Reason for Persecution:
the Cross separates us from the world
John
15:18-21
“If
the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated
you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet
because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore
the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they
will also persecute you... because
they do not know Him who sent Me."
John
16:1-4
“These
things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They
will put you out of the synagogues [today it might be from churches]; yes, the time is coming that whoever
kills you will think that he offers God service. And these
things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But
these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember
that I told you of them."
John
17:14-18
"I
have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not
of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray
that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from
the evil one."
Galatians
5:11
"And
I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution?
Then the offense of the cross has ceased."
Reasons for Persecution:
compromising leaders
John
12:42-44
"Nevertheless
even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees
they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise
of God."
Acts
13:48-52
"The
word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But
the Jews [the religious establishment] stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the
city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them
from their region. But...the disciples were filled
with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Covenant
Relationship with Jesus:
Sharing
in His suffering
and promises
Matthew
10:16-20
“Behold,
I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents
and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will
deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues....But when they deliver you up, do not
worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that
hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but
the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."
Matthew
5:10-12
"Blessed
are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against
you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for
great is your reward in heaven...."
Matthew
20:23
"Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink
the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am
baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”
Luke
22:20
"In
the same way, He took the cup after they had eaten saying, "This cup which
is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."
Romans
8:16-18
"The
Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and
if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we
suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
For
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Romans
8:35-39
"Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
...Yet
in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 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."
2
Corinthians 4:7-11
"But
we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that
the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are
hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed,
but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck
down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of
the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
2
Corinthians 12:9-10
"And
He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made
perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in
distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Prophecy
Matthew
10:21-22
"Now brother will
deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will
rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And
you will be hated by all for My name’s sake."
Matthew
24:8-14
"...
you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake... And then many will be
offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false
prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the
love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved."
Mark
13:11-13
"Now brother
will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children
will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And
you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end
shall be saved."
2
Timothy
3:1-5, 10-14
"But
know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving,
slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors,
headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…. And from
such people turn away!
"…all
who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But
evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But
you must continue in the things which you have learned ..."
Luke
21:12-16
"…they
will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and
prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account
of my name. This will
result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you
will defend yourselves. For
I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to
resist or contradict. You
will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will
put some of you to death."
Revelation
17:6
"I
saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the
martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement."
Biblical
Responses
to Persecution
Psalms
31:16
But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;
I say,
“You are my God.”
My times are in Your hand;
Deliver
me from the hand of my enemies,
And from
those who persecute me.
Make Your face shine upon Your servant;
Save me
for Your mercies’ sake."
Matthew
5:43-45
“You
have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those
who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who
spitefully use you and persecute you..."
Mark
8:34-36
“Whoever
desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For
what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
Mark
13:11
“But
when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or
premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak
that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit."
Acts
4:18-20
"
Then
they... commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the
name of Jesus. But
Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s
sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts
5:28-29
“Did
we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled
Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But
Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey
God rather than men.'"
Acts
5:40-42
"They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then
they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The
apostles left... rejoicing because they had been counted worthy
of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never
stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."
Acts
7:54-57
"When
they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with
their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed
into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand
of God, and said, 'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of
Man standing at the right hand of God!' Then they cried out with
a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord..."
Romans
12:14
"Bless
those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."
2 Thessalonians
1:3-6
"...
we
ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and
faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which
is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be
counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer...."
2
Timothy
2:10-12
"Therefore
I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain
the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faithful saying:
For
if we died with Him, we
shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
we shall
also reign with Him.
If we
deny Him, He also
will deny us."
Hebrews
11:24-28
"By
faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s
daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people
of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he
looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing
the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible."
Hebrews
13:12-15
"Therefore
Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered
outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the
camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing
city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually
offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips,
giving thanks to His name. "
1
Peter
2:20-24
"...
if
you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an
example, that you should follow in his steps.
He
committed no sin,
and no
deceit was found in his mouth.”
When
they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he
made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."
1
Peter
3:14-15
"But
even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are
blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be
ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope
that is in you, with meekness and fear."
1
Peter 4:12-13
"Beloved,
do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the
extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is
revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."
1
John 3:13
"Do
not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you."
Revelation
2:10-11
“Do
not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil
is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested,
and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give
you the crown of life."
Unbiblical
Responses: Sin
& Compromise
Matthew
13:18-23
"...hear the
parable of the sower: ... But
he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and
immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself,
but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution
arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles."
Mark
8:38
“For
whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful
generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes....”
2
Timothy 4:16-17
"...
no one stood with me, but all forsook me...
But
the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be
preached fully through me..."
Hebrews
10:32-36
"But
recall the former days .... you endured a
great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a
spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became
companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on
me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing
that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore
do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you
have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may
receive the promise."
God’s Mercy for persecutors
Galatians
1:13-17
"You
have heard... how I persecuted the church
of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it....
But ... it pleased God… to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the
Gentiles...."
Galatians
1:23-24
But they
were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the
faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they
glorified God in me.
Triumph through Persecution
Philippians
1:12-14
But I
want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me
have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so
that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that
my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord,
having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word
without fear.
Notice
that His triumphs are also shown in the above sections.
