I roto i a Matiu 24:9-10, Ka mea a Ihu, ko reira koutou tukua ai kia tukinotia, a ka whakamatea koutou: a ka kinongia koutou e nga iwi katoa, he whakaaro ki toku ingoa. Na he tokomaha e he, a ka tuku tetahi i tetahi, a ka kino tetahi ki tetahi. I mua i a Ihu’ return persecution will come. It won’t be long, and in some places it already happens, that born-again Christians that walk after the Spirit, will be persecuted. Why will Christians be persecuted according to the Bible? True Christians will be persecuted for the Name of Jesus Christ.
Why Christians will be persecuted?
The reason why Christians will be persecuted is because the devil hates Christians. If you are a Christian, the devil hates you, because the devil hates Jesus Christ, te Kotahi, Ko wai e noho ana i roto i a koe.
Ko reira koutou tukua ai kia tukinotia, a ka whakamatea koe: a ka kinongia koutou e nga iwi katoa, he whakaaro ki toku ingoa. Na he tokomaha e he, a ka tuku tetahi i tetahi, a ka kino tetahi ki tetahi (Matiu 24:9-10)
I patua e Ihu te rewera
Jesus defeated the devil and legally took the keys of authority from him. Heoi ano, kei te rewera tonu te kaha ki te whakaeke, tāhae, kill and destroy because he is not cast into the eternal lake of fire.
Tae noa ki taua wa, the devil goes around as a roaring lion, e rapu ana ko wai hei kai mana. His main goal is to destroy as many people as possible because people are the crown of God’s creation.
The devil shall try to deceive as many Christians Ka taea, so that he can destroy them.
The devil will do everything in his might, to make sure that they will not walk in obedience to the Word after the Spirit, but that they walk in obedience to him after the flesh in his lies. Because the devil can only attack them in the flesh; wairua me te tinana.
Throughout history, the devil’s tactics have been successful and will still be successful, unless born-again Christians stay in Christ and walk after the Spirit. (Panuitia hoki: Ko te misioni o te rewera kei te angitu?').
As long as you submit to Jesus Christ and obey Him and keep the Nga whakahau a Ihu (ko nga ture enei a te Atua), me te noho pono ki a ia, you shall not be deceived. Because as long as you keep walking in the Word and stay in Christ, you will remain in the truth and discern the spirits and the lies of the devil.
Heoi ano, if you love Jesus Christ and keep His commandments and you stay in Him; te Word, then persecution will come. You will be persecuted and delivered up to be afflicted and maybe even be killed, because of the Name of Jesus.
Are you willing to suffer and die for the Name of Jesus?
When you walk according to the Word of God and stay obedient to His commandment, many people will say that you are over exaggerating, whaimana, or old-fashion. Even so-called Christians in the church will advise you to not be so hard and be a little softer and water down the truth.
They’ll tell you, that times have changed and that we don’t live in the middle Ages anymore. But don’t listen to them!
When you hold on to the pure Word of God and don’t change and twist the words of God, so that the words of God fit into a worldly lifestyle, and don’t compromise with the world, you will be persecuted in your own church.
This already happens in many churches and this will only become worse, because Jesus said so.
In many parts of the world; Āhia, the Middle East, Amerika ki te Tonga, parts of Africa, etc. the persecution of Christians is a fact.
Many Christians are persecuted, because of the Name of Jesus Christ.
We see an increase in hatred against Jesus Christ, te Tama a te Atua, me nga Karaitiana, ko ratou nga tama a te Atua (e pa ana tenei ki nga tane me nga wahine), all over the world, including America.
America used to be a God-fearing country, but has put water into the wine and compromised with the world, and watered down the gospel. The people don’t live according to will of God anymore, because many don’t know His will. They live according to their own will, hiahia me nga hiahia o o raatau kikokiko.
They have opened their lives to Nga karakia me nga whakaaro o te rawhiti. The law was once based upon the Bible. But throughout the years, many laws have been adjusted and changed to the will, tīweka, Tuhinga o mua.
Are you prepared to be afflicted and persecuted?
Ko te tangata ia i whiwhi i te purapura ki nga wahi taimana, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Heoi ano tana i whai pakiaka ai ia, engari e mau ana mo te wa poto: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, na roto i te mea e riri ana ia (Matiu 13:20-21)
The affliction and persecution will be a test that people go through and the outcome will show, who is really a whai a Ihu and who is not.
The followers of Jesus, accept the Word, mohio ki te Kupu, understand the Word, walk in the Word, a ka mau i te hua o te Wairua. They are rooted in Jesus Christ; the Word and have laid down the old man, who they were before they became followers of Jesus Christ and put on the new man. They are spirit and walk after the Spirit and are able to bear the affliction and persecution.
Engari nga tangata, who hear and receive the Word, but don’t walk according to the Word, but after the flesh and according to what the world says, will bear the fruit of the flesh, Engari mo te Wairua. They remain carnal and when affliction and persecution come, they will not be able to stand and will fall.
They will deny the Name of Jesus and become obedient and submissive to the world (wairua o te ao). They’ll bow to them instead of Jesus.
Stay in Christ, so that you will stand when persecution comes
He pono ia taku korero ki a koutou; He mea pai ano mo koutou kia haere ahau: ki te kahore hoki ahau e haere atu, e kore te Kaiwhakamarie e tae mai ki a koutou; engari ki te haere ahau, maku ia e tono atu ki a koutou. A ka haere mai ia, Ka riria e ia te ao o te hara, Tuhinga o mua, Tuhinga o mua: O te hara, Na te mea kaore ratou e whakapono ki ahau; O te tika, Na te mea ka haere ahau ki toku papa, a kaore koe e kite i ahau ake; Tuhinga o mua, No te mea kua whakawakia te rangatira o tenei ao (Hone 16:7-11)
Persecution already takes place in many countries and even in our society. You are allowed to talk about Buddhism, Hipe, Islam, etc. Āe, you may even talk about God. But when you mention the Name of Jesus Christ, te Tamaiti a te Atua ora, people become hostile, and angry and want you to stop talking about Jesus.
People who live without Jesus and don’t know Him, often despise born again Christians and can’t stand their presence. He aha? Because the Spirit, Who abides in a born-again Christians, e riri ana i te ao ki te hara, o te tika, Tuhinga o mua.
So when you go to a place and meet people, they will be confronted with their sins. Koira te take, why they can’t stand you, because they can’t stand Jesus Christ.
Not all people will dislike you, there will also be people, who are looking and searching for the truth. When they meet you, they will see something in you, that they want: Ihu.
These people will be drawn to you, because of the love of Jesus Christ. They will repent and through regeneration in Christ they will be reconciled with God, and shall change their lives, so that their actions line up with their repentance, and become followers of Jesus Christ.
Hanga koe i roto i to whakapono tino tapu
Affliction and persecution will come. Kei a koe katoa, how you will face persecution and affliction. Therefore build yourself up in your most holy faith. Pray and study the Word of God.
Whakahoutia to hinengaro with the words of God and let the Word of God becomes rooted in you. No reira, you will bear the fruit of the Spirit. Noho i roto ia ia, so that when persecution comes, you will be able to stand.
'Kia tote o te whenua'
