In this sermon, the speaker raises important questions about carrying the cross in the midst of abundance and persecution. He challenges listeners to consider whether they are willing to make sacrifices when others are indulging in worldly pleasures. The speaker also questions the focus of Western Christianity, suggesting that it may be too concerned with numbers and success rather than the true message of the cross. He emphasizes the need for Christians to prioritize building great Christians rather than just great churches. The sermon concludes with a call to pray for North Korea and a reminder to seek God's will in our lives.

Welcome to the audio weblog of the Hackberry House of Chosen. Today, a Westerner reflects on persecution. Being around those who suffer or are threatened suffering puts some new perspectives in a man's heart, brings questions to the foreground that often are buried. There are two questions in particular. Number one, am I really willing to carry the cross where there is persecution? I don't like pain and inconvenience. I found out this summer how really frail I am in a lot of ways. What if this minor affliction I experience now were made permanent or added to? Would I eventually flinch? Would I follow Jesus no matter what? Oh, Jesus, pray for me like you did for Peter, that my faith fail not in the hour of trial. But there's another question. Until the above is a reality in my life, either by a special calling of God or a general persecution that comes to my nation, another question needs to be dealt with. Am I willing to carry the cross in the midst of plenty? When others are eating a lot, will I choose to eat a little? When others are going to the world for their pleasures, will I be willing to stick with the people of God? When others are trusting television, will I spend time with God? When others are looking for fashion clothes, will I be satisfied with just covering my body? These decisions are forced on the persecuted. We who have a choice, what will we choose? In persecuted lands, mother and father and child can be separated against one's will. Am I willing to lay all these people on the altar and follow Christ regardless? The American team from Portland, Oregon is gone as I write blogs now. What a blessing they were. One morning we visited a traditional early morning prayer meeting. Literally hundreds were present. It was good to see that people of a western persuasion are still willing to get out of bed early to feed their souls. I must say, though, that the preacher's message was a bit troubling. And I'm told that there's much of this in South Korean shepherding. It goes something like this. Christians are now leading our world. Obama is a Christian. Korea's new president is a Christian. Follow Jesus and you too can be a huge success. Consider Colin Powell as another example. He's a Christian and God blessed him with this important position. God wants Christians to rule and to have power. No one can doubt that Korean churches are successful in this regard. The largest churches in the world are Korean. This church I was at had 100,000 members, 150 pastors. The Korean church has nearly as many missionaries as the United States already. They'll have more in the next decade if the trend continues. So we surely don't want to knock success, do we? But is western Christianity in general too hung up on numbers and too little hung up on the cross? Hung on the cross that Jesus places before us. Is our calling to build great churches or great Christians? Is the kingdom now or after Jesus comes? A lot more questions than answers today, but do please pray for North Korea. And if you'd like a copy, a written copy of what you've just heard, go to my home page here at Sermon Audio. From the main page, just type in Chosun or Hackberry at the top where it says find. Click on the link that comes up and then click on weblog. Also on that page, you'll be able to access all my written and audio Bible teachings and information about North Korea. Please pray with me that God would have his way here and in my life and in your life too. Amen. God bless you today.