Tag: persecution
No Servant is Greater than His Master
Scripture reading for April 26th: John 15
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 15:18-20 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also.”
Jesus chose His disciples out of the world system of religion and self-exaltation. He called them to follow His own example of servanthood. He went about doing good, casting out devils, and healing the sick and oppressed and calling men and women to repentance and a new life. For this, He was persecuted and ultimately crucified. Some obeyed His teaching and followed Him. Jesus emphasized the need for servant leadership and that persecution would follow those who followed Him. The world system and people in that system would hate them!
Observations for over-comers: We are called out of the world system into the kingdom of God. We no longer belong to that dead system and it will hate and persecute us. We must remember these words of our Master Jesus! “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.” (Psalm 2:1-2)
Blessed are the persecuted!
Scripture reading for January 7th: Matthew 5
Key Scriptures: Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Jesus warned and taught His disciples that they would be persecuted. He, Himself, suffered persecution because of His stand for God’s truth. Our attitude in times of persecution should not be “woe is me!” Jesus taught that His followers should rejoice and be glad because of a great reward in heaven! This takes faith and an understanding of God’s word and His precious promises. He promised great reward and that is enough! We are not the first to experience this persecution and Jesus wasn’t either. The prophets of old also suffered! It is said that Isaiah was cut in half with a saw. Jeremiah was cast into the mud of a cistern and eventually stoned in Egypt where he had warned God’s people not to go! The people wanted to kill Moses and return to Egypt. We stand in good company with God’s prophets when we are persecuted for righteousness!
Observation for over-comers: Our attitude reflects the faith and rest we have in God’s promises in times of persecution that are already here! “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation–whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
Faith to be healed!
Scripture reading for May 25th: Acts 14
Paul and Barnabas, commissioned by the church in Antioch, went out under the leading of the Holy Spirit to do the work that God would prepare for them. (Acts 13:4) They found many willing listeners and some believed. They also ran into opposition, primarily from the strong Jews who felt threatened by the Gospel message. They then took the message to the Gentiles as well as the Jews.
“At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.” (Acts 14:1-3) God worked with and through these missionaries enabling them to preach effectively. They also had the message confirmed by miracles. But this also stirred up opposition and a plot to stone them caused them to flee to Lystra and Derbe.
“In Lystra, there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.” (Acts 14:8-10) Paul discerned what God could do through the faith of this man. Paul encouraged him with a command and this man jumped up and walked around! This opened the door for the apostles to preach to a great crowd of people before the Jews from Iconium came and stoned Paul and dragged his body outside the city! God works through faith!
Persecution spreads the Church!
Scripture reading for June 18th: Acts 12:1-23
The church experienced times of peace, but also went through times of conflict. The church could grow in times of peace but did not stop growing because of conflict! God is able to use even the wickedness and wrath of man to bring Him praise and nothing will stop Him from accomplishing His program of winning the lost from the whole world!
King Herod began to persecute the church and arrested James, the brother of John and had him put to death. He also seized Peter during the Jewish celebration of unleavened bread following Passover. He wanted to gain some political capital with the Jews. The church began fervent prayer for Peter, who was imprisoned by being chained to guards in a locked cell.
In the night, Peter was awakened by an angel. He was told to get up and dress. As he obeyed, the chains fell off his wrists and he followed the angel out of the prison past the sleeping guards and having locked doors swing open before them. (Acts 12:9-10) Peter went to Mary’s house and knocked on the door. The disciples were there praying and a slave girl answered the door. When she heard Peter’s voice, she ran and told everyone but they thought she was crazy! Peter kept knocking and they finally let him in to tell his amazing story!
Why James died at the hands of Herod and why Peter was spared is not answered by God’s word. We do know that after James’ death, when Peter was seized, the church began to pray fervently. (Acts 12:5) God heard and answered! Prayer moves the hand of God and can open closed doors.
Herod seemed oblivious to what God was doing. He questioned the soldiers guarding Peter and then had them put to death for allowing Peter to escape. God was not mocked, however. Herod was sitting on his throne sometime later giving an address and the people were worshiping him as a god. Herod was soaking in the worship instead of giving praise to God. An angel of the Lord struck him down and he was eaten by worms. (Acts 12:21-23)
Through all of this persecution and spiritual conflict, the word of God increased and continued to spread. (Acts 12:24) Conflict purifies and unites the true church for prayer and ministry. Be prepared for the battles that are coming!