Globally Respected Charismatic Leaders Confirm 2016 Prophetic Words - RICHARD BARKER CHARISMA MAGAZINE

C. Peter Wagner is among those who confirmed this prophetic word. (Twitter )

Globally Respected Charismatic Leaders Confirm 2016 Prophetic Words

6/7/2016 RICHARD BARKER  charisma magazine

One recent morning got kick-started before I was even awake! It was an eventful dream, which I'll relate shortly.

In fact, someone had already tried getting in touch in connection with the dream! That may seem astonishing but this sort of coincidence isn't at all unusual. 'God-incidents' always make me rejoice for we have a God of surprises.

When I got around to checking the weekend email, one near the top of my in-tray was from the senior leader of Falkirk Full Gospel Church in Scotland, Thomas Harry. In view of what I'd dreamed, his message stunned me! It reads:

"I have attached an urgent word from the Lord that has had an overwhelming number of confirmations ... regarding the new season we are in and ensuring we build on the biblical foundation of the Apostles and Prophets found in Ephesians 2:20.

"It has been confirmed by respected Christian leaders globally and the document includes 10 confirmations including from Catherine Brown, Sharon Stone, Cindy Jacobs, Peter Wagner & others.

"This will affect us all one way or another, so I felt it was vital I shared with someone like you. Most of us realize there's a great move of God coming and the Lord wants to ensure we have our foundations and houses ready for this ...'

"I believe it signals the biggest shift in the church since the reformation ..."

I agree with Thomas that this prophetic consensus warrants church-wide circulation to leaders and congregations for serious consideration and weighing with the Lord.

To read the full document use this link to 'Word for 2016 ...' and scroll for downloading it as a Word or PDF document. More easily, however, read it courtesy of James Bailey with extensive comments on his Z3News by clicking here.

Thomas' document begins:

"The Lord has confirmed that the church as a whole has shifted to a new season and consequently we must build on the Apostolic and Prophetic foundation laid out in Ephesians 2:20. The attached document has been collated by Thomas Harry, through the leading of the Holy Spirit in order to communicate this word to the global church. Due to the urgent nature of this word, please circulate this to believers and leaders both here in the U.K. and beyond. I urge every believer and leader to take the time to read through this, as it is certainly one of the most important words for the church in many years."

I'm grateful to Thomas for kindly quoting a couple of items from this blog. Furthermore, we know from recent posts there are many more confirmations than those he quotes. (Not to mention the content of daily Lion Bites from Glasgow Prophetic Centre.)

Moreover, this blog's A New Era for the Church lists over 40 prophetic promises made before November 2014 and building up over the following year, presumably leading to a tipping point!

A Revival-Related Dream

The dream I'd had a few hours before reading his email was this:

A crowd I supposed had come from a church were milling around and confused. One man of some standing sharply accused me, "You're not a Christian." Upon my addressing that issue, the scene changed and time seemed to pass, as though the dream's earlier part was about historical events.

At one point, my spectacle lens was about to fall out, so I used my special screwdriver to adjust and tighten it. (This symbolizes a change in clarity of vision in order to understand the dream's meaning—and what was about to unfold!)

Then I found I was looking into large hall inside a building—the ceiling was not visible, but I sensed it was open to the heavens. The distant walls resembled many side chapels in a large cathedral. One was noticeable and commemorated the period of Celtic saints in pre-Catholic British church.

And NOW—actually while typing—I'm getting distinct ripples and chills down my neck as Heather Clark sings, "For the Lord our God He is holy ... holy, holy, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty" in her distinctive rendition of Exalt the Lord (from her Glorious Praise CD).

The hall in my dream was jam-packed with excited believers, quite the opposite of the earlier scenes. Someone nearby held his Bible to his mouth (signifying not only he will speak in accordance with Scripture but also as led by the Lord, with full prophetic anointing). And so I understood he was going to preach with a holy unction.

But then the alarm went off!

The dream's impact left a lingering impression. So I chuckled upon reading our morning prayer focus from Keep Praying and Bless. The day's Scripture is 1 Chronicles 16:29, "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His Name!"

We decree that a day will come when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

After the daily prayer of blessing for our family, friends, locality and that day's particular city came its specific blessing:

"We bless the nation to receive a spirit of worship, to give glory and honor to Almighty God, that His Glorious Name be praised by all men."

How appropriate—even more so when I read Thomas' email.

May you too be mightily blessed. 

Richard Barker researches and blogs about national and international events and developments within churches from a kingdom and prophetic perspective of the Holy Bible. Thus, the focus is upon revival and possible indicators of Jesus' promised return, plus contemporary prophecies from recognized prophetical voices.

For the original article, visit Richards-watch.org.

Draw closer to God. Experience the presence of the Holy Spirit every month as you read Charisma magazine. Sign up now to get Charisma for as low as $1 per issue.

Dare to go deeper in your faith. Our "Life in the Spirit" devotional takes you on a journey to explore who the Holy Spirit is, how to interact with Him, and how He works in your life. Are you ready to go deeper?

Did you enjoy this blog? Click here to receive it by email.

"Celebrating Our Savior! The Worship of Our Lord by Martha, Lazarus and Mary" Catherine Brown, Glasgow, Scotland

"Celebrating Our Savior! The Worship of Our Lord by Martha, Lazarus and Mary"

Catherine Brown, Glasgow, Scotland

The Elijah List

...but only one thing is needed... Luke 10:42b

As we celebrate Resurrection Day, my heart is drawn once more into gazing into the face of Christ through Scripture. I'm certain that you, like me, long for a deeper place of holy intimacy with our Saviour. May we each experience this spiritual reality as we journey together this week in a fresh outpouring of grace and glory from Heaven. Yet, even as we long for new God-encounters, we come to pour out all that we are to the Lord. Let this Passover week be a time when we seek to give and not take, to serve and not seek to be served.

As I was meditating on John 12 I was blessed afresh by the profound picture of worship it paints through the lives of three extremely different siblings – Lazarus, Martha and Mary.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:1-3

It's so tempting to rush through a familiar portion of Scripture without waiting on the Holy Spirit to bring a fresh illumination. As I re-read this beautiful text, the Holy Spirit impressed this known truth upon me, and in the quiet place of humble waiting I grasped afresh how deep the worship of these three precious individuals was.

It was near Passover, and an occasion had been set apart to focus only on Jesus; a moment in time had been divinely mandated for pure and unadulterated worship of the Lord. A time had been consecrated to wait with Christ and soak up each second of His grace-filled presence. This wondrous encounter would precede the eternal mystery of God outworked on the earth through the beauty and brutality of Calvary. Here, in a little home in Bethany, Heaven came down to earth and the atmosphere inside the house was charged with glory.

A Time to Serve: Martha's Worship

Martha had once been rebuked by the Lord for placing service above worship (see Luke 10:41-42), but now there was not a single word of correction about Martha's service, and the reason was that she now flowed out of love for Christ as labor to Him rather than from a weary place of labor for Him. She was not functioning out of any misplaced sense of duty but rather used her anointed gift of hospitality in worship to her Savior. Long gone was the sense of "having to," now replaced with the reality of "wanting to" use her God-given talents in worship of her Savior. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

God has entrusted gifts, calling, anointing, and commission to every born-again Believer. May we endeavour to live in a place of focus and flow that allows the Spirit of God to permeate Christ's love through us to all those we are privileged to serve.

Perhaps, as she moved around the table catering to the Lord and the dear friends who had gathered at their home, Martha reflected on the words that had marked her as a woman of faith when they rose from within her as she spoke to Jesus at the death of her brother Lazarus: "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask" (John 11:22).

She came to Jesus believing that after four days the Lord would raise her dead brother. She had spoken out of the depths of desperation of a broken heart, but nonetheless she had spoken triumphantly above her circumstances, and her hope was not lost in Christ. Now here she stood to love and serve the One whose resurrection power had raised her brother from the grave. How her faith must have soared to inexplicable heights in those few brief days, and how her heart was surely moved in supreme tenderness to worship Christ with all that she was.

Precious saints, bow your heart with me now and surrender afresh to worshipping God with everything you are.

A Time to Rest: Lazarus' Worship

I want you to use your imagination for just a few moments to picture Lazarus reclining at the table with Jesus. Don't think about the food or the wine; don't deliberate about the table or the benches or even who the other guests might have been. For just one second reflect on the look of adoration that must have been on Lazarus' face as he gazed into the eyes of Christ.

Ponder the reality that here was the living, breathing body of a man once dead who was now alive and well by the side of the King of Glory. Don't you feel he might have nestled as close to Jesus as he possibly could, perhaps even laying his head on the Lord's chest to listen to His heartbeat? Don't you suppose the atmosphere of faith in that room would have been gloriously tangible?

When Christ draws near the things of this world fade away. (Photo by Kevin Moffatt "Come Out!" viaelijahshopper.com)

We can only contemplate what Lazarus experienced during those four days when his body lay dead. What visions had he seen of Heaven and angels and glory? What had he experienced of Hell? These are questions we can never answer this side of eternity, however, it is interesting to ponder. 

Lazarus was raised to testify to Christ as the Resurrection and the Life and to God's miracle-working power. Every second of Lazarus' existence would be devoted to being a witness for Jesus. May we, too, emulate his holy, fiery passion to make Christ known throughout the nations!

A Time for Extravagant Adoration: Mary's Worship

We often think of Mary as the one who sat in attentive wonder at the feet of Christ, and rightly so, for Scripture affirms this (see Luke 10:39). Mary was a woman given to extravagant God-ward action. Yet, interestingly, Mary was not the first to go to the Master when her brother Lazarus died, rather it was her sister Martha who went out to meet Him whilst Mary stayed at home.

Did she wait to pray for Martha's encounter with the Lord? Was it within Mary's heart that her only sister Martha would know the blessed place of adoration she had attained in her relationship with Christ? Or was it a very different Mary who sat at home: Was her faith failing? Did she feel disappointed that the Master had been so near to Bethany and yet had delayed His coming, and in the interim period her beloved brother had died?

We will never truly know why Mary delayed in going to Christ, but we are told that when Martha returned "she went back and called her sister Mary aside. 'The Teacher is here,' she said, 'and is asking for you.' When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him" (John 11:28-29).

The Jews at the sisters' home had been comforting Mary. I sense Mary might have been having a faith-crisis, but when she learned that the Master was asking for her personally, something broke in Mary, allowing her to move from grief to the glory realm of one-on-one encounter with God.

The speed of her going to Jesus was so rapid that the Jews who had been with her followed her, expecting her to run in her grief to the tomb (see John 11:32). 

But Mary didn't run to the tomb, she ran to the One who is Resurrection and Life and she fell at His feet and said, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (verse 32). (Photo by Jennifer Page "Forgiven" viaelijahshopper.com)

What did Mary mean? She was acknowledging Christ as Healer, but it would seem she failed to fully comprehend that He could raise Lazarus back to life. Jesus was deeply moved by Mary's grief and those of the other mourners, too. There was no reproof or rejection, only the all-encompassing love of God expressed in Christ. Jesus wept with the brokenhearted and then proceeded to call Lazarus back to life. 

Envision the moment and rejoice, for we too will know this reality at the end of the Age when we are raised to eternal life in Christ.

In the meantime, let us also celebrate that God has personally called each one of us and meets us in every detail of our lives. He has an eternal plan and purpose for each of us, and Christ alone commands our destinies. Hallelujah!

Now consider the expensive perfume that was to be saved for the day of the Lord's burial: "Then Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume" (John 12:3).

Perhaps Mary had looked at her sister Martha enthralled in humble service and worship, then turned her attention to her once-dead brother now vibrant with life whose eyes were riveted with love on the Master, and she too remembered her season of agonizing pain, loss, and doubt now replaced with the wonder of resurrection glory. How could she withhold anything from the Lord?

She looked at that expensive perfume, and there was nothing that could hold her back. I envisage the multitude of angels that must have attended that occasion when all Heaven watched with bated breath as Mary picked up the nard. This was an unforgettable moment of holy awe, and out of the flow of Mary's heart came an action of dynamic worship and wonder and she offered Him her everything. All of it, every single drop of the expensive nard, was poured out on the Master as the alabaster jar was broken open. 

She loved Him so and nothing could be withheld; her beloved Savior was irreplaceable. 

She poured it out and the whole house was flooded with fragrance. (Photo by Lillis Boyer "Holy Incense" via elijahshopper.com)

I imagine the silence and then the outpouring of grace and the crescendo of angelic worship that trumpeted earthwards as holy beings celebrated and joined the adoring hearts of Mary, Lazarus, and Martha. Heaven and earth were joined in this moment of marvel as Christ was worshipped and adored.

May we live in the overflow of such expression of love to and for our Savior. I pray that our lives would be a fragrance to Jesus and that we would each breakthrough in victorious faith to live lifestyles worthy of His lovely name. We were made to worship and adore Him. He is worthy of all our praise. Today and always may God bless you and keep you in His tender love.

Your sister and friend,

Catherine Brown

Founder/International Director, Gatekeepers Global Ministries

Email: admin@gatekeepers.org.uk
Website: gatekeepers.org.uk

Catherine Brown is the founder/director of Gatekeepers Global Ministries (GGM) and is a sought-after national and international preacher and teacher. She is presently leading a global evangelism and discipleship mission entitled "GGM 7 Million Souls" and is working with her team and valued partners from 32 nations/regions to achieve the vision objectives. As of January 2015, there are almost 150,000 new converts and 117 new church plants. 

Catherine operates in an impacting apostolic/teaching mantle with a strong revival thrust on her preaching, serving the Church and the lost through Christ's Gospel of love. She has ministered in Europe, Africa, Israel, and the USA and has had the privilege of seeing people saved, baptized, healed, and delivered in the glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit, with signs and wonders following. 

Catherine's passion for Christ and His Kingdom is contagious, and wherever she ministers people are envisioned, equipped, empowered, and mobilized. She is married to Stephen and they have four lovely grown up children and live in the West Coast of Scotland.

To subscribe to The Elijah List go to:http://elijahlist.com/subscribe

Stand Firm in Your Faith! Engage With God and He Will Bring His Dreams to Fulfillment - Catherine Brown

Catherine Brown:

Stand Firm in Your Faith! 

Engage With God 

and He Will Bring His Dreams 

to Fulfillment

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the Gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this Gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

Apostle Paul opened up his letter to the Church in Corinth by reminding the Believers of the simplicity of the Gospel truths on which they had taken their stand. He instructed them to hold firmly to what they had originally believed, otherwise it was all for nothing. In this regard Paul's words are timeless in their principle and effect.

The Gospel In A Nutshell

Paul preached the Gospel "in a nutshell" in verses 3 through 5 of 1 Corinthians 15. Sometimes we have to be reminded of the simple truths of the Gospel.

(Photo via Wikimedia Commons by John Singleton Copley)

Paul's Own Personal Testimony

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. 1 Corinthians 15:9

With great humility and gratitude for his salvation, Paul described his encounter with the risen Christ and his ensuing salvation experience. It's important we understand that he was not wallowing in self-pity and neither was he raising himself up in pride. He was just being honest about where he had come from. He had a balanced picture of his past, but his focus was on the future and he comprehended that all of this was made possible only by God's love and grace.

We Can Stand Because We Are Transformed By The Power Of Grace

But by the grace of God I am what I am... Verse 10a

Paul acknowledged the amazing work of God's grace in his life. He was reflecting on the fact he had been saved by grace, redeemed by grace, and kept by grace. He knew he had a past and considered himself the worst of the worst, yet because of grace he knew he was being transformed to be more like Christ Jesus.

...And His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Verse 10b

(Photo via Flickr by Tito & Eva Marie Balangue)

Grace affected every aspect of Paul's life: his sonship (identity); his destiny (present and future potential); his inheritance; his life on earth and his life after death in Christ; his self-image and his service to, with, and for God. God's grace is such a magnificent gift to the Church!

May we never reach the end of understanding the magnitude and mercy of God's grace.

Addressing Half-Truths, Mis-Truths, And Heresy

Paul went on to teach about the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of Believers in Christ. He was addressing mistruths, half-truths, and potential heresy in the Church, which was dangerous and could have led the Believers astray. By verses 56-58 Paul reminded the Believers of the victory they had in Christ over sin, law, and death:

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain."

Paul had opened up his teaching letter by exhorting the Believers to hold firmly to the word of God in which they had first placed their faith, and he ended his exhortation by encouraging the Church to stand firm on its faith foundation. Paul's message is as relevant to us today as it was to the Church in Corinth!

We must choose to stand firm in our faith no matter what circumstances we experience, whether in the valley or the mountain top.

(Photo via Flickr by Ryk Neethling)

Paul encouraged the Believers to give all to Jesus and to serve Him in whatever capacity they were graced to do so. He reminded them that they had an inheritance and a reward in Christ.

How You Can Stand Firm

The Bible speaks of "standing firm" in many contexts. How do we stand firm? Here are a few practical, Bible-based hints to do just that:

• Don't return to old idols; old lifestyle; empty, religious ritual; or other gods: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).

(Photo via Flickr by Mish Sukharev)

• Be self-controlled and alert/resist the devil:"Resist him, standing firm in the faith..." (1 Peter 5:9).

• Be patient, don't grumble, don't judge: "You too, be patient and stand firm..." (James 5:8).

• Stand firm and hold to Biblical teachings/truth: "So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you..." (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

• Be consistent in prayer and with the armour of God: "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth..." (Ephesians 6:14).

• In surrender and service to God: "...give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord..." (1 Corinthians 15:58).

• By not giving in to temptation: "But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

What Are Some Of The Effects Of "Standing Firm In Our Faith"?

• Deliverance the Lord will give to you today: "...Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today..." (Exodus 14:13, see also 2 Chronicles 20:17).

• You will go from the pit to the mountain top/firm foundation: "He lifted me out of the slimy pit...He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Psalm 40:2).

(Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

• You will be positioned to intercede for nations: "...stand before me in the gap on behalf of..." (Ezekiel 22:30).

• You will have righteous confidence on the day of judgment: "...For we will all stand before God's judgment" (Romans 14:10).

• However, the wicked cannot stand before God – they will perish: "Therefore, the wicked will not stand on the day of judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous" (Psalm 1:5).

Let's thank God for His wonderful mercy and abundant grace today! God's deliverance births His destiny dreams in our lives. If we will stand firm in our faith and engage with God, He will bring His dreams to fulfilment in us. He can use our surrendered hearts to reach out to others in His love, for His desire is that none should perish and all should come to repentance.

Come on, Church, it's time to love the nations into the arms of our Beloved Saviour.Our Heavenly Father gave us everything in Christ. Can we, by grace, now give him more of our lives so that others may come to know our beloved Jesus?

God bless you today and always,

Catherine Brown
Founder/Director, Gatekeepers Global Ministries
Co-Founder, Scottish Apostolic Network

Email: admin@gatekeepers.org.uk
Website: gatekeepers.org.uk

Catherine Brown is the founder/director of Gatekeepers Global Ministries (GGM) and is a sought-after national and international preacher and teacher. She is presently leading a global evangelism and discipleship mission entitled "GGM 7 Million Souls" and is working with her team and valued partners from many nations to achieve the vision objectives.

Presently, there are 34 GGM global partner nations with 126,400 new disciples and 109 church plants. Catherine operates in an impacting apostolic/prophetic mantle with a strong revival thrust on her preaching, serving the Church and the lost through Christ's Gospel of love. She has ministered in Europe, Africa, Israel, and the USA and has had the privilege of seeing people saved, baptized, healed, and delivered in the glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit, with signs and wonders following.

Catherine's passion for Christ and His Kingdom is contagious, and wherever she ministers people are envisioned, equipped, empowered, and mobilized. She is married to Stephen and they have four lovely children and live in the West Coast of Scotland.

To subscribe to The Elijah List go to:http://elijahlist.com/subscribe

The Spirit Is Saying 'Forward'! - Dr. Michael Brown

Michael Brown

The Spirit Is Saying 'Forward'!

3/11/2014 MICHAEL BROWN  CHARISMA NEWS

While reflecting on a powerful quote from the lips of Catherine Booth, I was struck by the fact that the latest strategies of the American church, strategies to avoid conflict with the world, are not only wrongheaded. They are actually diametrically opposed to the strategies we should be following.

Let me explain what I mean.

Catherine Booth was the co-founder of the Salvation Army, along with her husband, William Booth, and for decades the Salvationists were known for their fearless, uncompromising preaching of the gospel, their sacrificial living and their compassionate care for the hurting and the poor.

Catherine was the more fiery preacher of the two, and in her sermon “Aggressive Christianity,” she exclaimed, “Opposition! It is a bad sign for the Christianity of this day that it provokes so little opposition. If there were no other evidence of it being wrong, I should know from that. When the church and the world can jog along together comfortably, you may be sure there is something wrong. The world has not altered. Its spirit is exactly the same as it ever was, and if Christians were equally faithful and devoted to the Lord and separated from the world, living so that their lives were a reproof to all ungodliness, the world would hate them as much as it ever did. It is thechurch that has altered, not the world.”

I had quoted these words almost 25 years ago in my book How Saved Are We?—not to mention many times since—but last week, when I posted them on my Facebook page, something hit me between the eyes.

On the one hand, Catherine's words are more relevant now than when she uttered them in England in the 1800s, since in so many ways the church of America and the world do “jog along together comfortably” today.

As I wrote in 1993 in The End of the American Gospel Enterprise, “Like Sardis, we have become the ‘perfect model of inoffensive Christianity’ (G. B. Caird), ‘having a reputation of being alive, yet being dead’ (Rev. 3:1). Like Sardis, we have so come to terms with our pagan environment that we provoke almost no opposition and make virtually no impact. And like Sardis, situated high on a mountain rock, we have felt safe and secure in this world.”

And that was written back in 1993. Just think of how much more compromised and inoffensive we have become since then!

But as I reflected on Catherine Booth’s piercing words, I said to myself, “Yet in many other ways, the church of America and the world are absolutely not jogging along together comfortably. We find ourselves in conflict, and there is often hostility, anger, legal persecution and, occasionally, even violence directed against us.”

Yes, the truth be told, on some important fronts, we are experiencing real opposition from the world, and some of it is vicious and angry.

Where exactly are we experiencing fierce opposition? And what are these important fronts?

I can answer those questions in two words: abortion and homosexuality.

Yet these are the very fronts from which many Christian leaders are urging us to retreat, telling us that we need to stop provoking so much controversy and that we need to quit standing up for these vital social issues if we want to win to Jesus those on the other side.

Now, I totally agree that we must be full of compassion and grace when we stand for righteousness and that we must overcome evil with good and hatred with love. And to the extent we get in the flesh and become mean-spirited and nasty, we are already defeated and we have brought reproach to the Lord, not to mention driven away those He died for.

And I absolutely affirm that the first and greatest priority is winning the lost and making disciples.

But didn’t Jesus say that those who were “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” were truly happy and blessed (Matt. 5:10, ESV)? And didn’t He say that this is how the prophets before us were persecuted (vv. 11-12)? And weren’t the prophets persecuted for calling their nation to repentance and for rebuking social evils?

Why should it be different with us?

When Paul spoke to Felix about “faith in Christ Jesus,” didn’t he also speak to him “about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment,” and isn’t this why Felix became alarmed (Acts 24:24-25)? (Felix was basically living in adultery with his wife, based on the laws and customs of the day.)

But today, when it is clear that we have hit a nerve when we stand up for the life of the unborn, to the point that peaceful pro-life activists have been attacked by police, some are telling us that we need to adopt a softer, more gentle tone.

Isn’t this simply a matter of compromise and appeasement?

And today, when it is clear that we have hit another major nerve when we oppose homosexual activism—while welcoming every lost person into our churches to hear the gospel and receive God’s love—we are told that if we will only drop this divisive issue, then we will see many more gays and lesbians saved and helped.

Again, I do agree that we have become too politicized on these issues—they are really gospel issues first and foremost and political issues second—but in reality, unless we affirm homosexuality as God-blessed and God-given, we will still be viewed as Bible-bashing homophobes. And we will soon learn the truth of Winston Churchill’s remark that “an appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile—hoping it will eat him last.”

Pastors, leaders, parents and all concerned believers, hear me clearly today: When and if same-sex marriage is codified as law throughout America, gay activists will not simply say, “We have finally achieved our goal!” To the contrary, all of us who do not affirm and endorse homosexuality (and bisexuality and transgenderism) will be singled out as intolerant bigots, and our freedoms of conscience, speech and religion will be the next things to go.

In fact, they are already on their way out, unless we take a stand for righteousness today.

What then do we do?

First, we repent of all known sin in our own lives, purging ourselves of hypocrisy, with God’s supernatural help.

Second, we ask God for a broken heart of compassion for those who oppose His standards.

And third, we ask the Lord for courage to stand, refusing to compromise or back down regardless of cost or consequence, prepared to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake and counting that persecution a true joy, always lifting up the name of Jesus in spirit and word and deed.

Where are we experiencing opposition today? That is where we need to take our stand.

As Martin Luther said, “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”

I hear the Spirit of God saying, “Forward!” I do not hear Him saying, “Retreat!”

Michael Brown is author of Hyper-Grace: Exposing the Dangers of the Modern Grace Message and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show The Line of Fire on the Salem Radio Network. He is also president of FIRE School of Ministry and director of the Coalition of Conscience. Follow him at AskDrBrown on Facebook or at @drmichaellbrown on Twitter.

Did you enjoy this blog? Click here to receive it by email.