The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected

by Nik Ripken

“every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”

How is it, I wondered, that so many people are willing to die for financial or humanitarian reasons while many Christian groups insist on waiting until it is safe to obey Jesus’ command to “Go” into all the world?

“Serving God is not a matter of location, but a matter of obedience.”

need to distinguish between the sin and the sinner.

if Jesus is not the answer to the human condition, there is no answer.

The stronger the persecution, the more significant the spiritual vitality of the believers.

“Don’t ever give up in freedom what we would never have given up in persecution! That is our witness to the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!”

These believers don’t just live for Jesus, they live with Jesus every day.

They (and you and I) are just as free to share Jesus today in Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Communist countries as you and I are in America. It isn’t a matter of political freedom. It is simply a matter of obedience.

If we spend our lives so afraid of suffering, so averse to sacrifice, that we avoid even the risk of persecution or crucifixion, then we might never discover the true wonder, joy and power of a resurrection faith. Ironically, avoiding suffering could be the very thing that prevents us from partnering deeply with the Risen Jesus.

Believers who do not share their faith aid and abet Satan’s ultimate goal of denying others access to Jesus.

Quite simply, we would do well to ask ourselves whether or not we are being obedient to Jesus. He is asking us—He is expecting us—He is commanding us to share Him wherever we go. He is commanding us to do that wherever we are today.

You and I make the decision each morning: will I exercise my freedom to witness for Jesus today or will I be silent?