Posts Tagged ‘ Persecution ’
But if anyone suffers as a “Christian,” he should not be ashamed but should glorify God in having that name.
1 Peter 4:16, HCSB
God’s Word changes our hearts, minds, and spirits, helping us to endure persecution and hardships knowing Christ went through the same and is with us now.
Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:2-3, HCSB
God’s Word changes our hearts, minds, and spirits, enabling us to see how God uses negative circumstances for His glory, to be thankful for His grace and peace in all of life.
So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10, HCSB
We are called in Christ to help each other be more like Christ, encouraging each other as we face persecution and mockery knowing that we are being treated the same as Christ.
I preached again!
I was once again at Paulden Christian Fellowship, planned for nearly two weeks, so before the events of the first full week of September 2025. Fortunately and unfortunately, the message was ready for this week. I also was dealing with a cold.
As usual, below are my rough notes (in fact, very rough notes this time), so there is a deviation from what is written and what was said. (P.S. I made the correction to the PowerPoint that I reference in the sermon.)
[Intro]
[Read passage]
Recent events also show it continues.
Rise in Persecution: In the past 15 years, so many Christian businesses, ministries, and individuals have faced civil and criminal legal troubles for standing for their biblical faith, such as the Masterpiece Cakeshop and Jack Phillips in Colorado.
(I think Kim Davis of Kentucky is a slippery story, and musician/activist Sean Feucht is creating problems.)
Step on toes: Remember that political violence happens on both sides. (Gabbi Giffords, JFK, MLK, abortion bombings of the 1980’s-90’s and later in 2020’s, shots fired/knives bared at the White house in the past four administrations).
Both sides of the political aisle have ramped up violent rhetoric.
But this serves as a reminder that we have a message that divides:
v. 11: Unlike Paul, most of us don’t get a message straight from Jesus confirming anything past today, but we have the message that He is with us (Matthew 28:20; John 16) and that we have hope of eternity when we die (Luke 23:43).
vv. 12-15: Some conspiracies are true, and people will hate us for preaching righteousness.
vv. 16-22: We fight for life and light & reveal darkness, but we remember those made in God’s image.
In the West, we are not as aware of what persecution against Christians is like. Pastors get comfortable, congregants are often apathetic (largely due to ignorance), and and non-regular attenders and non-Christians rarely care enough about to if they know of it to check. Many in our culture may even come across disagreement or inconvenience and think faith is not worth it.
Extreme persecution still happens. When people are so desperate for Christ that they willingly face violence and hatred but we prefer to stay comfortable, it shows the disparity as well as why Jesus said it is so hard for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom (Matthew 19:16-29; Mark 10:17-30; Luke 18:18-30). Even most of our poor and homeless are better off than half the world.
Let us pray for Jimmy’s work and that the pastors and others he teaches remain faithful and strong in the Lord.
Daniel
This is a report from the field.
Ministry Travels lesson: Forced to live in Prison Restroom but privileged to preach the Gospel
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18, CSB
Christ is our example of love, enduring even hatred and persecution to bring others to the knowledge of His love and the hope of eternal life with Him.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Matthew 5:10, CSB
Only God can make us righteous, and this makes the people of this world angry and want to bring us down. God has promised to deliver us through persecution and into His eternal Kingdom.
One who is righteous has many adversities, but the Lord rescues him from them all.
Psalm 34:19, CSB
Jesus’ body is not in the tomb, so we can be courageous in the face of hatred and persecution for our faith in Christ, for He is overcoming all enemies.
I preached again!
I was honored to once again be with the brethren in Paulden Christian Fellowship.
As usual, these are my rough notes, so not necessarily everything I said while preaching.
Ever been told news that changed everything? (Birth, Death, Dying, New Job, Lost Job, Prison, Debt [Forgiveness])
[Read passage]
v. 6c – “These men who have turned the whole world upside down” – More true than they realized. The gospel is a world- and life-changing message.
The true Roman Road was the Egnatian Way that went from Byzantium (Constantinople/Istanbul) to the west coast of Greece, about 1000 miles, to head toward Rome. Each of the cities listed are about a day’s journey by foot from each other, so that from Philippi to Thessalonica it’s about 100 miles.
Paul’s custom was to go to the synagogues in a city, and he spent three weeks showing/proving the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection from the Hebrew Scriptures (OT: ex: Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12-13).
The death and resurrection of Jesus is actually one of the most provable events in ancient history.
Three R’s: Reception, Resistance, and Recompense
Reception: v. 4: Some Jews, many devout Greeks, and a few leading women all believed.
Some Jews: We see that Jason is one who believed àRomans 16:21 calls Lucius (Acts 13:1), Jason (here), and Sosipater from Berea his “kinsmen” as an indicator that these are Jews. Jason may also have been one of the wealthier people as he housed them and had money to pay bail from prison.
Resistance: v. 5: Non-believing Jews get some wicked men of the rabble àthe lay-abouts and lazy men, prone to violence and crime, from the marketplace.
Continuing the trend begun in ancient times: the Israelites choosing the follow their idolatrous neighbors rather than what God has said. Choosing to try to kill the messengers rather than deal with their sin, like they did with the prophets.
Continuing the trend at Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion: “We have no king but Caesar!” “It is better to injure and kill these people!”
Continuing the trend seen in Acts: They’re messing up what we have, so let’s riot and get violent!
Recompense: (Payment) vv. 6-9: The people wanted retribution, but the authorities were paid the usual bail by Jason and the others. The people did not get the blood they hoped for, but it was still costly for the disciples.
Application:
Reception: What have you done with the gospel message? Do you believe, or are you resistant?
Resistance: We must realize that this fallen world will be resistant to the message, often getting violent.
Jewish Leadership (w/Jesus, Acts 4-9 … and the rest of Acts)
Roman government
Celsus (writing about 175)
Persecution around the world today. (2024: About 7,700 churches attacked; >200k displaced; >380M living under persecution)
Recompense: No, this is not where I call for giving to the church, though that is good for believers to do.
The world will want our blood, for violence to happen to us, to lie about us or misuse the truth (like with Jesus and the early Christians.)
Ironically, Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians deal with Christians who act more like the rabble seen in Acts 17, and he reminds those fearful for those who have died that we have hope in the Second Coming of Christ. God’s remuneration will come for all, with all of the verses that remind us of His vengeance and justice.
[2 Thessalonians 1:5-12]
Revelation 20-22 further reminds us that only those whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enter eternal life, while the rest receive their just punishment in the Lake of Fire.
We have hope, which helps face the troubles of this world, even with news that changes everything. (Birth, Death, Dying, New Job, Lost Job, Prison, Debt [Forgiveness])
The Good News of Jesus Christ should change everything about our lives. (Family, Friends, Work/Job/Business, seeing politics/government, community/global issues)
Change how we see truth.
Change how we see religion. Change how we think about God.
bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Luke 6:28, ESV
We are saved in Christ alone, and that is true for those who are violent against Christ. Thus, we share the gospel of Christ with all people, including those who persecute Christians.
a simple man of God 