of broken hearts, he mends our shattered dreams. The love of God is the tie that binds our heart to Gods heart. It is also the bond of perfectness within the family of God ...  and above all these things, put on charity which is the bond of perfectness.

1Peter 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”

A Sower went forth to sow. The seed is the Word of God. God's message is scattered by the seed that is spread through persecution. The adversary uses persecution and conflict to "atomize" and divide the hearts of man ... brother against brother, and family against family. However, God uses persecution to scatter the seeds of the Word of the Gospel of truth. He called us as the message scattered abroad in the midst of the persecution of this world. 

The seed of the word has been planted in our hearts. For ye have been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever – 1 Peter 1:23. Seed produces the fruit for the next generation. Unless a seed fall to the earth and die, only then can it reproduce life and fruit ...  you teach what you know but you reproduce who you are. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them...  and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Freedom.

Your brother in Christ, Michael