Thank you Bernie...

...Last week I prayed for you, this week - I again rejoice in your persecution! You confirm my work!

Share the Gospel...always!

Please be informed Bernie, that Jesus warns His followers in scripture that we will be persecuted in His name.

I will Save YOU!



Check out what He says in Matthew 5:11:
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Suffering for Jesus!



I did it all for YOU!

Jesus also makes us aware that the world will hate us just as it does Him. This is precisely why Jesus exhorts his would-be followers to first count the cost. For anyone who is unprepared or unwilling to bear a cross and follow Christ, (whose path to glory went via Calvary) simply cannot be his disciple (Luke 14:25-33). I will gladly suffer your persecution because Jesus first suffered for me...and for you too Bernie! 



But are you being persecuted...
...like I was?



He also tells us that just because persecution is inevitable doesn’t mean it is acceptable. Persecution in the eyes of God is wicked. It involves harassment, oppression, cruelty, betrayal, dictatorship, violence, injustice, all that is contrary to God’s law of love (Matt 22:36-40).

Do you know Bernie that persecution is a vile sin of profound spiritual rebellion for which persecutors will one day have to account for?



The Cross re-connects
us to the Father 

The question remains though: how can victims of persecution be “blessed”? Well firstly, those who are persecuted for Christ’s sake are NOT victims. Isn't that awesome Bernie? God does not allow me to be your victim!

Get this Bernie, avoiding persecution is the easiest thing in the world to do — just deny Christ!

But  trust me when I tell you - nothing sorts out true disciples of Christ from false ones like persecution.

Please pray for us!

Through persecution the church is sifted (Isaiah 30:28), refined (Isaiah 48:10), winnowed (Matt 3:12). Those who consent to suffer persecution rather than avoid it are those who, in love and trust, choose faithfulness over temporal self-preservation — thus proving their faith.



...are you in the name of Jesus



Those who are persecuted for Christ’s sake are blessed on account of their spiritual reality: that regardless of circumstances we have a king who loves us with an everlasting love (Romans 8:31-39); a king who hears our prayers (Psalm 116:1-2); who never leaves us (Matt 28:20b), who can be trusted (Psalm 117:1-2), and who has already brought us into a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Isaiah 26:1-3) — unlike the world which is, even now, passing away under judgment (Hebrews 12:27-29).

Please note Bernie that I included links to scripture books and verses to make your life and research easier. I love you Brother!

Once again, thank you so much Bernie for blessing me indeed through your persecution.

RMM