Endure Persecution

Persecution. What does the Bible teach? Why does God allow us to go through persecution? How are we to endure persecution? What should our response be towards persecution?

If we want to live for God then we need to be willing to go through persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Godly Christians will go through persecution. There's many examples of that. The Apostle Paul suffered many afflictions. David the sweet psalmist of Israel tells in Psalm 119:157 of many persecutors and enemies. Christ himself was persecuted.

The Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul had a zero compromise attitude. Paul didn't compromise what he believed. He just boldly preached the whole truth. Likewise, Stephen, in Acts 7 – he preached boldly. He was not afraid to call out the stiff necks and uncircumcised in heart, saying they've persecuted all the prophets… And after he preached this they stoned him to death. Stephen, this great man of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, just boldly preached.

God allows us to go through persecution. As a result of persecution the gospel was spread wider afield. God used this persecution to spread the gospel to more people.

We ought to obey God rather than men, just like with Daniel, when they made a law saying that you couldn't pray unto the Lord, and he just did it anyway. They threw him in the lions’ den but the Lord was with him, and delivered him.

God rewards us for going through persecution. Our Lord says, Mark 10:29, if we get disowned by our family, by our wife, our children, our father, or mother, for Christ's sake, for the gospel’s, then we'll receive a hundredfold, with persecutions as well.

Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Persecution helps make us better as a person and helps us to further the cause of Christ. Paul says, 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Persecution is temporary. Weeping made endure for night but joy cometh in the morning. And then it'll all be worth it, once we get to Heaven. Psalms 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. It's good for us to go through suffering and pain. It helps us to develop character and become better people.

God uses suffering and pain to us so we can sympathise with other people when it happens to them you see and realise that it's a light affliction. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

In Hebrews chapter 11, the great faith chapter, we see: Hebrews 11:37-38 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Some people in the Bible endured much tribulation and persecution.

1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.