1 Peter 2:21, 22
Is there a secret to staying on top of things spiritually? To make the question a bit more challenging, let me frame it differently.
Nearly one-third of the world’s Christians now live in areas where the expression of their faith is restricted. For these believers, living vibrant spiritual lives is more difficult because there is a price to pay for their faith. What about Christians in these areas? Have they learned secrets of spiritual survival which have escaped some of us who take our faith for granted?
Every time I have worshipped with Christians living in restricted areas, I’ve come away feeling dwarfed, humbled and reproved for my grumbling and complaining. "I’m not worthy to carry the suitcase of these godly men and women."
Since 1980, Paul Eastbrooks has been involved in a ministry to the "suffering Church". He has traveled thousands of miles and has met with thousands of house church leaders and ordinary men and women who have paid an extraordinary price for their faith.
In Secrets to Spiritual Success, Eastbrooks tells the true-to-life stories of men and women who look up and smile even when there is little on their plate to merit a smile. Eastbrooks lists seven secrets enabling them to survive joyfully.
Secret #1. Wholehearted love for God. Wang Ming Dao, the father of the House Church Movement, spent twenty years in prison. When Eastbrooks asked him, "What can we in the West pray with you about?" old Brother Wang replied, "Pray for us that we will love the Lord more."
Secret #2. Wholehearted commitment to God. Having taken up the cross of Jesus Christ, they are committed. They have crossed the line and are willing to pay the price.
Secret #3. Wholehearted service for God. The Oxford cricketer and missionary, C.T. Studd, said, "If Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."
Secret #4. Wholehearted enjoyment of the minute. Filled with the Spirit of God, people who are that committed have joy and happiness others lack. Having almost nothing, they have nearly everything.
Secret #5. Spiritual strength for the battle. Taking the Word of God literally, suffering believers often see the power of God in ways that their counterparts read about only in the book of Acts.
Secret #6. A passionate love for people. Having first loved the Lord, they love their brothers and sisters and those who are lost.
Secret #7. Confidence that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ, even unto death. With this confidence they glorify Christ, whether by life or by death.
Resource Reading: Romans 8:31-39