Page 46 - The Gate and the Way

because they discovered a book that he had written that expressed Christian
viewpoints about social issues.
#14 A while back, a federal judge actually ruled that the University of California
can deny course credit to applicants from Christian high schools that use textbooks
that teach that it was God who created the earth.
#15 Back in 2009, one 8 year old boy in Massachusetts was sent home from school
and was forced to undergo a psychological evaluation because he drew a picture
of Jesus on the cross.
#16 The Obama administration has announced that there is a whole host of laws
that it will not be enforcing, but one thing that the Obama administration has
chosen to do is to aggressively pursue lawsuits against anti-abortion protesters.
#17 During a Congressional hearing earlier this year, U.S. Representative Sheila
Jackson Lee warned that “Christian militants” might try to “bring down the
country” and that such groups need to be investigated.
#18 According to a shocking FBI document obtained by Oath Keepers, the FBI
definition of “suspicious activity” now includes making “extreme religious
statements” and believing in “radical theology.”
[Source: http://www.prisonplanet.com]

Christ’s theology in His day was certainly considered “radical.” So too was the
preaching of the apostle Paul. Not surprisingly, their words stirred up strong emotions and
at times a violent response from those who heard them. If the sons of God speak forth those
things Yahweh’s Spirit delivers to them to speak in this hour, it too will be considered
radical, offensive, and will provoke a response of persecution.

John 15:20
“Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If
they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you...”

II Timothy 3:10-12
But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at
Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me! And
indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Yahshua will be persecuted.

When Paul speaks of being delivered by the Lord out of all his persecutions, he is not
implying that he was spared experiences of suffering. Christ gave Paul strength to stand,
and not shrink back, when faced with suffering. It was the will of Christ that Paul suffer
many things. This fact was expressed at the very time of Paul’s conversion.

Acts 9:15-16
But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My
name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how
much he must suffer for My name's sake."

Although you and I may never be called to suffer as many things as Paul, Yahweh has
specifically appointed experiences of suffering for everyone who would follow in the steps