Thursday, January 6, 2011

Are you ready to lose everything?

I watched the live streaming video of the Passion 2011 conference earlier this week. The speakers that I saw each brought their own passion, gifts, and unique speaking abilities to their session, but one that particularly struck me was Francis Chan.

I had heard Francis Chan's talk from Passion 2010, and read his book "Crazy Love" as well as "Forgotten God," and I believe the Lord is using this man to lead many to a more genuine faith in Him. Yet I still seem to be amazed when I feel like He is speaking directly to me through Chan.

In His Passion 2011 talk, Chan, having done a lot of missionary work in many different countries, began to recount stories of persecution faced by Christians elsewhere. In India, the Christians there told Chan that "When you are a Christian here, you lose EVERYTHING."

I heard that and I felt a focal shift. I noticed that I have started to read the persecution stories in the Bible, and in historical texts, and thinking of them as something of the past. Wouldn't this make Christ a liar when He said that "In this world you will have trouble," etc. ? Does this mean that we aren't living the way we are supposed to if we're not facing persecution?

I want to be putting myself out there, taking bolder risks for Christ, trying to tell my close (non-Christian) friends about the gospel even more urgently.. because what Chan said is true - that without Christ, they are headed to eternal death. Knowing that, how can we let them head down that road?

If anyone reads this, what do you think? Are we living incorrectly if we do not face persecution? Would you be ready to lose everything for your faith?

2 comments:

  1. Hey Alicia its me...12:10 :D :D

    Many Christians deem "persecution" as, getting beat up for the gospel, put in jail, having all your possessions ripped away from you. I'm not saying that doesn't fall under the umbrella, but many feel that if they don't have that, then they aren't persecuted.

    Paul says..

    Galatians 4:29 - But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.

    Who was the kid under flesh and under Spirit? Ishmael was flesh and Issac was Spirit. Did Ishmael beat up Issac? Put him in jail? No, back in Genesis, all Ishmael did was make fun of him.

    When someone mocks you for having Jesus, that falls under the line of being persecuted. Heck, even your OWN MIND, persecutes you, telling you that you aren't saved, telling you that Jesus remembers all your sins (LOL, that's contrary to Hebrews 10:17), or Jesus will not bless you.

    By the way, the Holy Spirit can tell you not to go to certain places because you may not be well received. For example:

    Acts 21:4 - After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem

    So who brought the persecution? Paul did on himself... LOL

    There are times that all of us Christians will be mocked, etc so in a sense we will have that moment. For other's they will "always" be in that moment because they've been called to always be in that moment. And for others, they bring on the consistent persecution on themselves because of the "zeal" they have, much like Paul even when God told him NOT TO GO THERE. LOL

    If you think about it, does God look at one being "persecuted" to accept them and their lifestyle? No, God accepts us because of the Jesus in us. Its only because of His obedience that we are saved.

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  2. "I want to be putting myself out there, taking bolder risks for Christ, trying to tell my close (non-Christian) friends about the gospel even more urgently.. because what Chan said is true - that without Christ, they are headed to eternal death. Knowing that, how can we let them head down that road?"

    For one thing, we cannot change a person, only the Holy Spirit does. I'm not saying that we shouldn't tell people about Jesus and His Finished Work; however, it runs deeper than that.

    Take a look at Mary and Martha. One was sitting at Jesus' feet, and the other was 'serving.' Not only was she serving, but she was blaming her sister and Jesus at the same time... LOL

    That story of Mary and Martha is why many ministers, evangelists, etc that are in ministry get burned out eventually. Always working, and never really sitting down at the feet of Jesus.

    By having the mentality of, "If I don't tell them, then they'll go to hell.." births self-condemnation. This will rob you of the Joy of your Salvation because you feel it was your obligation to get them saved. Because of "obligation," Christians get burned out, and this is a big reason people hate the idea of Jesus anyway because its been "forced" upon them and the mentality of the "I need to tell everyone and save the world.."

    This is why its called "fruit" Fruit happens randomly from an over abundance of life within. One must know FULLY who they are in Christ, what Christ has done with full knowledge, and rest in the knowledge of His FInished Work. Only then, they will naturally tell people about Jesus, not because of "obligation"

    Great example of someone that told many about Jesus because she sat with Jesus and listened to Him? John 4 with the woman at the well. Jesus never told her to tell people about Him, she "magically" did it. LOL


    "Would you be ready to lose everything for your faith?"

    I gained everything by accepting Him and His Finished Work. I obtain Heaven, AND I am a joint-heir to EVERY PROMISE IN THE BIBLE while on Earth. By having Jesus, I obtain everything! :D

    www.gracehope.com

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