1. Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. And for many of us this is something we may find hard to relate to. For we live in a land of freedom - free to worship God and free to live out our faith -at least for now. Like me, most of us have never experienced violence in real life. Those of you who have experienced war and the occupation of your land by the Germans can better understand how horrible persecution really is.
2. The Bible says that there will always be persecution. A few weeks ago we looked at the words of Jesus when He said that the world will hate us because they hated Him and they hate His Father.
3. The early church faced persecution. In fact after Stephen was stoned the church was scattered as many left Jerusalem because their lives were in danger.
4. Today persecution continues. It has been calculated that more Christians have been martyred in the 20th century that all the previous centuries combined. The reason is in part, according to the EFC, because there are more Christians in non-Western countries than before. In 1960, 70% of all evangelicals lived in North America. Today, 70% live in non-Western nations. And just as the early church was new and threatening to society so are these growing churches.
5. It is estimated that more than 2 million people in southern Sudan since 1985 have perished - many of them Christians - as a result of genocide being carried out by the Islamic government. One Christian who was severely burned in a government attack on a Sudanese church, described what happened:
"They caught the priest and slaughtered him. They also killed other priests. Many people were burned in the church. Then they tied me and left me in the sun. After they burned the church with the people inside, they threw me in the embers of the church and left.í
6. Another report. In March, 1998, the 13-year-old daughter of an Egyptian family that had recently converted to Christianity, was kidnapped, raped and forced to convert to Islam by a terrorist group. The girl was released, but on returning home, the terrorists attacked her family, killing them by slitting their bellies and crushing their heads with stones.
7. And while we do not face these dangers in Canada, there is persecution. A minister was told by the Prime Ministerís Office not to mention Christ at a memorial service for SwissAir crash victims even though those of other faiths were free to express the source of their beliefs. And a child was seized by Quebecís Youth Protection service because his family members were Baptists and therefore might have unusual beliefs regarding child rearing.
8. And we can expect greater persecution as we approach the return of our Lord. We saw last year how the church will be persecuted in the end times.
9. There are two things I want us to consider this morning regarding persecution. First, since we will also face more persecution, how will we prepare for it? And second, what can and should persecution of believers in the non-western world.
10. In the passage we read from 1 Peter, Peter is writing to the early church which was being persecuted and which was going to experience even greater persecution. Peter tells them how they can prepare for that persecution. And this will help us with the lesser kinds of persecution we face already.
11. The first way is to remember that we are blessed if we suffer for Christ
1 Pet 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.
1 Pet 3:17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
We will be blessed because God will be with us.
1 Pet 4:14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Jesus taught the same in the beatitudes:
Mat 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus says we will be blessed because our reward in heaven will be great and because we will share in the ministry of the prophets.
And the suffering will be temporary. As Paul said in Rom 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
12. The second way we be prepared is found in vs. 15. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." What this means is that we are to set Christ up as Lord on the thrones of our hearts. This means that Christ will rule not our own desires and emotions. It means that His will takes precedence over our own will. We do not want to suffer or be martyred, but if that is your will, so be it. Then we say as Jesus, "not My will but your will, be done." It also means that we will not let fear rule our hearts.
Heb 13:6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
And it means that we know that as Lord God will not let persecution get between us and Him. For we know that His love still rules:
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
13.Lord, you are all that matters. I will do whatever you will. Iíll go wherever you want me to go and do whatever you want me to do.
14. What I am about to share with you now may sound odd to you. But one of the stories that touches me the most in Scripture is when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only sound to God. Sometimes, when my son was young, when I put him to bed, I would think about Abraham and Isaac. And I would say to God, you can have my life, but I will not be willing to sacrifice my son. A few weeks ago I was driving and listening to a tape. I was praising God and He felt so near. And as I praised Him, I was able to tell God that if He told me to, I would sacrifice my son. I cried as I told Him this because I would rather give myself up. And I know that God would never ask me to do this. But what I was saying to God was that He was Lord over all. Even my children. That I would do or go through whatever He wanted me go through. And I believe that would somehow carry me through persecution as well.
15. The third way we can be prepared for persecution is also found in verse 15.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
This does not mean that we need to be able to answer every theological or doctrinal question others might have. We should strive to know these things but that is not the point here. We should always be able to explain the basis of the hope we have. That hope is Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
It means first of all that people will see that we have hope and joy. Even in the midst of persecution. That way we will be a strong witness to them. But we will also encourage one another.
And to be able to explain the reason for our hope means that we also keep our hope in mind. That we do not get discouraged but we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. And we do this with gentleness or meekness. Not with arrogance, thinking we are better than they are. And not with anger.
16. The fourth way we are to prepare is keep a clear conscience. By not doing wrong but remaining holy, even when provoked. By doing this those who speak against us, and also those who persecute us, will end up being ashamed.
Rom 12:20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
If not at this time, they will certainly be ashamed on the day of judgment. Also a guilty conscience will make it harder to face the day of persecution. For when we feel guilty we do not have the assurance of our salvation. When we are persecuted our hope it to stand before God.. We long to see God. But when we have guilt and shame - we would rather run away from God. A clear conscience allows us to face the threat of death without fear and trembling.
17. The fifth way to face persecution is to remember the example of Christ
1 Pet 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
Christ suffered that He might bring us to God. He suffered for some good. And good can come through our suffering. Especially if we suffer in a way that glorifies God. And we have been called to follow His example:
1 Pet 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
It is an honour to suffer for our Lord. Because of what He has done for us and because we love Him.
18. With all these things in mind we will be prepared to endure persecution. But does that mean that we just preach this message to those who are now being martyred for the name of Christ? Rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer for Him. No, God would want us to act on their behalf so that their persecution might end.
Heb 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Prov 24:11-12 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it?
19. In fact we should feel compassion for them. For as they suffer we suffer as well.
1 Cor 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
20. The EFC calls us to pray for those believers who are being persecuted. To thank God for their witness and to pray that those who persecute them may experience repentance and salvation. Pray that they the leaders of their lands may end their repulsive policies. Pray that our leaders will put pressure on governments who are repressive.
21. And we should write and contact our government officials to speak out. As well as sending letters of encouragement to those being persecuted.
22. May God be glorified through the persecution of so many. May their witness be seen by the world. But may God also free them so that they may no longer suffer as they do.
