James Kitizaki of Moriel Ministries delivers a sober yet hope-filled message that contrasts the joy of worship with the growing cost of Christian faithfulness in an increasingly hostile culture. He opens with a powerful personal account of a Christian believer in Iraq who, despite being disowned by family and targeted by authorities for his faith in Christ, expressed profound joy rooted solely in knowing Jesus. This testimony sets the tone for Kitizakiās central concern: while believers in the West still enjoy relative freedom, complacency and cultural compromise have weakened the churchās witness, even as pressures mount through social coercion, legal punishment, and ideological conformity. Drawing on examples such as Enoch Burke in Ireland and pastors persecuted during COVID restrictions, he warns that obedience to Christ will increasingly demand sacrifice, loss of status, and endurance through tribulation rather than escape from it.
Using the biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah as a prophetic pattern, Kitizaki argues that God consistently preserves the righteous through judgment, not by removing them from it. He challenges teachings that deny tribulation for believers, showing insteadāfrom Genesis, the Exodus, the prophets, the early church, and Revelationāthat faith is refined through suffering. He calls the church to reject isolation, pride, and fear, emphasizing that genuine Christian community is forged in hardship, forgiveness, and shared endurance. While judgment looms over corrupt systems, Kitizaki stresses Godās heart for rescue, not destruction, urging believers to plead for their neighbors, stand firm in truth, and trust that God can redeem even the darkest circumstances. The message concludes with encouragement: God knows the end from the beginning, will sustain His people through every trial, and invites believers to carry the true joy of the gospel into a world desperately seeking hope in all the wrong places.