Monday, March 23, 2015

What Now?


“Up until a few weeks ago I thought you were crazy. I heard some of your teachings online, and whenever you would talk about persecution coming to America I snickered, thinking it could never happen here. In my mind I compared you to the UFO folks; entertaining, but nothing more. I apologize. I see it now, and it scares me. What now? What will become of the church when persecution does come?”

This is how a lengthy e-mail I received over the weekend started. Even some who vehemently refused to see the writing on the wall can’t ignore it any longer, and the pervasive ‘what now?’ has become a constant drone, like white noise you don’t notice until you do.

Some have taken the position of being incensed, of calling the world out on its hypocrisy, duplicity, double standard, and willingness to gloss over the reality of persecution coming to a neighborhood near you, as though the world cares a whit that they are incensed.

In their mind your silencing is for the greater good, and that’s all the justification needed to come down like a hammer on any dissenters and individuals brave enough to point out the inconsistencies in any given matter.

Although far more believers are seeing the inevitable persecution on the horizon, there is still confusion as to what will become of the household of faith, and what will have to be done in order to get through it.

The first thing that will occur shortly after persecution begins is a great and mighty sifting in the midst of those calling themselves believers. Anyone not wholly committed to Christ, anyone not wholly sold out to Him, will fall by the wayside as so much dross, inventing ad hoc theologies to justify their cowardice and faithlessness.

Seeing as the world loves anything that undermines truth, they will promote and popularize these new heretical theologies, furthermore alienating true believers and those who realize there is no compromising with the darkness.

As the persecution will continue to intensify, true believers will have no choice but to go underground, to star meeting in secret, meeting in homes, in barns, wherever they are able to congregate and fellowship and encourage one another.

I believe it is at this juncture, wherein it will be dangerous to call yourself a Christian, and doing so may cost you everything, that we will see the power of God flood those who remain faithful, and as a direct result, the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit will no longer be a rare occurrence, but something common and even expected.

Good will come of persecution because it will inevitably draw those who are sincere in their desire to serve Jesus, closer to Him. Good will come of hardship because it will teach the faithful greater dependence upon God. Good will come of the fire because it will eliminate every impurity, and make the gold pure as it ought to be.

I realize some of you are torn between praying to be counted worthy to escape these things, and praying for boldness to endure to the end. I cannot tell you which to pray for, but I know which I am praying for.

Personally, I want to see the power of God manifest fully among His children. Personally, I want to walk through the fire without getting burned. Personally, I want to see God continue to prove His faithfulness in every area of my life, and as such the only thing I can pray for is courage, and boldness, and steadfastness to stare down the coming storm without an ounce of fear, and prepare my heart for what is coming.

With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen, Brother Mike! I too am waiting with anticipation to see the power of my Lord. No, I'm not some freak that thinks it will be "cool" to see the destruction that is coming. In the physical, I am very scared for my family and myself but God has said he will keep us! How can I not want to witness that protection?!? I am watching these current times with a mixture of awe and fear. Pray, pray and pray some more!

In Christ,
Mrs. Pugh

Anonymous said...

Personally, I agree with you! That is my heart as well and, I believe, the heart of the Bride, that warrior daughter of the King, full of the Spirit of EL Shaddai and The Lion of the tribe of Judah, who is all glorious within because She is making herself ready and will be armored and armed completely in The Logos, The Wisdom of YHWH!

Anonymous said...

I hope you can comment a bit more on Luke 21:36. I thought the verse was a direct command from Jesus. I didn't think of it as fleeing from the coming dangers physically, but to pray for the preservation of our souls, faith in tact, despite the attempts of the enemy to destroy us. I also mentally link it to the great apostasy, meaning if we are not watching and praying, we could fall away due to our lack of spiritual and mental preparation for those things which we will face. I would so appreciate your correction on any misinterpretation on my part.

Anonymous said...

I am a Korean living in Seoul. I am reading your articles from a few years ago though could not read whole...When I see your writings like this, I also feel something is very immiment, maybe not only in US but most of countries having Christians. I also sometimes got scared but I am encouraged as well to see there is our friend of Faith and He will lead me whatever I must go through. I will pray for his mercy to hold our faith in any kind of trials in any places. Thanks Pastor to share your thoughts!

Barbara said...

The church is going to be destroyed. It is nothing but a corrupt bunch of phonies hijacking the good intentions of believers. Christ is about a personal relationship, not a group called the church that you have to join. Maybe back around Christ's time when they were healing the sick and all that, there were people who stuck together as believers but not now. Now church is only for show and to mislead others.

Any manifestation of the true essence of God is met with rabid hatred, disrespect and dishonor, especially within the church. The body of believers, they don't all know each other and stick together. They are probably just scattered everywhere, the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

This idea that you can join a church and learn to be good, that is all chicanery. You can't learn to be good or beat the odds or anything else from others. God's ways are not man's ways. You find the answers God's way or not at all. Church is nothing but a major joke, and it is the devil who is laughing the hardest.

Suzy said...

Thank you Michael. We must continue reading our Bibles and memorizing and thinking upon His truth if we are to be strong for what may be tested of us. Let us continue to pray for each other and encourage each other in the Lord. God's blessings to you and all those that truly love Him! Let us also pray for those who have not yet trusted Him, that they may also be saved, and strengthened in the faith.

Suzy said...

Hi Michael, I'd like to comment on what you said, and then share 4 scripture passages. You said,"I realize some of you are torn between praying to be counted worthy to escape these things, and praying for boldness to endure to the end." As we look at the following scriptures, it appears we should pray for both! We should long for His appearing, and also it appears that to be counted worthy, we must be strengthened in the Lord & tested to purify away the dross and prove us faithful & worthy.

[2 Timothy 4:8] Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

[Revelation 3:10, 11] Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

[James 1:12] Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

[1 Peter 5:4] And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Anonymous said...

Dear Michael,

I'm so glad you're posting again! I have just read all you've written since January, and realize anew how VERY much we need you, Michael, to encourage us true Bible believers in a world where there is so very little encouragement to be found. While reading, my spirit was groaning deeply yet silently, in total agreement and resonance with what you have written here over the past two months.

Yes, it's hard sometimes to know what to do in these times. Part of us wants to react with righteous anger to the outrages we see multiplying in our society as a whole and in the so-called mainstream "church." We feel impotent to change this horrifying trend, and even quite frustrated since we KNOW that our almighty God has the power to turn this situation around and to make things right. We just have to remind ourselves that He WILL make things right, but according to His own timing.

We know that the abounding wickedness is simply the playing out of key prophecies. Let's try to keep in mind the words of Jesus in Luke 21 verse 28: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." No matter what we may have to go through, it's worth it if we can look forward to being with our Heavenly Father and Savior for eternity.

Michael, I'm glad you're enjoying your family life, but if you could even manage to post a message even once a month, it would be greatly appreciated and gratefully received by some of us. There's just nothing else like your blog on the internet, and believe me, I have spent many, many hours searching.

Always thankful,

Melanie

Anonymous said...

Interesting post Michael.

I'm not sure that the worthy to escape have a choice other than being martyred (thinking that they will have a greater resurrection. Those who the devil can prevail against are not the worthy. Servants sent into the highways after the "army" are the worthy. Those who know their God will do exploits. The "high mountains" will be brought low. Being hidden by God is like being sealed in an ark or delivered as Israel out of Egypt. The time of the Gentiles will be over as will the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. Those who have (the Holy Spirit: the Oil) will get more. Those who do not have will loose...

Dave