Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Or, shall I say like Peter, "To the pilgrims (coming from a foreign country,...strangers,...sojourning in a strange place)" ~1.Peter 1:1. Remember! This world is not our home! "Our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." ~Phil.3:20. There is a phrase in 1.Peter 1:6 that keeps coming back to my heart and mind. It says, "You greatly rejoice, though now for a little while,...you are in heaviness through various trials." If this describes you, let me remind you, you are not alone! Remember! "The same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." ~1.Peter 5:9. Peter had just finished telling the pilgrims, "Be sober! Be vigilant...because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." ~1.Peter 5:8. The devil may be seeking to devour you with discouragement? Maybe he is bringing other devices against you? What ever it may be, "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God....Casting all your cares - anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you!" And concerning the devil,..."Resist him, steadfast in the faith!" ~vs.6-9. Oh Pilgrim, loved and chosen by God..."May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever! AMEN!!!" ~1.Peter 5:10-11.
True Reality: The Message of the cross of Christ is becoming increasingly more and more unpopular around the world, and here on the streets of NYC and throughout the USA. The common attitude is, "Just tell me something good! Just tell me it's all good! Just tell me I'm a winner! Don't talk about sin! Don't judge me! Don't say there is only one way to heaven!" We are living in the Psalm 2 reality, where the nations are raging against the LORD, and against His Christ. Jesus said, "As it was in the Days of Noah so shall it be int the days of the Son of Man!" ~Remember the violence and corruption in the days of Noah? ~Gen.6:5-13. "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot...the same day Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even so shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed!....REMEMBER LOT's WIFE!!!" ~Luke 17:26-32
The Call: We have not been called to fit in with the world! We have been called out! That's what the word church means! We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, holy nation, a peculiar people! We have been "called...out of darkness, into His marvelous light!" ~1.Peter 2:9. It is time to Rise & Shine! ~Isaiah 60:1-2+Matt.5:14-16. "Therefore I remind you to stir up - fan into flame the gift of God which is in you!...For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began!" ~2.Tim.1:6-9
PRAY: ~ that the Lord would truly fan the flames of His Spirit in the heart of the church! Pray that we would be a people living in AWE of Jesus!! The Word of God and the God of the Word!!! ~ that the Lord would knit our hearts together in the love of Christ that we, the church may "with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" ~Romans 15:5-6. ~ that the Lord would break our hearts over the lost all around us, and fill us with His love as we reach out with the Gospel. Pray for boldness to proclaim the Gospel. Pray that the Lord would send strong conviction over sin and godly sorrow to work repentance. Pray that in these dark days, the light of Christ would shine brightly through His people, and the the Lord save a people for His glory!
We are so thankful that you are standing with us in prayer! We stand amazed at His faithfulness through the years! Jesus never fails! His grace is sufficient! His power is manifest in our weakness! ~2.Cor.12:9.
Keep standing firm in the Faith until we see Jesus face to face! May our hearts burn more and more for the glory of the Lamb!
MARANATHA!!!
Brother Jeff ...Fellow Pilgrim
