sf1030 - A Biblical Perspective On The Persecuted Church (Hebrews 13 3)

Hebrews 13:1-3

Introduction

No matter what the cost

What does it mean to suffer for Jesus—Teasing? Embarrassment? A joke at our expense? For many of us, sadly, the fear of such “persecution” has silenced our faith more than a time or two.

Yet in many parts of the world, followers of Jesus Christ are refusing to stay quiet—no matter what the cost. And for millions of these believers, the price of their passion is much higher than a bruised ego.

Believers like Sarah, from India, are passionate about reaching their world with the love of Christ. She recounts,

“More than 200 Hindu fundamentalists came with sticks and threatened me in a village. They tried to rape me, but the Lord protected me. They are planning to kill me. But I will still go—come what may. People need the Lord.”

No greater reward

Persecuted Christians like Sarah know there is no greater reward than to live a life fully committed to God.  To live for Christ is their calling.  To suffer for Christ is their honor. And to die for Christ is their gain.

Through Christ, they have found hope, peace and joy—and it is this gift that gives them their passion.  Persecuted Christians are compelled to share Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world—silence is simply not an option.

What is persecution?

Persecuted Christians are those who suffer because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Such persecution may take place at the hands of government officials, members of other religions, family members, or any other group that discriminates against evangelical Christianity.

Persecution can also take various forms. Suffering may manifest itself through regulated or restricted activity, isolation or abandonment, jail time, physical abuse, or the ultimate price—death.

But whomever the source, whatever the form, one thing is constant—the suffering is real, and the suffering is extreme.

Four Truths About Persecution…

1A.      Persecution is Inevitable for the Believer

2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB) 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Philippians 1:29 (NASB) 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

2A.      God Keeps His Promises to the Persecuted

1B.      James 1:12 - Heavenly rewards

2B.      James 1:2-4 - Leads to spiritual maturity

3B.      2 Thessalonians 1:5-7 - God will bring justice when Jesus returns

4B.      Isaiah 57:1-2 - Death will bring peace and rest

3A.      God Uses Persecution to Fulfill His Purposes.

1B.      1 Peter 1:6-7 - Glorifies Christ!

2B.      2 Corinthians 4:7-11 - Reveals Jesus in us

3B.      Philippians 1:12-14 - Encourage other believers to stand

4B.      Acts 8:1, 4 - Spread the gospel

4A.      Biblical Responses in the Face of Persecution

1B.      Hebrews 13:3 - Remember the persecuted

2B.      Hebrews 10:32-34 - Stand with the persecuted and expect to be persecuted

3B.      2 Thessalonians 1:4 - Exhort other believers to follow the examples of the persecuted.

4B.      Proverbs 24:11-12 - Take action to rescue the persecuted

5B.      Acts 12:5 - Fervently pray for the persecuted

6B.      1 Corinthians 12:25-26 - Suffer with the persecuted

7B.      Matthew 5:44-45 - Love and pray for the persecutors

8B.      1 Thessalonians 3:7-9 - Rejoice over their steadfast love of God

9B.      Ephesians 6:12-13, 18 - Remember who our real enemy is