LET US BE COGNISANCE OF THIS ONE TRUTH THAT PEOPLE DOES NOT LAY MUCH EMPHASIS ON, WHICH IS PART OF OUR INHERITANCE FOR FOLLOWING CHRIST ITS CALLED PERSECUTION YES WE WILL BE PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS AND THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM. 2Tim:3:12 Indeed all who delight in piety {and} are determined to live a devoted {and} godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand]. Mark:10:29-30: Jesus said, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has given up {and} left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for My sake and for the Gospels Who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. THE ENEMY WILL AFFLICT, ATTACK, OPPRESSED CHRISTIAN BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD, AND THE REASON IS SO SIMPLE, BECAUSE satan DOES NOT WANT THE WORD OF GOD TO HAVE ROOT INSIDE OF US. SO he BRINGS AFFLICTION AS A MEANS OF QUESTIONING THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE WORD. MARK:4:16-17: And in the same way the ones sown upon stony ground are those who, when they hear the Word, at once receive {and} accept {and} welcome it with joy; And they have no real root in themselves, and so they endure for a little while; then when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately are offended (become displeased, indignant, resentful) {and} they stumble {and} fall away. PERSECUTION WILL COME BECAUSE WE HAVE RECEIVED ILLUMINATION THROUGH THE TRUTH WORD OF GOD. HEB:10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; BECAUSE WE STAND FOR THE TESTIMONY OF HEAVENLY KINGDOM AND OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, satan WROTH IS ALWAYS AGAINST US. REV:12:17 So then the dragon was furious (enraged) at the woman, and he went away to wage war on the remainder of her descendants--[on those] who obey Gods commandments and who have the testimony of Jesus {Christ} [and adhere to it and bear witness to Him]. PERSECUTION COMES BECAUSE WE DEPARTED AWAY FROM evil WAY OF LIVING. ISAIAH:59:15 Yes, truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. And the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE ARE VICTORIOUS AND TRIUMPH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. HIS VICTORY OVER satan AND his COHORT IS FOR OUR SAKE. REV:12:10-11:Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come--the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out! And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love {and} cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing]. 1John:5:4 For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. 4:4 Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated {and} overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world. John:16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace {and} confidence. In the world you have tribulation {and} trials {and} distress {and} frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] OUR RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION IS TO KEEP ON REJOICING IN THE LORD IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION FROM THE CAMP OF THE ENEMY OF OUR SOUL, BECAUSE WE KNEW THE END OF THE MATTER IS GLORIOUS. MATT:5:10-12: Blessed {and} happy {and} enviably fortunate {and} spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in Gods favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in Gods favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Be glad {and} supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. [II Chron. 36:16.] WHEN WE FACE PERSECUTION LET US ENDEAVOUR TO REMIND OUR ENEMY WHAT IS AWAITING him AT THE END. BETTER IS THE END OF THE MATTER THAN THE BEGINNING. Rev:20:1-3:THEN I saw an angel descending from heaven; he was holding the key of the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and a great chain was in his hand. And he gripped {and} overpowered the dragon, that old serpent [of primeval times], who is the devil and Satan, and [securely] bound him for a thousand years. Then he hurled him into the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and closed it and sealed it above him, so that he should no longer lead astray {and} deceive {and} seduce the nations until the thousand years were at an end. After that he must be liberated for a short time. THERE IS NOTHING THE ENEMY CAN THROW AT US THAT OUR FATHER WILL NOT TURN TO HIS OWN GLORY, IF WE ALLOW PATIENCE TO HAVE HIS PREEMINENCE. Rom:8:28 We are assured {and} know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together {and} are [fitting into a plan] for good to {and} for those who love God and are called according to [His] design {and} purpose. James:1:2-4: Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in {or} encounter trials of any sort {or} fall into various temptations. Be assured {and} understand that the trial {and} proving of your faith bring out endurance {and} steadfastness {and} patience. But let endurance {and} steadfastness {and} patience have full play {and} do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. WHEN YOU LIVE GODLY, IT WILL ATTRACT PERSECUTION AND THE PURPOSE OF IT IS TO GET YOU OFF TRACK. 1Pet:4:12-13: Beloved, do not be amazed {and} bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you. But insofar as you are sharing Christs sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly].
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 05:50:20 +0000
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