Click here for Pas.George & Pooja’s message
Click here for Worship 11-AUG-2013 Bro.Albin
In the Midst of the Fire (crises) –Part Two
by Pastor George and Pastor Pooja
Every time God pulls us out of “depending on our own ability” to “depending on his ability”, crisis comes on, the fire begins!
Prayer moves us from depending on our ability to depending on God’s ability.
James 1:2-4 The trials that we face produce perseverance in us. Once we come through our trials, we lack nothing.
1. It is impossible for joy & tribulations to co-exist except for the child of God.
2. You’re going to have trials, but you’ve got to have joy.
3. In your trials, God will take you to a place where you lack nothing.
4. The purpose of the trials is that God wants to bring out what’s inside, to what’s outside.
God takes us through the fire experience. We have to be patient and persevere through the fiery experience. When the fire is turned on, don’t try to get out of it prematurely. We can put out the fire anytime we want. But, if we put off the fire, we come out half-cooked.
Every single person that God dealt with in the Bible went through sufferring.
First Century Christians
The classes of society in the first century Roman Empire
Political System: The Roman empire had no specific rules. There were only specific rules with regards to property. Each province had important people groups which formed their own laws and decided what needed to be done. People had the right to raise a legal action against any one they hated, without any cause.
Libellas: In a few provinces, In order to move freely on the streets, a certificate would have to be obtained. This certificate could only be obtained if a person bowed down, offered incense and worshipped an image of the King.
Common Man: The Romans were in power and their Kings were considered as gods. If anyone did not bow down and worship the King, they were liable to be punished and persecuted. Christians were made fun of and were forced to profess their allegiance to the Roman Gods, without which they would be severely persecuted and tortured before being killed.
Philosophers: The Greek and Roman philosophers were considered to be very bright people, but they had a very low regard for Christians. Christians were considered impious and atheistic.
Periods of persecution from Church History
There were 10 major waves of persecution in around 400 years time in the Roman Empire.
The waves of persecution started under King Nero and ended with the severest period of persecution of about 20-25 years,known as the great persecution , under King Galerius.
Some of the prominent people of God who suffered for the faith are: Alexaminos,Ignatius-who has written several epistles to churches and a probable disciple of John who wrote Rvelation,Polycarp -again a disciple of John who was very old when he was persecuted and killed, Germanicus-who fought bravely with animals,Perpetua-who was persecuted and tortured like no women ever was and Fecility.
When we stand in the faith, we need to know who all have run in the past, before us.The Baton has been faithfully passed from one generation to another. It cost them their lives and history is smeared with the blood of the Martyrs so that we can enjoy the Faith we enjoy now and the Bible we hold in our hands.
Count it all joy when you face trials and tribulations.
Your faith will cost you. After you complete your lap, you will have to pass on the baton to the person waiting after you. You will through tough time because of your faith, but press on to pass on the baton to the next generation.