Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Minnesota is home to a very large gray wolf population which is estimated to be around 2500 wolves. Although we have seen a few of them up in our area, they tend to be more concentrated in places such as Voyager’s National Park and The Boundary Waters Canoe area. Wolves are known to travel in packs, and when they hunt, they will encircle their prey in order to keep them from escaping. In World War ll, German u-boats were often referred to as gray wolves, because when they attacked allied ships, they would mimic the same hunting behavior as wolves.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
When you choose to become a follower of Christ, it’s going to create numerous enemies from those who reject the doctrines of our faith, but fear not, because even when we are surrounded on all sides, God is ready to deliver us out of the hands of the Wolfpack.
Hebrews 12:1-4 (KJB) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
The Apostle Paul was a soldier for Christ Jesus and understood from experience what it meant to be completely surrounded by enemy forces. He went through incredible amounts of suffering for the gospel of Christ Jesus, but the Lord delivered him out of them all.
2 Corinthians 11:24-28 (KJB) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
2 Timothy 4:17 (KJB) Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Granted, it can be very difficult when people you trust such as parents, a wife, or even other relatives turn on you and then cast out your name as evil, simply because they reject the path of repentance towards the will of God, but when we patiently endure such persecution, we must always look at the sufferings that Jesus went through. He was besieged on all sides by people who absolutely hated Him, but He endured it all, even the death of the cross. Think about all of the people He sent out to preach who eventually turned away and walked off on him. Think about all of the religious leaders who were privately conspiring a way to take Him and kill Him. Think about His own disciples who ran off and fled when they took Jesus in the garden. This is the creator of Heaven and Earth who was treated in such a manner, and when we become a follower of His, we too must learn to suffer for His namesake.
Acts 5:41 (KJB) And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
As an unbeliever, we surrounded ourselves with others who were involved with all types of immoral and wicked deeds. But when you finally make the decision to repent and not be a part of that life any longer, they will speak evil about you, simply because you have chosen to do what is right with your life.
1 Peter 4:1-6 (KJB) Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
We must not fear persecution from others, because the battle belongs to the Lord, and He will certainly pour out His wrath and tribulation upon them.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 (KJB) Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
When you choose to follow Christ Jesus you will need to accept the fact that you will have to face some type of tribulation along the way.
1 Thessalonians 3:4 (KJB) For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (KJB) So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
The faithful followers of Christ Jesus will have to endure a certain amount of suffering, but don’t be discouraged and worried. Be patient and know that the Lord Jesus stands with His elect, especially when they are surrounded by,……
……..The Wolfpack
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.♥️
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