Josh Hershberger, the assistant pastor at my church, preached this past Sunday night and delivered an excellent message. In his message he included something called “The Martyr’s Code” which impressed upon me the true drive, submission, and commitment we need to have to our Lord Jesus Christ.
I had never heard or read this before, and so wanted to share it with you. I pray it blesses you & draws you closer to the Lord. Regarding personal finances, let me just say that the greater we commit to loving and submitting to the Lord, in finances and all other areas of our lives, the more He will bless us according to His will.
The Martyr’s Code
“Today, I stand as a dead man. I declare that in Jesus Christ, I am saved by His Blood, and thus I am dead to sin, no longer dead in my sin.
Today, I stand and declare that I surrender my will and my life to His will and His life.
I shall go where He sends me, without asking questions.
I shall go to whomsoever He sends me, without seeking fame.
I shall preach to everyone, even if they hate me.
I am an Ambassador of the Cross, and must deliver the Message.
I shall pour out my life to reach my family, my friends, my neighbors, and my city.
I embrace the shame of the Cross, and I fear nothing but God.
I welcome suffering, shame, persecution, beatings, imprisonment and death, but I will not be silenced.
This is my city. I dare not do less.”– Unknown Author
Well, that is a no holds barred call to put your money where your mouth is! I pray that when, not if, but when, the time comes that I will be brave enough to face whatever my faith demands of me. I believe that Christians will be in for a difficult time in the near future, judging by the trends I see. I just received a notice from the American Family Association that Obama’s intention is to do away with the “Conscience Rule”, which gives health care workers the right to decline to participate in procedures that go against their religious beliefs. Abortion is one example. Health care workers could be penalized for asserting this right if Obama has his way. This is typical of some of the attacks on the rights of Christians. Recently in Lansing, MI at the Mount Hope Church, the service was invaded by homosexuals who disrupted the quiet worship of Christian people in several inappropriate ways. This is typical of the lack of respect to worship as one sees fit; a key principle upon which our country was founded. I believe that all Christians will be put to the test very soon. These types of attacks will soon separate the lukewarm believers from the tried and true Christians!
Wow!
Things sure have gone downhill fast in this country & in this world. Since our country made it’s decision to move away from God and His Word, things started disintegrating fast!
I believe you are right on, I too think there are some rough times ahead. The prince of this world has taken over our culture and so it is only a matter of time before we lose religious freedom as Christians.
God help us. Help us to be on our knees!
I guess I dont think the decision to move away from God was consciously made, it is just very inconvenient to live life according to His righteous principles when one is motivated by love of money, greed, love of power, lust, etc, etc. We have simply succumbed to the flesh in all ways and are not keeping our eyes on the eternal. What do you think?
I think it is an utter fact that moving away from God will occur automatically & naturally, unless we choose to be led by the spirit.
Therefore we MUST mortify the deeds of our flesh and meditate in the Word day and night so we can be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. If we are not, we will inevitably follow after the lusts of our flesh. (See Romans 7:14-25 & Psalm 1)
Regarding our nation, the Lord says in Jeremiah 18:7-10, “At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.”