Hardships On The Way To Heaven

Facing Hardships On Our Way To Heaven Acts 14.21-25 We must go through many hardships in order to enter the Kingdom of God. I Thessalonians 3.1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. This is a truth we do not particularly like. We are destined for hardships if we are following Jesus. It was never easy to be a Christian in China. Read the hardships of Hudson Taylor in books about him. Google “The Boxer Rebellion.” By 1950, after Mao took over, it became very difficult for Chinese Christians. Mao went out after the church. You can read about this in China: The Church’s Long March by David H. Adney Hardships? You will discover, as in Acts, what Mao meant for evil God meant it for good to the saving of many lives. Hardships oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits, a pressing, pressing together, pressure We are in a battle today. It is Jerusalem against Babylon. It is the Kingdom of God versus the kingdom of this world, it is a battle in the spiritual realm. It is good against evil, Light against darkness. Righteousness against sin. Holiness against wickedness. We are in a conflict greater than we can imagine. The surest way to receive less criticism is to do nothing. The surest way to avoid persecution is to be quiet about your faith and be prayerless. Yes we are persecuted for being a House of Prayer, but we are not going to stop. Pastor Humphrey on Wednesday: We are in a great spiritual battle. Faith Missions does not seek to “benefit” from its investments. Relative asking me when I am going to get something back from the trips. Sadly he does not understand the Kingdom of God. Nor do many American Pastors. They understand the political kingdom of man but not the Kingdom of God. We are servants not Kings. We seek to advance God’s Kingdom, not the church. Jesus takes care of His church. Justin once I would like to read about how an individual was used to expand God’s Kingdom, rather than a denomination! So We must go through many hardships in order to enter the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God and Prayer Prayer is the language of the Kingdom of God. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. I Corinthians 4.20 We see the power of God in answers to prayer. Yesterday! Luke 18.1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, (give up) 7 will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" You will find the Kingdom coming when people are sincerely praying, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk. If this is not sitting well with you, can I ask you, “How is your prayer life?” Are you praying without ceasing? If not keep seeking to. Think about prayer: puny human beings talking to Almighty God on His Throne! Think of His past deeds! He never changes. He is the same! The cries of God’s children, the cries of Israel in Egypt. At that time men began to call upon the Name of the LORD Genesis 4.26 * The Kingdom of God is among us. Luke 17.20 When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. 21 Nor will people say,‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see,the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Jesus is the Embodiment of the Kingdom of God. Wherever there are two or three gathered in My Name there am I in the midst. This was in the context of prayer. The Jews needed a minimum of 12 men to form a synagogue. Jesus sets us free from that. Prayer partners. While invisible we can see the results of the Kingdom of God among us. Build at a 90* angle and the building stands. Cooperate with the law of gravity. Eat right and exercise, you will feel better Give and it will given to you. Mostly in redeemed souls. Their transformation. Changes in their behavior, speech and attitudes. I have been watching it here. Making Disciples is the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. Feed the hungry and you are seeing the Kingdom of God come. Preach the Gospel to the poor… this opens the Kingdom of God. Bangladesh Audio Bible Photo Haiti Church * The Kingdom of God is Coming It is forever. Psalm 145.13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all He promises and loving to all He has made. Jesus is coming again. The Kingdom of God will rule the earth forever. While it is among us, when Jesus comes the kingdom of darkness will be banished. There will be no more battles. All is peace and joy and love. Revelation 21.1-8 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain,for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be My children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” * Hardships We Go Through Paul’s II Corinthians 1. 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers.Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. I Corinthians 15.31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our LORD. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, II Corinthians 11.23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits, a pressing, pressing together, pressure Persecution for the Gospel: made fun of, mocked, accused of being holier than thou, accused of being a holy roller Left out of things Talked about behind our backs Watching people mess up spiritually Financial concerns for the churches. Our own struggle against sin Hebrews 12. 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? Hardship as discipline Don’t run away from it Remain in it, in Christ, persevere, hold fast To the pastors… II Timothy 2.3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Shepherding a flock brings hardships. Sheep who wander off The enemy trying to divide Being alone. In the battle Being falsely accused Through We don’t live in them They are temporary They are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us Romans 8.18 We will be done with them one day. We will lay our armor down and receive a crown. We must go through many hardships in order to enter the Kingdom of God.