Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)
I have a confession to make. I am not as tough as I thought I was. My feelings do get hurt by rejection, ridicule and being ignored. I’d like to think that I have a pretty tough hide. However, when folks purposely go out of their way to inflict injury, persecution, and all manner of evil against me; when they intentionally denigrate my character with malice of forethought and severely impede my ability to support myself and my family, I cannot help but to feel their hatred.
As I pondered the experience and reflected back on when it all began, I was amazed to discover that it all started with the preaching and teaching of God’s Holy Truth!
When the Spirit of Holy Boldness came upon me and I no longer equivocated over what God’s Word commanded or required, when I no longer feared the opinions of others nor sought their positive feedback or approval, when I grew a backbone and spoke like a man of God who was not just familiar with the Word but was acquainted with The Author, all hell seemed to breakout against me.
The veil was removed, and the Truth uncovered the lie. Many of those who professed to be my friends were actually my enemies and the enemies of God. Many family members’ as well as church members’ alleged salvation became doubtful in the face of God’s unchanging Word and eternal plan of salvation. The demons who had found a comfortable seat in the House of Prayer became uncomfortable in the presence of the Holy Spirit of God and the proclamation of His ordained plan of Salvation.
Because I choose to stand with Christ, unapologetically, boldly and in the integrity of holiness, many have chosen to persecute me.
I have not personally attacked them, inhibited their career progress, slandered their name nor sullied their reputation. I have only addressed the broad issues of sin in the light of God commandments.
So why kill the messenger?
I have not stood in judgment of anyone to condemn them to hell. To the contrary. It is their sins which find them out and it is the Word of God that convicts and condemns the sinner for their sin.
But what I have discovered is that I am not alone. This is the path of many who have gone on before me. It is the heritage of the true prophets of God. It is a confirming sign of a godly calling and divine purpose. But more than that, it is a divine reason to rejoice.
In fact, Yehowshua (Jesus) instructs me to rejoice. I am to rejoice because I am persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
When I am hated because I preach and teach that God’s True Men of God never accepted praise or worship of any kind from anyone and that the WORD of God never sanctioned Pastor anniversaries or church anniversaries or any such idolatrous, self-serving, greedy, money raising practices that honor and celebrate the creature and not the creator…
When I am persecuted because I preach and teach God’s Word that says a woman shall not exercise authority over the man in the body of Christ for Christ is the head of man and man the head of woman…
When I am persecuted and ostracized because I preach and teach God’s Word that says homosexuality is an abomination and no homosexual shall inherit the kingdom of God…
When I am I targeted for attrition because I preach and teach God’s Word that says we must be born again; born of the water and of the Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ in order to see the kingdom of God…
When I am persecuted because I preach and teach God’s Word that says “No sexually immoral, impure, or greedy person, no idolater, no lesbian nor sodomite, no drunkard, liar, or thief, has any inheritance in the kingdom of God…
When I am shunned and ridiculed because I will not knowingly support a minister or pastor who preaches out of his own imagination to raise money or to entertain or to further his preaching career or for human accolades and applause…
Yehowshua tells me to “rejoice!”
I am told to Rejoice and be Glad because the Kingdom of Heaven is mine and my reward is in Heaven. And I am blessed to be in the company of God-called, God-chosen, divinely anointed, sent, and appointed prophets who have gone on before me.
I rejoice because Yehowshua instructs me to rejoice, and I love to obey my LORD!
I rejoice because God has honored me to suffer persecution for the sake of His Holy Word!
I rejoice because I have an eternal reward in THE KINGDOM OF YHVH and where my treasure is there my heart is also.
I rejoice because I have been initiated into an exclusive fraternity of divinely chosen men who were entrusted with divine REVELATION and TRUTH and the priceless treasure of SALVATION.
I rejoice because I am in Good Company!
Hallelujah and Praise God!
Copyright © Othealor W. Prince 2015
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TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!
Reblogged this on O. W. Prince Ministries.