Because You Follow, You Will Be Persecuted

I love you so much that I will not lie to you. I love you so much that I will not withhold from you the truth that set me free, because I want you to be free from the consequence of sin too. I will love you so much that I will not quit or give in just because you say God’s truthful love is hateful. Because I know that no one really wants to endure correction, even me. I will love you so much that I will not hoard salvation all to myself, but rather share with you the truths you need to know so you can make the best choice in your life, to receive Christ into your mind and share His greatest gift of all, the cleansing love of the blood of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:12 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

I start off with just this one verse because it is as to the point as you can get. There are more, and I will share them with you later, where Jesus talks to us about what to expect as we go through life. But I wanted to start with this because we need to be clear. Living as a Christian, proclaiming the truth known as the word of God, these fruits will bring you persecution. Don’t look at others who are being persecuted in God’s name and claim that for your own. That’s a mistake because that’s not your psersecution. Don’t agree? What happens when that person is martyred? You seek another and then another and then another to make their persecutions your own. I say this because if you are not suffering for the LORD, I need to challenge you with this verse. It says ALL, and that means you and me, who live Godly lives will suffer. Are you suffering? Why do I ask?

1 Peter 2 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

These verses talk about living as Christians and for God in a sinful world. God has an expectation of the behavior of his children. No more different than a parent has for their children. I don’t know about you, but there have been times I have to remind my children that we were in public and that there is indeed a behavior that is expected, manners that are expected, kindness that is expected. God is no different; HE has expectations of us. In these verses we look at Jesus, and how he suffered at the hands of those who did not believe him, who hated him. These remind us just how violent the people were towards him, yet he continue to tell the truth, and did not retaliate against those who caused him great suffering. As Christians there is nothing more ugly to God and more beautiful to satan than a disobedient Christian. One who rails against authority. We are to never forsake our faith, but for the Christian who has a fish on his car, a personalized license plate that says something about God, perhaps pro-life bumper stickers and so on, and is blowing away the speed limit. A person who talks about God and love at the water cooler and then throws the boss under the bus at meetings, or talks about the way Suzie and Steve dress. God expects us to lead by example. How can you talk to someone about being obedient to God when you cannot even be obedient to man? In this way we also suffer because there will be much we will disagree with. But hey, we have to pay the taxes. Acts of service are a wonderful thing, but what about the rest of your life? What does those loving acts of service profit you if you are disobedient in the other areas of life. Are you then doing those acts so you can feel good about yourself? I do not presume to know the answer that is between you and our Father. I do know this, I see people doing acts of service all the while they let the person live in sin. I have to ask myself, what is the act of service for if no one is talking to the person about the sin. The way I see it, behaviors like that make the sinner even more comfortable in their sin. So, I have no idea what gifts you have been given, but if it be so, may this cause you to have a conference call with you, God and the person in the mirror.

2 Corinthians 4 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

These verses in Corinthians bring it to light that we should never speak our gospel, but the gospel of Christ. It is man’s own gospel or the doctrines of other gods that has man’s mind confounded in the first place. Because they are lost, they must have the light of Christ put on them. In doing that, verses 8 and 9 tell us we will suffer, but also that we will not lose. Every boxer has gotten punch. There were some matches that Mike Tyson fought and it was over in seconds, but there were others where he got hammered.

But look at verse 10. We are to dye in our flesh daily so that Christ may be manifest in our body. Why do I do what I do? Because I believe that it is a follower of Christ’s duty to spread the truth, I do what I do. I know I will suffer. I already have. I know there are people in my own family who would rather not talk to me about this. I had to find a new set of friends because the people who the old Mike use to hang with did not want to walk away from the sinful world with me. I know that there are people that make fun of me, and laugh. I know that it is very possible that I have people who said, “Take that Mike and your God” when the supreme court ruled. Preachers were being assaulted in the streets of New York during the parades. But I cannot let that stop me from doing what I have been called to do.

I want to caution people who believe in God and fail to tell the truth because they do not want to suffer, they are afraid, they value friendship more than the word of God. I want to share with you these words of love and encouragement. Jesus suffered much more than we. The disciples suffered and died, much more than we. Do not put yourself first. Do not value anything in this life more than your relationship with God. We are going to suffer.

James 1 2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James, the half-brother of Christ, tells us so clearly. Do not be afraid of the suffering; do not worry about what anyone else thinks. When you suffer, rejoice. When the chips are down, rejoice. When satan is pulling at you from 10 different directions, rejoice. All of these are clear indicators that you are the right path. Rejoice because you know you have a Father that has been there, He has been through this. He is the expert in this matter and you can go to Him for comfort. REJOICE in CHRIST and you will want for nothing, AMEN!!!

May the peace of God be with you!!! I love you today and everyday