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Persecution

July 20, 2003

PERSECUTION DEFINED

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:

The act or practice of persecuting; the infliction of pain, punishment or death upon others unjustly, particularly for adhering to a religious creed or mode of worship, either by way of penalty or for compelling them to renounce their principles.

PERSECUTION IS A PART OF GODLY LIVING

2 Timothy 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution .

Why?

2 Timothy 3:1-3,13

1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For [saved] men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax [grow] worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

TO LIVE GODLY

Titus 2:11-13

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation [deliverance] hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us [paideuo – persistently training toward qualification or fitness] that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for [waiting with expectation] that blessed hope [a life of ruling in the kingdom during the age to come, Titus 1:2, 3:7], and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

The godly are set apart

Psalm 4:3

But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

How?

John 17:17

Sanctify [set apart as clean unto the Lord] them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

THINK IT NOT STRANGE

1 Peter 4:12

Beloved [“as obedient children…obeying the truth”, 1Pt.1:14,22], think it not strange concerning the fiery trial [by persecution] which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

The first PERSECUTION: cain killed abel his brother

Genesis 4:8

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Why?

1 John 3:12-13

12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

FAMILY PERSECUTION

Matthew 10:36

And a man’s foes [or enemies, NJV] shall be they of his own household.

Jesus Christ was persecuted BY HIS OWN

John 5:16

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

Why?

John 8:40

But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Jewish leaders sought honor from man

John 5:44

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Jesus did not receive honor from men

John 5:41 I receive not honour from men.

Jesus honored his father

John 8:49

Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

leaders THAT COMPROMISE

John 12:42-44

"Nevertheless even among the chief rulers [the religious leaders or teachers of the people] many believed in Him [Jesus Christ], but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise [ or honor] of men more than the praise [or honor] of God."

THEY PERSECUTE THE GODLY

Acts 4:18-20

^"Then they [“rulers of the people and elders of Israel,” v.8] ... commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 5:28,40

28 Saying, Did not we [the religious leaders and teachers] straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine…40 and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

YOU CANNOT TEACH US

Acts 4:13

Now when they [the Jewish religious leaders and teachers] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

GOD HAS CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS

1 Corinthians 1:27-28

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

The chosen are persecuted

John 15:18-21

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 [Israel], therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto 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 unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

THE CHOSEN SHALL REIGN WITH HIM

Revelation 17:14

These [the fallen earthly kings and lords of this present age] shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [when He returns to this earth to reign for 1,000 years in His kingdom] are called, and chosen, and faithful.

PERSECUTION IS A BLESSING

Matthew 5:10-12

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [the millennium].

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.

in the world to come life for the age

Mark 10:30

But he [that has “left all and have followed Jesus,” v.28] shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life [or “have treasures in heaven…entering into the kingdom of God,” v.21,23].

"eternal life" = aionios zoe in the Greek language which is singular in number. It is better translated "age-lasting life" or "life in the age to come." This is not eternity but this is the next age, the kingdom age, that lasts for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4).

how to answer your persecutors

Endure it

1 Corinthians 4:12

And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

don’t sin, guard your mouth, & trust god

1 Peter 2:22-23

22 Who [Jesus] did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him [the Father] that judgeth righteously:

LOVE, BLESS, DO GOOD, & PRAY

Matthew 5:44-48

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children [sons] of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

DON’T BE ASHAMED OF CHRIST AND HIS WORDS

Mark 8:38

Jesus said, Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation [by escaping persecution]; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels [during the millennial kingdom reign].

Persecution can offend you

Mark 4:16

16 “… when they have heard the word [“the mystery of the kingdom of God,” 4:11], immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

PERSECUTION IS A TOKEN OF GOOD FROM GOD

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5

4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which [persecutions & tribulations] is a manifest token [a sign, visible evidence, or a stamp of approval] of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God [ the inheritance in the coming millennial age, to rule and reign with Christ in honor and glory, (Acts 14:22)], for which ye also suffer: