Even Apostle Paul warned in 2 Timothy 3:12 that "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. In John 15:20, Jesus also said that whoever follows Christ will be persecuted. In Luke 6:22-23 we know that Jesus mentioned 4 types of persecution that the people may hate us, people will be separated from us, they may reproach us, they will call good as evil.
We know that even the disciples of Jesus Christ were persecuted Stephen was stoned to death, Andrew was crucified, suspended on an olive tree, Bartholomew was crucified with his head downward, James, the son of Alphaeus, when preaching in Jerusalem, was stoned to death, John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded by Herod, Philip preached in Phrygia, and was crucified with his head downward, Jesus was betrayed and forsaken by his own disciples and was accused falsely, denied, abandoned, mocked, was arrested, scourged, put on a crown of thorns on his head and was nailed on the cross, bore his own cross and was crucified. This reminds us that Christians were slained for the word of God, and for the testimony.
Romans 8:35 is also a good reminder which says who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Pray to deliver from persecution:
We as believers in Christ should look for God as our strength, Hope and comfort. We know that 2 Timothy 2:3 calls us for Enduring hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul asked the Thessalonian church to pray that he, Silas, and Timothy be delivered from wicked and evil people which says in 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3). Jesus also prayed in John 17:18 that the Father not take his followers from the world, but that they be kept from the evil one.
Psalm 31:15 says My times are in Your hand, Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
2 Timothy 3:11 "What persecutions I endured, And out of them all the Lord delivered me."
2Pe 2:4-9 says Noah and Lot escaped God's judgments while they were still on earth.
God curses our Persecutors/enemies:
In Romans 12:19, God says Vengeance is of him and he will repay. Still, we see when Gods people have been tormented even Moses ask the Lord to scatter his enemies and make them flee in fear (Num. 10:35). In Judges 5:31 even Deborah prays that all of God's enemies would be destroyed.Even Jeremiah prays for God to destroy those who are evil 'with twofold destruction' (Jer. 17:18).
Deuteronomy 30:7 says "The Lord your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you."
Isaiah 54:15 and 17: Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake...No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord."
God's word says that eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer" (1 Peter 3:12; Psalm 34:15), and, again, "the prayer of the upright pleases Him" (Proverbs 15:8).
Finally in Luke 21: 34-36 , Jesus calls us to stay alert and to pray. And when we suffer for righteousness sake we are blessed (1 Peter 3:14).
