Brown's Daily Word 9-25-08

Good Morning,
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord for His Church on earth. We have His Word, His promise that "Upon this Rock I will build My Church and the gates of hell can not prevail against it". It is great honor to serve the Lord. It is a great privilege to be part of His Church and serve Him as Lord and Savior. I started to teach Sunday School and to preach when I was 16. That was 44 years ago. The Lord has been faithful, and He is more than wonderful. I was asked to speak in a mid-week service at the North Syracuse Baptist Church yesterday. This church is pastored by our dear friend Dr. George Miller, formerly the president of Davis College. It was a great blessing to be with him and with his people. One of the verses I used in my sharing was taken from Revelation 12:11
The book of Revelation is filled with strange and wonderful symbolism which is charged with emotion. Here, in chapter 12, a woman appears clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. The red dragon is the devil, who once was a glorious angel but who rebelled against God. In an attempt to take God's place, the devil led a revolt, taking with him a third of the angels. Those heavenly angels then became demons. The devil is said to attempt to kill the woman’s child. He hates God and God’s Son, as well as the people of God. Remember that shortly after Jesus’ birth, Herod, the Roman ruler, followed the devil’s will as he killed all the children in that region in an attempt to kill Jesus, the child-king. Jesus' parents escaped to Egypt. The devil also roused the people of Jesus’ own home town to kill him (Luke 4:29). Finally, the devil tried to kill him on the cross, but Jesus was “snatched up to the throne of God,” and Christ’s resurrection and ascension decisively defeated the devil’s plans to destroy the Messiah. God’s plan to save the world through Christ prevailed, and the devil was thrown down to the earth through the redemptive work of Christ. Finding himself limited to the earth, the devil pursues "the woman", who now represents all the people of God, in an attempt to harm God’s followers. As Austin Farrer says, “It is precisely when Satan has lost the battle for the souls of the saints in heaven that he begins the fruitless persecution of their bodies.” The persecution of the people of God is represented by the water that spews forth from the dragon’s mouth like a river. In other words, a flood of persecution comes against the church as the devil goes off to make war against the woman and the rest of her offspring — “those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” It is interesting that it is water that comes from the dragon’s mouth. Normally, the imagery is fire coming from a dragon’s mouth, but this is symbolic of his lack of power to do real harm. The basic message of Revelation 12 is that there is an vital role for the church to play during the world’s last days. There are three important messages that John is giving us in this chapter about the purpose of the church in the last days, and the first is, they will be God’s witnesses. As the world’s darkness deepens, it is never more important for us to be the light of the world. As the world travels further into error, it is never more important for us to announce the truth. As the world becomes more and more immersed in its own sin, it is never more important for us to be an example of moral and ethical integrity. As the world gives in to the pressures of conformity, it is never more important to be people of courage and strength. The purpose of our lives is not to protect ourselves and our rights, because what we have is just too important not to share. We dare not keep this to ourselves and thereby shut others out of the kingdom. Plus, it is the very thing that gives our lives power and enables us to overcome the evil of this world. Remember how the persecuted people of God overcame the power of evil in the last days? It says, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11). They did not overcome by being silent, but by the word of their testimony, and they did so under tremendous opposition and persecution. Jesus taught his disciples, saying, “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:17-20). Our purpose is to speak the word of truth and share with people the transforming power of Jesus Christ. They need to know that he can change their lives and bring them forgiveness. But how will they know if we do not tell them? We cannot be more concerned with protecting ourselves than we are about getting the word out, because that is what Christ has charged us to do. I am always amazed when I read about the lives of the first Christians. Listen to this passage from the book of Acts: “They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 5:40-42). They were beaten, and threatened with more, but their minds were on the honor of sharing in the sufferings of Christ, and the privilege of sharing the good news. John wrote the book of Revelation to a group of people who were suffering greatly because they dared to be Christ’s witnesses. John too was suffering, for he wrote, “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos (a prison) because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9). They refused to be quiet, because the news was too good and too important to keep to themselves. In spite of the persecution, “the word of God continued to increase and spread” (Acts 12:24). Why should it be any less today? What we should understand about the church’s place in the last days is that the people of the Body of Christ will be persecuted. Whatever your interpretation of Revelation, whether you believe the people of God will go through the Tribulation or be spared from it, you understand that the church will face persecution. In fact, the church is facing persecution in almost every corner of the world today. In China, followers of Jesus are killed, imprisoned and tortured. Their homes are destroyed and their means of making a living are taken from them. When all the missionaries were expelled from the country, many thought that was the end of Christianity in China. But when China became open to the West again, what we found was a church that had multiplied exponentially. The number of Christians had exploded, and the church was strong in spite of the enormous price people paid in order to follow Christ. What we have discovered throughout history is that when the church is persecuted it becomes stronger and more pure than ever. That is when people take their faith seriously. We have to understand that we are in a spiritual war, and we have a very powerful enemy. The apostle Peter wrote, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:8-9). We have an adversary who wants to destroy us spiritually and rob us of eternal life. His hatred toward God extends to God’s people. But we are not to fear him, for Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). We need to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are at this very hour undergoing enormous suffering, merely because they dare to name the name of Jesus. Churches are burned in many of the Muslim countries, and it is illegal to become a Christian. Families disown those who put their faith in Christ. They are being sold into slavery in the Sudan. Christians are beaten or arrested for having a Bible in North Korea. But, in spite of their suffering, they are begging for Bibles and sharing their faith. They meet secretly for worship. They are living out what we have read about in the 12th chapter of Revelation.
The Christians in Orissa are facing blatant and barbaric persecution in the hands militant Hindus. The persecution is intense every day. I spoke to Bishop D.K. Mohant yesterday. The leaders are very concerned. The militant Hindus are are targeting the Christian leaders, like Bishops, pastors, and evangelists. They have burned down close to 5000 homes belonging to the Christians. 90% of the church buildings in Phulbani District of Orissa have been burned down. Some 60,000 Christians are homeless, living in the refugee camps.
In the midst of the relentless persecution of Christians, Orissa State is also experiencing the Mother of all Floods. It is the worst flood to hit Orissa in 55 years. 18 districts out of total 30 districts (Counties) submerged in water. Four million Hindus are homeless. They are stranded in the open fields looking for higher ground. The very limited rescue operations inadequate to rescue them. Their properties are washed away, including the cattle. Many of the people who are stranded have been bitten by the poisonous snakes. I believe the Lord allows the floods to remind us the He is in control. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The wrath of our enemy is against us, but, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). We are to expect opposition, and we are to expect God’s strength which will enable us to endure. The Bible says, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Not everyone is going to love us, and some will even hate us. But God will be with us like he was with Daniel in the lion’s den. He will be with us as He was with the Hebrews in the fiery furnace. He will be with us like he was with Jeremiah and the other prophets who spoke the word of God and experienced mistreatment by the world, but came through it victoriously. The Bible speaks of those who were persecuted for their faith when it says, “Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated — the world was not worthy of them” (Hebrews 11:36-38). The world was not worthy of them, but heaven will welcome them. We should understand that the church’s place in the last days is, they will be victorious. Here is the power of God. The people of God are often in the minority; they are persecuted and killed for their faith; they are overwhelmed by the political and military powers of the world, and yet they are victorious. They overcome all the odds and overcome the world. Jesus said, “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” (John 16:33). The people of God must become victorious, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11). The church will overcome when they take great risks for the kingdom of God. We overcome when we begin to risk and live dangerously for God. It is not in sitting in our comfortable homes, or church, that we overcome, It is by getting outside the walls and beginning to make a difference in the world. It takes courage to overcome, and this is a precious quality which God rewards mightily. Near the end of the book of Revelation, we hear Jesus say, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 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. 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.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars — their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” (Revelation 21:3-8). Those who are cowardly find themselves sharing the same fate as those who have been immoral and evil. But those who are willing to suffer for Christ find that every tear is wiped away and they have no more pain. They find that everything is new. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached about death and heaven as if he might be going there at any time. He said, “The minute you conquer the fear of death, at that moment you are free. I submit to you that if a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” Many years later, Cassie Bernall, who was shot to death at Columbine High School after telling her assailant that she still believed in Jesus, was inspired by King’s words. She had underlined King’s thoughts on death and courage. Did she, like King, sense what would happen in her life and the courage she would need for that time? One writer said, “Why did these words speak to her at such a young age? It is such a great mystery. But I do know this. She had found something she was willing to live for, and even to die for, and that made all the difference in her life.” Jesus said, “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). We are called to be God’s witnesses and to endure temporary persecution, in order to be ultimately victorious and inherit an eternal kingdom.
What a way to live, what a way to serve, what a way to die, and what a way to live eternally.

Brown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twuLr5rQmp0
Prayer Requests for September 25, 2008
President Bush has called for the federal government to provide a financial response to the current economic crisis; Senator McCain and Senator Obama will join him at the White House today, along with congressional leaders of both parties. Pray for the President, the candidates, Treasury Secretary Paulson, Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, Senate Banking Committee Chair Dodd and others as they seek the best way to respond; pray for wisdom and for a spirit of great understanding and cooperation as they work together. Pray also for all struggling with setbacks due to the poor economy.
Pray for President Bush as he meets today with Michel Suleiman, President of Lebanon, and later, with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. He will also meet with Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India. Pray for God’s guidance and strength in each of these meetings. Give thanks for the many encounters President and Mrs. Bush had during the United Nations General Assembly held this week in New York City. Pray for the continued strengthening of relationships and for God’s will to come from this important event. Pray for President Bush as on 10/3 he speaks to participants of the White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy, being held 10/1-3 in Reno, NV. Ask God to guide these leaders as they consider the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat.
Pray for conveners of the presidential debates as Senator John McCain has withdrawn from Friday’s debate. He was set to meet Senator Barack Obama in the first of three presidential debates this Friday, 9/26 at the University of Mississippi in Oxford with a focus on foreign policy and national security. Pray for wisdom as organizers seek a time to re-schedule the debate. Pray for Senator Biden and Governor Palin as they meet for the only vice presidential debate 10/2 at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Pray for each one as they prepare and discuss matters of importance to their campaigns. Pray for godly wisdom for both, for strong interest on the part of citizens and for views and abilities to be appropriately portrayed. Pray for the members of the U.S. Supreme Court as they begin hearing oral arguments for the new term on 10/6—for godly wisdom, health and clarity for each one.Give thanks that most Hurricane Ike evacuees have returned to their homes and power has been restored to most homes and businesses, with the exception of greater Galveston. Pray for grace as residents return, particularly for those who have lost loved ones, homes or possessions, asking God to strengthen each community and its helping agencies—that His love will be lived out in the actions of others.
October is Clergy Appreciation Month! Pray for the pastors of our nation as they serve with faithfulness and dedication, asking God to encourage and bless them. Pray for parishioners to find creative and thoughtful ways to honor their pastors, youth pastors, children’s ministry workers and all ministry staff. Pray especially for those who are struggling. Click HERE for a free eCard you can email to your pastor or other ministry person. Give thanks for the success of See You at the Pole, a nationwide, student-led prayer gathering that involved thousands of students across North America. Pray for those who participated to continue the habit of prayer for their school and their country, and pray for a deepening of the commitment to prayer on campuses. Pray for our troops as they serve the causes of freedom and liberty in many places around the world. Pray for those who are in harm’s way in Afghanistan and Iraq, and pray for contractors who also encounter great risk as they help rebuild vital infrastructures.