Planning for Persecution

We’ve had some big storms come through lately and as sometimes happens our power went out. It does that from time to time. I’ve learn to report it as soon as possible. The power went out just as Margaret and I were getting ready to prepare dinner so it was an easy decision to head out for dinner. At dinner I check my ComEd app which said they expected the time for the power to be restored was 2 AM. AH! I have sleep apnea and don’t sleep well without my Bi-pap machine.

I wasn’t prepared. I am now. I ordered a battery.

What is your attitude in preparing for a disaster? A healthy attitude is expect the best, prepare for the worst. There are two main attitudes about preparing for a disaster.

Ignore it.

Prepare for it.

Why do you think people don’t prepare for disasters?

Fear, apathy, laziness or ignorance

Why do people prepare for disasters?

Naturally more cautious

They’ve been through a disaster

They believe the warnings

No one ever regretted preparing for a disaster. Many have regretted not preparing.

We are in a series entitled Understanding Adversity. In one respect it is all about preparing for spiritual difficulties which could fit into the categories of disasters.

Today’s message is about is about the adversity of persecution. I think it may be more important to prepare for persecution than any of the other types of adversity. This is because this persecution can be the most painful of all adversity.

Let’s start with our definition.

Definition: Persecution is to inflict suffering on a person or group, because of faith in Christ. It includes social, emotional, financial, judicial, and physical oppression and harassment including martyrdom.

Bottom line: We have the ability as Christians to endure through, rejoice during and benefit from persecution.

God allows persecution to remind us this world is not our home and to reward us for trusting Him.

1. Types of Persecution

Emotional -

insults Matthew 5:11, Hebrews 10:32-33, Galatians 4:28-29, shaming us 1 Peter 4:16, pressuring us to blaspheme and deny Jesus Acts 26:11, chasing us Matthew 10:23, Matthew 23:33-35

Hebrews 10:33 NIV

Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.

Matthew 5:11 NIV

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Social -

separating us from family and friends John 12:42; 16:2 , imprisoning us Acts 8:3, 9:1, stirring up others against us Acts 13:49-50

John 12:42 NIV

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;

Financial -

confiscating property Hebrews 10:34

Hebrews 10:34 NIV

You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

Judicial -

taking us before authorities Luke 21:12

Luke 21:12 NIV

“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.

Physical -

flog Matthew 23:33-35, kill Luke 11:46-49, John 5:16-18

Matthew 23:33–35 NIV

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

On Handout put a check box: I have experienced this kind of persecution for my faith?

Emotional

Social

Financial

Judicial

Physical

2. Reasons for Persecution

Persecutors don’t know God. John 16:2-3

John 16:2–3 NIV

They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.

They think they are serving God but they’re not they are serving their god.

They reject Jesus and persecute you because they see Jesus in you. John 15:20-21

John 15:20–21 NIV

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

They are really persecuting Jesus. You, like the prophets and apostles are following the footsteps of Jesus Acts 7:52, Matthew 23:33-35. They are trying to destroy the Church Galatians 1:13 , 23 .

They reject you because of your godly living. Matthew 5:10

Matthew 5:10 NIV

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This includes believing the Word Matthew 13:21, that you are not doing things the way the religious leaders do things John 5:16. All the godly will be persecuted 2 Timothy 3:10-12

3. Responses to Persecution

Flee! Matthew 10:23

Matthew 10:23 NIV

When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

It’s okay to run and hide from those persecuting you. God allows persecution and often makes a way to avoid it. Part of our preparation is to be wise enough to have an escape plan. If you are in a work situation that is spiritually hostile, start looking for another job. If you have family members that make your life hard because of your faith, figure out a way to avoid them.

Don’t curse them but bless them. Romans 12:14

Romans 12:14 NIV

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

This is hard. Control your tongue. How is this possible? Only by the grace of God. Remember that those who are persecuting you are doing it from spiritual blindness. They believe they are doing the right thing. Frankly they need our pity and our blessing. If they don’t change they have an eternity of torment ahead of them.

Love your persecutors and pray God blesses them by opening their eyes. Matthew 5:44

Matthew 5:44 NIV

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Wow, it’s getting harder. We are to love our persecutors. Remember it’s okay flee so you can love them from afar! What does loving them mean? Specifically to pray for them. Pray for their salvation every time they come to mind.

Endure it. Don’t give up. 1 Corinthians 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:11 .

1 Corinthians 4:12 NIV

We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

God gives us grace 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 and will rescue us 2 Timothy 3:11.

Our goal in persecution is to get through it with God’s help. God will give you what you need to get through it. Whatever that may be, patience, self-control, the ability to endure pain or whatever you need will be a gift from God. Paul calls it God’s grace. Ultimately God will rescue you from the persecution.

Rejoice! 1 Peter 4:13. Don’t let it get you down! Matthew 5:12 Don’t feel ashamed. 1 Peter 4:16

1 Peter 4:13 NIV

But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

I don’t know why it is that we feel shame when we are hurt or abused by others. Many victims of domestic abuse don’t tell anyone about it out of shame. Peter tells us not to feel ashamed. Persecution isn’t your fault. It is so hard to rejoice when you are feeling physical and emotional pain, but it is possible. It’s possible when you realize why it is happening.

4. Results of Persecution

We have God’s presence and grace during the persecution and a rich reward to come if we turn to God. It is possible it can cause us to lose confidence, be ashamed and fall away from the faith.

Persecution doesn’t separate us from God 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

2 Corinthians 4:8–9 NIV

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Nor does it separate us from His love Romans 8:35-37. Jesus shares the pain of our persecution Acts 9:4-5.

We can easily feel alone when we are in the midst of any kind of adversity. God never leaves us or forsakes us. He has a special concern for us during persecution because we are suffering because of Jesus. We’ve chosen to trust Him, align our self with Him and He stays with us. His love never fails.

Some may fall away Matthew 13:21, John 16:1-3

Matthew 13:21 NIV

But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

They no longer follow God’s Word Galatians 6:12, lose confidence and shrink back from the faith Hebrews 10:35-38, feel ashamed 1 Peter 4:16, and lose a reward. Luke 9:26

Unfortunately some fall away because of persecution. This doesn’t mean that you lose your salvation. But with sober words Jesus tells us He will be ashamed of us. It will be a sad day for those who hide their faith and allegiance to Jesus.

There are rich rewards for those who endure. Hebrews 10:35, Matthew 5:12, Mark 10:29-30

Hebrews 10:35 NIV

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

The positive side is that we will receive a rich reward. I like that!

Punishment for the persecutors. Matthew 23:33-35

Matthew 23:33–35 NIV

Finally, those who do the persecuting will be punished. God is keeping score and their will be payback. I don’t say that so you can hope that happens to someone. Remember we’re supposed to pray for and bless them. God is fair and won’t forget even the slightest attack on His children.

We don’t choose to go through persecution.

We choose how we go through it.

It can be with God’s grace, help, blessing and reward or it can be with bitterness of heart that doesn’t help us now and won’t help us in eternity.

When you are persecuted you are following in the footsteps of Jesus, the prophets and the apostles. It is good company!

Do you want to be like Jesus? Yes? That means in all respects, which includes suffering.