Do not be discouraged

Around 12:50 a.m., I was awakened out of my sleep and I heard myself say in my drowsiness.
​

"This moment here feels exactly how the Christ’s apostles must have felt, when to their surprise, instead of Jesus performing another one of his great miracles by taking over the Roman government as well as all the religions leaders. Instead, these men persecuted Jesus and his followers, manipulated all the facts, promoted nothing but lies concerning Jesus and the religious group he led. They buried and hid the truth about Jesus, his apostles, and all his disciples. And attempted to destroy the Christian faith."
​

When I heard myself in my sleepiness stated this, I immediately spring up out of my sleep. I opened my eyes and just stared into the dark space of my bedroom for a few minutes to listen in the stillness of the night air. After a minute or so, I grabbed my phone and texted the previous paragraph to my ministry partner, Felicia. After I finished texting my message to her, I felt the glory of God entered my room and excitement came over my spirit. And it was at this point, I felt compelled to go to my computer and write the following note to the Body of Christ – God’s true remnant. ​

the body of christ - the remnant

My people, do not be discouraged. We cannot forget that God’s Word was written for us as an example of all the things that not only have happened but must occur. (See Romans 15:4-6). For there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:3-10). Just like times before, Christ our Savior prepared his apostles and all his disciples for this day through the everlasting accounts found in the LORD’s holy writings through the Scriptures.

For Jesus’ apostles and his Body were all taken through a period of testing of their faith before and when Christ was taken to be crucified on the cross. The one thing Jesus’ disciples were not expecting was the many different things that took place leading up to Jesus being crucified on the cross.  

• The suffering and beatings Jesus endured
• The lies
• The thievery made by all sorts of Roman men and leadership
• The piercing of Jesus’ flesh
• The involvement of many Roman citizens from all walks of life who banded together to commit one of the greatest fraudulent cases ever to fool and convince an entire nation to turn on and against an innocent man and God
• The nationwide censorship
• The many criminal acts of evil done by the small and the great, that is Roman religious leaders and government officials 

Many of these criminal evil acts were done by subordinates and men of great influence within the Roman religious and business sectors and political arena so that these individuals could remain in control and in power. Many individuals, both powerful and subordinates came together to commit high treason in order to have an innocent man murdered and a righteous religious group censored and canceled.

And yet, none of Jesus’ true followers were expecting any of the above to occur; although, Jesus had long prepared them for this day. For prior to all the incidents that were mentioned above, Jesus disciples were confident that it was nothing for Jesus to take out the Roman government, its military and leadership, and their puppets of religious leaders. In their eyes, this was an easy task for Christ the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. For this Man of God before them all, had walked on water, walked through walls, disappeared in the middle of a crowd of people, fed thousands of people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, expelled wicked spirits from people, healed thousands, and raised countless from death. So, overturning a corrupted and crooked Roman government and a religious system was nothing for the Messiah.

And yet, to the surprise of Jesus’ disciples, he did not rise against these evil forces. Instead, he did the unthinkable. He willingly yielded to the Roman government and its military as well as their unrighteous religious puppets. Jesus humbled himself to these traitors and opposers of God to the point of suffering a brutal death at the cross. For Jesus’ goal or mission at that time was different from his followers. For his followers wanted an immediate end to the current corrupted system they resided in. But Jesus wanted and had plans to rescue the entire world. So that anyone who came before, with, or after him will have an opportunity to choose life over death (John 3:16). This has always been the Father’s plan and will. For everyone to have an opportunity at life and escape the forthcoming penalty of death (2 Peter 3:9).

Therefore, Jesus’ disciples left the feet of Jesus at the time of his death confused. Some may have even felt hopeless. Not knowing what to do or what to expect next. For their desire and plans through Christ had not become their reality. And to add to their disappointment and dismay, as Christ followers, they now had become targets of the religious liberals of that time and the Roman government. Many began to mock Christ's followers. They were picked on, some were killed, lied on, called all sorts of names all for the sake of Christ the Messiah.

Despite their disappointment, many of Christ's followers tried to live a life of normalcy by returning to the work they once did prior to abandoning their careers in order to follow Christ. And it would seem that many of their stories would have ended there – in disappointment. But the greater was to come. 

christ has overcome this world

Today, we cannot be ignorant of the power of Christ our Savior. Especially since we have the historical account that has been recorded for us as evidence of the season and time we are in. For we know, after the crucifixion of Christ our Messiah, he rose and gathered his people in order to uplift, encourage, and edify them before his ascension to heaven to take his heavenly position at God’s side – waiting for the day the Father tells him to return to this earth to subdue all things to the Almighty Living God.

Until his return, Jesus has made this promise to his disciples at John chapter 16 verses 16 through 17.

“… Again a little while, and you will see me… because I go to the Father.”

Jesus followers did not understand nor did they know what the Son of the Living God was talking about. But Jesus continued by asking

“… Are you deliberating together about this…. Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief WILL BE TURNED INTO JOY” (John 16:16-20).

Is this not where the Body of Chris is today as it relates to the 2020 US Presidential Election?

The Lord continues

“Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. Therefore, you too have grief now but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR JOY AWAY FROM YOU” (John 16:21-22).

Then Jesus closes with these words at John chapter 16 verse 33.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.

We must be mindful that Jesus has not come to the earth to bring about peace as some erroneously believe he has. No, Christ has come to bring a sword that will divide people based on their mindset, belief system, and their belief in him or the lack thereof (Matthew 10:34-39). The sword that Jesus will bring forth will divide and clearly mark those who belong to him from those who do not. For many of these so-called “causal Christians” as Marcus Rogers calls them, will clearly take their stance and position for this world. These ones will claim to know Christ but bow down (promote, proclaim and vote) for a political agenda that is completely against the standard of God. This political agenda will stand to eliminate every moral Biblical standard while slowly eroding the Christian faith to the point of exterminating anyone who claims The Way, that is the truth. 
​

Temporary disbelief and disappointment

Can you imagine what all of Jesus’ disciples must have felt to see this man, the Christ, who carried such immeasurable power and glory, to be reduced down to a victim of such horrific offenses?

• Unjustifiable and unfair (one-side, biased, dishonest) trial by Pilate and the religious elite. (Compare to the US Supreme Court refusing to hear the hundreds of public citizens’ evidence of fraud in our 2020 US President Election)
• The crowds jeering concerning Jesus – “crucify, crucify him!” (Luke 24:21, 23). (Compare to the many people of this nation yelling “Impeach, impeach him!” concerning an appointed vessel).
• Pilate pronouncing and granting Jesus’ death sentence (Compare to the Republican party members as government officials who did not stand boldly and strongly against the treason act that has taken place against this country).
• Both the political and religious leaders sneering at Jesus. Mocking him by saying such things as, “he saved others, let him save himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One” (Luke 24:34). (Compare the religious leaders in the Church who have and are mocking those who have taken a position to stand behind the only candidate in the 2020 US Election who ran on a platform that is based on Pro-Bible principles, that is Donald Trump. While the other candidate completely ran on an anti-Bible principle platform, that is Joe Biden. There is no denying that. And yet, these so-called Christian leaders beat their breasts as the Bible says, proclaiming these ones who stand on the side of a pro-Bible platform, proclaiming them as false teachers, false prophets, false whatever.) There is no fear of the LORD by the people and they lack understanding of what they have done in the eyes of the LORD.

​But here’s the point. Can you imagine Saints, the shock Jesus’ disciples felt as they watched their Savior being sentenced to death and dying on the cross? Can you imagine the hopelessness many of them must have felt?

What Jesus’ disciples failed to understand at the time was that Jesus’ death was only the beginning of his victory for the true church – his Body of Christ, his Ecclesia. For the Words (prophecies) of the Scriptures must be fulfilled according to how it was written before the Ecclesia could truly benefit from all of God’s blessings and promises. For the Son of Man had to be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day (Luke 24:7). But when the resurrection of Christ reached the ears of Jesus’ disciples, they were still shocked by the crucifixion of Christ. For they not only did not recognize Jesus upon his resurrection, but they initially fell into disbelief. They could not believe that things did not turn out as they thought it would in their minds. (Compare to Luke 24:2-35).

The road To Emmaus

After confirming that Jesus’ body was no longer in his burial spot, Jesus’ disciples left Jesus’ grave probably more confused than ever. At some point, they begin their journey along the road of Emmaus. A journey that would change many of their lives for once and for all time sake. For these few disciples were about to see with their own eyes, one of the greatest miracles that Jesus had ever done.

While the disciples were traveling on the road of Emmaus about all the things that had occurred, Jesus just appeared among the group out of thin air and begin to travel with them. But Jesus’ disciples did not recognize him. In fact, they were expressing their disappointment concerning what had actually occurred compared to what they thought was going to happen. One of them said, “… we were hoping that it was He (Jesus) who was going to redeem Israel. Instead…” he was crucified (Luke 24:21).

This is the beauty of who Jesus is and his character. In the mix of this confusion among his disciples and the disappointment they felt, Jesus, whom they still did not recognize, responded to his disciples' sadness by saying

“O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25)

Jesus was plainly reminding his disciples that things were not what they seem. Certain things must take place in order that…. Let me just finish quoting Jesus’ words.

“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26)

There were certain things that were necessary to take place so that no man can but only God would get the glory. (Compare Mark 10:27; Deuteronomy 10:20-21; Ephesians 3:20-21). 
​

The 2020 US Presidential election

Is this not what this is all about – His glory? Certain things must take place so that no one other than God can get the glory and praise that He alone deserves. In addition to God only receiving glory, a line needed to be drawn that would clearly show

• Who really is for God and God’s agenda and who is not
• Who all really believe in what they preach and teach and who do not
• Who all are professing Christ, but not living for Christ
• For this one, I need to quote something Brother Paul Keith said that I think speaks volumes concerning the season and the time we are in today. He said​

​

1. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. To give an account of what we have done on the earth whether good or bad. (We will give an account of our actions in 2020 and 2021). (Compare to 2 Corinthians 5:9)."
2. "The season we are going through is a season of qualification or a season of disqualification…. Hearts are being examined. People are being qualified for the outpouring that is about to come." 

​

​This is not the season to give up or give in to anti-Bible principles. We must trust God! Things are not what it seems. Man does not have the last word or say. God does. As Brother Christ Yoon has said, “we will be redeemed.” All those who gave a witness, and spoke whatever Holy Spirit required you to speak or declare – you will be redeemed for your obedience and faithfulness. We will see the LORD's favor and He will get the glory. He will get the glory. Stay strong. Stay faithful and remain obedient to the word of the LORD knowing that we may suffer for just a little while for his name sake (2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12-14; Matthew 5:10-12).
​