Benefits Of Persecution Series

Intro

We are considering the 8th Beatitude in Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Persecution is a major theme in Scripture. We see it in the first family; it runs all through the Old and New Testaments; and in the last book of the Bible millions are martyred by the Antichrist.i Cain killed Abel. And the simple explanation of his atrocity is: “Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous” (1 John 3:12).ii In a previous message, we processed the reasons why the ungodly persecute the godly.iii Then last week we explored biblical instruction for how we are to respond to persecution when it comes into our lives.

In this message we will focus on how to prepare for persecution that may come in the days ahead. The culture in America is becoming more and more hostile toward Christianity. Overt efforts to silence the Christian voice are evident in universities and the media. During the pandemic, governments seized the opportunity to assert authority over churches and close them down.iv

The World Health Organization, the disease control wing of UN, is currently trying to expand its power with proposed changes to the Pandemic Accord. The proposed amendments to the 2005 International Health Regulations are alarming and if accepted will affect the whole world.v It could constitute a giant step toward the control Antichrist will eventually exercise in the last days.vi This month the World Health Assembly is processing these changes.vii Events are going on behind the scenes that may result in expanded governmental control and increased persecution.

Worldwide persecution of Christians is on the rise.viii “More than 360 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. This number represents one in seven Christians worldwide.ix In America our constitution has provided an unusual level of protection against persecution. But powerful forces are at work seeking to change that. We do not know the future. God could intervene and reverse the trends. But current trends tell us that increased persecution is ahead. We do not panic over that; but we should prepare for the possibility.

The scriptural preparation has much more to do with our spiritual conditioning than physical prepping. There is some wisdom in storing up resources for future needs. The tiny ant teaches us to do that according to Proverbs 6:6-8. God gave Joseph the wisdom to store up food during the prosperous years in preparation for hard times ahead. There can be practical, prudent physical preparations for future challenges. But that is not the emphasis, especially in the New Testament. To respond successfully to persecution, we must have the right mindset and consecration to the Lord. We must be spiritually prepared.

I want to share with you few biblical steps we should take now to prepare for potential increased persecution in the future. We will only have time to deal with two of those today.

I. EXPECT Persecution.

In John 15:20 Jesus said to his disciples, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” Did the world persecute Jesus? So much so that they crucified him on a Roman cross! Jesus is issuing this warning to the apostles, but they are representatives of all Christ’s followers including you and me.x

Paul confirmed this in 2 Timothy 3:12 when he wrote, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Do you desire to live godly in Christ Jesus? If so, then expect some persecution to come your way. The persecution may be mild; it may be a social pressure that excludes you from activities. It could be as severe as martyrdom. But persecution is part of God’s plan for his people. To the carnal mind that sounds quite strange. Couldn’t an almighty, sovereign God shield his people from such hardship. Of course, he could. And there are times when he does shield us from it. Typically, persecution is not always happening in a Christian’s life. But there will be times of persecution for “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus.” Why does God allow persecution in the believer’s life? There are benefits that can only come in that context. We will talk about that more in a moment.

Follow with me as we read John 15:18-21. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”