Wednesday November 14, 2012

Read Revelation 13:1-10

We sat around the dinner table chatting, having read our “devotion” from the well known book, ’Jesus Freaks’. My daughter commented that it would be very scary to die at the hands of a non-believer. How right she was! But after we reflected on the statement, we concluded that if God ever did call us to such an act of service He would give us the strength to glorify Himself through it.

 

Such was the case in the dark days of Antiochus the madman. Many faithful believers fled to the hills and to the caves and gave their lives in sacrifice to their God.

 

Eleazar was a 90 year old priest who had faithfully served and followed God all his life. He was killed in hand copying the Scriptures (hence he was a scribe). The mad ruler declared that he should eat swine, the epitome of unclean animals for the Jews. Eleazar refused. He was ordered to eat his own lawful meat as though it were swine. Again he refused, knowing that many would be deceived by his example. He was mercilessly beaten until the Lord took him home.

 

The Lord assures us that a time is coming when a world power will command all peoples to worship himself and his image. This is no different to what happened in the dark days of God’s silence. The ruler will declare war on the saints and many will be put to death. Even up to that day, many will be harassed and persecuted and ridiculed for their faith in Christ Jesus.

 

But do not fear. Do not fret and do not hide the light of Christ. The Lord will walk by you and He will strengthen you. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear and when you are surely tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under that testing. If you are called to give your life as a dying testimony to your God, He will hold your hand the entire way. He will be by your side each and every second. He not forsake you. He will not leave you. Be confident in Him. Walk tall in Him. Stand up, speak out and shine for Him and because of Him.

 

Prayer:

Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

 

Adoration:

 

Confession:

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

¥ Pray that God would strengthen and encourage and challenge believers to be speaking up and living out their faith in Christ. Pray that He would give more and more opportunities to share your faith and to model the love of Christ to many.

¥ Pray for the 5 non Christians you prayed for earlier this week. Pray that God would grant them repentance and faith.

 

My Additional Prayer Points.

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2/.

 

3/.