Page 47 - The Gate and the Way

of Christ. We must not shrink back from these experiences as Peter did on the night of
Christ’s arrest. We must embrace the cross appointed to each of us.
The vast majority of Christians in America who come across articles such as those
cited in this chapter will be alarmed. Their immediate response will be to cry out in
indignation, and perhaps to engage in some carnal means of averting further persecution
against Christians. The church has not been taught the role and necessity of suffering for
Christ. Deceptive teachings that assert that God wants to provide an uninterrupted life of
blessing and prosperity to the saints has deeply weakened the churches ability to stand.
When persecution and suffering presents itself to the church in coming days, a great many
will fall away.

Mark 4:16-17
“And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky
places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have
no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or
persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.”

Christ encouraged those who would follow as His disciples to adopt a very different
mindset from that which is so prevalent in this hour of sensuality, ease, and comfort. He
told His disciples to think of themselves as “blessed” when all men hate them. He told them
to “leap for joy” with the understanding that they have a great reward in heaven.
It is a privilege to be permitted to share in the sufferings of Christ. In coming days,
many saints will be invited to partake of this privilege. To natural eyes, such things look like
no privilege at all. Men think it a curse to be turned out of homes, to have their possessions
confiscated, to be arrested, reproached, blasphemed, and roughly treated. In coming days,
many will be put in prisons, and some will lose their lives for their obedience to follow
Christ wherever He would lead. Let us have our minds made up ahead of time that we will
accept whatever comes, and not turn back.

Revelation 12:11
“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word
of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.”

Let us “think it not strange” when these experiences come to us. Tribulation is
appointed to all of the sons of God. There is a cup of suffering that Christ drank from, and
He would offer it to all who are called and chosen as sons. There is a baptism of fire that all
must pass through.

Mark 10:39
Yahshua said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be
baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.”

Let us not be alarmed at the increasing enmity of the world toward Christianity. These
things must come. The swelling tide of Christian antipathy cannot be turned back through
political activism, through boycotts, letter writing campaigns, or any other means. Christ
prophesied that His disciples would be hated by all nations. It is vain to seek to produce a
safe society where Christians can worship God and serve Him unmolested. To seek such a