Rooting and grounding your life in the testimony of Jesus to withstand persecution

There is a scripture in 2 Timothy that I've been thinking about today. it is in the first chapter. I am using the New King James Version:

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,9 who has saved us and called [us] with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, [who] has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

This has been motivated by a desire to be a Son of God and to model my life based on the teachings of Jesus. There are many incredible traits to this glorious passage but I only want to look at one today. That is what I have already described.  I used to look at this passage and say, what I need to do is remember the way that Jesus called me, (from verse 9) but if you look at the make up of these verses it says first off "do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord" what testimony is that? well I can tell you one thing, it is living and active, it comes from an active participation with the hearer. In other words, it is coming from a relationship.

The reason I reject the second clause as being the primary motivator, that is "according to the power of God" because it doesn't line up with my experience. Those who know God will be trusted with His power. The active power to live out the lifestyle of Jesus comes from a knowing of who He is first, which then empowers you to live for Him. If I was to expand on this passage there would be many things I could say.

A question I ought to say is: are you ready to withstand persecution today? are you ready, like David, to cut off Goliath's head because of His undermining the armies of God and blaspheming God's justice?

Grace or mercy?

I would like to take this time to confront a belief that we have always held but may not have thought too much about. While I was reading my previous years notes, I was inspired by a question I asked myself while thinking about "honor: to obey and have a clear conscience?" To my alarm, justice (Godly justice) is motivated by mercy and God's love.

I've been struggling with anxiety, compromise, murder, lust and immorality, who would have known? whenever I am confronted by these thoughts I hardly know what to do, so I goto God and say "you are the only one who can take what I have, I trust you with what I am going through" This makes me perform a habit, the more that I trust God, the more, like Paul I can say, "I have entrusted everything to you today, until the day when you come again" (2 Timothy 1:12)

You cannot entertain any more thoughts of being like "everyone else" because you are the one that God has mercy on. This is where grace, fully flourishing, exhibits itself, in my deepest need, I can hear God saying to me "In your weakness, my strength is perfected, my grace is sufficient for you" Entrust yourself fully into the hands of God, whatever circumstance you find yourself. Do not ask the questions "Why is God putting me through this?" Mercy has been given to you, and to you mercy is shown, you were once not a people, but now are the people of God.

Responding in Trials, Overcoming by Faith

I am really speaking to myself here. Here are a few points that I have learnt to hold onto when trials come (and they do)
First, God is with me in it. I suppose the most important point in this is this, we take full responsibility to what happens in trials. This has taken me a while to come to terms with (or rather, understand)
I am a whole person to God, while reading the story of Lazarus, addressing the dead body, he said "Lazarus, come forth!" maybe If we took this approach to raising the dead, we would succeed?
There is great reward for us in responding to trials in the right way. I remember a verse in 1 Corinthians, where it says "and each one will receive His reward from God"
Because God loves us, the purpose of trials is to produce greater fervency of love within us. Rather, it is a grace of God to endure trials having in mind the right repayment of what has been given to you. With that said, go and embrace every trial that you know is coming with a view to overcome!

Where Am I Going?

Who says that I do not know where I am going? Who governs my every move? my every decision? my every thought? My identity comes from being a little child. Where I am going, is because I want to be totally abandoned to Him. Where does this come from? You have heard the phrase "I want you, more than life" I've learnt that God's being totally loving of me, produces in me the same desire, to be totally devoted to Him. This has in it a resolve or a commitment. To be honest, I am not so convinced I do know where I am going. So when I asked my friend Steve about it,  I decided from some advice given to me, that God maybe wanting me to submit to being at my parents house, while I do not have a clear direction about where I am going. Even speaking about it makes it easier to process through it. But the truth is, I am still struggling with this question, "Do I know where I am going?" because it's not like I am lacking direction, though the questions that people ask seem to go unanswered, I have never been more full of purpose. You see, the questions people ask are, "How is the plan for journeying with Steve going?" or "Would you consider finding work?" or such questions like that. But it does nothing to answer any important questions. I am in the same position as many others, not because we do not know where we are going, but because we do, and we want to give everything to Him. Does this not make the trials easier? Do I not remember that living hope that I have been born again into? I think the phrase in Psalm 45:1 one to really hold onto. "My heart is overflowing with a good theme, I recite my composition to the King" You will never be closer to fulfilling your purpose in life than gazing on the slain body of the Christ, the Son of God.

Sex and drugs

I am habitually addicted. The feeling is like sex. Illicit and dark - the pleasure is in knowing that no one sees what I'm doing. And can I get away from it? it's a surprise that I don't do it all the time everywhere. Now would you like to know what I'm referring to? I am addicted to video games. Does that surprise you? Should I be afraid? I choose to think I'm not sharing anything more than would be advised. I'm not apologizing for my behavior. In fact i'm disgusted by my behavior. Does that surprise you? It's like the thing that I enjoyed doing is becoming a callous on my heart. How can I bear with it? would i dare go back and say "Nothing's changed"? It is a strange thing, but God knows me perfectly, and even now, it's to your benefit and to my benefit to speak about this. Does it matter that God wanted me to share this in Church today and I didn't? He gives me the choice. Does He know me that well? Does He ordain things to happen, and people to meet, Because He loves me and because He wants to? Is that true?

Functionality

Having the functionality to talk about something that you have sinned in or fallen short on as if you are the specialist of it

I hope the rest just comes from "and this is the end" there I have said it, definitely all I need to say, right! If i have just been "beaten down and trodden in the ground" can I turn round and say "I am the perfect confrontation specialist" sure I can, and I will. Is this cowardice? No. Because my God turns everything around for me. The person with the issue isn't me, it's the person. So i will make these my strengths. And have done. Would you dare speak a callous word to someone that is hurting, then why do you go home and pray for that person? Do you have no dignity? In fact I will be treading down these problems so I will do that today. People probably think I am crazy but it's not the first time.