Faith At The Breaking Point

According to an article in Newsweek magazine, Christians are being murdered for their first one in the Muslim world to the other and yet the mainstream media remains quiet, like it was in ancient Rome there is a war on to destroy the faith of believers in Christ and this war is coming to our own shores. Today we ask ourselves what it would take for us to deny our faith from Chicago. This is The Moody Church. Our weekly service of worship and teaching with pastor Erwin Blitzer. Today we continue a seven part series on famines, deserts and other hard places after the music of worship. Erwin Blitzer will bring a message from Revelation chapter 12 on faith at the breaking point. Our service begins with singing like you to follow along with me in your bulletin as we read together from second Corinthians chapter 4. Please read aloud with me on the boat.

This is God's holy word. Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing in their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that passing power belongs to God and not we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed perplexed, but not driven to despair persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed.

Always caring in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies, for we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus's sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So we do not lose heart. Though I have itself is wasting away our inner self is being renewed day by day for this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. So we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. But they begin today with a question what would it take for you to deny your faith in Jesus Christ. At what point would your faith break and you say I can't trust them anymore and I'm willing to deny him because of and then you fill in the blank.

I know somebody who denied Jesus Christ simply because of bitterness.

He was angry at Christians who had done him an injustice, and he was right about that, but in his anger, he decided that if that's the way they live. I don't want anything to do with their price to my had received so he stayed away from church basically denied Jesus because he was better at Christians. What a tragedy tragedy to be better at Christians tragedy that Christians would treat someone unjustly, but don't deny Jesus because people. It failed to look at Peter who was there and on the Mount of Transfiguration.

He saw Jesus in all of his glory. And yet when Jesus is being crucified.

Peter, of all people denies that he even knew him and swore that he didn't know from church history. There are many people who gave up their faith during the time of persecution and one of the questions that the church had to face is simply this, what do we do with those who lapse during persecution and then want to be reinstated in the good graces of the church after the persecution is over and there was a division in the church as to what to do about Christians like that.

What if you lived in a Muslim country over in the Middle East. I have in my hands, Newsweek magazine, Newsweek, February 3 team 2012.

I encourage you to get this magazine. That is to say this edition of the magazine. I have never dreamed that in Newsweek magazine that is not necessarily known for its conservative viewpoint would publish such an excellent article. The cover story is entitled the war on Christians and if you look inside at the story itself. It talks about the rise of crystal phobia from one end of the Muslim world to the other Christians are being murdered for their faith. The author, who is a woman who is not a Christian says that the Western news media is quiet about this, they are silent. I am amazed by the way, the extent to which the mainstream media protects what is happening and protects Islam. She says that we are accused of Islam of phobia, but then she says, and now I'm quoting directly, but a fair-minded assessment of recent events and trends leads to the conclusion that the scale and severity of Islamic phobia pales in comparison with the bloodied crystal phobia currently coursing through Muslim majority nations, from one end of the globe to the other. The conspiracy of silence surrounding this violent expression of religious intolerance has to stop.

Nothing less than the fate of Christianity and ultimately all religious minorities in the Islamic world is at stake.

Newsweek February 13, 2012. She goes on to point out or she gives a survey of what is happening whether it's in Egypt. Other Islamic countries. She points out that in many of these countries you are killed for dishonoring Mohammed, but you don't have to say anything against Mohammed or the Quran just being a Christian is to dishonor him to believe in the Trinity which is contrary to Islam, is reason enough for you to be put to death. At what point with you and I deny Jesus, and I have to be quick to point out that not all Muslims agree with sharia law.

Let me tell you what happened in Canada in the year 2004, in the province of Ontario.

The premier decided that sharia law could be practiced in certain Muslim enclaves and there was established at that time a ministry called the Islamic Institute for civil Justice. What happened is, there was such an uprising of Muslim women in Ontario and that these women said Mr. premier. We came from countries where there was sharia law sharia law.

They said is legalized violence against women, they said it justifies marital rape and then they went on to say that already in these enclaves where you have Muslim schools girls 13 to 15 are being married forcibly to men twice their age and this would only continue to exacerbate the violence against women. As a result of that, the premier back down and said no sharia law in Ontario and you and I need to stand with every Muslim who stands against sharia law and we have to say that we are on your side and we will stand with you against sharia law is a matter fact there's a small group of Muslims. Yeah let's clap Muslims. In fact, to hope to reform Islam and actually say that sharia law should not be a part of their religion. Unfortunately, as you well know, many of these who live here in America are living in hiding. Often times because of multiple death threats.

But we must stand with those who stand with us for religious freedom but in other countries that people are not necessarily that fortunate are they let me quote from the voice of the martyrs and it says that these kinds of notices are increasingly being found on the doorsteps of Christians in Muslim majority nations in the name of the law and of his final prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him the true religion of Islam will arise in your area and you cannot stop all is will we have been watching your family.

We have seen you go to church and seeing you. Pray to your false God. We know that you are infidels and we will deal with you as our holy Quran declares in sora 927 fight those who have been given the Scripture and believe not in the law or the last day or follow not the religion of truth, if you and your entire family. Do not leave your false religion and follow Islam.

You will be killed. Your sons will be slaughtered, and your daughters will become Muslim wives bearing sons will fight for a law in this region. Your only option is to flee tonight. Leave your home and everything behind all of our our what would you do what I decided to do in this series of messages titled famines, deserts and hard places is to ask ourselves the ultimate question of how we would endure persecution personal death and even death to our families and to our children. How would we do in those circumstances faced by millions of Christians today and in order for us to get a handle on this. I decided to talk about the most difficult time that is ever going to come up on this planet. It has not arrived yet Jesus said in Matthew 24 that a time is coming.

He said the likes of which have never been on the earth before, nor will ever be afterwards.

I say to myself Jesus.

What could you be speaking about.

Could there be anything worse than the Holocaust. The answer is yes. Certainly the Holocaust. Nothing can be worse than it locally, but what has happening or what happened in the Holocaust is going to eventually become worldwide at time of suffering on this planet, the likes of which we have never seen. Now you know that here at The Moody Church. Many of us believe that we are going to be rapture before the tribulation begins. What a happy doctrine that is.

And many of our friends who are post-tribulation is to believe that were going to go through the tribulation, as I often say they will be very glad to someday that we are right, but at the same time everybody agrees that there are going to be God's people and saints during the tribulation.

They will be converted evidently by the preaching of 144,000 Jewish people who have been sealed by God, to proclaim the gospel and they will come to saving faith in Christ. At any rate, you do have saints living during the tribulation and so because I want to talk about the worst possible scenario we're going to speak about the tribulation today and then were going to ask the question how would we endure, and then of course were going to end this message by talking about why they were able to endure, and then everybody who is listening today we are going to leave today with all fear gone. It's a promise.

Thanks for being on this journey with in the book of Revelation, we find that Antichrist arises before he does and I want to just say a word about the four Horsemen of Revelation in chapter 6, you need not turn to it because were going to hurry over it very quickly but in that passage of Scripture. We have four Horsemen the first is a white horse evidently Antichrist. He comes with a bow, but does not have an arrow because he is going to conquer and a lot of his conquering is going to be without war, but lest you think there's not going to be turmoil on planet Earth. The next horse is a red horse with a sword that is able to take all peace from the earth.

The next horse is a black horse that's famine and starvation that were going to be talking about and then you have the death a pale horse.

In fact, it says that with the coming of this writer catch this. He has the power to kill one fourth of the world's population, which today would be about billion people die and you even imagine it. But now were going to look at the tribulation directly and with your Bibles open to the 13th chapter of the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 13 and it is here that we have the rise of antichrist in the awesome power that God allows him to have for a little while you'll notice it says in chapter 13 verse one.

I saw a beast rising out of the sea and then it describes it, and we don't have time to go into the description, except to say that this is a description of certain empires that were in existence in the past and he is the in body meant of them all, and it says and to the Dragon gave his power and his throne and his authority. That is the Dragon gave it to the beast. Let me get this clear. The Dragon gave to the beast his power and his authority, who is the Dragon it is the devil, as we shall see in just a few moments out of his heads one of his head seemed to have a mortal wound but it's mortal wound was healed. And the whole earth marveled as they followed the base and I have to stop here and say that Antichrist is going to want to duplicate everything that Jesus did. And so Jesus had a resurrection he is going to be put to death. Perhaps it will be fakery, but the world will believe that he has been raised from the dead. He has a mortal wound that it's healed and everybody wonders after the beast. In fact, there are at least 15 parallels between Antichrist and Jesus. We can't mention them today.

That's a separate message, but another is the Trinity itself.

You'll notice in this passage of Scripture. You have the Dragon who corresponds to God the father.

Obviously, in a negative way. You have Antichrist who corresponds to Jesus, the opposite of Jesus and then you have the false prophet, which basically plays the role of the Holy Spirit in directing attention toward the beast so that people worship him. This will become a little clearer later on. But I want us to understand the awesome authority of antichrist. It says in verse five and the beast was given a mouth uttering the haughty and blasphemous words and it was allowed to exercise authority for 42 months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God bless Fleming his name and his dwelling so that those who dwell in heaven. Also verse seven it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.

That is to put them to death.

And authority was given it over every tribe and people, and language and nation and all who dwell on the earth will worship it with an exceptional talk about in a moment.

Every time I read this I get chills.

Imagine the authority given ultimately by God to antichrist. Now of course he receives his power from the Dragon but always remember that the Dragon also is in God's hands as Luther famously said even the devil is God's devil.

And here's a man who is authority over all the earth and all of the dreams of people throughout the centuries that there would be one unified religion that would finally unify the world has come to pass, were all worshiping the same person we are all insane. Everybody is obeying and at last, the world has unity so antichrist is given this kind of authority and there is finally a one world religion but notice the martyrdom it says it was given over every tribe and people in language and all who dwell on the earth will worship it. I just can hardly believe that all who dwell on the earth will worship it. Everyone whose name is not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain unless your name was written in the Lamb's book of life from before the foundation of the world. All those on planet Earth, whose names were not in that book they will worship the beast when I was in China number of years ago with a religious leader. I member.

He made an amazing statement. He said persecution wiped out all liberalism in China, what liberal theologian is going to want to go to the wall for Jesus. Everybody is going to bow down everybody is going to worship the beast except this unique company of people whose names were written in the Lamb's book of life from before the foundation of the world as a pastor, Luther.

I don't like this doctrine well learn to like it and learn to appreciate it and don't complain about. If you want to know whether or not your name is in this book of life.

You can find out and the way in which you find out as you receive Jesus as your Savior acknowledging your sinfulness receive them as Savior as having died in your stead for your sin. And when you do that, I promise you, you will be received and you will know that your name was in the Lamb's book of life from before the foundation of the world. Most of you know that your name is there through faith in Jesus Christ. But notice they do not worship the beast. No no no no and then he goes on to say in verse 10. If anyone is to be taken captive in captivity he goes. If anyone is to be slain with the sword with the sword. He must be slain, not this means that there is a certain company of people whom God has actually marked out to be martyrs earlier in chapter 6, right after the four Horsemen it says this when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, and I looked in the old, a pale horse. And then verse nine it says he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had worn they cried out with a loud voice old sovereign holy Lord, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth than they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer notice now until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete who were to be killed as they themselves and what an interesting passage gives us real insight and as to what is happening in the spirit world with those who have on the fourth. Can they talk yes the soul before the resurrection takes on all the characteristics of the body.

They can talk.

They can be clothed, they have a sense of justice. They know who they are and they are waiting the time when justice will be brought in God's is just a little longer. Just a little longer you wait the day of justice is coming because there are still others who have to die for the faith and their number is not complete. So here we have worldwide martyrdom and then we have worldwide a worldwide economic system. How is the beast going to get everyone to worship him and him alone can't there be certain pockets of people in far lands where nobody is bothering them and they are still worshiping the living and the true God, and they're not being martyred. Is that possible. Well, actually not. And it all has to do with economics. You'll notice it says in Revelation were still in chapter 13. The second beast and really, as I mentioned, he takes the role of the Holy Spirit trying to get the whole world to worship the beast and this is his responsibility and the way in which he does it is, there is a market that has to be had if you want to do business.

You'll notice it says he causes those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. That's verse 15 and also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or on the four head so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark that is the name of the beast or the number of his name is calls for wisdom. But the one who is understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man and that number is 666 and throughout church history all kinds of ideas have been given as to what it means.

But this much we can be clear about there's a time coming when you will not be able to buy or sell.

You will build to go into Joule and buy a loaf of bread will not be able to make any monetary transaction at all. So you're going to be starving, you're going to be put to death unless you are willing to take the mark of the beast and the mark of the beast and the four head or the hand could be a computer chip and as a result of this, all the world is not only unified religiously. It is unified, economically, and that is very important. Let me tell you how I think this might come to place. I was talking with a man who has responsibility his organization. One of the largest investment companies in all the world and them. He's a Christian man and he said you know there is this talk about the American dollar no longer being the means of international currency but he said Deb nobody really wants to go with a yen. The hero is in trouble. He said were still the best house on the block in a very difficult dilapidated neighborhood like a friend of mine said to me were still the best horse in the glue factory so obviously the American dollar is still going to have that strength and then about two weeks ago I came across some financiers who are giving advice to the G 20, I found something very interesting. They are proposing three things that they think have to be done immediately. One is to have an international currency that is created no sense it's going to be international.

Let's just call it the end that's a new currency and what happens is in Europe. If you have the euro. It might take two euros to buy and end it might take five dollars to buy in and but the value of our dollar, and the value of the money of other countries. Therefore, on the world market has to be determined as to how many inch you can buy and you need them to do worldwide trade will in the end people will begin to think to themselves, why should I even have American money given the global nature of our economy when we just all have ends and in this way, you would have a one world system. Even with the one world currency, and you couldn't buy or sell and of course, maybe it's a cashless society and the computers do it all, so there's no underhanded trades, etc. everything is public and everything is controlled. That's the first suggestion that they are making to the G 20. The second is that all banks, particularly in America be nationalized and be strictly controlled and the third is that there be an audit of the United States, England and Switzerland, so that finally all the finances of the world are known so that they can be properly regulated. However, it comes about.

The fact is that economy the economy is going to be the means by which people will be forced into a one world religion. You either have the mark of the beast, and you play ball with him and thereby give your allegiance to him or you and your family.*Will be put to death. That's the way it will someday be now the question that I need to ask you is at what point would you lose your faith in a situation like that when you look around and you see that nobody very few people are not playing ball with the antichrist. Very few people are willing to stand. Would you be able to stand. Would I be able to stand and I'm the first to tell you I don't know. I think that it is very easy to be critical of others and to think to ourselves. Oh yes will be strong, but you never know what you will do. I saw a program on PBS the other day that deeply deeply disturbed me in Afghanistan where you have OPM dealers. They gave some money to farmers and dad to grow opium and then the government came and destroyed their crops and in order to get their money back.

Since the farmers had no crops now. They decided to take the children of these farm's little seven-year-old girl and it is known that they abuse these children. In fact, the report said that they live in a country where there is this kind of the abuse routinely of young girls and therefore nothing really is said about it but everybody knows that it's happened. What would you do if somebody came to you and said you either deny Jesus Christ or we will take your children and they will be sexually abused and starved of wood. You then still be faithful to Jesus before I answer that I need to get now to the main text that I have in mind. And that's the 12th chapter of Revelation being a logical German were going backwards.

From chapter 13 to chapter 12. The question is how did the Christians during the tribulation. Maintain their faith against her rend this opposition what you have in chapter 12 is the Ray of Satan. Satan is so angry and let me give you some reasons why is an he's angry. First of all, because he wasn't able to kill Jesus when Jesus was on earth. The woman that's referred here in the 12 chapters actually Israel, the nation Israel but the woman within the nation Israel, who gave birth to Jesus is Mary and you'll notice this is in verse four and the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child, he might devour it is a Satan was standing by. Jesus was born and he was trying to use Herod to kill Jesus. But lo and behold Jesus did die according to God's will and purpose and was raised again and actually taken to heaven and you'll notice it says she gave birth to a male child, who was the one who was to rule the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and in the woman Israel flees into the desert during the tribulation. Etc. but notice this Satan is very angry because he thought that he could kill a little baby born in Bethlehem when he was born he was unable to do that. Reason number one reason number two is he's thrown out of heaven. Verse seven.

Now there was a war in heaven. Michael and his angels fighting against the Dragon the Dragon and his angels fought back but he was defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven and the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.

He was thrown down to earth and his angels were thrown down with them and I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, now the salvation of the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of Jesus Christ have gone for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before the throne and they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their life even unto death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them, but woe to you on the earth and see for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows his time is short. People debate as to when this happened. Many of us believe it's probably during the tribulation. But notice there's three reasons why Satan full of rage. Number one he couldn't kill Christ. When Christ was here on earth, number two, he's thrown out of heaven. He's humiliated.

He no longer has direct access to God where he can accuse us before the throne is evidently he did in the book of Job, and third he knows his time is short. 3 1/2 years and then hell awaits. Now he was really wise. He wouldn't oppose God because then he knows that his suffering in hell would be just a little less but he can't help himself. He so hates God and God's people that as long as he still has existence on this planet before he is turned into hell forever. He's going to do all the possible damage he can blow to the earth for the rage of the devil.

Is there but how did the Saints overcome him. Where did they get the strength to stand in the midst of such opposition.

Where does a Christian get the strength to stand for Christ, even if nobody in his old district is standing for Christ and he has to die alone as a believer where is that strength they overcame him number one because of the blood of the Lamb. The fact is that when Jesus Christ died on the cross. His crucifixion was a tremendous victory he was buying out from this earth. People from every tribe and tongue and nation and was purchasing them and there was nothing that the devil could do about it.

The devil tried to oppose him, but he couldn't in the presence of Jesus. He had to stand down and give in and let Jesus do it. The resurrection proves the fact that Jesus triumphed over death and that Jesus ascended into heaven totally victorious above all principalities and all powers and every name that is named, and Jesus is there today with all authority under his feet.

That's what he told us we could evangelize onto me all authority given at every level. Jesus Christ conquered Satan.

He disarmed them and he guaranteed the fact that for Satan the hell would be forever.

It would be just that it would be a place of torment.

Don't ever think that Dante was right that they're going to be demons in hell tormenting people listen in hell. Satan is not the torment tour.

He is the torment Ted. He's the one who is going to justly suffer and he knows it and is angry and he accuses us still before the father. Look at that Christian he believes in Jesus look at the war with lust that he lost this past week. Look at the war with anger.

Look at the high hypocrisy and remember don't ever argue with the devil when he comes and shows you your sin because you will lose and he knows a lot more about you than you and even want to know so don't argue with them. What do you do you go to the blood of Jesus and say that all of this may be true, but before the throne. My shirt stands, my name is written on his hands.

He died for me. His blood was shed that's the ground of my victory.

That devil is defeated. His accusations have no power against us because Jesus paid it all and then it says they overcame him by the word of their testimony that doesn't just mean you know a testimony meeting where everybody stands up and says what Jesus means to them. It's talking about the fact that these believers stood upon the ground of the shed blood of Jesus Christ in the victory of the cross and the resurrection and that these believers stood on that and it was their testimony in that finished work of Jesus that gave them the strength and the power to be able to say no to the devil and to be able to say we are willing to die for Christ, even if nobody stands with us, and then notice the next phrase I love it and it's very important and they did not consider their life even unto death. What saying is this, they love Jesus more than life itself. As the apostle Paul said for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. They said to me, death is gain. Because of Jesus. And isn't it Jesus dies on a cross. And while there burying him. What is he doing he's having supper with a forgiven thief and their hobnobbing on the other side. So what Jesus is really teaching us and what the writer of Revelation is teaching us is the fact that you and I should not love our lives more than we do Jesus and let me say this. If today you love your life more than you love Jesus. Very probably you will not have the strength when the persecution comes and throughout history there have been many examples of people who did not love their lives more than they love Jesus. If you read Fox's book of martyrs. You'll discover that there were times when little children were being tortured and their parents said to them, don't get then be brave for Jesus. He is with you and the parents encourage their children who were being tortured to be faithful for Christ church history is strewn with examples like. Let me give you a contemporary one about four or five months ago in Egypt with all of the outbreak of persecution which is worse now than it was previously where the Arab spring is turned into the Islamic winter.

There were a group of teenagers, Coptic Christians marching down the streets of Cairo with T-shirts that said marcher on request.

In other words, if you want to kill me.

Here I am, I volunteer to die for Jesus when it be wonderful if in America today. We had that kind of courage would not that be an example of God's greatness and power you say will Pastor Lutzer the you raise the issue though regarding children. What would we do well first of all let me say we don't know exactly what we would do because we've never been in that situation, but no doubt throughout history there have been parents that have been so committed to Jesus and so committed to him that they love Jesus more than their children and were willing to entrust their children into God's hands, believing that their souls will be saved, even if they are taken from them and even if they also become martyrs for the faith or if they are abused to believe that eternity is a long time is short and we must be faithful to Christ no matter what.

What an amazing difference a couple of chapters make in chapter 13. I read to you how the saints they were overcome by the antichrist.

It says power was given onto him to overcome them to conquer them. That's a real downer is in it. To think that antichrist is given power like this and then we turn to chapter 15 and this is what it says I'm going to quote some of the verses slowly, but I want you to follow.

It says and I saw a sea of glass mingled with fire and them who had gotten the victory over the antichrist over the beast, and over his image and over his mark, so yeah, he conquered them here, but now there on a sea of glass, and they'd gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image and over his mark and they stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God, and they sing the song of Moses the servant of the Lord in the song of the Lamb, saying, great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God, and Almighty just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints who shall not fear the old Lord, and glorify thy name in there.

They are singing victorious songs in the presence of God because they loved not their lives even to the point of death. I believe that the church of Jesus Christ today has to be delivered from fear, not just fear of martyrdom, fear of witnessing fear of political correct fear of this in fear of that fear of the future. Fear of the economics of the future because it is only when we are free indeed.

Can we live like free men and women on intimidated by what is going on around us, because the truth has set us free to believe that truth is that if so, what were going to do now is to be delivered from fear. Aren't you glad you came right for five of you are. I wrote a prayer that all of us are going to pray together. It takes a few minutes to pray it but if you look at the commas and if you are in the cadence of the prayer and I will of course lead you. Let us pray it together in faith, would you stand please everyone stand.

The prayer is going to be on the screens so that we can say it together for the honor and the glory of God. Let us pray at insincerity.

Let us pray it in the hope let us pray it in great faith because we are on the winning side no matter what Earth looks like we know what heaven looks like, and we know where we are going. Praise God, and now are you ready let's read it together. Father, help me to agree with you that I am not subject to fear but am a child of your love.

I reject fear of the future, for I believe that the future is in your hands.

I reject fear of evildoers for your word says though an army camp against me, my heart shall not fear the war rise against me yet. I will be confident, for he will hide me in the shelter in the day of he will conceal me under the cover of his 10. He will lift me high upon the rock. I renounce fear of rejection for David wrote in your holy word for my father and mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. I renounce fear of witnessing about Christ because your word warrants the fear of man brings us hand. Therefore I choose to fear you more than I do any human. I affirmed the Lord is on my side I will not fear what can man do to me.

I renounce the fear of losing my property and possessions for your word says I have learned in whatever situation I am content. I know the secret of facing plenty and hunger abundance and need I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I renounce fear of Satan for your word says he has already been conquered by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. I renounce the fear of saying goodbye to it terminally ill love for Jesus promise. Let not your heart be troubled in my father's house are many rooms. I go and prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also. I renounce fear of death, for I have confirmed with the apostle Paul for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Thank you for the promise death is swallowed up in victory. I renounce fear of martyrdom for your word declares do not fear those who are able to kill the body but fear him, rather who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. I renounce fear of loneliness, for we are promise our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ. And also I will never leave you nor forsake and again peace highly with you, my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. I renounce fear of intimidation for Jesus said if the world hates you, know it is hated me before it hated you in the world you will have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world. I renounce fear of false accusations.

I accept this promise. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you. I renounce the fear of being treated unjustly for of Jesus. We read when he was reviled. He did not revile in return when he saw her he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. I renounce the fear of radical Islam and its desire to intimidate us. I renounce fear of political correctness. I declared that the truth shall set me free and I choose to live as a free person in Christ Jesus. I shall speak and not be silent. I renounce fear of curses either known or unknown, spoken against me and my family. I renounce fear of manipulation and control. I renounce the fear of being involved in public or political activity. I declared that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, I submitted to Jesus as Lord of every area of my life.

Jesus is Lord of my home. Jesus is Lord my relationships.

Jesus is Lord by city and Jesus is Lord of my nation.

Jesus Christ is Lord above all gods and religion.

Jesus is Lord Lord over all the nations of the year I committed myself to be a living witness for Jesus Christ as Lord, I am not ashamed of his cross God for that I should glory except in the cross of Christ I ask now that you will fill me with your Holy Spirit and pour upon me all the blessings of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, grant me the grace to understand the truth of your word clearly and to apply it in every area of my life. Give me words of hope and life as you promise open and bless my lips so that I can speak to others with authority and power in Jesus name. Give me the boldness to be a faithful witness for Christ.

Give me love for all people, and the passion to share the love of Christ with them, grant that I shall carry your cross as a badge of honor.

In Jesus name, amen on today's Moody Church over Esther loser continued to series on famines, deserts and other hard places as he spoke on faith at the breaking point next week. Part seven in this series, and a message on developing a support system. This seven part series can be yours on CD for a gift of any amount Moody Church.

Our call 1-800-215-5001. Let us know you'd like to support Moody Churches ministry our thank you, will be a set of CDs designed to help us prepare for the hard times may be coming. Just call 1-800-215-5001 or you can write to us at Moody Church media 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 mention famines, deserts and other hard places when you write or call online, go to moody offeror.com that's moodyoffer.com join us next time for another Moody Church. Our with pastor Erwin lutes are in the congregation of historic Moody Church in Chicago. This broadcast is a ministry of The Moody Church