MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 18, 2021 An Outpouring of the Holy SpiritBy Gary Wilkerson The Power to Face Tribulation Begins with Zealous PrayerThe Bible tells us that in the last days, the church will experience perilous times. Evil will become so pervasive that many will fall away from the faith and drag others with them. Paul warned his mentee Timothy to avoid Christians
“having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5, ESV).
John of Patmos spoke of believers whose lukewarm faith so angers God that he’ll spit them out of his mouth (see Revelation 3:16). Jesus said even devout Christians will be tempted to fall away.
“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13:22).
In the midst of tribulation, however, God always has good news for his people. Christ’s church was actually born into a world of wickedness and cruelty, subject to Roman rule. Acts tells us,
“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed” (Acts 4:26),
yet the same passage says that even the most powerful principalities operate in vain:
“Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?” (Acts 4:25).
Many early believers were put to death for their faith, yet that ignited the powerful spread of the gospel throughout Asia as Christians were driven out of Jerusalem. The good news of Christ took hold everywhere as people experienced his saving love and miraculous works through the faithful witness of his followers. |
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