Quick update to yesterday’s Pray for a Persecuted Church Right now: This is now day 5 of the pastors being detained. Please pray for other Christians too since their phones have been taken by authorities which the authorities can reconstruct other Christian leaders and churches. These are perilous times for Christians in that country in East Asia.
(For part 1 check out Persecution and the Believer Part 1)
Establish the need: Have you thought about Christian persecution?
Purpose: Today we shall see four more of eight truths the Bible teaches about Christians and persecutions so that you be strong in Christ when the time comes.
5. Be comforted knowing persecuted believers will have a great reward:
““Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)
- Kingdom of heaven (v.10b)
- Reward is great! (v.12a)
- Model: Persecuted prophets mentioned in verse 12b; this is one of the reason we should read the Old Testament.
6. Love your enemies:
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44)
- It is not easy to think of loving your enemies who are persecuting you.
- Yet Jesus said to love your enemies.
7. Continue to be Godly
“and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:16)
- We are to act godly in a way that is consistent with having a good conscience.
- Also our behavior must not put Christ to shame even as we are persecuted.
“but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” (1 Peter 4:16)= Even as we suffer persecution we must glorify God!
8. Turn to Jesus
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”” (John 16:33)
- This verse here is spoken by Jesus.
- Jesus acknowledge we will face tribulation.
- Yet we can have courage.
- Why? Jesus has overcome the world; will you turn to Him and trust in Him?
Still praying for those pastors, important post to remind us! However, coming from a culture and heritage of genocide by Ottoman Turks, I can’t resist stating another point.
Those brutally massacred and deeply scarred with grief must also hear, “Vengence is Mine, saith the Lord, I will repay”
Thank you for that reminder. This is also truth we need to hear today for some who are trying to seek changes in society; we won’t get every wrong made right this side of eternity. How are you holding up in NY? Thank you again also for your prayers
Thank you for asking about us brother. We’re praying for God’s leading. Will continue to pray for you and our brothers who suffer.
Reblogged this on The Battle Cry.
Praying for,the pastors their families and the other believers.
Thank you for praying for them. The implication that the government has the pastors’ phones is something that is worrying many right now, so thank you for your prayers. Humanly speaking I don’t know how Christianity will survive in this country…again I’m thankful for your prayers and if only these arrested pastors knew how many people are praying for them worldwide. God bless your evangelism going on right now
May God use this situation for the progress of the gospel in this country.
I will continue praying !
And thank you.
Reblogged this on The Culture Alternative and commented:
Please pray for the persecuted!
Thank you for this message of assurrance in JESUS CHRIST, Jim! No matter the persecutions and difficulties in worshiping GOD here, we are assured that we can worhip Him in heaven with a free pass i.e. salvation.
Amen to what you said brother. Persecution makes us focus on what really matters. I hope many are saved before the world ends. I just prayed for God to use your blog to reach the Lost. Can you pray the same for mine?
Yes, Jim, beginning now. I will be praying not just for your blog but also for your ministry. I’m praying that doors will open to your ministry as you too will reach the lost and persecuted. Praying now.
Thanks for the update. I’m praying for our brothers. Thanks also for the additional good exhortations about persecution. Thinking about and praying for these brethren puts many of my troubles and challenges in perspective.
Thank you for your prayers. It puts my problem In perspective too. Don’t want to be too cheesy, yesterday my tire blew out driving home and waiting for Triple allowed me to pray and realize things are easier for me than these pastors arrested right now. How did your day go yesterday Tom?
Sorry for your blown out tire. That’s a pain (and could have been deadly). Yesterday, went well, thanks brother! Sat outside a bit yesterday and tried it again today but too hot for that today – 100 degrees. Got my two books and I’m reading down in the basement. How’s your day going?
I’ve heard for a while that Christianity is growing in China. Clearly, the government there is worried… and it is using the opportunity of a world-wide distraction to crack down on whatever worries it. Christ’s church will prevail, but in his way and in his time; he warned of persecutions, and they are happening. I pray for all the believers in China, but with special attention to those you know. J.
Praying. We should read the OT often. May the Holy Spirit fill the persecuted church with His fruit. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. How are Nancy and your girls?
Thank you for your continual prayer. You are right that’s one benefit of reading the OT. You are always able to see the OT side of things lol. Nancy is doing great with the girls, I’m honestly blessed to have her be their mom. I’ve stopped Genesis 3 for now to go over a booklet with the kids summarizing the Gospel and my wife is going over Colossians. Don’t worry we will resume the OT soon again lol. What are you reading these days?
Sorry for the delay in responding! I am glad to hear about Nancy and your girls, that’s terrific! At least you teach and live the Bible for your children, regardless of what you are reading right now! To be completely honest, my Bible reading right now is horrific. My church reads one chapter a day, based on a key theme and I have been reading that. I also started reading Biblical Theology According to the Apostles: How the earliest Christians told the story of Israel by Chris Bruno, Jared Compton and Kevin McFadden. It’s part of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series. I am always eager to learn how early Christians (and the rest of the world at that time) viewed Israel and her stories. While I am an OT girl, I do enjoy learning New Testament Backgrounds especially the Second Temple/Intertestimental Period and Rabbinic Literature. This is WAY more than you ever wanted to know! How are you holding up with everything?
In prayer.
Thank you for your prayer again for these persecuted believers; this will be day 6 of them being arrested. I wish I can meet them one day again and tell them of saints all over America and the world are praying, including you in Louisiana! Again thank you so much!
Love in Christ.
Amen! I’m praying for them!
Reblogged this on Spread the Word.