DO NOT SUCCUMB TO PRESSURE AND DENY JESUS: Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide

BY PASTOR PAUL RIKA 
(Int'l Director Of Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide) 

DATE:
THURSDAY JULY 11 2019. 

TEXT:
1 PETER 4:12-19 

KEY VERSE:
2 Timothy  3:12  Yea,  and  all  that  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suffer persecution.

The Christian  race  is  not  a  tea  party. It  is  a  great  battle. Your  battle  is  against Satan,  the  General  of  the  kingdom  of  darkness. You  are  fighting  against principalities  and  powers,  and  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places.

It  takes  great grace  from  God  and  resolute  determination  on  your  part  to  win  this  battle. You cannot  rule  out  oppositions,  challenges,  tribulations  and  many  distractions  in this  Christian  race. 

Apostle  Paul  testified,  “I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith.” Every  saint  that  has  ever  gone  to heaven  passed  through  the  same  experience.
Bible  says,  “There  hath  no temptation  taken  you  but  such  as  is  common  to  man.”

Even  at  the  risk  of  your life,  you  must  remain  steadfast  to  the  faith. Never  deny  Jesus,  never compromise  your  faith! With  many  tribulations,  we  must  enter  the  kingdom  of God. This  reminds  me  of  the  story  of  Polycarp.

Polycarp  was  the  Bishop of Smyrna  who  lived  during  the  second  century. He  was  an  upright  man  who played  a  major  role  in  helping  to  maintain  the  original  teachings  of  Jesus  in  his day,  when  many  heretics  attempted  to  pervert  those  teachings.  

Upon  refusing  to burn  incense  to  pay  homage  to  the  Roman  Emperor,  Polycarp  was  suddenly faced  with  losing  his  life. Being  bound  and  burned  at  the  stake  and  then  stabbed when the  fire  didn't  consume  him,  Polycarp  boldly  proclaimed  these  last  words: “Eighty and six years  have  I served Christ, nor has He  ever done me any harm. 

How, then, could I  blaspheme my King who  saved Me?….I bless Thee for deigning me worthy of this  day and this hour that I may  be among Thy martyrs and  drink the cup of my Lord  Jesus Christ.” Polycarp's faith in  Christ  must  have been  the  stronghold  and  strength  of  his  life.

He was reputed to be a  “steadfast witness of truth”.  Polycarp paid the ultimate  price by being martyred for  Jesus. He did not try to preserve  his earthly body. Are  you  that  committed  to  Christ? What  a  sweet  inspiration  to  know  that  many  have  gone  before  us  who  served Christ  to  the  end! 

True  Christians  of  our  day  need  to  pick  up  the  mantle  and  carry on. Surely, we  too will  one day  meet our  Jesus and  the departed saints  of old. May we be as bold as Polycarp! 

Thought for the  day: 
Pick  up  courage  and  fight  the  good  fight  of faith. 

Song for the day: 
It  pays  to  serve Jesus……I'd  be  a  good  soldier,  I'd  die  at  my  post. 

Bible reading for the day:
Psalm 4-6; Acts 16:16-40