Two things are for sure; that is, if you are serious about your Christian faith,

1. You will be persecuted. (Matthew 5:11)
2. You will offend some people. (I Peter 2:8)

During this Christmas season, I found how annoying it is to see the world celebrate Christmas without any acknowledgment of Christ. Not only that, but to see how they come against the true essence of this holiday season, truly irks me. They decorate, put up the Christmas tree, have their parties and sing songs without any mention of the wonderful story of the manger. It is an in-your-face attack!

These are times of great denunciation against the gospel here in our beautiful America. It is not yet in the form of physical violence, but it is in the form of social and cultural rejection mixed with the agonizing spirit of political correctness. Brothers and sisters, we must be bold and continue to proclaim the Gospel in our places of influence. People are literally dying and going to hell all around us.

People are confused as they see folks with international recognition, walking around with titles of Reverend, but insisting in promoting a message of violence and hate. People are confused when they see actors that openly declare their Christian faith, but openly fornicate as well; as if fornication is something Biblically acceptable. Isaiah 5:20 tells us,

 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (NKJV)

I think we are in those days, don’t you think? The things that we see make no sense. Common sense is out the door and there is no desire for the truth! The only way to avoid persecution and offending people is by keeping our mouths shut. Only those that are friends with the world are doing well in their own eyes, but the Bible tells us,

 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

But I say, speak the truth, no matter what. Many will reject that truth, but some will receive it and will be added into the family of God. James 4:4 (NKJV)

We are so afraid of getting in trouble, so afraid of offending, so afraid of people not liking us; so we compromise the Gospel for the sake of our own fears and selfish ambitions. But I have to tell you beloved, many of us will lose our jobs for no reason, many of us will end-up in prison just for preaching the Gospel, and yes, many of us will lose our lives. I must point out that these things are happening in other countries around the world, even now as I write these words.

We are called to obey the law of the land, but there is one law that we are not called to follow but to violate every time, and that is any law designed to stop us from preaching the Gospel. He will provide, He will give us peace in the midst of all, and He will give us the power to overcome. It is time to get in some trouble for Jesus.