Page 44 - The Gate and the Way

entrusted His life into the hands of His Father knowing that He would be protected until
the time appointed by the Father for Him to suffer.
In Peter, we initially see a very different response. Observing that Christ’s open
declaration of the things of God led to arrest and suffering, Peter was initially cowed as he
feared the same result. Three times on the night of Christ’s arrest, Peter denied that he even
knew Yahshua. To save himself from suffering, Peter denied the Lord who had chosen him.
At the third appearing of Christ after His resurrection, we find Yahshua speaking to
Peter about his failure. Even as Peter denied Yahshua three times, Christ asks him three
times, “Peter, do you love Me?” Christ then tells Peter that he cannot avoid suffering, but
must embrace it. Only in this way will Peter be able to fulfill the desire of God and be
brought to the full image of Christ.

John 21:17-20
Yahshua said to him..., "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used
to gird yourself, and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will
stretch out your hands, and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do
not wish to go." Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify
God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!"

These words of Christ, although having a literal fulfillment, were spoken as a parable
to reveal spiritual truth. In our immaturity, our lives are guided by our own soul. Our soul’s
seek to avoid suffering, but following such a course causes Christians to remain as spiritual
children. In order to progress to maturity we must all stretch out our hands and embrace
the suffering of the cross appointed to us. We cannot refuse to share in the sufferings of
Christ. It is only through suffering that we are brought to a mature conformity to Christ.
Yahshua was expressing to Peter that he must yield to the cross, and become willing
to go where his own soul would not choose to go. If Peter would advance to spiritual
maturity (“when you grow old”), he must permit someone else to gird him and guide him.
This person is the Spirit of Christ. He will clothe us in garments of humility and lead us
down an afflicted path.
People of God, this story about Paypal cutting off service to this man who has been
speaking out openly against the sin of homosexuality is just one example of the growing
intolerance of the preaching of Biblical truth. This morning a sister forwarded to me a link
to a story on the website Prison Planet. It lists 18 (6+6+6) examples of the persecution of
Christians at this hour. Whether each of these events are truly examples of suffering for
Christ, I am unable to judge. However, I am persuaded that Christian persecution is on the
increase, and will only accelerate. Following is an excerpt from the article:

#1 Home Bible studies are now banned in the city of San Juan Capistrano,
California. According to city officials, regular gatherings “of more than three
people” in private homes are simply not allowed. One couple that has held home
Bible studies for years has already been fined twice [2] and is being threatened
with even more fines.
#2 Paypal has initiated “formal investigations” of a large number of Christian
websites and organizations. Apparently, many of these investigations have been
launched due to concerns that these websites and organizations do not hold to a
“politically-correct” view of sexuality...