Fear Of Persecution` Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• Today we are going to examine another fear that can stop us in our tracks.

• I am almost ashamed and almost decided not to cover this topic because of the fact as of now, in the United States, we have no clue what this looks like.

• However, around the world, Christians are being persecuted for their faith.

• Let me share a few stats with you that should drive you to your knees in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.

• These numbers come to us from Open Door, a ministry that brings awareness to the persecution of Christians in over 60 countries around the world. https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories/christian-persecution-by-the-numbers/?/?initcid=19SRP4&initpkg=19SRP4-0&cid=7010b000001kd4HAAQ&pkg=a150b0000045WY6AAM&keyword=christian%20world&b&g&326181550234&1t1&c&1674535876&65414701375&gclid=CjwKCAjwxaXtBRBbEiwAPqPxcAldV4Hlza3dDy9-xPQvoi1pyEsyyFZ-kNqCth9eyAHDYvsJzx1L8xoCp54QAvD_BwE

• SLIDE #2 MAP

• 245 Million: In the top 50 World Watch List countries alone, 245 million Christians in the world experience high levels of persecution for their choice to follow Christ.

• 1 in 9: Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution

• 14%: The rise in the number of Christians in the top 50 countries on the 2019 World Watch List (WWL) who experience high levels of persecution. (from the 2018 reporting period to 2019’s)

• 4,136: Christians killed for faith-related reasons in the top 50 WWL countries.

• 2,625: Christians detained without trial, arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned in the top 50 WWL countries.

• 1,266: churches or Christian buildings attacked in the top 50 WWL countries.

• 7 out of 9: In seven of the countries in the World Watch List’s top 10, the primary cause of persecution is Islamic oppression.

• 11: countries scoring in the “extreme” level for their persecution of Christians. Five years ago, North Korea was the only one.

• Every Month

• 105: churches attacked, burned or vandalized each month, in the top 50 WWL countries

• Every Day

• 11: Christians killed every day for their faith, in the top 50 WWL countries.

• By the Continent

• 1 out of 6: Christians in Africa that experience high levels of persecution.

• 1 out of 3: Christians in Asia that experience high levels of persecution.

• 1 out of 21: Christians in South America who experience high levels of persecution.

• We are blessed in the USA not to experience these things, yet many Christians will back down from doing what God calls us to do because we are fearful of being made fun of, losing relationships, or being outcast by people.

• Often the anticipation of pain is just as bad (or worse) than actually feeling the pain itself.

• Let me give you an example, and this is a PSA also.

• COLONOSCOPY!

• I was DREADING having this done, it was five years ago, but it seems like yesterday.

• I was dreading the prep, the procedure, the recovery.

• None of it was terrible at all, now I am not anxious to id done again in five years, but I will not dread it.

• In the same way, we can be anxious about how painful suffering for Christ might turn out to be, or we can trust God to give us the strength to remain faithful in the hour we need it.

• Today we are going to look at three areas that, if we put our trust in, can help us stand firmly for our faith and to carry out our calling without fear faithfully!

• Our main thought today is, persecution is a normal part of Christian life, but God will accomplish his purposes even through our pain.

• Let’s begin with 2 Timothy 3:10-13

• SLIDE #3

• 2 Timothy 3:10–13 (CSB) — 10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, 11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. 12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.

• SLIDE #4

SERMON

I. Trust God. (10-13)

• He will protect you!

• One of the things we need to do so that we will not succumb to the fear of persecution is trusting God; we can trust God because He will protect you.

• In this letter to his spiritual son Timothy, Paul reminds him that pain and persecution are a normal part of the Christian life.

• He recalls his own suffering because of the message of Christ, as well as the Lord’s hand in rescuing him through every situation (vv. 10–11).

• Paul warns Timothy that persecution is a guarantee for everyone who lives a godly life in Christ Jesus (v. 12).

• Paul tried to encourage Timothy not to fall in the face of persecution by talking about things that happen in his life.