PASSIONATE PURSUIT...2 COR 11

ARE YE HEBREWS? SO AM I. ARE THEY ISRAELITES? SO AM I. ARE THEY THE SEED OF ABRAHAM? SO AM I.
ARE THEY MINISTERS OF CHRIST?( I SPEAK AS A FOOL) I AM THE MORE; IN LABOURS MORE ABUNDANT, IN STRIPES ABOVE MEASURE, IN PRISONS MORE FREQUENT, IN DEATHS OFT.
OF THE JEWS FIVE TIMES RECEIVED I FORTY STRIPES SAVE ONE. THRICE WAS I BEATEN WITH RODS, ONCE WAS I STONED, THRICE I SUFFERED SHIPWRECK, A NIGHT AND A DAY I HAVE BEEN IN THE DEEP;
IN JOURNEYINGS OFTEN, IN PERILS OF WATER, IN PERILS OF ROBBERS, IN PERILS BY MINE OWN COUNTRYMEN, IN PERILS BY THE HEATHEN, IN PERILS IN THE CITY, IN PERILS IN THE WILDERNESS, IN PERILS IN THE SEA, IN PERILS AMONG FALSE BRETHREN;
IN WEARINESS AND PAINFULNESS, IN WATCHINGS OFTEN, IN HUNGER AND THIRST, IN FASTINGS OFTEN, IN COLD AND NAKENDNESS.
BESIDE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE WITHOUT, THAT WHICH COMETH UPON ME DAILY, THE CARE OF ALL THE CHURCHES.

These are some perilous times that we are living in. Yet the testimony of Paul is an encouragement, because he first persecuted the church. His sin and zeal without knowledge was known among so many. However, the Lord Jesus Christ delivered him from his own self and made him a minister to the gentiles. He became a fool for righteousness sake. His life became a living sacrifice unto the Living God. He suffered many things, but it was because he was walking in obedience to spread the gospel to all the lands. Are you a true comrade? Where are the true saints that are willing to pray people through a crisis and through the perils that come upon the saints in these last and evil days. Many have been suffering in the deep and in the wilderness attempting to do the Lord's will and purpose.

Ministry is so much more than simply preaching a word to someone. However, our preaching is not in word only but with the power of the Holy Ghost. With signs, miracles and wonders we compel men and women. The impartations will change lives forever to do that which is pleasing in the sight of God. To the Jews I became a Jew...meaning I was able to partake and understand the sufferings and the overcoming power that comes with believing on the name of Jesus. Yet we endure as good soldiers and fight a good fight. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? I become as the weak in the midst of these perils that I might gain the more unto the Living God that they may be a brand plucked out of the fire. I, too, am offended by the things I continue to see and by the things that we have allowed to occur as a nation once chosen and favored by the Most High. Yet, in weariness and painfulness we seek the spirit of the living God that much the more for his strength is perfected in our weakness. The passion after God's own heart shall continue to drive me to my knees to seek his will...to praise him in the midst of adversity. I know nothing except Christ Jesus was crucified and is risen for my sake to sit on the right hand of God. Therefore, I have learned that no matter what state I'm in or what my circumstance may seem like...I've learned how to be abased and how to abound in the love of Christ and the measure He's given to do his work.
Many of the things that we are going through we are suffering at the hands of our own countrymen. We are suffering in the midst of false brethren. There are people around us in positions of high authority working iniquity and spiritual wickedness in high places. It wasn't the world or the Romans that delivered Jesus up but it was his own people. We must continue to do the Lord's work and to do the Lord's will while still abstaining from the appearance of evil. Do not take down or give up. Commune with thine own heart and meditate on the word day and night. Seek out your own salvation with both fear and trembling. Your labor is not vain. The harvest is plenteous , yet the laborers a few. Pray without ceasing and when you have done all stand and see the salvation of the Lord.