Pastor Richardson, I do not know of your laws, but surely unequal application of them is not legal, let alone lawful? As you point out, Costco and Walmart may gather. I thank God there are leaders like you in Canada, and like John MacArthur in the US, who are not willing to render to Caesar the things that are God’s. We will be praying for you.
Encouraging! Good and encouraging sermon. I thought about the fact that for decades the church in West did not suffer much persecution and was accustomed with easy life, easy believism. They looked with appreciation upon the persecuted church in Communist countries in Europe, like my country. Now the Lord brings the time of testing and purifying upon churches in the West, to teach them to pay a price.
I am reading these months about Protestant missions in China. Local mandarins were opposed to Christianity, but those missionaries who had on their heart the eternal state of millions of China did not obey the government, but the Lord Jesus, and went to interior China with the risk of their lives. Today pastors in West are not ready to gather with the church, nor to evangelize. Souls are still precious in the light of eternity. But how different may pastors today from those missionaries, who put the command of Christ above their wellbeing and above the orders of the state!
You need this, brother. The Lord knows that you and your colleagues need this trial. Receive it as from Him, not as from the state: “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, IF NEED BE, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations” (1 Peter 1:6).
Encouraging! We can go forward in the power and with the protection of this God! He is our King, and sovereign over all the world and all governments.
May the Lord strengthen you! God gives you something He gave Paul: the opportunity to bear testimony before those in authority: “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and KINGS, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
May the Lord strengthen you! God gives you something He gave Paul: the opportunity to bear testimony before those in authority: “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and KINGS, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
The man who keeps his eyes upon the Lord cannot cease to worship Him, to praise Him, to do His will. Only the man who turns away his eye can cease to do all these and to justify his doings, continuing to sin...
Excellent! Thank you Steve Richardson, for the timely reminder. Yes we are to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. The Lord’s Church is not one of those things, nor will it ever be. It belongs to God. Caesar has no authority over it. As you said, “Never ever give to man what belongs to God.”
I read this article and I was encouraged by it. Reading it, I thought about these truths: Unity in the Holy Spirit must be kept, not unity in compromise. Compromised people seek to save their physical life, not their spiritual life! The state took over the place of Christ in the church, to rule in it.
Great Sermon! Thanks so much for preaching this sermon, it was so good to hear (part 1&2) . A lot of your sermons have really helped me lately. You keep it all so real (which it is!) Gods immense blessing on your ministry.
Good ideas, brother. Yes, I love saints who resembled more of Jesus. There is no real and lasting fulfillment in our soul but when we are in God's will, whatever the cost. I recommend to you E. M. Bounds's book, "Power through prayer". Only a man of prayer can see the things he writes there.
Brilliant post Stephen and excellent sermons, I've felt most convicted and challenged (and encouraged) by your excellent preaching a lot recently! Thank you, Laura
Very good position. May the Lord bless your stand and your testimony, may He keep you and protect you. Our little church in Oradea is praying for you, pastor Richardson!
Very good position. May the Lord bless your stand and your testimony, may He keep you and protect you. Our little church in Oradea is praying for you, pastor Richardson!
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