Persecution Sure to Come
a. Reasons
b. Results
DBF Sunday Sermon 7/13/02
These last few weeks seems to have been ripe with what seems to be persecutions.
Brother Mike Procter sent many e-mails from brothers and sisters in Christ that have had several different prayer needs from emergency medical, to surgeries and including loss of loved ones.
We have not been spared here as we have had to go through a number of vehicle problems. The brake pads on the Montero went out, the transmission on the rental vehicle was damaged, Dominique lost vision in an eye, and the gas tank of the second rental vehicle was found to be leaking.
You see the battle continues to be waged, but as Christians—You and I can rest assured in the victory that Christ proclaimed and won on the hill called Calvary.
No matter the price of Salmon, no matter the amount of moose or caribou we catch, no matter whatever comes our way—to God be the victory.
We will start our walk through Exodus today, continuing to bring God’s wisdom to ourselves and our posterity.
a. Reasons
Exodus 1:1-10 (KJV)
Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. [2] Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, [3] Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, [4] Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. [5] And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. [6] And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
[7] And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. [8] Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. [9] And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: [10] Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
We see in verse 1-6 the children of Israel being brought into the land of Egypt.
Are you willing to be brought into the land of Egypt that the Lord God has designed for you?
What if it were…
Ekwok…
King Salmon…
Kotzebue…
Ambler…
Manila…
Jakarta…
Jonestown…
You see a number of people who proclaim they seek God’s good and perfect will—seek HIS will only when it is able to be messed with their personal desires and directions.
We are called to seek God’s perfect will and go to the ends of the earth to put forth HIS precious word—Are you ready to go for God?
Matthew 6:32-34 (KJV)
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
When and where God calls us—HE will surely proceed before us—therefore we should not have any fear in our hearts.
Romans 8:31 (KJV)
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
The children of Israel were fruitful—åøô paru, a general term, signifying that
they were like healthy trees, bringing forth an abundance of fruit.
Just as Jesus is the true vine where you and I are able to grow to fruitfulness and bounty, God placed the young nation in a place to where they could grow to fruitfulness and bounty.
What God has ordained—He will be faithful to bring about. As long as we are about HIS good and perfect will—we will accomplish it, not in our strength but in God’s.
And waxed exceeding mighty—ãàî ãàîá åîöòéå vaiyaatsmu bimod
meod, and they became strong beyond measure—superlatively—so that
the land (Goshen) was filled with them. This astonishing increase was, under the
providence of God, chiefly owing to two causes:
1.The Hebrew women were exceedingly fruitful, suffered very little miscarriages,
and probably often bringing forth twins.
2.There appear to have been no premature deaths among them. Thus in about two
hundred and fifteen years they were multiplied to upwards of 600,000,
independently of old men, women, and children.
You see God’s word is true, “What is impossible for man is possible with God”.
What otherwise would have been an impossibility became a possibility then a reality—because of God’s good and perfect will the tiny nation thrived.
Now there arose up a new king…Just when things are going good then something happens. Have you ever experience this phenomenon? Why does this seem to happen?
The world would tell you this is coincidence—the bible would tell you something quite different.
Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
So when something comes against you for your faithful walk with Christ we should look beyond the matter directly before us and see—it is a much greater matter. The matter of the kingdom of evil against God’s kingdom of righteousness and we are just the foot-soldier who happens to be up against the embankment at that moment.
When someone says…
Don’t give me that word…
I don’t want anything you are selling…
You Christians are hypocrites…
Your vehicle breaks down just as you go out to witness…
We should understand that it is Jesus Christ and God that the battle is against—you and I should feel honored to be considered worthy…as Peter did to suffer persecution for the cause of Christ.
Do you feel worthy when someone takes one of these actions against you?
Who are they really taking the action against?
Next time you come under persecution or attack—Just praise God.
b. Results
Exodus 1:11-22 (KJV)
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. [12] But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. [13] And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: [14] And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
[15] And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: [16] And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. [17] But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. [18] And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? [19] And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. [20] Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. [21] And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. [22] And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens…What taskmaster are afflicting you this day?
Is it the taskmaster of…
Lying…
Drinking…
Adultery…
Pornography…
Gambling...
Pride…
You see we do have a lot in common with our Egyptian captive ancestors. We have all come from this sinful state and we daily strive through continued sanctification to offer ourselves up to God as a good and perfect offering.
If you have come to the point where you feel that no matter what you do things will never get better and you can’t see a way out of your current situation—it is then that Jesus tells you…
Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
You see no matter how difficult the task or task master, Christ is able to be our “All in all” if we will only turn to him in all situations.
And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour—They caused them to work in difficult situations and conditions.
When you serve, how does Christ call you to serve? Can we be the slackers, hackers, and yackers?
As Paul would say “God Forbid”. We are called to be an example of Christ for the world to see. So if we serve in an area of rigor—We should serve gladly—for the sake of Christ.
Philippians 3:17-20 (KJV)
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. [18] (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: [19] Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) [20] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
We should walk as and example of Christ—not as the world who is at enmity with God. Hold your head up in a humble manner—for our sights should be fixed on Christ.
And they made their lives bitter…bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service…they made them serve, was with rigour.
You see it was not the work that made them the people of God. God placed them in this land to become multiplied. People today still labor under the false assumption that by works they will be saved. If works could save—there would have been no need for Christ to come, suffer and die for me on that cruel, cruel cross of Calvary.
Romans 9:10-12 (KJV)
And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; [11] (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) [12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: [16] And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. [17] But the midwives feared God, and did not—Choices, choices, choices…You and I have choices to make every day.
Some will bring honor to God and his will, others will disgrace God and hinder HIS perfect will for you and your walk with HIM.
The example given of two Egyptian midwives is something we as Christians should take note of.
What do you think would be required if the Pharaoh became aware that they were not doing as commanded?
They would have been put into prison are killed.
What actions from people for following God’s will are you afraid of?
Most of us today are afraid people will consider us politically incorrect if we let people know what the word of God calls us to stand against…
The sin of homosexuality, drunkenness, adultery, lying, stealing, murder…are all things that we are called to stand against as Christians.
Do you follow God’s directives or the whims of man?
Obviously, the midwives saw the example that God was working amongst the Israelites for they—feared God.
These Egyptians feared God, are where so in awed of God that they would not take negative actions against his people.
Do you reverence God in such a manner? You should—you are HIS people and HE is your God, therefore we should much more revere HIM than those in the world.
The midwives are blessed for their fear of God. Will you be blessed? Will people talk of your love for God when they have left your presence?
And the nation continued to multiply—even in persecution. This is the same thing that happened to the early Christian church. We were persecuted from all sides, yet God saw us through—giving strength, direction, and HIS grace whenever and wherever it was needed.
Of course to come to the place where we are able to walk in the manner in which God calls us we are first required to call upon the only name by which we may be saved. Our bibles tell us that we must all call upon the name of “Jesus Christ”. It is through HIM that we are able to come into the presence of our God and King. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we ask you consider it wisely today.
You know, life was difficult for the Israelites while in slavery—one slight misstep might mean death. Things have not changed much 3000 years later—on slight misstep by you are I could result in death. No one knows the amount of time that God has allotted you. If you would like to insure that you will go to heaven we ask that you come forward now.
As we have studied this morning—God preserved HIS nation even through their persecution at the hands of the Egyptian and HE will preserve you today against whatever persecution comes you way. Be encouraged and continue to strive for the light of Christ Jesus in your daily walk.
Closing prayer.
