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God's Gift of Persecution: How Persecution of Christians Works For the Kingdom of Heaven |
Expect Persecution. Accept it as a gift from God. Blessed is everyone who is persecuted. Everyone who is righteous is persecuted. Woe to those who are not persecuted for their righteousness. Never be persecuted because you are doing wrong or because you are being a jerk. You probably know a Christian who is obnoxious. There is no goodness in suffering for doing wrong. But the ungodly will try to control you, and they will be angry that you don't go drinking with them, you don't say that sex outside of marriage is OK, you don't say that abortion is OK, you don't say that stealing is OK, you don't say that covetousness (Socialism) is OK, and many other things where God is doing His righteousness through you. When they are mean to you, you respond in love. They won't understand this. They can't understand this. 2 Timothy 3:12-13 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do to you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light to all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Luke 6:21-31 Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers to the prophets. But woe to you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe to you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe to you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe to you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. But I say to you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And to him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Logic and observation are the tools to help you rationalize your compromises and your denial of Christ. When logic and observation are applied to what cannot be observed or understood without revelation, they are rationalized. Keep in mind that rationalization is a form of insanity. Rationalization is a method to avoid reality. The failure to deal effectively with reality is insanity. So how should a Christian respond to ridicule? Respond to ridicule and condescension with love and confidence.
When God speaks, faith comes (Romans 10:17). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Literally, hearing by an utterance of God. God speaks. You hear. God places His supernatural belief, called faith, into your heart. It is a miracle. This is God's own faith in your heart. When faith comes, it gives you access to God's grace (Romans 5:2). Let the grace, free gift, of the Holy Spirit flow through you. Let grace do the work in you. (1Corinthians 15:10, Ephesians 2:10) Yield yourself to His grace, His Holy Spirit (Romans 6:12-22). Instead of anger, the Holy Spirit will respond with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith, and the strength of God. You will bless and not curse. You will flow in the anointing rather than the emotion of the flesh. You will not engage in any destructive activity. You will comfort, encourage, and build up. Some may still ask: "How Can A Loving God Allow Pain And Suffering? God Uses Suffering." While there is a lot we cannot know about God, there is a lot that we can know. We can know what God reveals about Himself. Consider the following points:
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