Verse 18. As I read this verse a couple of days ago, it is still with me.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. source
The question is, do I? Do I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with what shall come? It’s a fair question and deserves the best answer I can give. I’m working on it — slowly, apparently.
Then there was verse 34.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.source
And to this one, I can only say, “Thank You, Adonai, for making intercession for me daily! Thank You for praying for me AND paying my debt! A debt I could NEVER pay.
Father GOD, there is no one we can with full confidence believe other than You. The world is filled with Liars and Opportunists – none of them can we safely trust. It is hard to live in this world of Sin. There was a time when life here was more desirable but corruption is abounding and there is NO ONE on earth to save us. There is None good, no not one You said and I believe You. You said the death of your saints is precious in Your Sight. I understand that more and more now. Yet I am still here as are many of Your Children and because we are, we are crying out to You for some early justice. We understand and accept The Great White Throne is yet to be. We understand the Bema is yet to be and we await those days, but for now, in the here and now, we petition You with all our hearts asking You to avenge us – we dare not do the avenging ourselves but ask that You please by Your Very Own Hand strike down long-standing evil in America and give us an extended space of grace with signs and wonders to deliver the Saving Gospel to the few it would seem who are interested in turning from death to LIFE. I long to see You come and show us Your Kingdom on earth. Satan and those who do his bidding have corrupted this place until it is barely inhabitable for Your Children. It is only by Your grace that we can bear staying here. But since we are we desire to do some good and we desire to stand against and push back the darkness and the evil that is running rampant. Please help us submit to You and resist the evil. Please fortify us Holy Spirit. Fill us and engage us in the message of Salvation to every soul who desires to hear and be saved from the wrath that now is and is yet to come. Amen and amen in the name of Adonai Yeshua.
Romans 3:10-18 (NKJV) 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Theirthroat is an opentomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whosemouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Theirfeet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “Thereis no fear of God before their eyes.”source
Psalm 116:15 (AMP) 15 Precious [and of great consequence] in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones[so He watches over them]. source
There may be other passages but these helped me with the question.
I heard a Minister of the Gospel say we are to stand against evil to prolong the time we can have to preach the Gospel of Salvation. Other than because GOD said so, that’s the best reason I’ve heard to date.
We know from 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 that HOLY SPIRIT restrains the Evil One from being fully revealed in this world and He restrains the rise of the Anti-Christ to power at this time. He will not always do that. From 1 John 3:8 I know that JESUS came to earth to destroy the works of the Devil, the Evil One. From Romans 8:9 I know that every SAVED person is indwelt by HOLY SPIRIT.
So, since HOLY SPIRIT is here to restrain the evil one; since JESUS came to destroy the works of the devil, and since all true Christians have HOLY SPIRIT living within us; it stands to reason that Christians must allow HOLY SPIRIT to resist and restrain evil in this world through us.
So, what evil do we resist, restrain? Every stinky form of it that is in this world. How? However, HOLY SPIRIT provides us individually and collectively with a way to stand.
We are glad you are here; stay a while, look around, and be encouraged. We estimate there to be over 3,000 posts here at The White Stone Blog. Please know my hope is ALWAYS to help and NEVER harm. I have voiced many opinions and thoughts here since 2007 and by now I MAY NOT EVEN AGREE with all of them and some of my grammar and punctuation likely needs editing. But this is changeless: JESUS is our ONLY Savior and Hope. Do you KNOW Him?
