Die Hard“Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exlude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” (Luke 6:22-23) The Apostle Paul was an expert in rejoicing in the midst of persecution for the devil was constantly messing things up for him. But he said it was not even worth considering compared to the exceeding and eternal weight of glory that was to be revealed (2 Corinthians 4:17). If Paul could be a Die Hard in the midst of stonings, shipwrecks, beatings, snake bites, imprisonment and all The Evil That Men Do, so can you. When Paul was told by the Holy Spirit that chains and tribulations awaited him, he said, “None of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). If you want to be a stronger Die Hard than Bruce Willis, then be Like Paul instead of Like Mike and do what the Word says. When persecution comes from the IRS in the form of audit, lien and levy, when family criticizes you because you lay hands on the sick and believe in healing, when acquaintances call you a religious nut because you pray in tongues and give freely, when neighbors look at you funny because you carry your Bible on Sunday mornings, and when friends call you a fanatic because you tithe and love Jesus, shout Hallelujah and leap for joy! That will drive the devil Mad About You for he’s expecting that persecution to hurt you, to destroy your faith, to depress you, and to leave you like Nick Nolte Down And Out in Beverly Hills. With faith in God’s Word, you can overlook all the discomfort by focusing on the great reward that’s coming, getting caught up in pleasing God and not people, finishing your marathon race with joy, and expecting the hope of glory and the blessing from God Almighty around the corner. Copyright © 2002 Eddy Ministries. All rights reserved. Subscribe/Unsubscribe:
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