PERSECUTION

2 Tim 3:12, And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

GOD USES EVIL TREATMENT BY OTHERS TO FASHION US INTO HIS LIKENESS

No one likes to be mistreated, but it is part of living.

No matter how sincerely and diligently you go about your work, you will be misunderstand your motives.

Others will criticize you because they are jealous.

Others will falsely accuse you and attempt to destroy your reputation.

Because of your strong testimony for Christ you could be bypassed when promotion time arrives, or you could even lose your job.

Are you surprised when persecution comes?

1 Pet 4:12, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.

How do you respond to Persecution?

What we really made of is not revealed by what happens to us, but by how we respond. What is your first reaction when you are wronged? To defend yourself? To strike back? We should never purposely stir up strife and provoke others. Persecution can be a blessing, if we respond correctly to it.

Mat 5:11, "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. 12 "Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

We can be salt or act like dirt - like the persecutor.

James 1:2, Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

Why let someone steal our joy? Does your joy come from what man can take from you, or from Christ - whom nothing can separate you from?

Rom 8:38, For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We must rely on Christ

We respond wrong when we put too much trust or value in things - instead of in Christ. As Christ helps us respond correctly, we learn to trust more in Him and less in the things the world counts on. We must get the right perspective on persecution. When we understand what is really happening to us from God's viewpoint we can rejoice, give thanks, and receive the wrong with the right spirit. Why?

God is using evil treatment by others to fashion us into His likeness and to enable us to show the world God's love as he works through us toward the persecutor.

Something good is happening, even amid our tears and hurt.

Rom, 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

God is bringing us to maturity

James 1:4, And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

God is showing us that in our weakest moments, because we have Him to rely upon, we are at our peak strength.

2 Cor 12:10, Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

When persecution comes, rather than have a pity party and sulk in our ill-treatment, doubting God's presence and protection, what should our response be? How does the world respond to such circumstances? What is the opposite? How do we respond toward those who deliberately wrong us? Jesus gives us a simple but profound, powerful, and unfailing formula.

Mat 5:43, "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

We are to love our enemies. That requires forgiveness. If He forgave us, do we have a right to withhold forgiveness from others to whom He has also offered this grace?

We are to do something good for those who have wronged us. This contributes to our own inner healing, and at the same time, shows a Christlike spirit, which God will use as a testimony to them.

We are to pray for them and ask Jesus to do what is necessary and best for our persecutors. Praying for our enemies deepens our own understanding and fellowship with the Lord.

No enemy can withstand the threefold weapon of love, a good deed, and prayer.

Rom 12:14, Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.

Rom 12:17, Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

Rom 12:21, Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

After the writer of Hebrews listed many of those who had been persecuted for their faith, he instructs us:

Heb 12:1-2, Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For Paul, persecuted Christians could be a living and visible testimony to the crucified and risen Christ.

2 Cor 4:7, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.

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