SMYRNA: THE CHURCH IN PAIN (3 OF 8)
by Josh Malone
Scripture: Revelations 2:8-11
This content is part of a series.
Smyrna: The Church In Pain (3 of 8)
Series: In Our Midst: Jesus and the 7 Churches of Revelation
Josh Malone
Revelations 2:8-11
Did you know that Christians are the most persecuted religion group in the world. Here are some stats from the ERLC of the SBC compiled from Open Doors USA and the US Dept. of State respectively. 1) An avg. of 180 Christians are killed for believing in Jesus each month all over the world. 2) Christians face persecution because of the faith in 60 countries around the world from the government or from their neighbors.
We have brothers and sisters in Christ this morning that do not worship with the government freedom that we do. They do not gather in beautiful communities, in nice buildings, and grab a cup of coffee on the way to sit freely and then zip off to brunch or lunch. They huddle in dark rooms with flashlights and lamps in hopes of not being imprisoned for their faith. Persecution is real.
In our own country the cultural climate has become increasingly ripe for persecution.
We live in a time when some in our culture would have you believe that you are extreme and anti-women if you believe the murder of babies in the womb and the selling of their body parts its evil.
Here persecution is heating up not so much for SAYING ''Jesus is Lord.'' But for LIVING LIKE ''Jesus is Lord.''
Persecution is to be expected by believers, we shouldn't be suprised by it.
**Matthew 5:11-12- ''Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
**2 Tim. 3:12- Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Persecution comes at various levels, some is more severe, more consistent. When people call you a bigot, falsely charicature what you believe, seek to have your business shut down because of you follow what Jesus ta ...
Series: In Our Midst: Jesus and the 7 Churches of Revelation
Josh Malone
Revelations 2:8-11
Did you know that Christians are the most persecuted religion group in the world. Here are some stats from the ERLC of the SBC compiled from Open Doors USA and the US Dept. of State respectively. 1) An avg. of 180 Christians are killed for believing in Jesus each month all over the world. 2) Christians face persecution because of the faith in 60 countries around the world from the government or from their neighbors.
We have brothers and sisters in Christ this morning that do not worship with the government freedom that we do. They do not gather in beautiful communities, in nice buildings, and grab a cup of coffee on the way to sit freely and then zip off to brunch or lunch. They huddle in dark rooms with flashlights and lamps in hopes of not being imprisoned for their faith. Persecution is real.
In our own country the cultural climate has become increasingly ripe for persecution.
We live in a time when some in our culture would have you believe that you are extreme and anti-women if you believe the murder of babies in the womb and the selling of their body parts its evil.
Here persecution is heating up not so much for SAYING ''Jesus is Lord.'' But for LIVING LIKE ''Jesus is Lord.''
Persecution is to be expected by believers, we shouldn't be suprised by it.
**Matthew 5:11-12- ''Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
**2 Tim. 3:12- Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Persecution comes at various levels, some is more severe, more consistent. When people call you a bigot, falsely charicature what you believe, seek to have your business shut down because of you follow what Jesus ta ...
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