Strong Man Of God Blog

          It is tragic to hear of and know many professed American Christians that are not willing to accept the coming global persecution of Christians to the death plainly foretold in Old and New Testament Bible prophecy.¹  Jesus Christ our Lord--God “the Word” made “flesh,” (John 1:1-3, 14, NKJV) is the most prominent voice of prophecy on this topic among the sons of men ever (Matthew 10:16-23, 24:9; Mark 13:9-13; Luke 21:12-19; John 16:1-3)!  Yet, many will not hear Him.  As a result, they are making no spiritual, mental or emotional preparation for what the Lord has forewarned us is coming in spite of the fact it is happening to genuine believers in many parts of the world right now.

          Giving us a heads up through prophecy long ago recorded in His written Word is another manifest blessing of God’s grace.  It is not intended to frighten or ward us off from being Christians though, some are departing from the faith from fear.  No, God’s good intent is to keep it real with us and encourage our diligent preparation in the face of His warnings in advance as the Lord Jesus indicated during and at the end of some of His prophetic discourses (Matthew 24:23-25; Mark 13:23; John 16:4).  Understanding and accepting God’s purposes in allowing His people to be persecuted to the death through faith in and love for Him will help our preparation.

          Indeed, it is written of the Lord Jesus Christ our example in everything that He is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,” (Revelation 13:8, NKJV).  The apostle Peter similarly writes of Him as God’s “lamb” “foreordained before the foundation of world,” (1 Peter 1:18-21, NKJV), while Paul indicates God’s “purpose and grace” were “given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,” (2 Timothy 1:8-12, NKJV).  These amazing statements clearly tell us our Lord Jesus had knowledge and understanding of what awaited Him at a future time from eternity before there was ever a creation or such a thing as time!  After these, He still had to wait millennia knowing His future before the time.

          When Christ did come into the world armed with advance knowledge and understanding of His Father’s will of persecution, suffering and death on a Roman cross for Him, He came with the trail blazing attitude of the Strong Man of God He is (Hebrews 10:5-7)!  He does not hide the truth of possibly having the same future from those who would become His followers He also expects to possess His attitude (Matthew 16:24-27; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:18-26; John 15:18-25).²  The Lord’s apostles fully understood Him and experienced persecution and suffering to the death.  They wrote to instruct us we to follow are not intended to long be exceptions to the rule if as has occurred here in America, there should be a brief respite (Acts 14:19-22; Philippians 1:27-30, 2:5-8; 1 Peter 4:12-19).

1 See the October 23, 2022 post, Revenge Of Those Without God’s Mark, under the category, Bible Prophecy.

2 The attitude of Jesus Christ, the Strong Man of God is exactly what He through the book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics, commissioned me to write about to help
   professed  Christian  men know so they might possess it!  The book is available at your favorite internet bookseller or brick and mortar bookstore and the Strong Man Store.
   I also developed a curriculum drawn from the book, the companion Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study and Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study for the equip-
   ping  of  the  saints  in  the  home and churches.  Get the Leader Kits that contain a Soft Cover Edition of my book, a respective Leader Guide and Participant Workbook as
   well as CD-Roms featuring PowerPoint Teaching Assistance, Pledge Sheets and Evaluation Forms for both studies exclusively in the Strong Man Store.

          In light of the posts the Lord led me to write beginning September 25-November 13, 2022, this Thanksgiving I am beside myself with gratitude to know and walk with Him by faith!  I am grateful too, in those posts along with all of my service to the Lord through Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc. to still be on this side of Heaven declaring His mighty works--past, present and future (Psalm 118:17-18)!  This is part of His good ends in allowing me to have been afflicted with Prostate Cancer which in accord with His promise of deliverance nearly a year ago to the date He gave it, I am progressing toward fulfillment.¹  Truly, God is good to those who look to Him.  “Oh, give thanks” with me to God daily and this Thanksgiving, “for He is good,” (Psalm 136:1-3, NKJV)!

1 Read the July 24, 2022 post, Afflicted For God’s Glory And My Good, under the category Glory To God!  Also, watch the corresponding Bible Instruction message the Lord
   gave  me  to  proclaim,  Afflicted For God’s Good Ends!  on  our Strong Man Virtual Institute Channel for a more in-depth presentation on affliction as chastening He brings
   and/or allows into the lives of His sons for our good.