Someone shared a video with me the other day that literally shook me. (See bottom of article for attached embedded video— I highly advise you to view it for yourself…)
I watched in horror as the government (it was Canada!) literally walked into a private property—a church. Due to Covid violations that the pastor/congregation had allegedly committed, they had a court order that allowed law enforcement to vacate the premises and to bring in a locksmith to change the locks to prevent the pastor and his congregation from gaining entrance to THEIR OWN church!! It was so shocking to me to see that happened in real life in a free country!! The pastor handled it with such grace, yet he firmly stood on his God-given rights and proclaimed that faith is essential despite a pandemic . He preached outside to his congregation to encourage them not to despair (while the cops were securing THEIR building!) and he went on to preach right to the law enforcement officers and the media personnel. He tried to exhibit the love of God and preach Christ and Him crucificied in the face of such blatant persecution!
It was both shocking to watch yet stirring as well! I cried as I realized that we too could soon be in such a predicament here in this country. Will we persevere and keep fighting the good fight of faith or will we cower to the common consensus and go with the flow in order “not to rock the boat” and be labeled “one of them”?
This actually happened in May and they are still in court over it. They are currently having outdoor services because their church is still locked up. Their church is still being fined because of non compliance because they are continuing to have outdoor meetings….
I know seeing that video made it become real to me— we have heard stuff like that before but now it has come close to home! It might be Canada today, but it could very well be our nation tomorrow!! We have got to be full of the Holy Ghost to stand in this last day!! We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the Future!! 🙌🏻 it’s just high time we get serious and down to business with God. We can’t play around anymore!! 😭 It’s time to get on fire 🔥 for the Lord!
While we still can, we must take advantage of every opportunity that God gives us! We must allow Him to help us grow spiritually to where we have power to stand against opposition and persecution! Like I said before, it’s gonna take more than being a “shallow living”carnal Christian. Each opportunity we have to assemble together with other believers is a wonderful blessing. We can’t afford to waste our opportunities! We must allow God to change us and make us more like Him!!
(I went on to watch several other videos that this pastor published — he said in the beginning, his church attendance was a little over 100 people, but since this persecution, his congregation last Sunday (at their outdoor gathering—their church is still locked up!) had grown to over 850 individuals!! He said people were driving for 5 hours or more to attend their services. He referenced all the persecution that the church as a whole has faced in years past—every time that persecution became strong against God’s people, they grew in number!)
He said people don’t want a easy religion that doesn’t make a difference in their lives!
It’s during persecution that true Christianity shines the brightest! It takes God to endure terrible trials with such grace and to show others the love of God in the face of intense wrongdoing. People can see that there is a difference between true Christians and carnal “churchgoers” when they are put to the fire! 🔥 How we respond, How we react, How we talk —all show what we really have with God!!
God help us to be genuine and full of the Spirit!!
It is gonna take it to make it!!
-Tiphanie ❤️
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