Posts Tagged ‘ Persecution ’
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints
Ephesians 6:18, ESV
In Christ, we are united with all other believers by the Holy Spirit, so ket us pray for each other regularly, especially those under persecution and oppression.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16, ESV
Many come against the gospel and those who share it faithfully, but we should pray we remain unashamed of the truth and faithful to our Savior and God.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9, ESV
Temptations and persecutions come to God’s faithful, but God is on our side.
Let us pray for all those who face persecution daily, and lift up those under spiritual attack daily.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
Matthew 5:43-44, ESV
We know we have God’s love when we can love like Him, when we can love those who insult and threaten us, even those who have harmed us.
And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
Matthew 2:12-13, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
But God was not willing to leave us mired in our sin.
God came to us, born as an infant, weak, physically powerless, yet without sin.
But we know He did not stay weak and powerless.
Many people in this world are hostile to Christ, afraid of His power or not wanting to follow His commands, thinking they know better. This hostility is often directed at Christians
But we also know God watches out for His people.
Herod wanted to destroy Christ, and possibly he would have hurt the wise men and Mary and Joseph in the process. God sent an angel to warn them to flee.
We have been shown the truth of who Christ is through His Word, and this same Word warns us of those who put up the pretense of being followers but secretly seek to or inadvertently damage and destroy the truth of Christ.
And this can include questioning the need for Christ coming or claiming God is the bad guy.
We may face persecution and hatred, but we also know Jesus faced it first and it is all ultimately against Him. And He helps us in the midst of the persecution. (John 15:18-26)
May we seek the Lord who knows our pain and fear.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19, ESV
We like to think we can handle all life throws at us, but often the world mistreats the people doing what is right. Thankfully, our God and Savior warned us, prepares us, and redeems us, giving us hope for eternal life with Him, finally free from pain and worry.
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Matthew 5:44, ESV
It is easy to want retribution and revenge when people wrong us, but Holy Spirit can help us to not only pray for them but even love them with Christ’s love.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:26, ESV
This world and it’s problems and attacks can overwhelm is, but we have an Advocate and Helper who helps us pray and persevere, to have answers against the attacks and hope in any problem.
“no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
Isaiah 54:17, ESV
We have the Word of God on our side. People may reject it, but it is the truth. Even if they kill us like our Lord for this truth, we shall likewise rise with Him for eternity!
a simple man of God 