Faithfully Suffering for the Gospel

Philippians 2:17 ESV

17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

Philippians 3:13–14 ESV

13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Acts 20:24 ESV

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

James 1:2 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

1 Peter 1:6 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

John 15:18–20 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said 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.

I. Persecution may come from any direction.

Suffering for the gospel in the church

Abandoned by confessing Christians.

Opposed by false teachers.

Suffering for the gospel in the world.

Opposed by pagans and secularists.

Physically attacked and imprisoned.

II. Tenaciously fix your eyes on the work of Christ Jesus.

III. Walk in your calling by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our calling is to

Walk in repentance

Endure persecution with kindness, gentleness, and patience

Grow in the gospel as a man, woman, husband, wife, parent, child, worker, business owner, etc. (see Ephesians)