Hebrews 12:1-4 KJV
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Without the blood covering no one can live up to the perfection of Christ and witht he blood covering we recognize without it we could not stand before God knowing our sins are forgiven. However there always someone that will say they can, because they are perfect. Don't be surprised when someone declares there perfection. Know this they speak in ignorance to there own fallacies in life. If God wanted all humans to be perfect he would of established it in his design of humanity that perfection to not be able sin. Yet humanity was cast away from the garden of Eden, but not God, to be able to chose God's perfection and ways. When we choose God's ways we are encompassed by many people, who are watching us in our imperfection as humans, but we are as children of God perfect by God because of his blood covering through Christ Jesus. Yet our strive needs not to be sin, that needs to be laid aside and we need to run the race of faith that is set before us. We maybe the only testimony of faith before another. We may be the only witness of Jesus before someone's untimely departure. We do not know. Because we, ourselves can not see other people's heart or agenda to speak about Jesus we do not know if they are saved but by God's Spirit. Meaning people have many church people around them but that may not make them saved or good witnesses to follow. It is the people outside of the church that are unsaved seeing church goers that have often keep them from going in. And sometimes that not the reason at all. You have to ask why someone has never gone to church or if they have to know the reason if they share freely.

I want you to look at verse two where it says "Him endured the cross and despising the shame". Him being Jesus. The shame of the cross. Even Timothy that wrote Hebrews calls the cross shame. Shame meaning not a good thing but a correction. If the world understands not who you are, how can you exalt your authority in their life? No that not the problem, he came as man and he went to the cross because of one his own behavior cause another sin, If he had not turned over the money tables would Barbarras' have killed. I can play the what if games all day. He exalted himself as King of the Jews on the Triumphal entry. It did not matter that he really was the a king. What is clear the world the crowd was ready for the healings Jesus gave but not ready for him to exalt his power in the world. The shame comes when the world rejects him and crucifies him without evidence of him being worthy of death beyond him being exalted as a King. He hated the shame he caused the world that would look at his cross differently then God intended it. He Intent to died in our place, a symbol of what not to do as children of God to exalt ourselves as royalty in God's throne room among others that are not. Meaning we maybe sons and daughers by spiritual birth, but we are not equal nor do we have controll over the power of God. Our shame to be crucified for our faith, no, but our shame if we as humans try to be more then we truly are in God's kingdom for the world does not recognize it. Our humanity causes us to fall, our humanity is imperfect, though Christ be perfect. His blood covering makes us perfect in the sight of God without it our failings are truly seeable by God, and yet always seeable by the world. The shame of his death because many seeing the cross believing whatever caused him to be there was condemnable by death would of turned from him and gone back to there old ways of religious life and belief, maybe not knowing of the resurrection. God will was to show he could raise the word back up again despite the fall of Jerusalem. Despite the fall of believers. That when we fail to obey God's word, he can raise it up. That if we die to God's word, he can still raise us up to a new life with him.

God's word is eternal, and for eternity, it can not be moved or changed. In the flesh man destroys it and in the Spirit world God's word will endure despite the followers enability to always hold to the commands or words of God on faith. Meaning we as believer have a responsibility to obey the word of God to be the example. We have to forgive ourselves for making mistakes and to learn from them and to grow as human beings in God's word. God can and will raise again His word in our life even when we have to repent and learn to turn to his word despite our own shame of not following God's word the first time around. It our shame we did not obey God, nor do his will before the cloud of witness. It our shame to be in disobedience though we know better. Our shame being different then Christ shame, he was doing his Father's will.

When we examine why people are crucified we have to ask for example Steven was in the temple when they took him and crucified him. Meaning by their beliefs he was out of line for teaching false doctrine by their beliefs. The only crime of faith nobel is to be in the will of God despite the enemy not understanding or their rules. Stephen could of preached perhaps outside the temple nothing might of been said after all it was Roman territory. Yet if those that witness Stephen death could learn a thing or two of what not to do like do not preach in the Jewish Temple though they be believers in God the Father and not the Son, but instead preached to them in the streets.

When a person tries to force their ideas into another person's domain it not always well received. To press upon faith of another type in a home that does not welcome your faith might not be adviseable. Had Timothy observed Paul's stories of his persecution, that he learned to avoid it by teaching and preaching in places he was welcome. There places where you may not be welcome and devil attack is real. Timothy job was to build the church up to help the believers of faith. In every society there those that go into places others would not. Christian world has people that go in faith in places that are in opposition to Christ to share the Gospel often without good results like Stephen and parts of Paul's ministry. Persecution is still real, though they might not kill you they will and can cause harm to you, you will feel like you been through a fire. Realize if you come out of it, that there as equally as many wolves that come to steal the christians from the church that get saved inside the church because of the love and compassion of believers. That they see Christ love in them and desire it, because their world is not of love.

Most never will experience that threat of their own cross for obedience to God the way Stephen, Paul and the early church did that went about preaching despite persecution of faith. There are places around the world that are killed for their faith, but what are they charged with Christianity or something else. We have to examine the charge. Could the charge have been avoid and the Gospel still been spread? Yet because of the boldness of believers to preach despite persecution and the Gospel was spread. Yet the cross does not cause no one the desire to follow in persecution despite it shows conviction of a person to die for their convictions. Is that person known. Paul was persecuted and lived through it, not dying to stoning or beatings. God perservation in Paul's life helped others to believe in Jesus Christ.

I seen a christian boasting about persecution in America and though it real at times, it usually something that can be controlled by the laws of our land. He wanted to do street evangelism not knowing the laws of the land that to do so, one had to get a permit for a gathering. A simple error one that could be corrected. A simple license or permit to speak, because people gather for all sorts of things and the government racks up on selling these permits in areas where it is needed. There places people can play a guitare or other instruments without any problems for money and it called street performance. There no problem with that means to also use evangelism. Why because the community leaders respect the freedom of expression and free speech in out land.

I do not doubt other countries have similiar laws concerning gatherings and such. Christians that want to evangelise in our area what stopping you? Yet some people will make you feel unwelcome, not considering what they do is a crime or can be consider a crime. Find out the laws if you can. Hopefully good cops will help you keep from causing one to be thought to be a criminal. My town has been having a keg party for the past several years once a year. Some call it wine tasting to make christian community cringe, but it still a keg party. There is a point. What one frowns on, another will cheer for. Yet as believers we know that it only takes a seed of faith to begin a sprout of faith in God.

What can the Christian community, pastors, and leaders do to preach and spread the Gospel outside their church as a corporate effort and not one church effort, what about one church effort. Some one might ask what do you do, well I have limited funds, but if I can share I will as my energy will allow me too. Diversity in the church world is good, because it allows people to choose where they worship and learn more about Jesus. Evangelism is good to help kids stay off drugs, and find a new ways of living that safe and secure in regards to eternity.

It easy to jump on any bandwagon and easy to fall. It easy to fail because prayer is undone. It easy to fail because of one's own ego and not willing to allow people too minister how they are called. Trust me a true minister can not be stopped. He find someone to preach too or to pray for. Even if it no one but his family and home. As believers we need to set the example of faith and demonstrate and teach ministry. How to go out and share the Gospel. Some learn only by God's Spirit and some have teachers that are bold to grab a hold of anyone willing to go with them in faith. We want revival in our land that what it is going to take. Let the work of ministry begin by learning to be that example of faith. To learn to have faith to teach faith. Faith comes by examples and testimonies of how to live for Jesus. No one does it perfect. When you fail to pray, then you fail to hear seek God forgiveness and learn from disobedience to be obedient. Learn to obey and hope that people see your obedience and not the failure. Yet our failings also display our humanity.

Dear Heavenly Father help us to obey your word knowing that persecution does come sometimes by those that hate us, not by the law usually but because of opposition to our faith. Help us to be consistent in faith, in Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Ephesians 2:4-10 KJV
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Romans 12:1-3 KJV
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.