Fires of oppression

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The dangers expressed here are graphic and scary. I have been through rivers of difficulty, and still go there. I don’t think the life portrayed by the apostle Paul was rosey. He was a man committed to sharing the gospel and for his troubles he was beaten, stoned and imprisoned, cast out, spoken ill of and rejected by his own people. As we do not have stories that follow the other apostles we could assume he was different, but was he?

History tells us that John was boiled in oil but did not die, we know that all the other apostles met a fate that caused them to be persecuted and killed for the gospel. Many of God’s modern generals faith we persecuted and rejected. Even in the Jesus movement the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was considered ‘theatrics’.

Gods saints are persevering as missionaries in lands of severe persecution. The West is now experiencing persecution for stands against doctrines of demons. Yet, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Christ who loves us (Romans 8:37).

Stand fast folks as the Holy Spirit is pouring out His Spirit once again! Amen!