Good morning, I'm up early with barely a nap. Idle time i suppose bothers me some. I'm looking at something that i have been teaching on for sometime the past few months. The book of Hebrews. Also reading from passages in a book called the essential works of John Wesley.
After Mr Wesley taught in Hebrews chapter 10.....He had some profound remarks. Lets look back at what was the topic.Christian persecution is the topic. Lets start with this.
Luke 6:22...Christ says the following " blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and she'll reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake."
Here we see Christ telling us  something we will be blessed for. Yes and i will warn those...that I think this is an excuse to be angry forceful belligerent. Absolutely not this is something that will happen to some. And this is what will happen to those few. Now some according to the book of Hebrews, will come to the point of shedding blood. Their own blood. Men's said all kinds evil all of them even as had been said of the prophets who were before them. And whatever any opposers would  afirm, others would believe so that the offences grew as the stars of Heaven for multitude. Now some for a Season suffered only shame and reproach, some, the plundering of their goods, some, scourging, some chains imprisonment, and others resisted to blood. And that of course is all in the book of Hebrews chapter 10 verses 32 through 34, chapter 11 verse 36. Brother Wesley's conclusion is as follows Thus did Christianity spread itself in the Earth. But how soon did the tares appear with the wheat and the Mystery of iniquity work as well as the mystery of godliness! Right here is the point of this discussion.  In our churches tares sit among the wheat. Question, how to deal with this. I say preach to them and teach them knowing full well that the tares are acting as though they are the elect.This can cause issues that can cause harsh feelings. In a large congregation we usually see where there are members of the staff that can deal with these issues before they get out of hand. And what I have in mind is a differences of doctrinal beliefs. Thats if they believe they are the elect. If they are truly born again it may just be a difference in doctrinal beliefs. How did i get off on that subject? Lol.
The real issue in these verses, is concerning the different ways persecution will come. And I'm considering that if you're a pastor or a teacher you cannot preach the gospel to the Lost edify your congregation when over half of the congregation sees thru different lenses.  This very thing becomes a form of persecution. It can hinder what the man of God is preaching or teaching. Brother Wesley and his statement about Christianity spreading itself in the Earth, then as soon as you do that the tears will appear with the wheat then this all becomes a mystery. A mystery of how iniquity works and a mystery of godliness and how it works. Think on these things examine these things pray on these things. We must not give up we must continue, even when dealing with stressful issues in the house of God. Satan will certainly have his army ready to fight you and try to sift you like wheat. Look at what the scripture said. What some of these godly people went through. They lost their financial Goods. They were mocked. And from what I've read historically many Godly men, had their marriages and homes attacked. And I'm sure many we've never heard actually lost their families. The attacks come like job's wife when she said Curse God and die. These have to be painful. And difficult to go through. Now my brothers and sisters, oh how there's much for us to pray about. Truly loving one another, will accomplish much. I just wanted to touch base on this issue. Because I have seen it first hand mostly in the smaller churches. Because they're understaffed unable to deal with the issues in the flock properly. I will say this we must before we consider growth, we must or May have to purge what's in our congregation. If we cannot win them we may have to separate from them. Course that is not the goal but it may have to happen. Now my personal opinion is after a while then get moving. The mystery of iniquity mingled with the mystery of godliness can keep you occupied. If not fixed it can hinder a move of the Holy Spirit. It can quench the Spirit. In our modern times I find that everybody thinks they know everything. Their opinion is all that matters. Yes even in the church house. Therefore we lose respect for the authority all of our leaders. And I might mention, that the loss of respect can occur in the home, and then carry over in the church house. That is awful, it's destructive, and if not gotten control of can cause churches to fail. The Bible says if a man cannot handle his house, then he cannot handle the church or the house of God. Now that's not a separate subject all of this is caused by the mingling of Tares. I'm gone for now. I love ya, keep the faith