Word of the Week - Persecution

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Matthew 5:10-12

Persecution defined – To harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve or afflict:  Intent to cause a person to suffer because of their beliefs: Religious persecution.

Persecution is Imminent – As followers of Jesus, we must understand that our heritage is persecution.  For the past 2000 plus years since Jesus walked this earth, Christians have been persecuted around the world. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  2 Timothy 3:12 

As Americans living in the South, we have not really seen intense Persecution like many others around the world, due to our Christian culture and religious freedom.  Those days are fading as things are quickly shifting away from our Judeo Christian value system toward a humanistic viewpoint that values individual preferences over moral values.  This is a complex phenomenon that is very prevalent throughout history in societies that lose their God fearing foundation.  It generally is a result of success and prosperity when a society/people become proud, lazy and gluttonous.  When people become proud, their intellect and feelings excuse them from standards of basic human decency and they engage in perverted ways that lead to Persecuting those who don’t go along with their thinking.  I heard a powerful message last Sunday from Pastor Charlotte Gambill at Church of the Highlands https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/blessed-are-the-persecuted.  The message is summarized below.

Prepare yourself for Persecution – As true followers of Jesus we must be prepared for hostility and ill treatment because of our faith convictions.  We must also be willing to stand in the face of Persecution and not acquiesce to the forces around us that are pushing us to comply with the forces of our culture.  This story is told so well in the book of Daniel, chapter 3 when King Nebuchadnezzar was trying to get Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to go along with the ungodly perverse culture of the time.  Here are some of the tricks the enemy uses to bully us into compliance:

• He tries to steal your voice – The enemy will try to steal our voice through peer pressure.  “So they were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, that you do not serve my gods and worship the image of gold I have set up?  Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image I made, very good.  But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace.  Then what God will be able to rescue you from my hand?”  They said to the king, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from your hand.  But even if he does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.””. Daniel 3:14-18
• He tries to kill your spirit by intimidation – As you resist the enemy and stand firm in your convictions, he will turn up the heat and try his best to intimidate you.  “Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and his attitude toward them changed.  He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual.” Daniel 3:19 We must know that tactics of the enemy in our Persecution and increase our connection to the Lord and stand with Him in our divine protection.
• He will try to destroy your legacy in God’s purpose for you – God has a divine purpose for everyone who is in Christ and we must be overcomers in order to realize this purpose.  The enemy will do everything he can to “steal, kill and destroy” our divine purpose and destiny.  What we do matters not only for our life and generation but for those who come after us, it is truly generational and thus the stakes are high.  Think about your children and grandchildren. “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God and you and your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:7

Persecution leads to promotion – If we persevere and stand in faith through the Persecution there is something much greater on the other side.  We are refined and purified in the fire for God’s Glory.  “Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!  So they came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisors crowded around them.  They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of heir heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.  Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants!  They trusted Him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.  Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of these 3 men will be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the proving of Babylon”. Daniel 3:26-30

So be encouraged, God does His best work in the fire of Persecution.  “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20. 

Have a great week. 

-Duane