Believe It or Not

Greetings in the Lord!

Today's word comes from John 15:18-16:4a~
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin...But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father....When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me. And you must also testify....All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you."

~This passage may be a bit uncomfortable to some readers, as we tend to shy away from the "persecution" message from Jesus. However, chances are, the reality of the passage is probably pretty foreign to Americans, as most of us have not truly experienced persecution for being Christian. Oh, but unleash the Spirit of truth! The truth is, there are many, MANY rebellious "Christians" in the American church today and oh, when the Holy Spirit comes in power--look out! "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me. And you must also testify..." (V.26-27). "Testify about what?" you ask. We are at a time when the Spirit of God will be moving powerfully in our midst--when the Holy Spirit annointing on a person's life will be supernaturally manifesting as they live from day to day--when a group of hungry believers invite the glory of God to move miraculously in their midst to heal and deliver--when the unity, faith, and meekness of a group will be able by the Hand of God to do astounding feats for the Kingdom--all these and more we will testify to the Church and beyond and surely, persecution will follow. Why does it have to be so? Because of unbelief. "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
~Be blessed and be a blessing.

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