A UKRANIAN BISHOP IS DEPORTED FROM BELARUS FOR “RELIGIOUS ACTIVITES.” TALIBAN GUNMEN SHOOT AND KILL A CHRISTIAN AID WORKER IN KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. ISLAMIC EXTREMEST RANDOMLY KILL 7 CHRISTIANS IN MOSUL, IRAQ. A MAN IN MEXICO KILLS 3 MEMBERS OF A CHRISTIAN FAMILY WHO JUST HAPPENED TO BE HIS NEIGHBOR.
WE MAY ALL AGREE THAT THIS IS NOT THE MOST PLEASANT WAY TO START A SERMON? BUT, WHAT WE MAY NOT ALL AGREE ON IS FINDING IT BELIEVABLE THAT THESE EVENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE OCTOBER 2008. YES, THIS YEAR! NO, NOT SOME BARBARIC AGE FROM SOME DISTANT TIME THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. TODAY!
WHETHER IT WAS 70 A.D. OR AS RECENT AS LAST MONTH, IT SHOULD NOT COME AS A SURPRISE TO ANY OF US THAT PERSECUTION, EVEN MARTYRDOM, HAS BEEN THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP FOR CHRISTIANS DOWN THROUGH THE AGES.
IS IT REALLY ALL THAT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT EVEN TODAY, IN MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD BELIEVERS ARE STILL SUFFERING IMPRISONMENT, DEPORTATION AND DEATH FOR THEIR UNCOMPROMISING DEVOTION TO THEIR SAVIOR.
ALARMING REPORTS CONTINUE TO POUR IN FROM ALL OVER TODAY’S WORLD. EVEN IN THIS MODERN-DAY, CIVILIZED 21ST CENTURY, BELIEVERS IN MANY COUNTRIES ARE BEING TORTURED AND EVEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THEIR STAND FOR JESUS.
THERE WERE ALMOST 100 MILLION KILLED FOR THEIR FAITH JUST IN THE 20TH CENTURY. THIS STAGGERING NUMBER IS MORE THAN IN ALL PREVIOUS 19 CENTURIES COMBINED! IT IS ALSO MORE THAN ALL THE SOLDIERS WHO WERE KILLED IN ALL 20TH CENTURY WARS COMBINED.
THE LITANY OF HORRORS THAT BELIEVERS WITHSTAND FOR THEIR FAITH IS CHILLING. ONLY ONE POWER CAN REDEEM THE COURSE OF EVENTS, AND THAT IS THE POWER OF GOD’S PEOPLE BEING INVOLVED AS HIS INSTRUMENTS. MANY SUFFER IN SILENCE. WILL YOU BE ONE WHO BREAKS THAT SILENCE?
1 CORINTHIANS 12:26, "IF ONE PART SUFFERS, EVERY PART SUFFERS WITH IT…." THAT MEANS THAT AN ATTACK UPON ANY PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST IS AN ATTACK UPON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US AS BELIEVERS BECAUSE IT IS AN ATTACK UPON JESUS CHRIST WITH WHOM WE ALL IDENTIFY.
THAT IS MY PRAYER FOR THIS MESSAGE TODAY THAT WE WILL STARTS LIVING OUR LIVES IN A FULLER AWARENESS OF THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING AND FACING DEATH BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH.
EVEN IN NATIONS THAT HAVE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE, A PERSON WITH A BOLD WITNESS FOR THE LORD MAY COME UNDER BRUTAL SCRUTINY AND BE SUBJECTED TO ALL FORMS OF RIDICULE AND HARASSMENT.
WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH A FORM OF PERSECUTION SIMPLY BECAUSE OF OUR CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT, NO VERSE OF SCRIPTURE IS MORE COMFORTING THAN THE BEATITUDE SPOKEN BY OUR SAVIOR IN MATTHEW 5:10, "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN."
I’LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO ADMIT THAT NOBODY WANTS TO BE PERSECUTED LET ALONE BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY THAT IT’S EASY TO FIND JOY AND HAPPINESS WITHIN PERSECUTION.
IT SEEMS MORE LOGICAL TO US THAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE COMPLIMENTED FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY BEHAVIOR INSTEAD OF BEING SLANDERED FOR THEIR FAITH!
IT SEEMS MORE REASONABLE TO THINK THAT OTHERS WOULD RESPECT A CHRISTIAN’S LIFESTYLE, EVEN IF THEY DIDN’T AGREE WITH IT. YET, IN THIS WORLD, THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENS! GOOD PEOPLE ARE PERSECUTED IN THIS LIFE!
2 TIMOTHY 3:12, "YES, AND EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION." THE PROPHETS, JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES WERE ALL PERSECUTED. IF THEY WERE PERSECUTED, THEN WHY SHOULD WE EXPECT OUR LIVES TO BE ANY DIFFERENT?
EVERYONE WHO TRIES TO LIVE FOR JESUS IN THIS WORLD CAN EXPECT AND SHOULD EXPECT OPPOSITION. ONE THING WE MUST CLEAR UP IS THE KIND OF PERSECUTION JESUS IS SPEAKING ABOUT IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
THE TYPE OF PERSECUTION JESUS IS REFERRING TO IS "FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE." THIS KIND COMES FROM HAVING YOUR LIFE IDENTIFIED WITH JESUS CHRIST. WE SHOULD NEVER ASSUME THAT EVERYTHING BAD THAT HAPPENS TO US IS PERSECUTION. SOMETIMES OUR OWN SIN AND BAD CHOICES IN LIFE CAN BRING DIFFICULTIES INTO OUR LIVES. THIS IS NOT PERSECUTION!
1 PETER 4:15, "IF YOU SUFFER, HOWEVER, IT MUST NOT BE FOR MURDER, STEALING, MAKING TROUBLE, OR PRYING INTO OTHER PEOPLES AFFAIRS." TO BE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE MEANS THAT WE ARE HATED OR OPPOSED SOLELY FOR BEING A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST.
WHEN WE ARE DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND LIVING FOR GOD, YET SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT, THAT IS PERSECUTION! WHEN JESUS ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF PERSECUTION HE USED THREE DIFFERENT WORDS TO DESCRIBE HOW PERSECUTION OCCURS AGAINST US.
FIRST, JESUS USES THE WORD REVILED. THIS WORD LITERALLY MEANS TO THROW THINGS INTO YOUR FACE. THE BEST EXAMPLE IS WHEN CHRIST WAS HANGING ON THE CROSS. SOME OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE MADE FUN OF HIM, MOCKING HIM WITH VILE, MALICIOUS WORDS…THEY REVILED JESUS.
WE MUST ALSO EXPECT TO BE SUBJECT TO EVIL WORDS AND MOCKED FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE. PEOPLE WILL SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT US, JUST AS THEY DID ABOUT CHRIST.
IF WE LIVE FOR JESUS, WE CAN’T EXPECT THAT NON-CHRISTIANS ARE GOING TO UNDERSTAND US OR ACCEPT US. JESUS SAID YOU WILL BE REVILED! THE FIRST WORD USED TO DESCRIBE HOW PERSECUTION OCCURS AGAINST US IS REVILED.
THE SECOND WORD CHRIST USES IS "WILL." THAT MEANS THEY WILL PERSECUTE US. THEY WILL COME AFTER US BECAUSE WE REPRESENT GOOD AND THEY REPRESENT EVIL AND EVIL ALWAYS HATES WHAT IS GOOD!
PERSECUTION HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE FALL OF HUMANITY. CAIN KILLED ABLE BECAUSE HIS OWN WORKS WERE EVIL AND HIS BROTHER’S WERE RIGHTEOUS. JOSEPH WAS PERSECUTED BY BEING SOLD INTO SLAVERY BECAUSE HIS BROTHERS DETESTED THEIR FATHER’S LOVE FOR JOSEPH. MOSES WAS REVILED, SAMUEL REJECTED, ELIJAH DESPISED, AND NEHEMIAH WAS OPPRESSED.
JESUS CHRIST, THE FAITHFUL WITNESS OF HIS FATHER, WAS PUT TO DEATH BY THE PEOPLE TO WHOM HE CAME TO MINISTER. STEPHEN WAS STONED FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH, JOHN AND PETER WERE CAST INTO PRISON, AND JAMES WAS BEHEADED FOR PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD.
EVERY ONE OF THE APOSTLES WAS MARTYRED FOR HIS FAITH, EXCEPT JOHN, WHO WAS EXILED TO THE ISLE OF PATMOS, WHERE HE RECEIVED AND WROTE THE BOOK OF REVELATION.
WHY DID GOD’S PEOPLE SUFFER SUCH FATE? BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT! JUST BECAUSE WE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT DOESN’T MEAN EVERYTHING WILL ALWAYS WORK OUT JUST FINE.
GOD NEVER SAID THAT LIFE WOULD BE FAIR HE JUST SAID YOU WILL BE PERSECUTED! THE SECOND WORD USED TO DESCRIBE HOW PERSECUTION OCCURS AGAINST US IS "WILL."
THE THIRD WORD JESUS USED IS FALSEHOOD. JESUS USED THIS WORD TO DESCRIBE THE TYPE OF HARASSMENT WE WOULD RECEIVE FROM PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WOULD "SAY ALL KINDS OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY."
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW CREATIVE PEOPLE CAN GET WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE UP LIES ABOUT CHRISTIANS, THE BIBLE AND THE CHURCH? MODERN ENTERTAINMENT SEEMS TO GO OUT OF ITS WAY TO PORTRAY PASTORS, PRIESTS, AND CHRISTIANS AS BUMBLING FOOLS, OUT OF TOUCH, HOMOPHOBIC AND MESSENGERS OF "HATE-SPEECH?"
AS CHRISTIANS WE’VE GOT TO EXPECT PERSECUTION. IF WE LIVE FOR GOD IN THIS WORLD, IT WILL COME. WE’VE GOT TO STOP LETTING PERSECUTION MAKE US BECOME LIKE SUGAR IN A HOT BEVERAGE: DISSOLVING IN THE OVERWHELMING HEAT!
NO, WE DON’T ALWAYS HAVE CONTROL OVER OUR SITUATIONS, BUT WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER OUR RESPONSE TO THOSE SITUATIONS. THE THIRD WORD USED TO DESCRIBE HOW PERSECUTION OCCURS IS FALSEHOOD.
JESUS SAYS THAT OUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE ONE OF HAPPINESS. WE ARE TO REJOICE IN PERSECUTION. WE’RE TO BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD. THAT MAY SOUND LIKE IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE, BUT THE FACT IS THAT PERSECUTION BRINGS REWARDS IN WHICH WE CAN REJOICE ABOUT RECEIVING. REWARDS OF COMPLIMENT, IDENTITY, AND GROWTH.
ONE OF THE FIRST REWARDS OF BEING PERSECUTED IS THE HONOR OF TAKING IT AS A COMPLIMENT! TO PERSECUTE SOMEONE IS TO SHOW THAT YOU TAKE THEM SO SERIOUSLY THAT YOU BELIEVE THEY NEED TO BE ELIMINATED OR SILENCED.
NO ONE PERSECUTES AN INEFFECTIVE INDIVIDUAL! PERSECUTION ONLY COMES TO THE PERSON WHOSE LIFE IS SO POSITIVE AND EFFECTIVE THAT OUR FALLEN WORLD CONSIDERS THEM TO BE DANGEROUS!
PERSECUTION IS A COMPLIMENT! IT IS A WAY OF SHOWING US THAT WE’RE BEING EFFECTIVE, THAT WE’VE ATTRACTED THE ATTENTION OF SATAN, THAT WHAT WE’RE DOING IS SO POWERFUL THE ENEMY WANTS TO ELIMINATE OR SILENCE US! THE FIRST REWARD OF BEING PERSECUTED IS THE HONOR OF TAKING IT AS A COMPLIMENT!
THE SECOND REWARD OF BEING PERSECUTED IS THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING IDENTIFIED WITH JESUS CHRIST! BEING PERSECUTED IS PROOF THAT WE’RE ON THE RIGHT SIDE!
MATTHEW 10:22, "AND EVERYONE WILL HATE YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO ME. BUT THOSE WHO ENDURE TO THE END WILL BE SAVED."
JESUS CHRIST WAS A KING IN EXILE. THE LORD WAS CRUELLY PERSECUTED BY A WORLD THAT DIDN’T UNDERSTAND HIM AND AS HIS FOLLOWERS WE CAN EXPECT THE SAME THING.
JUST LIKE THE PROPHETS AND APOSTLES EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN UNAFRAID TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED FOR CHRIST HAS TAKEN A LOT OF FLACK AND HAS STOMACHED A LOT OF REJECTION.
ALL OF IT SIMPLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE LIVING FOR CHRIST IN A WORLD THAT DOES NOT KNOW JESUS PERSONALLY. THE SECOND REWARD OF BEING PERSECUTED IS THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING IDENTIFIED WITH JESUS CHRIST!
THE FINAL REWARD OF BEING PERSECUTED IS TO EXPERIENCE LIFE-CHANGING GROWTH AS A CHRISTIAN! THE BEST LESSONS ARE THE ONES WE LEARN IN THE HARD TIMES.
DO WE REALLY LEARN VERY WELL FROM PROSPERITY AND GOOD TIMES? I’VE LEARNED THE GREATEST LESSONS AND HAVE GROWN THE MOST IN MY WALK WITH CHRIST WHEN I HAVE EXPERIENCED PAIN AND DIFFICULTIES.
ROMANS 5:3-5, "WE CAN REJOICE, TOO, WHEN WE RUN INTO PROBLEMS AND TRIALS, FOR WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOOD FOR US. THEY HELP US LEARN TO ENDURE. AND ENDURANCE DEVELOPS STRENGTH OF CHARACTER IN US, AND CHARACTER STRENGTHENS OUR CONFIDENT EXPECTATION OF SALVATION.AND THIS EXPECTATION WILL NOT DISAPPOINT US. FOR WE KNOW HOW DEARLY GOD LOVES US, BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO FILL OUR HEARTS WITH HIS LOVE."
NOBODY ENJOYS GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES, BUT WE ALWAYS LOOK BACK AND KNOW THAT IT WAS THOSE TIMES OF DIFFICULTY THAT CAUSED US TO GROW! THE FINAL REWARD OF BEING PERSECUTED IS THE PLEASURE OF EXPERIENCING LIFE-CHANGING GROWTH AS A CHRISTIAN!
PERSECUTION IS ONE OF THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. NO PERSECUTION, NO REWARD! NO SUFFERING, NO GLORY! NO STRUGGLE, NO VICTORY!
GOD WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR WORLD THROUGH YOUR LIFE! SO, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED AND HARASSED, FOR THEY SHALL HAVE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND REJOICING AND GLADNESS IN THEIR HEARTS!
