Cedric Fisher: "earnestly contending for the faith."

Why are there so many Believers suffering today?

Peter wrote about suffering, that one could suffer for doing evil, or doing good (1 Peter 4:15-16). But the fact is that God’s people appear to be suffering unjustly. Wicked people take advantage of the Believer’s suffering to insist that they are being punished by God for heresy. However, God’s word does not state, “Many are the afflictions of the heretics.” (Psalm 34:19)

God’s people may indeed be under His chastising, but He only chastises the ones He loves (Hebrews 12:6). However, the wicked often appear to be greatly blessed by the measurement of earthly standards.

Asaph wrote about that status of the wicked:

“Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.” (Psalm 73:7)

Asaph erroneously focused on the deceptively “better” life of the wicked. He reached the point where he began to believe that he was living righteously in vain.

“Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.” (Psalm 73:12-14)

Many of God’s people have reached that point of frustration. However, Asaph came to his senses after entering God’s sanctuary. We should do likewise!

“When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” (Psalm 73:16-17)

The problem is that many professing Christians have fallen under the spell of individuals that have merchandised them (2 Peter 2:3). Those evil ones do not know God. They view Christianity with its billions of follower-minded sheep as a means of self-aggrandizement. They have no fear to blaspheme, to spew pandering prophecies and revelations from their wicked imaginations. They even desecrate the image of Christ to make themselves appear righteous in their wickedness.

God’s mercy compels Him not only to prevent His people from becoming a heretic’s herd of goats, but to expose goathood (apostasy) to His people. He will purify His people by trials so that they recognize the truth more clearly.

Asaph first recognized he had wrongly focused on the satanically “blessed” state of the wicked. He realized that he had failed to recognize that he possessed much more wealth than the wicked would ever possess.

“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” (Psalm 73:25-26)

He echoed the Psalm of David.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12)

The Apostle Paul wrote that the apparent disparity between the status of the good and the wicked will increase in the last days.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12-13)

Numerous professing Christians in America do not believe that verse. Their spirits have been fattened by the teachers that Peter prophesied about. Suffering to such professing Christians is missing a great sale on Black Friday, or the HVAC going bad in the church building. They cannot fathom the type and degree of persecution the Believers in the rest of the world are going through. Furthermore, their eschatological doctrine is established on elitism.

It is a fact that our temporal lives will come to an end. It is just as certain that the temporal realm will one day end. A hedonistic world of temporal-minded people–sold out servants of Satan, deceived into believing that evil is good and good is evil, that are replacing the Ten Commandments with Ten Offenses, will destroy every visage of God from society. When they have accomplished that, they will hunt down everyone that refuses to deny Christ, imprison and murder them.

The period leading to the Antichrist and False Prophet’s kingdom rebellion will become incrementally hostile to the Believers. As deceived and apostate people become more ungodly, places of refuge in the world will disappear. Consider that leaders in the secular and religious realm are making statements and committing deeds that would once have been thought insane and bizarrely evil. Instead of the truth turning on a light in their minds, truth incites rage and a greater intensity of rebellion.

The fact is that no professing Christian that is pampered and sheltered from hardships can endure and survive the massive Tsunami of sheer, mindless, evil when it explodes in the world. There is no way to prepare for it other than to be strengthened and purged by trials.

Therefore, if we want to know why the increase of trials is today, it is to prepare Gods Remnant for a very difficult finale in the temporal realm. God promises to deliver us—not from, but out of all afflictions.

Peter wrote about trials:

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

I warn professing Christian leaders that they should begin warning about the encroaching dark and evil storm. They should stop telling people that the more wickedness increases the closer their escape arrives. They are consigning people to face utter devastation with weakness and unpreparedness. Because of imparted and supported apathy, multitudes of professing Christians can barely survive a minor trial. They have no concept of endurance or of allowing the trial’s flames to burn the chaff out of their souls. Instead, they blame every trial on Satan and seek deliverance any way that they can get it.

The fact is that God’s love, that sent His only Son to die for our sins, is now preparing us to face what is already a difficult period and increasing daily with multifaceted evil. Instead of taking up their cross and following Christ, professing Christians are burying their minds in entertainment and clouds of false teaching and false prophecies. God loves them too much to not attempt to awaken them.

They cannot hear or refuse to read the warnings. They believe the pillow prophets and hirelings that label the watchmen, truthspeakers, and prophets, as judgmental, critical, and legalistic Pharisees. If anyone is sitting under the leadership of such a hireling I advise him or her to get as far away from them as possible.

This is not a game! It is not a battle of opinions that have no consequences for choosing the one over the other. Either God can speak through people or He cannot. If He is speaking through people, each individual has to recognize that fact and choose whom to listen to. Will it be the hirelings and heretics that prophecy “peace, safety,” or the voices of warning? Which message is more likely to be of God in the last days?

I contend that the ones who are at ease in their religious comfort zones cannot hear or recognize the voices of warning. The ones that are enduring afflictions are awake and their ears and eyes are not dulled or dimmed. Consider and never forget Paul’s perspective.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

13 Comments

  1. GJ

    What for… or… is it who for? Another way to ask…
    https://hopeishereblog.wordpress.com/2019/12/21/what-for/

  2. ken hall

    Great commentary and insight into the dilemma of a great number of professing Christians who have bought into the pre-trib, 7 year tribulation error. I am going to keep watching the prophetic signs and comparing them to what is actually occurring in the world. I could not keep my fingers still today when someone on FB was downing mid trib, pre-wrath, post trib and any other rapture scenario except pre- 7 year tribulation which he espoused. He was mocking anyone other than pre-tribbers. Had to say something !!

  3. Cheryl

    Such a great Article

  4. Enzo D'Amico

    This article is full of current truth. Simply wonderful. Thank you

  5. Linda

    Another excellent and timely message Cedric!

    Just as in the days before God’s judgment fell upon Israel and He brought Babylon against them, the sooth saying smooth talking ‘peace and safety’ prophets of snake oil were heard on every street corner, while the true prophets of God who shouted out the truth, which was anything but ‘peace and safety,’ rather far from it, were persecuted and laughed to scorn. In the end, who was right? The prophets of warning were. But for the masses of the day, it was too late. Babylon’s hook was put in their noses, and off they were dragged to slavery in a pagan land.

    Just yesterday it hit me like a ton of bricks. I know it, I warn about it, but it just felt like this year all hell will break loose. And it already has. The hornet’s nest is open, like the abyss is releasing its demons. I look at a lot of sites and videos on the internet and all compasses pointed to ‘the end is here.’ Life as we know it will soon be changed forever in many ways. This is the year, I could feel it, like ‘now it begins’ sort of a gut feeling. I try not to take things for granted. I live a simple and even frugal life. I try to imagine life without these basic things. Anyway, I am prepared. Most are not prepared. The time to get prepared it about over. It will hit them right between the eyes because they chose to sleep instead of keeping their lamps lit in this hour. Whatever help they think we can give the slumbering virgins, apparently we can’t even if we wanted to. They will be shut out. By now, either they are prepared, or they are not. The storm is set to hit landfall. Good luck trying to board up windows and stockpile at this point, spiritually speaking. I thank God I have no items to get in order, not even family to worry about aside from one and a few friends who are not saved, but no kids or grand kids. I won’t be ‘looking back’ like Lot’s wife for anything, only looking up through the tribulations.

    One of the sites is a video site on youtube by a guy named Jason A. It talks a lot about the natural disasters, political unrest, etc. You can get some interesting videos about end times events now on youtube, at least for now you can.

    And I am definitely in that boat with the Christians suffering trials! And yes, the Lord always brings me through. It’s like walking through the Red Sea and seeing the walls of water on each side and just barely being able to breathe at the sight.

    The one and only thing that sustains me emotionally is the blessing of God. Just worship the Lord, pray, soak in His Word and bask in His light and the joy of His presence and the connection of the relationship, His love and peace and comfort through the Holy Spirit. Walk in the Spirit and serve Him daily. He gets us through the worst rocky places and trials as well as the best lands in this way and we are kept safe and at peace through His coddling love and joy in and through anything. And all of it works out for our good in the end, the trials and the blessings! So just yield to it and let Him sculpt you.

    “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5; 1-5

    “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
    1 Peter 1; 7

    “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. ” 2 Peter 1; 5-7

    “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12; 12

    There is a song that I like to listen to on the radio here and I don’t know the background of the writer but I googled it and cut and pasted this below. You can type the song title into youtube and hear the worship song with headphones.

    “Sufficient For Me”

    Sufficient For Me – D (kapo 5 – to play in G)
    Vs 1)
    Bm G D/F# Asus
    Hear my heart Lord, as I cry out to you
    Bm G D/F# Asus
    Hear my prayer Lord, and carry me through
    Bm G D/F# Asus
    In your mercy, and the promise You made
    Bm G D/F# Asus (Bm – G – D/F# – Asus / 2x)
    Be my strength Lord, when strength fades away…
    Chorus
    D G
    When I am weak, your strength is complete
    Bm A G
    It’s perfect completely all I need
    D G
    Sufficient for me, Your grace and Your peace,
    Bm A G Bm – G – D/F# – Asus …
    Is perfect, completely all I need, Your all that I need…

    Vs 2)
    Bm G D/F# Asus
    In my weakness, I’m finding your strength
    Bm G D/F# Asus
    In my sorrow, a gentle embrace
    Bm G D/F# Asus
    Through the seasons, of laughter or pain
    Bm G D/F# Asus Bm – G – D/F# – Asus …
    You are listening, as I’m calling your name…
    Bridge:
    Em D/F# G A Em D/F# G A ….
    When I am weak, I bow my knees, For when I am weak, You are strong

    2 Cor 12:7-10
    And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
    Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
    ©ScottCunningham CCLI# 4739609

  6. Linda

    Hi again,

    Post this or not, but there is also a song I found called “Only You” by Young Oceans (some versions are better than others) that seems to hit the spot in this matter.
    I also found a series of videos through the ‘Rather Expose Them’ blog (again, not an endorsement of all that is there) at a church called Living in His Presence. They are given by a female (not sure about the congregation in that sense) but the messages expose how the churches have been infiltrated. You go to the church website and to messages and there is a list, I saw some of them and those were good, but again I can’t vouch for every word. I know that stuff is true and have been warning about it for years. Very interesting stuff! Anyway I thought you might find it interesting. Blessings.

  7. David Miller

    Thank you for this important message. Especially as it applies to the times we live in. I very much appreciate your insightful writings on this site.

  8. Chris

    Thank you for this message of warning. Let us examine our hearts before Almighty God and ask Him to reveal to us where we are compromising Our Christian walk. The attacks of our enemy are aimed at God’s Word and there are too many apostates ready and willing to deliver the enemies lies to those who are spiritually slumbering.

    We will be persecuted for standing up for God’s Truths. Is everyone ready? Do you have your Armor on today?

  9. Ron Whited

    One of the best, most well written and thought out articles on this topic I’ve seen in quite a while. So glad to know there are still those who aren’t afraid to speak the truth about what is soon coming to American Christians.
    Glad to subscribe!

  10. Nancy

    Cedric, I would like to address the following sentence. You wrote…”Wicked people take advantage of the Believer’s suffering to insist that they are being punished by God for heresy. ”

    It isn’t just the “wicked” outside the “church” who are accusing the brethren of heresy. They don’t even know what they are talking about given their “lost” state – they have no spiritual understanding. It is the body of Christ, the brethren, who are calling each other heretics that is problematic and this is becoming quite common now.

    Because of my doctrinal understanding, I have been called a heretic from different “camps” of believers. This is absolute nonsense! Am I suffering as a believer for what I believe is truth? No! We now live in a world that is hyper-sensitive and it has entered the “church.” All one has to do is look at a fellow christian wrong and you will be accused of something.

    I have been a serious student of God’s word for 10 years, and when you no longer are being led by man and his traditions, but rather you defer to the Holy Ghost, you will be labeled something – and it’s usually a heretic. For sure, NO ONE has it all figured out and is 100% correct about THEIR understanding of God’s word. Nothing worse than a pride-filled, know it all, christian!

    Christianity is not for wimps!!!!! I believe those who are truely saved have a deep conviction for truth, and with the full armor of God, can withstand sufferings. However, I do believe there are many, and I mean many, professing Christians who are not saved and that is a fact; OR they have been hoodwinked early on following their salvation and have been led astray, but are saved – bending which ever way the wind blows. Hence, the condition of the church today. Yes, I know…that is between them and God. I get it.

    Our suffering of rejection, name calling, loneliness, etc. when one steps out of the “system” is going to be very real and can be painful. But this suffering as experienced by Paul also glorifies God. 2 Cor. 12 explains this condition and how we can be overcomers giving all the glory to the LORD.

    For me, my suffering has never come from the world at large, but rather from within…fellow professing christians. And the division within the “church” today is off the charts. The attitude with many concerning the word of God is, “it’s my way or the highway.” “I’m right, you are wrong.” In fact, the attitude is “I think I will unfriend you.” Yes, doctrine does matter – absolutely, but now that charity is pretty much out the window since the world has entered the “church,” healthy dialog and a respectful exchange is far and few between within the brethren and that is an unfortunate suffering and loss for all involved.

    For me, separating from the world as much as I possibly can has eliminated a lot of unnecessary suffering as a believer. And when I look at the condition of the world today and where it is heading, I have a lot of compassion for those who continue to reject Truth and will be going through the coming Tribulation period.

    For many believers, the suffering today has to do with rejection within the “camp” and outside the “camp.” And for those in other countries, their suffering is often of a physical nature. With all abuse, the emotional and mental sufferings are often worse than the physical sufferings one endures, as they often cut deeper.

    In closing, you say, “They should stop telling people that the more wickedness increases the closer their escape arrives. ” Oh boy, Cedric! This is why I am looking forward to our Blessed Hope! You better believe I want to be able to escape what is coming. And this tsunami of evil is right around the corner. Within my sufferings I can have joy; I can have hope; I have the Blessed Hope and nothing or no one will ever take that hope away from me – even from within the “camp.” I guess it’s true…I am a heretic!

    • Nancy

      I would like to make one correction to my post. Do I suffer for my faith, for Truth? Yes! But I think I am so used to it that I no longer see it as “suffering.” Because The Truth will set you free, I no longer am in bondage to this world (their opinions, their lies (propaganda and false promises) and what they value) – I’m free! This world offers me nothing! It is those who remain in bondage (darkness) to the lie, the deception, the false narrative – they are the ones truely suffering (and will be for eternity) and don’t even know it because they are so blinded from The Way, The Truth and The Life…Jesus Christ! They are who I grieve for when they reject the Gospel and blindly choose death over life. Bottom line, God’s Will, will be done and it will be for His glory! I rest in that truth.

    • Linda

      We are all looking forward to getting out of here and the blessed hope. But unfortunately for some, the ‘blessed hope’ is no more than merely an escape. The fact is that the blessed hope is finally being with Jesus in heaven.

      Yet just because one may look forward to an escape, does not mean that they will get it. At least not in the timing they had hoped for. Taking the ostrich approach never spared any ostrich from becoming lunch for the wolf. We need to be on guard. The problem is that the leadership is softening up the church, leading them down a primrose path to destruction. The fact is, believe it or not, the issue is not even about timing as in pre, mid, or post. The issue is in not being ready to suffer for Jesus! And that is the delusion most American Christians have fallen into. Every time they hear one whisper of a calamity or impending doom for believers, they gasp; “Oh, maranatha! Come for your bride Lord Jesus!” They all have been spoiled with a sense of entitlement to escape all and any suffering and persecution for belonging to Jesus. Despite the fact that it’s okay for the church in the rest of the world to suffer this way every day in brutal ways, and throughout church history. But alas, somehow Americans are exempt. Why? False teachers. And it’s funny how they never exclaim “Maranatha!” when they just won a trip to Hawaii! Oh, no, no longing to depart and be with Jesus asap then! So this just shows that it’s not even about being with the Lord. It’s truly about the flesh and escaping persecution. I’m not saying this is not ‘natural,’ but the spiritual one sees more to the picture. I can’t even begin to get into that here and now. Anyway, to boil it all down, what worries me is not those who have bought into a ‘pre trib’ rapture. What worries me is those who have bought into an “I won’t be expected to suffer any form of persecution for Jesus. I won’t be called to stand my ground on God’s Word regardless of the cost to me personally. I won’t have to worry about compromise because I won’t be put in that situation. I’m special!” THOSE are the ones I worry about, because they WILL be put in that situation, and they won’t be ready. It happens to the church all over the world and has been all through the church age. The ‘exceptions’ won’t be exceptions for much longer. Now is the time to prepare and come out of your bubble of perceived safety, which is a false bubble. It’s of the utmost importance to be prepared. The storm of persecution is coming (and is already here in certain ways) whether we like it or not and whether we are ready or not. The wheat will be separated from the chaff.

      I say this out of love and sincere concern. I’m not one of those out to call people ‘heretics’ just over the timing of the rapture. I know how that is, I’ve suffered it often. Just ask yourself if you are ready if persecution (gulag style) came knocking on your door tomorrow. Don’t be caught as one of the ones slumbering.

      God bless

  11. Ron

    An outstanding synopsis of the modern day apostate church. Thank you for sharing your heart. I join with you in warning the church of today to wake from their slumber and see that the days of severe persecution will soon be upon us here in America.

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