The New Testament has example after example of Christians who were persecuted for their belief in Christ. Persecution is not a reason to fear. Fear has driven the worst parts of church history. Do not be afraid. Be encouraged. Be Prepared.
Matthew 24:9-14 (NLT) “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are My followers. 10 And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.
Persecution Is Here
In 1910, over 25% of North Korea considered themselves Christian. The nation’s capital was referred to as “The Jerusalem of Asia”. Over the next 40 years, Christians fled Korea because of Japanese (and later, communist) assaults. Today, religious freedom is a constitutional right in North Korea. Yet, it is considered the most hostile country toward Christianity.
When Richard Wurmbrandt was Pastor in Romania, he was imprisoned a mere six months after the People’s Republic of Romania came to power. His story, Tortured for Christ, is heartbreaking and you can read it for free. There is even a movie.
Why You Should Not Fear Persecution
You Will Never Be Alone. You will have what you need when you need it. Do not fear your own cowardice. Trust that the courage you need will be there when needed. Bravery is never about “feeling” brave. It is always doing the hard thing regardless of how you feel.
Matthew 28:20 (NLT) I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Kayla Mueller was captured by ISIS and spent 18 months enduring horrible abuse at their hands. She refused to escape when she had a chance, for fear she would endanger two young women she was protecting. She wrote, “I have surrendered myself to our creator b/c literally there was no one else….+ by God + by your prayers I have felt tenderly cradled in freefall.”
No matter what, you will never be alone. When the day comes that you walk your valley, you will find a Good Shepherd to guide you safely to green pastures and still waters.
Philippians 1:29 (NLT) For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for Him.
Persecution is a Privilege. Our earthly kingdom worldview has us turned on our heads. We think being rich is wealth, but the Bible calls it poverty. We think luxury and pampering are comfort, but affliction is more so. So often, the spiritual reality is the opposite of the natural appearance.
We have to fix our theology regarding suffering. The Bible is filled with it, and we are afraid of it. We see only the pain and not the reward. We miss the connection with Jesus or the message of hope that our suffering proclaims. AND, besides…
1 Peter 4:13 (NLT) Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world.
You Will Win. Today’s suffering is not the last word. Revelation 6:10-11 tells us they will be honored by Jesus, given a white robe and rest. Revelation 17 tells us these persecutors will be destroyed, humiliated, and punished.
The enemy always looks like the victor right up to the moment he loses. Look at the cross. It was all downhill until Sunday morning. It will be the same for us. It will be hard, and the enemy will look like the victor, and then Jesus will win, like it was nothing.
Be Prepared With Faith Not Fear
Philippians 3:10 (NLT) I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death
How Hard Can You Go After Jesus? We must stop with the fear. We must stop our need for self-preservation. Jesus is the answer. In the end, whatever gives more people access to Jesus is the thing that is needed. When Jesus is your NUMBER 1 priority, everything else pales under the light of your fire for Him.
2 Peter 1:10 (NLT) So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.
Put ‘Falling Away’ in Your Rearview. The Bible talks about ‘falling away’, which is a term used to describe the events that will occur in the end of times . There are plenty of theologians who have found a way to explain away the passages people don’t like. If this weren’t a serious issue, it would not be covered in such serious terms. There is a falling away coming. There is a loss of love coming. Maybe it is already here. People will give up God and turn to the world that broke them in order to find healing. People will stop serving. They will no longer have time or energy to share the love and message of Jesus. People will stop worshipping. Stop praying for God to fill them. Stop falling before Him. They will give up their church family. They will give up on everyone else. Bitterness, anger, chaos, destruction, and more are in the future.
But that is not YOU! You are God’s own. You are Jesus filling your windshield. You know that what is to come will far surpass that which is.
Philippians 1:28 (NLT) Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God Himself.
LOVE Your Enemies. It’s hard to hate someone you choose to love. Choose to take that step onto a raging sea. The step that says, “Father forgive them, they don’t know.” Let your pain nurture their faith, their hope, and their rebirth. There is NO FEAR in love. The places where we are afraid right now are simple places without love.
Do you need to go harder after Jesus today? Have you been considering giving up your faith in Jesus? Are you struggling to love your enemies? Today, TRY SOMETHING NEW! Decide upon an action. Let someone else pray for you to live out that action this week.
