A Prophetic Word from Dietrich Bonhoeffer

sermonindex Jan 10, 2016

"The messengers of Jesus will be hated to the end of time. They will be blamed for all the divisions which rend cities and homes. Jesus and his disciples will be condemned on all sides for undermining family life, and for leading the nation astray; they will be called crazy fanatics and disturbers of the peace. The disciples will be sorely tempted to desert their Lord. But the end is also near, and they must hold on and persevere until it comes. Only he will he blessed who remains loyal to Jesus and his word until the end. But when the end comes, the hostility towards Jesus and his disciples will be made manifest the whole world over, and only then must the messengers flee from city to city, in order that they may proclaim the Word where it can still find a hearing. If they run away then, they will not be running away from the Word, but holding fast to it.

The Christian will be hounded from place to place, subjected to physical assault, maltreatment and death of every kind. We are apÂproaching an age of widespread persecution. Therein lies the true significance of all the movements and conflicts of our age. Our adversaries seek to root out the Christian Church and the Christian faith because they cannot live side by side with us, because they see in every word we utter and every deed we do, even when they are not specifically directed against them, a condemnation of their own words and deeds. They are not far wrong. They suspect too that we are indifferent to their condemnation. Indeed they must admit that it is utterly futile to condemn us. We do not reciprocate their hatred and contention, although they would like it better if we did, and so sink to their own level."

A

AbideinHim Jan 10, 2016

Although these words were given to God's
faithful martyr more than a half century ago.
They are so very relevant for today, and
explain the hostility of the devil working
through evil men against the Church of
Jesus Christ. So as the scripture says,
"We should think it not strange". We are
in the world but not of the world, and just
as our Lord and savior was despised,
rejected, and persecuted, so shall it be
with those that follow Him.

S

staff Jan 10, 2016

Hi Greg,
I think what Dietrich Bonhoeffer said can be applied to all history not just the end time.Certainly the media with the agenda it has all over the western world is stirring up hatred that has not been seen before at such a level.
The problem with the post is that it doesnt take into account God's plan and protection for the end time Church.
I've said it before and I'l continue till it happens.The end time church comes under the Ministry and Spirit of Elijah.
All the church will come out of their denominational Churches and come under the protection of this ministry.
Deitrich Bonhoeffer did not know this so although most of his message is right he came to the wrong conclusion.
The end time Church will be a very confrontational Church it wont be the turn the other cheek doormat Church where we will stay in the way of every hit.The fight will be taken to the world by the Church,It will be a fight however and we will take hits.
Persecution will always be with us its a given sometimes more some times less but if we conclude the way Dietrich Bonhoeffer concludes we will preach Persecution not the Gospel of Christ and this is sad,
Yours Staff

D

docs Jan 10, 2016

What is the end time Ministry and Spirit of Elijah?

Breaking it down, what does that specifically mean and how will it result in protecting the Church from harm at the end of the age. I've heard this type of phrasing, the Ministry and Spirit of Elijah for a long while now and realilzed I'm not really even clear on what it supposed to mean except I've heard it may mean the return of true prophets anointed for a end time task. From Scripture, how is it to be explained?

I admit I don't think Dietrich Bonhoeffer came to a altogether wrong conclusion.

Thanks.

sermonindex Jan 10, 2016

Dear brother staff,

I think Dietrich's assessment was correct.

The end time church has been the end time church since Pentecost and been under the Spirit and ministry of Elijah (Christ in us) since then.

Rom 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the POWER OF THE SPIRIT of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST, according to his own will?

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of POWER, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The Spirit and power of "Elijah" is not greater than "Christ in us" and the Spirit of Christ must be revived in the Church.

We see the power of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament and individual lives through the centuries and this is the revival people are longing for and praying for. We can all have this same power that previous saints who have gone on before us have walked in.

Since Pentecost we have been living in the "latter house".

Hag 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

This "glory" has been experienced by many in the past and is meant to be experienced by us, NOW. Yes, it will be accompanied with great persecution, but only for those who live godly lives.

Act 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

We are to have this same Holy Ghost, today!

sermonindex Jan 10, 2016

Nice quote from Dietrich Bonhoffer, who nails it. Staff, you might want to consider

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (Rev 13:4-7)

He makes war against the saints and overcomes them. This is not to be confused with the gates of hell prevailing against the Body of Christ, this is more in line with Jesus being crucified. Satan thought he had accomplished a great victory at Calvary but in actual fact, an open shame, a humilation was being made of him even although the exact opposite seemed to be true. We know that just a few days later " up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph oe'r His foes." Satan again will believe he has won a great victory then Christ will come in all His glory and every eye will see and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The question in all of this for the saints will be " are you willing to be overcome in the flesh that you might triumph in the Spirit?" Are you willing to glorify a God that has called you to Martyrdom? This same question has been asked by every Martyr down through the ages. By allowing ourselves to be Martyred and not resisting in the flesh, other than fleeing from city to city as circumstances warrant it, we will make an open shame of our enemy and it will be a witness for all the world to see. They will hate us all the more for our actions will be counter to the flesh and bring conviction to their hard hearts...........and then the end shall come......bro Frank

S

staff Jan 10, 2016

Hi all,
I try and answer in one post,
Elijah comes before the great and terrible day of the lord which is two days not one,the same as when John The Baptist couldnt understand why Jesus in a literal sense hadnt fullfilled all that he was meant to do.John The Baptist didnt undterstand that their was two comings of Christ.
So the ministry of Elijah comes before both comings and I do agreee with the poster that says we've been under the ministry of Elijah since the Time of Christ.
To find out what this ministry is about in the end we have to look at what it was like before.If even slightly investigate that you will see the parrellels,the types and shadows.
A few quick points
It comes directly before Christ
All go out to that ministry
Its enemy is False Religion(Jezebel)
It preaches the truth in some way to the Anti Christ(even though its not accepted)
It causes an outpouring
3 1/2 yrs is always involved
Elijah seems to come from nowhere

The ministry of Elijah began the Church and The Ministry of Elijah ends the Church age

Their are times when their is persecution and sometimes their is not,Their are Times when Stephen is stoned to death and martyred and their are times when Billy Graham lives to be 97 plus years and at some stage goes to be with the lord peacefully in his old age.
First things first before the marythrdom though comes the powerful ministry of Elijah through the Church then the martyrdom.
What im saying is that Deitrich Bonehoffer only part tells the story and with only that part I would also conclude as he does,
Yours Staff

S

staff Jan 10, 2016

Dear Julius

To Clarify the Spirit of Elijah is (just) a move of the Holy Spirit prior to Christs Appearance it doesnt superceed or in any way mean Elijah is greater than Christ but we have to remember Christ humbled himself and came under John the Baptist ministry for a reason.What was that reason?

Also without John The Baptist their is no Pentecost it couldnt happen a fact recognised by Peter directly before the outpouring on that day,
So their is no contradiction their is a pattern that is the same three times in the Bible each time revealing something new about how God deals with things prior to the day of the lord,
Yours Staff

D

dolfan Jan 11, 2016

Someone I love sent me a link to a "word given" to a certain well known preacher. Who it is matters not, but what he said both rang true and rang false to me. I do not have a copy of what was said and really don't care to get into the specifics of his "prophecy". But I have thought on it throughout the day.

We are reaching a point, it seems to me, where the stern warnings are becoming more widely known. Let us be careful -- when men repeat the severity and seriousness of God and His warnings -- that we watch closely for equivocation in them in the form of smooth words and things that would seem to put off the Day and would seem to interject more "peace and prosperity" or that offer to limit the extent of judgment to come.

These voices are coming. They will be frequent soon. Key buzz words like revival, judgment, repentance, remnant will be spoken. The speakers will not mean what the Lord is saying. They will leverage God's message for a meaning that keeps their ministry offering plates spinning.

We need to band together as the body wherever we are and ask for God to give the Body discernment.

sermonindex Jan 11, 2016

by staff on 2016/1/10 18:54:23
"To Clarify the Spirit of Elijah is (just) a move of the Holy Spirit"

Amen!

And the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ which has dwelt in men since Pentecost. Without Jesus Christ there would be no Pentecost.

Jesus Christ has dwelt in men since Pentecost not John the Baptist and men with the Spirit of Christ have stood up against the Spirit of Jezebel in every century.

Just like Elijah the Church has drawn out the Jezebel spirit in the religious system. The greatest enemy of Elijah, Jezebel will try to stop, manipulate, seduce, or discredit this ministry through any number of diabolical schemes. Today is no different, as the Spirit of Jezebel attempts to discredit the ministry of the Church in all the same ways as we see in Elijah's time. Elijah triumphed over Jezebel however, John was martyred by Herodias, Jezebel's New Testament counterpart.

Many men and women have been martyred by the great whore of Babylon. Today, we all triumph in Christ even if we lose our life. The spirit of Jezebel CANNOT be tolerated in the life and ministry of the Church and exposing this spirit is often met with severe persecution and even death.

As we both know, John and Elijah prefigure Christ who now dwells in His Church. Additionally, half of Elijah's ministry he confronted governments and holy men of God have spilled their blood through the centuries standing up to evil governments which had made alliances with the religious beast.

Elijah's ministry was also marked with 14 miracles and the Church through Christ is marked by miracles, too. There are many more parallels between Elijah and John the Baptist and the ministry of Christ through his Church.

I would be happy to go through them with you.

And of course let's not forget the humility of Christ, whose spirit lives in us.

S

staff Jan 11, 2016

Hi Julius,
I have to be honest Im not sure what your saying or disagreeing with.
You seem to be thinking that I am saying Elijah will put himself higher than Christ which is not what Im saying.I'm saying Christ put himself lower than Elijah and recognised this ministry of preparation for his first coming.
The Prophetic types between Elijah and John prefigure the ultimate Elijah which is not Jesus clearly.
It is not just parallels its more than that.Similar to the way we say that the Old testement Temple structure was a prophetic shadow of a heavenly structure.
Ultimately the only person/people that can defeat Jezebel in the Church is people with the minsitry of Elijah.
As to Pentecost my statement that Pentecost could not happen without John The Baptist still stands as Peter points out if you read the chapter carefully.Their can be no pentecost without John the Baptist and their can be no Pentecost without Jesus either both had to be there for this to happen.This again does not mean that Elijah John or the ultimate Elijah are greater than Jesus it just means that they are fullfilling this unusual ministry of making a way for Christ,making the high paths low and the low paths high to paraphrase.
Once again before Christ return the friend of the bridegroom will make the bride ready for Christ.
And it could be persecution or adversary that will put all the Christians in one camp again
Yours Staff

sermonindex Jan 11, 2016

Ultimately the only person/people that can defeat Jezebel in the Church is people with the minsitry of Elijah.

We just have a difference of opinion, but that is ok.

The source is always Christ and always will be. The Gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church because of who the HEAD is.

There is simply nothing more powerful than the spirit of Christ.

God bless and have a great day.
J

sermonindex Jan 11, 2016

Revelation 12:10-11

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the salvation, and the power, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

John 12:24-26

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Brethren. Satan is defeated when we hate our lives in this world and love Jesus even more than our life itself. Even if loving Him means that we lose our life. We overcome the evil one. Because we do not renounce Christ and give allegiance to Satan. In the end this is what the enemy wants us to do.

A year ago 21 Coptic believers died on the shores of Tripoli. They died with one name on their lips. That name was Jesus. Not one of those believers renounced their faith in Christ. When you look at the videos of these 21 believers their faces are uncovered looking toward heaven. Those who took the lives of these brothers had their faces covered. I think of the verse out of 2nd Corinthians 3:18 that says we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord the spirit. That day it was Jesus that gave the victory. That day Satan lost the battle. Indeed Satan has lost the war. I honestly believe that those of that took the lives of these brothers covered their faces because they could not see the glory of God in the face of these maeryrs. And those who cover their faces purport to represent a true religion. Those that cover their faces represent Satan. Those that cover their faces were defeated that day. Because 21 Coptic believers did not pronounce their faith in Christ. It was Jesus that got the victory that day.

This has always been the history of the martyrs down through the ages. Of those who follow Jesus. From Steohen onward those who did not renounce their faith in Jesus. Even unto death the nartyrs of Christ were the victors. These are the ones who are reigning in heaven now. These are the ones who are victorious in Jesus.

But it is through the blood of the martyrs that the kingdom is advanced. Jesus said unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains alone. But if it dies it bears much fruit. Tertullian said that the blood of the martyr is the seed of the church. We remember the martyrdom of Jim Elliot. Through him and the other five missionaries who were martyred in Ecuador a savage tribe was reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ. With the martyrdom of Stephen the Apostle Paul was reached for the Lord Jesus Christ. And one could say countless thousands and millions were reached for the gospel by the martyrdom of Stephen. The martyrdom of Stephen which resulted in the Apostle Paul's conversion. And through Paul his gospel message which still rings through the pages of the New Testament is resulting in the conversion of many, nany, many untold millions to Jesus.

Brothers and sisters it is only when we take up our cross and deny ourselves. Even hate our lives in this world and love Jesus above all even being faithful to Him unto death. Then we can truly make an impact for the Kingdom of Jesus.

Brothers and sisters who is the man or woman that Satan fears? It is that one who overcomes the evil one by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony and Jesus and by not loving their lives even unto death.

This is the ultimate victory of the church over the evil one. It will be the persecuted church that comes to the fires of affliction and that will not love their life. It will be the persecuted church that loves Jesus even more.

These are my thoughts as testified by the Holy Spirit out of His Word.

Bearmaster

A

AbideinHim Jan 11, 2016

What Bear shared about overcoming by
not loving our lives unto the death is
rarely preached in most churches.
Usually the emphasis is overcoming by
the blood of the Lamb, and the word of
our testimony.

It is only by the grace of God that we
overcome sin, temptation, and persecution.
He that believes that he overcomes through
his own strength and will power will fail
miserably.

God's grace is sufficient and His strength
is made perfect in our weakness. How
many of us can rejoice in our weakness?

"If you are reproached for the name of
Christ, blessed are you, for the spirit of
glory and of God rests upon you."
(1 Peter 4:14). The greater the persecution
the greater the grace and glory that will
rests upon those that are abiding in Christ.

Christ is the Overcomer, and the one that
is crucified with Christ overcomes by the
life of Christ in Him. " This is the victory
that overcomes the world, even our faith."
(1 John 5:4)

S

staff Jan 11, 2016

Hi Julius,
As I said but il repeat of course its Christ nobody is saying its not but it will be Christ through the Church and the Church will come under the ministry of Elijah a particular move of the Spirit that only happens each time Christ comes to the Earth.Always doing the same thing each time making ready the way for him to come for his Bride,
Peter said to paraphrase it is nessacary to select an appostle to replace Judas.The qualification was that he had to be with them from the ministry of John The Baptist(Elijah) because Peter knew for an out pouring to happen their A:Had to be a full twelve appostles B:Their had to be a full twelve appostles that were baptised by John(to fulfill prophesy)
It is clear that Peter understood the role of Elijah as immediately after this correction was made the outpouring happened.In fact in Acts its the very next line!
Read it for yourself and look at the timing,Yours Staff

S

staff Jan 11, 2016

Hi Bearmaster,
But what is a Marytr?
Billy Graham advanced the kingdom greatly but wasnt Martyred.
Their are times in the kingdom that Stephen dies for the kingdom in his young age and their are times when Billy Lives for the Kingdom into his ripe old age.
The stick the head in the sand view of the end times without looking at the clear pattern ultimately doesnt work in my opinion.We have to look at the word of God to see Gods plan for the Church in the end.Anybody can qoute beautiful Scriptures about Christ that sound correct but Im after giving sound scripture but it wont be answered for the sake of an inaccurate historical view of the end,
Yours Staff

sermonindex Jan 11, 2016

Staff the word martyr in the Greek neans witness. Those who laid down tveir lives for Chriat were the ultimate witnesses for Jesus. And yes Art Katz and Denny Kennuston thiught thy would be nartyred in tveir lifetime. But these dear brothers pasded away due to natural csuses. But did much to advance His kingdom.

But bear in mind these men Billy Graham, Art Katz, and Denny Kennuston lived in Ameroca. The American evangelical church does not have a history of perwecution. Thus nany dear nem and women of God who have an impact for God in America may not be martyred. But that will soon change.

The New Testamest was written sgaibst a back drop of perwecution. It was written by those who were persecuted and martyred for those who were being persecuted and martyred. Evem to this day. Today's perercuted church can better identify with the New Testament than we in Anerica can.

The accurate teaching of the New Testanent, church history, and those who folliw Jesus is that the bride of Christ will go through persecutioj even up until the time of His return. But the pereecuted church will be victorious because He is victorious.

My thiughts.......

Bearmaster

S

staff Jan 12, 2016

Hi Bearmaster

Yes we will always have persecution no doubt in all forms not just physical.
When it comes to persecution though the members of SI including Greg(great guy that he is) have a serious wrong attitude and instead of preaching the Gospel are sidetracked with preaching persecution.
Paul said he come to terms with all things times of plenty times of nothing times when they were persecuted and times when they were not(paraphrase)
Come to terms with it is what im saying and move on,if its coming its coming.
Unfortunately we have two types of Church as we see it on the one side this out and out crazy pentecostal hype type(for the most part Christians true brothers and sisters)and on the other side of the coin this dour persecution is coming type(for the most part are true brothers and sisters) both equally having the same problem a problem with grace,
The whole Church will be victorius because he is victorious not the persecuted church,the hype type and the life is dour type.In reality(in Gods eyes) their is no persecuted church or hype church but just one Church.
Jesus will not abandon either end of the spectrum unlike man,
Yours Staff

sermonindex Jan 12, 2016

Dear staff,

I like and agree very much with what you just said!

Christians should be known for their righteousness, peace and joy...and love.

And their overcoming attitude in ALL of life's situations.

Forget about self, think of others and preach the gospel.

sermonindex Jan 12, 2016

Staff, have you ever left home or your home country?
You don't seem to have any idea what the real world looks like.

Quote: "When it comes to persecution though the members of SI including Greg(great guy that he is) have a serious wrong attitude and instead of preaching the Gospel are sidetracked with preaching persecution. "
No one was preaching persecution, but we are allowed to warn each other and post a message for discussion
Who has a seriously wrong attitude here?

Before Christmas we learnt that a Christian family in Norway had their 5 kids taken away, are you also telling them "Come to terms with it is what im saying and move on" ?
Very unloving, uncaring comments from you ! May the Lord help you !

Here is a message for all of us:
http://cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/rev-graham-its-open-season-christians-sin-openly-celebrated-highest-office

May the Lord be near to us as it is getting darker and darker