“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
I Peter 5:5-10 NKJV
Perfected, established, strengthened, settled
In the UK a woman stands praying silently a block of so way from an abortion clinic. She was outside of the “buffer zone” that had been established around clinics. She is alone, standing against a backdrop of hedges. She is soon approached by two police officers who ask her if she is praying. Bear in mind, she is praying silently. The only indication of anything is that her eyes being closed. After some dialogue, she is arrested and charged with various misdemeanors.
Since her second arrest, the UK has done the unthinkable as it has created a censorship zone around around clinics. Through their efforts, they have made silent prayer a “thought crime.”
Isabel Vaughn- Spruce is just one example of the growing persecution of Christians who dare stand for the values of the Bible in this world that is under the title deed to Satan. Praise be to God, the charges were dropped, but there are many examples of people who have been sent to jail for preaching the full counsel of God.
As an intercessor, I am heavily burdened for the church, the global church, for so many of my brothers and sisters around the world are facing outcomes far worse than Vaughn-Spruce’s, for their are many who having come know Jesus face all manner of attacks. They might be disowned by family, attacked physically, or possibly killed.
The Christian in the muslim world faces the prospect of being baptized into the body one day, and baptized in their own blood the next. For them the grace often awaits. Yet they persist.
Reading the passage in I Peter reminded me of the reality of those of us who persist in the faith. Salvation in Jesus makes us a peculiar people, set apart by the presence of Holy Spirit, which preempts the desires of the flesh, giving a reliance on the word of God as our guide.
We are entering a time when even a silent gesture will get one into trouble. The Harlot is bent on having her way, for she has dominated the world since Babel, and she is now reaching her zenith and the greatest hope of her wicked heart: That she Satan’s bride.
Even now we can see how she has manipulated humanity to do her bidding, as all seem tom have become possessed and it is hard to find people who are not wicked, affected by Satan.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
II Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV
We are there.
Brothers and sisters, in the face of all this, let us be steadfast in doing the things that we have been called to do. Vaughn-Spruce did not stop after she was arrested, but she pressed on, and indeed was arrested again.
Let us be willing to go out each day taking the Gospel into the world, preaching on along the highways and byways, trying to reach the sinners wherever they may be. I tell you the truth, soon is coming the day when the mere naming of our Savior Jesus will bring arrest and prosecution.
May we have the heart of our forerunners, those saints around the time of the Day of Pentecost, who risked it all to tell of the Gospel of Jesus.
“Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”
Acts 4:1-4 NKJV
Not even arrest can stop the saving message of Jesus.
We must be ready for what is to come for in facing all that is to come we will need to be perfected, established, strengthened, settled. Perfected, or matured, having spent time in the word of God in the midst of our struggles, established because we have confidence in the Lord, for we know that He s for us, strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in us, and settled, for know that regardless of what may come, we know that victory has already been one.
Those who have called upon Jesus for salvation have already been made victorious over the world for our Lord has already overcome it.
“Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””
John 16:31, 33 NKJV
Let us walk circumspectly, always mindful of what is going on around us, and who is in our midst. The devil is truly lurking about, probing for openings, that he defeat us. We have been given the resources to resist the devil, for we have the word and the Holy Spirit. May our eyes and hearts be focused forward, looking forward to the time when we will be with Jesus.
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV
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Musings from an idle mind 
I remember seeing that story about prayer in the UK, the day after it happened. The scripture you’ve offered today is great and challenging to me. May we be found faithful, my friend? I am praying for you.
1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV) 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV) 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
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