Be a Christian Prepper
A couple of days ago I shared that one of the themes in the New Testament is the reality that as believers we are going to face suffering. Even a cursory reading of what the Bible says about the end times will validate that reality. So how do we prepare?
Assemble Your “Go” Bag
I work with a pastor in a country where it is illegal for him to be a pastor. I spent a week with about 36 of the people in his underground churches taking them through exercises to equip them to feed themselves from the Word when their pastor is arrested. What will you do if the Christian bookstores are closed, the Christian websites are taken down, Christian radio and TV is shut down, and your church is padlocked? Can’t happen? What if it does? How will you feed yourself?
You need some tools. You need to know how to study the Bible on your own, without aids. Aids like a study Bible or commentaries. If you had a Bible and a blank sheet of paper, how would you tackle the Gospel of Mark? How would you start? There is a best way. Do you know it?
Decide Now
When you are confronted with a choice to renounce Christ or die what will you do? Then is not the time to decide. Yes I know that in Matthew 10:16 that we will know what to say, the Spirit will lead us. But, based on John 14 – 16 isn’t that leading based on our abiding in Christ and obeying Him? It may be a bit late to start that abiding and obeying when confronted with that choice.
Bottom Line
1 Peter 5:8 tells us that our enemy is continually active. He is the ruler of this world and vehemently hates Christ and His followers. He wants to kill us. If we are not abiding in Christ and obeying Him, the only other Biblical option is that we have compromised with the world and with its ruler.
That is not a good place to be and will not serve us well when we are challenged.
A couple of days ago I shared that one of the themes in the New Testament is the reality that as believers we are going to face suffering. Even a cursory reading of what the Bible says about the end times will validate that reality. So how do we prepare?
I work with a pastor in a country where it is illegal for him to be a pastor. I spent a week with about 36 of the people in his underground churches taking them through exercises to equip them to feed themselves from the Word when their pastor is arrested. What will you do if the Christian bookstores are closed, the Christian websites are taken down, Christian radio and TV is shut down, and your church is padlocked? Can’t happen? What if it does? How will you feed yourself?
You need some tools. You need to know how to study the Bible on your own, without aids. Aids like a study Bible or commentaries. If you had a Bible and a blank sheet of paper, how would you tackle the Gospel of Mark? How would you start? There is a best way. Do you know it?
Decide Now
When you are confronted with a choice to renounce Christ or die what will you do? Then is not the time to decide. Yes I know that in Matthew 10:16 that we will know what to say, the Spirit will lead us. But, based on John 14 – 16 isn’t that leading based on our abiding in Christ and obeying Him? It may be a bit late to start that abiding and obeying when confronted with that choice.
Bottom Line
1 Peter 5:8 tells us that our enemy is continually active. He is the ruler of this world and vehemently hates Christ and His followers. He wants to kill us. If we are not abiding in Christ and obeying Him, the only other Biblical option is that we have compromised with the world and with its ruler.
That is not a good place to be and will not serve us well when we are challenged.
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