Understanding Persecution

Introduction:

As we continue with our worship of the Lord this morning, let us prepare our hearts to receive what He wants to do inside of us this morning.

Let’s pray together.

Last week we started a short series on the persecuted church, and we spent time just praying for our brothers and sisters. We could have spent more time praying really, but we just wanted to get the idea across that we need to be aware of their persecution. We need to make it a priority to pray for them.

Here is why:

The group Open Doors USA figures that 360 million Christians last year lived in countries where persecution was “significant.” Roughly 5,600 Christians were murdered, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000-plus were kidnapped. In addition, more than 5,000 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed.

Think about that for just a moment. All of that just happened in 1 year!! 1 Year and all of that stuff happened to our brothers and sisters.

These are crazy numbers and we are only starting to see these things increase. What is worse though, is that these numbers do not even tell the whole story of what persecution looks like. We are not told about the countless people who have been disowned by their friends and families for their faith. We are not told about those who are beaten regularly for their faith. We are not told about those who are having different services withheld from them because of their faith, medical or otherwise. We are not looking at those who are being told that they cannot hold their personal beliefs out in public life anymore....they must go by the “new moral order” of our society if they want to keep their businesses.

We could go on and on about this topic. But, what I am wanting us to see right up front this morning is that persecution is not only about being killed for one’s faith....although it most certainly does include that; however, persecution is more about people being mistreated because of their religious beliefs.

This is why we see in the Bible that it speaks about people talking bad about you to killing you as persecution. This is not a problem that is only for those who are overseas. This is not something that only those strong Christians get to deal with. This is something that we as a Church need to look at and see that persecution is something that we all need to deal with.... and I think if we are honest we need to realize that there very well could be an uptick in the types of persecution that we will see here in American. I know that can scare us… but let’s be honest.... we are the ones who are not living a normal Christian life right now. Not experiencing what we would consider “harsher” persecution is really an abnormal experience in the history of Christianity. We have to see that for what it is.

Body:

What I am wanting us to do this morning is take a long look at how we are to think about persecution as a church. Because, lets be honest, none of us really wants to think about this topic. It is a difficulty topic to wrap our minds around. If God is so good and we are His people, why would He allow such things to happen to us? We may not ask this question out loud often… but I know that it is in the back of our minds. If God loves His people, then why does He allow suffering to take place?

Listen, I know that these are hard questions to consider, but I want us to get a biblical view on how we think about persecution. We have to see that this is not a topic that God does not address in Scripture. In fact, He is very open and honest about what we can expect in this life, and He even gives us insights into how we are to deal with it.

As we think about this topic this morning, there are 6 truths that I want us to see.... and do not worry I will try my best to move quickly.

The first thing that we need ti see is that..... Persecution is not strange.

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they don’t know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 The one who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason., (John 15:18-25)

10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, 11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. 12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

(2 Tim. 3:10-12)

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. 13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. 16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name. (1 Peter 4:12-16)

We have to remember that when we started following Christ, we started following on who was put to death even though He did nothing wrong. Jesus himself was mistreated, beaten, disowned, made fun of, and killed for what He believed and taught. And now, Jesus looks at those who want to follow Him and says to them openly, If you are going to be a follower of me then you can expect the same type of treatment from the world.

He tells us.. “IF the world hates you....remember it hated me first.” He says in other parts of Scripture not to be surprised....that all who want to live a godly life will be persecuted. Persecution is not some strange thing that is only happening to you in your life.....not being persecuted is a strange thing.

Christians being persecuted is a normal part of the Christian life. This is part of what Jesus meant when He said, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him pick up his cross and come after me....” Jesus was calling people to lay down their lives....and the same is true today. Jesus does not call us to live comfortable lives where everything centers around us. We are to live for Christ and whatever comes because of our following.... let it come. This does not mean we go out of our way to seek persecution.... but we understand that if we do face it.... it is not a strange or foreign concept to us.

The second thing that we need to keep in mind.... because again thinking of persecution is not easy or fun…is the fact that... The Lord identifies with those who are being persecuted.

Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. (Acts 9:1-6)

We may not always see this at first, but I want us to see the progression of this passage. Look at verse 1… Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.

Who was Saul, whom we know as Paul, breathing threats and murder against? He was persecuting the disciples of the Lord. He was persecuting Christians.

But, take a moment and look down at verses 4-5 with me again...4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied.

Who was Paul persecuting? Jesus asks him....why are you persecuting me? Isn’t that interesting? Christians are the ones who are suffering. They are the ones who are being beaten. Steven was the one who just gave his life right before this little endeavor. … But Christ can stop Paul in his tracks and ask him why He is persecuting Him.

When you are suffering for the name of Jesus, remember Jesus Christ our Lord is right there with you. He is with His people. We are part of His body…we are the body of Christ.... and when we are suffering for Him… He identifies with us. Let that sink in this morning.

But not only does He identify with those who are persecuted..... the next thing that we need to see is...The Lord is near to those who are persecuted.

35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered., 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:35-39)

Just because we go through persecution does not mean God does not love us or care about us. It is the exact opposite. Nothing in this life is able to separate us from the love of God which is Christ Jesus our Lord.

Although we can see these truths in Scripture, it does not take away the fact persecution is hard. Suffereing is not easy…and often when we are going through suffering of any kind… we always have this question in the back of our minds… “WHY ME GOD? WHAT DID I DO? Why are you allowing this to happen?” Right?! You have been there…but this is when we need to remember that ...God is working through our persecution to bring about change in us.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom 5:1-5)

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Suffering and perseuction are not pointless. It is not something that we are going through because God does not love us. God is using these things for our good and His glory. He is bringing about change in our lives to show us areas in which we need to grow. Through these experiences, God is making us more like Christ.... and this should be our desire.

To be like Christ should be our aim in this life.... and this desire is where we need to keep our focus when we are going through suffering or persecution. We keep our eyes there. We keep our eyes on the prize. This is what drives us.

Closely related to this point is the fact that....God's power is made perfect in weakness.

8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:8-10)

Persecution has this strange way of not only changing us, but it has this unique characteristic that allows the power of God to rest on us. This is certainly a different way of thinking about these things. We have to be willing to ask ourselves, am I content with doing life in my own power or do I want the power of God to be evident in my life? I think we know the correct answer to that question, but I am not sure we are always happy about how God brings that to pass in our lives.

Conclusion:

There is one more point I think that need to consider this morning. We can see from Scripture that persecution is a normal part of the Christian life, that God is with us through the process, and that God is evening using it for our good, but what should our response be?

How Should We Treat Those Who Persecute Us?

Our normal tendencies are to raise up and fight against those who are being mean to us. I mean, who in world wants to be nice to those who are mistreating you? Who wants to go out of their way to show kindness to those who are doing nothing but being evil? But this is exactly what we see the Bible calls us to.

43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary?, Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt 5:43-48)

12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head., 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:12-21).

We are to be a blessing to those who bring about persecution.

This is so different than the way the world would tell us to act, but we do not live by the world’s standards. We are to live ALL of our lives for Christ.... and that means that we trust Him at His words when He tells us how to respond to being persecuted.

There are so many more questions that we could consider this morning. There are so many other things that we could look over… but I think that this a good place to start as we think about the persecuted church.

As you think about this for your own life, you need to consider...

Am I willing to be persecuted for Christ?

What Is God Teaching Through My Sufferings?

Whom Can I Bless?

How Can I Bless Them?

I want to add one more thing to this list that was mentioned last week, we also need to make praying for the persecuted church a priority in our lives. We have to remember, we are not alone in our sufferings and neither are our brothers and sisters.

May the power of God rest on us as we seek to live our lives for Him.

Let’s pray together.