The rising of generation xtreme - part 6 in the serialising of Carl Anderson's Changing Of The Guard

Pressure Produces The Precious

What brought the real unity in the early church? It was pressure; pressure on them caused them to lay aside their differences and bond together. We will be like the armed forces coming ashore at D-Day in Normandy, France, in which each person, no matter what their color or age, will be needed to defeat the common enemy. It is high time we re-orient ourselves around our common Lord, and allow Him to commission us to fight our battles together.

In the film, Glory, which is based on historical truth, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw is portrayed as the young man chosen to train and lead the first black regiment in the American Civil War. At first, the black soldiers face persecution from the white soldiers. Also there is fighting and disputes within the ranks of the black unit, until their first day of battle. There, the black soldiers who had disagreements came together and saved each
other's lives, and both black and white soldiers came together to defeat the common foe. External pressure brought a true heartknit unity. Get ready.

Think about a pearl. What is a pearl? It is just a piece of sand that is pressurized over time in the stomach of an oyster to become (or, "producing") a valuable piece of jewelry.

Carl Anderson

Think about a diamond. What is a diamond? It is just a cheap lump of coal made valuable under pressure. In the last days God is going to have His pearls and His diamonds - a group of people made valuable by the pressures He allows and even forces at times upon His children. So, as one of my mentors, Larry Alberts, once put it in his seven "p's," "Pruning provides pain and pressure, producing precious people."

Some have prophesied sweeping changes for this world over the next few decades. There are prophetic words about war, financial instability, terrorism, the Spirit of Islam, and natural disasters. Great signs in the heavens and earth will cause men's hearts to fear. The Antichrist will arise, and as a one-world "religion" grows larger, increasingly tolerant, inclusive, and general, the remnant of true believers in Jesus Christ, followers of His Way,
will grow more unified. Persecution will intensify. Then at the appointed time, Christ Himself will burst through the eastern sky, carrying with Him salvation for all who have endured and remained faithful until the end, and judgment for the souls of all the wicked who have forsaken Him. Until then, whether it is in our generation or in one that follows ours, we have a responsibility to be all that we can be for Jesus.

When you joined the ranks of God's army, you relinquished your rights to yourself, and surrendered your will to the will of God. You were a slave of unrighteousness, now you become a slave of His righteousness, a servant to His calling; you gave your very lifeblood, and it may be required of you in the end.

You can buy Changing Of The Guard from Cross Rhythms Direct for £10.44.