Bible Class: Lesson 42

What is persecution?

• It is hostility, hatred, bitterness, anger, negative talk and ill-treatment towards a person. Persecution can be based on ethnicity, differences in opinion, religion, sexual orientation or political beliefs. Persecution in most cases, is intended to harm, destroy or kill.
• Matthew 24:9
  “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
• Luke 21:12
  “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.

Jesus prepared his disciples for persecution

• Not all trials, difficulties, troubles and problems that Christians face are persecution. It appears that persecution has to do with an attack, and maybe with the intention to harm. Jesus knew that his followers would be hated and despised. Therefore, he prepared them to face the battles ahead.
• Matthew 5:11-12
  “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Persecuting Christians is persecuting Jesus

• Paul persecuted Christians. When Jesus stopped him on the Damacus Road, he was told that he was persecuting Jesus Christ.
• Acts 8:1-4
  And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
• Acts 9:1-5
  Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.

Persecution will always be with us

• The people of God will always be persecuted. People will hate and despite our beliefs, values, and the things we believe and stand for. Therefore, they will persecute and seek to harm us.
• Acts 7:52-54
  Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

Personal persecution

• A person can experience personal persecution. The personal persecution may seek to defame, malign and destroy a person’s life, livelihood, character and name. The persecution and attack can come from a friend, family, enemy or group. Personal persecution can be based on; hatred, jealousy, envy, bitterness, malice, grudge, anger and a strong dislike. Is it possible to know and determined if a persecution is personal?

We will face persecution

• Persecution will come our way. It is not if but when. If you have not gotten your share of persecution, your own is on its way.
• 2 Timothy 3:12
  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

The persecution of Daniel

• Persons are persecuted because they stand for godly and spiritual principles. Persecution often comes with threats, punishment and death. Daniel was persecuted because he chose to obey God rather than man.
• Daniel 6:6-10
  So, these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So, King Darius put the decree in writing. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Persecution can be relentless

• A person can so dislike you that they will stop at nothing to hurt or destroy you. When persecution is motivated by hatred, the hater will go all out to harm. The Persians hated the Jews; they tried everything to harm Daniel.
• Daniel 6:11-15
  Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So, they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
  

Persecution, commitment and steadfastness

• Persons who flow with the currents of life, go along, compromise, buckle under pressure, and deny their faith, are less likely to suffer persecution. The three Hebrew boys who stood for their beliefs and conviction as exiles in Babylon, were persecuted.
• Daniel 3:13-18
  Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So, these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or 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, if you are ready to 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?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, 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 it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Riding out our persecution storm

• It is not easy to remain true, steadfast and focused when people are trying to do things to you or say negative things about you. We should not give up and quit when persecution comes. Jesus presented in the parable of the Sower, the reality of people quitting when persecution comes. Some people when they face persecution, because they are not grounded and established in their faith, they will not last long.
• Matthew 13:20-21
  The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

God is with us in our persecution

• God promised never t leave and abandon us in our hour of difficulties. Paul faced many persecutions; God never abandoned him.
• 2 Timothy 3:10-11
  You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
• Romans 5:35
  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Our attitude towards persecution

• What is my attitude when I face problems and persecution? How do I act and react? How do I rejoice when I am persecuted for my faith? Remember, you are not the first and the last to be persecuted or face problems.
• Matthew 5:10-12
  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. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We are not alone in our persecution

• Persons often feel that they are the only ones facing problems, difficulties, persecution and negative criticism. We are to remind ourselves those before us faced the same problems were are facing. The devil and problems are everywhere.
• Matthew 5:10-12
  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. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• 1 Peter 5:9
  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.