Rise Up

"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." - Revelation 21:8 

As defined by Webster's Dictionary, a coward is, "A person who lacks courage, especially one who is shamefully unable to control his fear and so shrinks from danger or trouble." 

Are you lacking courage? Are you worried about what the world will think of you? Are you afraid of offending people, so instead, you shrink away from the danger and trouble we are battling right now? Maybe you believe silence does no harm, but hear me out--

"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil... Not to speak, is to speak. Not to act, is to act." ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer 

To be silent is to be passive and lukewarm. Jesus says He will spit the lukewarm out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16)! 

"We have to respond when something is unjust...We can't be content to watch at the same time we condemn. To condemn is to stand up in the face of a wrong and fight it. We must pick a side." ~Vladimir Nicolai (The Butterfly and the Violin). 

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." -Ephesians 6:12 

We cannot sit back any longer. 

"And the Lord; He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." -Deuteronomy 31:8

If God goes before us, who can stop us? 

"The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" -Psalm 118:6

Rise up Church!            PRAY.

As Edmund Burke said, "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." 

If we do not speak, our enemies will. If we do not fight to protect our children, someone will fight to conquer them. 

We cannot draw back. Take courage. Lift your voice--let's go. 

"But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed but those who have faith and obtain life." -Hebrews 10:39