Let Us Be NOT Ashamed

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

[Here is a place, where the Gospel goes forth regularly into the open air; is heard from mouths, is read in print, and even chalked on the sidewalk.  It is also where Christians have been screamed at, reviled, threatened with death, and assaulted.]

There is a hymn, which says,
"Am I a soldier of the Cross?
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause 
Or blush to speak His name?"

A few questions to ponder...
-Are you a Christian?
-Washed in the blood of the Lamb Who died to redeem your soul?
-Are you ashamed of His name and the Gospel?
-Are you ready to stand for His name?
-Even in a generation that despises His name?
-Even when others are silent?
-Even when it means you will be mocked, snubbed, or hated?
-Even when a man with a gun is aiming for your head?

I know the weakness of my flesh, but IN CHRIST (the position of the true Christian) there is strength.  The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.  He gave all for us.  
-Should we shrink from giving all for Him?  
-Doesn't He have us anyway?  
-Are we not strangers and pilgrims, here only as ambassadors for our King (Hebrews 11:13; I Peter 2:9-11; II Corinthians 5:18-20; Galatians 1:10)?  
-Our affections on this above (Colossians 3:1-2)?
-Our focus on pleasing He Who hath chosen us to be His soldiers (II Timothy 2:4)? 

The second verse of that hymn goes on to say,
"Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease?
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?"

Let us have the mindset of Yosef Tson (the Pastor in Romania who stood up boldly for the kingdom of God in face of KGB threatenings), that dying for Christ, would not be terrifying to us (Acts 4:29). 

-Should we not see it as our reasonable service to live as unto Him, completely yielded (Romans 12:1)?
-Are we not already crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20)?
-Is not our life hid with Christ (Colossians 3:3)?
-Are we not live for Jesus, Who died for us (II Corinthians 5:15)?

Let us glory in the Lord and rejoice that we may be counted worthy to suffer for His sake, whether it be slight or severe.

Philippians 1:27-29 "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"
28 "And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God."
29 "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

In this generation, we find it wholly appropriate to mourn and be in anguish over sin, and the hardness of the enemies of Christ, and at the same time, to rejoice and be exceeding glad to have the honour to make Christ known and share in the stigma of the cross.  In this day, I, as a believer in the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, am to live the seeming contradiction, that is only possible IN CHRIST-- that of weeping and leaping for joy: 

II Corinthians 6:10 "As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."

Weepers and Leapers.  Who will be that?  Christians.

Let us pray for our brothers and sisters, both those near, and those round the world, who are suffering for the testimony of Christ Jesus, pray for comfort of the Spirit, grace, protection, patience, power, joy, and the preaching of the word of God to a watching world, working even in the hearts of the persecutors, redounding to the glory of God!

Let us also prepare ourselves, "pray-pare", yield all to our Lord, and ask Him to help us for what may lie ahead for us, to make us READY to preach, pray, live, and die at a moment's notice.  Remember, 

"THOSE WHO ARE YIELDED TO GOD ARE THOSE WHO WILL BE WIELDED BY GOD" to the praise of His glory!

The hymn concludes with,
"Sure I must fight if I would reign
Increase my courage, Lord
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain
Supported by Thy word."

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

AMBA - ABORTION MUST BE ABOLISHED.

Active Application of AGAPE to Annihilate Apathy

Take a look at the front driver door of this Mitsubishi.  It has words that are derived from I Corinthians 13, the passage in the Bible known around the world as the "LOVE Chapter".

Describing LOVE, the sticker says---
"Is not easily angered, ALWAYS protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres: LOVE Never FAILS."

This is evidently a car of those who are willing to profess Christ out in public, to let it be known that they are Christians.  I think that having bumper stickers on one's vehicle, etc., with Scripture, and messages that represent our Lord, the Gospel, and righteousness is a good way to provoke thought in passersby, start conversations, and spread truth.  It is part of being a testimony for Christ wherever you go.  I personally make it a practice to have Christ-honoring messages on my car, and have many brothers and sisters in Christ who do the same.    

Now, you may ask, "Why is Kevan showing us this picture?  We've all seen similar stickers and know their purpose.  What is the point or the problem?"

HERE'S THE PROBLEM...That picture was taken as the family in that car drove into an abortion mill in order to have one of their children ABORTED.  BUTCHERED.  MURDERED.

[It happened in Nashville a week ago, on Saturday, February the 6th, 2016.  The photo was taken by a grieved abolitionist who was there to represent Christ at the gates of death.]

Think of it, a car with words from the Love Chapter went to a child sacrifice center to do the exact OPPOSITE of what LOVE is to their child!

(Sadly this is NOT a rare occurrence.  I have myself seen cars with fish symbols and Christian logos entering these places to murder the innocent.  Dear friends of ours have seen cars with bumper stickers representing local churches down the street, driven by those claiming to be Christians.  We have heard people say, "I will be in church tomorrow!"  More professing evangelicals will go to these baby butcheries as customers this week than as representatives of Christ for those made in His image!)

Please mourn with us over this murder, over the abominations of our people.
Pray for God to bring that family to repentance.
Pray for all professing Christians who participate in or are apathetic to the slaughter of their preborn neighbour.

Christians may be troubled at hearing this, but feel helpless.  But what can we do?  We can do what is right.

What is really needed is for the church of Jesus Christ to awaken from the slumber of ease and compromise, repent, arise, and be present at the gates of death. We are ambassadors for Christ, are we not?   SO, let us be "speaking the truth in LOVE" as He commanded, loving as He loved, demonstrating that LOVE in embracing the "least of these".

The LOVE that is found in I Corinthians 13 is CHARITY (agape LOVE).  We find it described in the passage.  Let us take just a portion!

I Corinthians 13:4-8
4 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,"
5 "Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;"
6 "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
8 "Charity never faileth..."

Here is the incredible description of Agape love, selfless intentional love, which gives to others needs without motive of personal reward.  The Bible in this passage (as in some others) uses the English word charity, which denotes giving, not in a weak, insipid way (that it may be thought of today, as many words have become shallow in our understanding), but the TRUE meaning of CHARITY.

The Latin root of the word carries the meaning of giving something "dear, costly, and beloved".  The Greek word charis is the word often translated grace in the Bible, giving with kindness to need.  This CHARITY love is not merely a feeling, but an action!  It is the lovingkindness extended to another.  This CHARITY is the love of heroes, who will put aside their own agendas, their own comforts, even their own lives, to take the hit for someone else, to rescue the weak and poor in their distress.  This is compassion with clout.  This actually makes a difference.

This love is the love which God so loved us with, that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16).  
It is the love wherewith Jesus Christ loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5).
It is the love that a husband is to demonstrate toward his wife, in giving up himself for her (Ephesians 5:25).
It is the love with which we are to love both our God (in response to His great love for us) and our neighbour (Mark 12:30-31; I John 4:19).

Notice the denial of selfishness in the passage: CHARITY does NOT envy, does does NOT "vaunt (boast) itself" or get "puffed up".  It does NOT allow itself to behave "unseemly" or be "easily provoked", but is humbly harnessed to the task.  NOR does it think evil.  CHARITY "seeketh NOT her own".  Love is not demanding or following "my own way", but holding onto that which is right and true for all.  Another word for selfishness, or going my own way is "iniquity".  See that love "Rejoiceth NOT in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth".  

I fear that one reason that most Christians are not showing this powerful love to the unborn in distress by confronting the culture of child sacrifice with the Gospel, and standing at the gates of death to deliver the weak with our mouths (Proverbs 12:6; 31:8-9), is because we are allowing our own selfishness (iniquity) to abound in our own lives.

The Scripture says, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:12).  Thus, our compassion in action to the littlest among us grows shallow and cold.  Oh, we care (at some level), but we don't charis.  We don't stop, and stoop over, and weep, and lose sleep at night in begging God to use us the next day outside Planned Parenthood to rescue lives and souls.  Our love (as the church) for the poorest, most needy, and most vulnerable people has grown cold.  And millions and millions of little ones have been slaughtered as a consequence.  Chilling, isn't it? 

It is called APATHY.  DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE.  Because we have our own plans for the day, our own cares, that don't include the inconvenience of pleading for our neighbour who is getting murdered down the street.  Being Apathetic is PATHETIC.  

The question is: Will we remain in our selfishness?  Or will we turn from it, and say, "Down Self, Christ is my King!"  Will we cast off our Cowardice?  Our Callousness?  Our Comfortlovingness?  To do what?  To take up the burden for the little ones!  To do as Job, and search out the cause we know not, to rescue the innocent from the jaws of the wicked!  To open our mouths in this generation, and speak for those who have no voice!  To bring the truth of Life and the Gospel with the Clout of CHARITY!  As the church of Jesus Christ, we must repent of loving our own ways, our own building projects, and our own pet peeves over the needs of others.  We must rise and engage for the abolition of this great evil!  This abomination, which is a bomb in our nation, bringing destruction and the judgment of God!

Let us NOT condone this evil by our silence!
Let us be shaken and awakened and go to the battle with the Gospel on our lips!
Let us forsake the slack hand of laziness and be diligent with all our might!

LET US PUT APATHY TO DEATH!

Consider two more characteristics of CHARITY: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind"

What is "SUFFERING LONG"?  To patiently bear a burden for a long time; to persevere in the face of offense and insult for the sake of another or a righteous cause.  To incorrigibly endure till the task is completed.

Suffer long?  That is not quite the description of the aspiration of the American church at large today (I must admit, it's not my greatest aspiration either).  We naturally want to avoid suffering, to get fast food, short checkout lines, easy living, comfortable situations, quick fixes, and answers to prayer right away.  Patience for us is often waiting without complaining for the popcorn to finish in the microwave.

Let us CHOOSE to "suffer long", to TAKE TIME to go to the child sacrifice center, to see the need ourselves.  To INTENTIONALLY do what may be INCONVENIENT, to hold out our hands to offer help and hope as our neighbours are being carried away to slaughter, even when it is cold outside or hot outside, even when those we call to choose to ignore, curse, or mock us.  Why should we not learn to be longsuffering, seeing that God is longsuffering (Isaiah 65:2; II Peter 3:9), and calls us to be as well (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 1:11; 3:12; II Timothy 4:2).  Let us choose to spend and be spent, showing this LOVE, as Paul did, no matter the response: "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved" (II Corinthians 12:15).

What about the other characteristic of CHARITY love?

"and is KIND"  What does it mean to be kind?  To put others before oneself; disposed to do good to others, supply needs, and assist in distresses; to see and act.  It was first used in this way during the age of chivalry (circa AD1300), and conveyed the idea of being courteous, doing noble deeds, righting wrong, and aid those in danger.  The word kind is connected to the word kindred, as in family, giving the concept of treating someone, even the stranger beaten on the road and left for dead, "like family."  Being kind is not minding your own business.

How would you pray and plead for the unborn child if he or she were YOUR own flesh and blood? Would you stand idly by if someone was going to kill YOUR child under protection of the "law"?  Or would you plead for their lives as if your own life depended on it?

O, LORD!  Let us not slumber while the weak are destroyed!  Let us not fail to visit the fatherless in their affliction!  Let us not remain apathetic!  Let us win battles for You before the sun goes down on this generation!

Rather than merely having the words of Charity on our cars and in our mouths while we continue our own selfish ways, let us show the world true CHARITY in our lives, by engaging our culture in society and on site for the sake of Jesus Christ and those who bear His image, till human abortion is abolished.

CHARITY "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

"CHARITY never faileth"

Abortion must be abolished.

A Clarion Call for Earnest Zeal

Recently, tragedy struck Kansas City.  

On the 19th of February, a restaurant/bar on the Plaza, called JJ's, exploded into flames.  One person died and over a dozen went to the hospital with injuries.  The cause for the explosion was a gas leak.  The strong smell of gas had been present for hours.  It was so bad that at least one individual in the restaurant wore a cloth over her nose and mouth, and others fought the impulse to retch.

Eventually, members of the gas company went specifically into the restaurant, carrying a meter to measure the percentage of gas in the air.  When the meter signaled that the level of gas was approaching dangerous levels, the gas personnel informed those in the restaurant that it was best that they leave the premises.

I have heard informal testimony from some of those who were there at that time.  The witnesses state that the gas company personnel did not communicate the importance of leaving NOW.  There was no urgency in their voices or manner.  They basically told the people to finish, pay their bills, and leave.  Some left.  Others stayed.  What was the rush?  

Minutes later came the explosion and fire, wreaking havoc and damage to life, limb, and property.

What could have greatly lessened the amount of injury?  

What could have saved the life of that one which was lost?    

If those who had read the meter had been more insistent, more urgent, more emphatic, quite possibly the customers and employees would have acted more swiftly and have been spared.

But let us consider something of greater import.  This world is full of men and women who are sitting and enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season.  Scriptures state"There is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20).  All mankind have transgressed the holy law of God.  The earth is cursed by sin, reeking with the stench of our abominations. "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22).  And yet, we find people persist in their rebellion against the Creator—holding their noses, pretending that nothing is wrong.

As Christians, we have been redeemed and we hold in our hands a meter, a Standard—The word of God.  It declares that this world and all the lost in it are in danger of judgment. It is sure and imminent!  "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (II Peter 3:7).  God has been longsuffering, but judgment IS coming.  It will come in due time. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (II Peter 3:10). 

In the same passage we find that the Lord is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9).  That is God's heartbeat on the subject. 

What should we do with this knowledge?  Should we stand by and keep quiet?  Is it right to  think, later is a better time to warn of the danger to come.  Even while opening their mouths to speak of salvation, many Christians seem to communicate the sense that there is no hurry.  But God says, "...Now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2).  We do not know how long any person has left.

 We must warn the lost to "flee from the wrath to come?"  "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord" we must "persuade men"!   Is it not our commission to preach the Gospel that men may repent and be saved?  We must let them know that this is a matter of LIFE and DEATH?  

Hear the words of Paul: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in God's stead, be ye reconciled to God" (II Corinthians 5:20).

The word beseech does not denote any sense of being nonchalant.  We are to passionately and earnestly implore, zealously preach the way of salvation!  People need to realize that there is an urgency, fervency, and emergency nature in their situation!  

So, believers, let us hear the word of God—"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; consider your ways" (Haggai 1:7).  And hearken to the exhortation—"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?"  Are you content to be silent, or passive, or half-hearted while family, friends, neighbors, and strangers around you are on the way to hell fire?  Does it not move you that there are "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision" who need to be warned of their danger and hear the Gospel?  Who will go to this corrupted planet and cry, "Earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD"?  The LORD told His servant Isaiah, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet..." (Isaiah 58:1).  

Do you desire to be that fervent for the Lord and for the lost?  Spend much time in the Scriptures.  Get in the Bible!  Get IT into you!  Meditate on the seriousness of sin, the terrors of Hell, and the wondrous magnifical way of escape through faith in the Saviour, Jesus Christ!   Standing in the Holy Presence of God will magnify the stench of sin, awaken us to the reality of eternal brimstone, and cause us to yearn for others' escape.  "Earnestly contend for the faith...pulling them out of the fire" (Jude 3, 23).  In doing so you will most definitely find the fire of zeal and will say with—

David "I delight to do thy will O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8). 

Jeremiah "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay" (Jeremiah 20:9).

Peter and John "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).

You will join in with many others!

I know my own feeble flesh and personally must remember this admonition.  We know not how long we have to do this service ere we are called home.  What a shame is on us if we waste the life He grants us!  "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." (I Corinthians 15:34).  

Let us implore the Lord our Father to cause us to be fervent emissaries, obedient to His call with our whole hearts.  May many souls hear the Gospel and turn to Christ!  May our Lord be magnified in how we befit ourselves as His servants!

"Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight" (I Chronicles 19:13).

Be valiant!  Be zealous!  "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season"!  Be about your "Father's business"!  Sound the alarm to those in danger of everlasting flames!  

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

40 Years Too Long

January 22nd, 2013 (this COMING Tuesday) is a significant day.  It marks 40 years since the United States of America declared it legal to slay babies before they are born.  At this time we have slaughtered over  55,000,000 (55 MILLION) children!

Our nation, still in horror at the deaths of 20 children in Newtown, Connecticut (and rightly so), must consider the 3,000 American boys and girls that are violently butchered each day!  Sadly, our nation as a whole, is unmoved at these facts.  These babies are much more defenseless—they cannot run, hide, or even cry out for help!

God makes it very clear that His people are to speak on behalf of those who have no voice. "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.  Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy"  (Proverbs 31:8-9). I hear a lot about how we must care for the needs of the poor and needy in society.  But is it not true that the unborn are the poorest and most needy of the land?

Do we think that God will be silent concerning this matter?  Did not the blood of Abel cry out to Him?  Are not "hands that shed innocent blood" (Proverbs 6:17) an abomination in His blood?  Did God not overthrow the Canaanites because of their wickedness, chief among which was declared by Moses? "...For even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods" (Deuteronomy 12:31).  Abortion is a human sacrifice to the god of self.  Who are we to think that we have the jurisdiction, not only to choose when we have children, but also to think that we can murder innocent people in the womb?  Those who promote abortion both "condemn the innocent blood" (Psalm 94:21) and "contemn God" (Psalm 10:13).

Did not the LORD judge even the kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem, the apple of His eye, for their national  sins, led by king Manasseh, who "shed innocent blood very much" (II Kings 21:16)?  How can we think that our own nation should be able escape the judgment we deserve?  Why should we expect God to bless the people that murders their little ones?  Remember, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).  There is reproach on this our nation today, for we have cast God's laws behind our backs (Nehemiah 9:26) and have framed "mischief by a law" (Psalm 94:20).  We are told that "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD" (Psalm 33:12), but does it not follow that conversely, that the nation which rebels against the LORD, and slaughters the innocent is in danger of judgment (Matthew 5:21)?  The Scripture warns, "Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person" (Deuteronomy 27:25).  Does it not follow that cursed is the nation who protects, promotes, and provides for the continuance of such a vile practice?  Sober thoughts indeed.

Our nation has allowed the murder of the innocent and it's money making industry 40 years too long!

A multitude of believers in churches today are slumbering in apathy toward this great massacre.  Some even promote abortion as a good thing, calling evil good.  Woe unto them!  Did Christ not tell us that we are to be salt and light in society?   Many others recognize the problem, but do nothing of substance about it.  We need to hear the rebuke of Paul: "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame" (I Corinthians 15:34).  

Much of the church has chosen to ignore the murder of the innocent and, even at times, defended it's money making industry 40 years too long!

Let us stand for truth, and declare the word of God concerning Life, and Life Everlasting!

Let us consider this charge: "If thou forebear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?" (Proverbs 24:11-12).

What is the believer to do when society is contemning God and condemning the innocent blood? 

"They that forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them" (Proverbs 28:4).  We must obey His word and contend for Life, pleading the cause of those who are unable to speak for themselves!  We must also cry unto the Lord to work mightily to change hearts.  "It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law" (Psalm 119:126).  

If the Lord has given you a burden for this ministry, and you would like to find out ways that you can get involved in the battle for lives and souls, please contact me.  I would love to share resources and ideas, and encourage you as you go forward.

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

Abortion must be abolished.

Be Bold

“Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight” (I Chronicles 19:13).

Joab, captain of the host, has led the mighty men of Israel against the royal city of Rabbah of Ammon. They have come in the name and at the command of David, their king.  The Ammonites have gathered to fight in front of the gates of the fortified city.  Joab and his host set themselves to do battle.

Yet what is this noise behind?  Sounds of feet marching, of hoof beats, and the jostling of chariot wheels?  The men of Israel look over their shoulders and take in the scene.  A huge multitude gathers in the field at their rear, not only footmen, but cavalry also, and 32,000 chariots!  It is a highly trained mercenary army from Syria hired by the children of Ammon to be sure of victory.  It seems as if they will be crushed between the two forces. 

The army of Israel, so far from home, has no chance of gaining reinforcements or aid.  In the face of such numbers and in a grossly disadvantaged position, what can they do?  It is enough to make the stoutest heart hesitate, falter. 

Seeing that the battle is set against him before and behind, Joab has a decision to make.  Retreat?  Make an attack on one side or another, leaving their flank exposed?  Surrender?  Sue for peace?    

The captain of the host swiftly gives orders.  He reorganizes his army into two, and gives the command of the second division into the hand of Abishai his brother.   The two armies must turn to face the enemy at hand—Abishai’s men fighting the Ammonites, while Joab’s men take on the Syrians.  This way they will have each other’s back.  The brothers agree each to send word if one needs help, and pledge to give aid when needed.

Before they turn away to attack the enemy Joab gives this charge to his brother.  “Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.”  They throw themselves into the fray, trusting in their God, and the LORD grants them the victory.

As believers, we also face a war.  It is not one against flesh and blood, but instead for the souls of lost people.  Our King, the LORD Jesus Christ, has sent us to preach the Gospel that sinners may come to know Him and be saved from sin and Satan’s bondage.  He has provided us with armour and a SWORD LIKE NONE OTHER–the quick and powerful word of God–the Bible.

It must be recognized that the enemy does not play fair, and when we set out to share our faith, we find not only the adversary, the devil, endeavoring to tempt and dissuade us, but also the world system, which presses us to compromise and to be silent.  And the flesh itself provides yet another foe, causing us to fear man and shrink from the task.

In the face of all this opposition, let us not lose heart.  Do we not have the LORD of all creation as the Captain of our Salvation?  Has He not promised to be with us?  Are we not more than conquerors through Jesus Christ?  He who redeemed us by His blood, He who commissioned us for service, can He not use us?

Let us then as brethren encourage one another.  Let us be vigilant to watch each other’s back. Let us be swift to pray; swift to ask for help; swift to give aid!  We must consider Whom we serve and be valiant in battle for the kingdom of our God.  Let us do our duty and trust the Lord Almighty with the results.  Souls are heading to destruction.  Let us lift up our voices and speak the words of our Saviour: “Be ye reconciled to God!  Repent and believe the Gospel!” 

And may we, as Joab, shout over the noise of battle to our fellow believers in the fight:  “Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.”