Because for the Messiah’s sake, it has been granted to you not only to trust, but to suffer on his behalf. To fight the same battles you once saw me fight and now hear that I am still fighting. Philippians 1:29-30
The message today is more of an observation and not a teaching as such. Because I do not have a real answer for the observation. That observation is clear today while reading Isaiah and then Phillipians. Which is how when the Israelites obeyed God, he protected them and prospered. No one could touch them, Adonai would utterly destroy them. If they did not obey him it was a different story. And of course we know the stories of the prophets and how the Jews killed most of them off, and even killed Yeshua.
The question or observation becomes, why did it change, or what changed with God? Why would he let his son die like that, and all the disciples except one, John. and John was abused as well, and they tried to kill him in a pot of boiling oil, but God saved him.
I know some of the answers, like with Yeshua he had to die as the sacrificial lamb to save us and open the door for the Holy Spirit to come back into the world. But why so brutal?
And I know the other disciples were killed and John saved because he was the only one who was there when Yeshua was hung on the cross. John was more obedient and deeper in that obedience to the Love of God. You can see it in his writings.
Fast forward to our current days, and looking at my life. I truly know Yeshua and the will of God, and I obey him and speak out about him and against all the false religions including “christianity.” And maybe someday I will also get persecuted. But so far it is not happening, or at least much. I do have hard conversations with people, friends, family and anyone in general who wants to listen. And many times I get attacked verbally for speaking the truth. But never jailed or beaten, nor has anyone tried to kill me. According to the end of times prophecy it seems to be coming, and maybe I also will be “granted to suffer on his behalf.
So far I see my life very much like the Israelites when in obedience. The Lord protects me and has prospered me beyond my wildest dreams. Especially when I look back at the man I was when a “christian” and not a true follower of the Lord Yeshua. I love this life he has given me and cherish the Lord with the utmost respect and love. I will to do his will out of love or respect.
I have suffered many things, and am suffering a little right now, but nothing like Paul or Peter or even John. Not even close. In some parts of the world, like the Middle East, they are killing “christians” but I have to ask the question: are they “christians” or do they really know Yeshua? What are they being killed for? Because Adonai allowed the enemy to kill off the Israelites when they disobeyed, and even the Jews in the holocaust, God allowed it and most likely because the Jews in those days were not obedient to the Lord. Or maybe they were and suffered for it???
The main point is how different the men were treated for obeying. The Israelites and myself are rewarded with a good life, where the men who seemed to do the most to spread the truth about the Messiah, were all destroyed in horrible deaths, again including the Lord himself.
Yesterday I had a little vision, where I was in the courtyard with God. And I could see him but I was all the way in the back. Obviously the original disciples will be sitting with Yeshua over the 12 tribes of Israel. But where do the rest of us end up, of those who are called and saved? The verse came to mind about when you go to an event like a wedding, sit in the back, and let them move you to the front. Instead of sitting in the front and they come and move you to the back. My main concern is not if I am in the front or back, but simply to do the will of God so I get in his Kingdom. Where he places me accordingly is not real material. And if I have to suffer at some point like the disciples, so be it. But I definitely like worshipping and meditating on the word God gives me while watching the ocean from my home overlooking everything from high up, then I would be hanging from shackles and being beaten over and over almost to death. I do know Paul suffered the most because of who he was before Yeshua blinded him. And I do know Peter died a tough death and John did not because Peter denied Yeshua 3 times and hid when on the cross.
Most religions teach that God does not punish people according to their sin, but the bible makes it clear he does. Yeshua said “you will not get out until you have paid the last of it.” I am still paying a price for some of the things I did in my first marriage, and probably will for the rest of my life. And that is OK, as long as I remain in Yeshua, hearing him and obeying him and securing my salvation. To keep working out what Yeshua is working in me.
Last quick point, today I saw a post on facebook about a younger lady who also knows what I know, namely Yeshua. She hears him also and obeys, and sees how the religions are evil. She shared deeply about the same things I do, how grateful, how in awe she is, and how he has transformed her life completely. Almost word of word of what I write.
It is very seldom these days you run across someone who really knows Yeshua like that, like I do. And it is frustrating when you try to get people to understand why they need him and why their religion is wrong and hurting your salvation. I know it pisses people off when you tell them their religion will not save you and you are on the wrong path and will not enter into heaven unless you repent (that is to change and go a different direction, namely the narrow path with Yeshua). One guy even yelled at me and said “I do not accept that in the name of Jesus.”
I marveled after he said this, and thought to myself that he cannot understand how wrong he is. That he thinks something I say can affect his salvation, as if a fiery dart from the evil one? And if he does not say in the name of Jesus then he is bound by it or something? And as if Yeshua (his Jesus) is going to accept his covenant or doctrine as good with him and save him because he calls on the name if Jesus, even if he is wrong in his doctrine?
On the other hand I have had many people tell me I am wrong and heading to hell, but I do not rebuke them, I simply say something like “I guess we will all find out some day who is right and who is wrong, won’t we.”
I do not care what people say or try to do to me, they cannot touch my salvation. Only I can ruin my salvation by my works, if for some reason I start doing my own selfish works instead of the Lords. Which is highly unlikely.
To circle back and tie it up. If it takes serious suffering like Paul to be extra special in the Kingdom of God and it is his will, then so be it. If on the other hand he spares me and takes me to heaven like he did Enoch, that would be great also. Either way I just want to be what God wants of me, and to make sure I spend eternity with him in heaven. By the way Paul wrote again today about wanting to go to the Messiah, but yet stay to help the people. And as always I feel exactly the same. It is obvious that those who are afraid to die are afraid because they do not know the Lord, they know their religious views about their son of God. But they do not know the real Lord. if you did you would be awestruck and obey him also, and would know salvation is yours as long as you obey him. And you believe in him that Heaven is more amazing than we can imagine. So why would we be afraid to die, leaving this hell hole of a place with all its sin and dysfunction to go to a perfect place without all these problems?
Some interesting question today!