Title: Expect Opposition (7 of 9)
Series: Finding Your Way
Author: Tony Thomas
Text: 1 Peter 3:13-22; 4:12-19
The Voice of the Martyrs designated November 5 as a, "Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church." Were you aware that more Christians have been martyred in the twenty-first century than in the previous twenty centuries combined? While we enjoy our freedom, thousands of believers around the globe are persecuted every single day.
In Cuba, preachers are routinely arrested and incarcerated for months and years without any judicial process. In Somalia, believers are forbidden from buying goods. Christians who acknowledge their faith in Iran and Saudi Arabia are hung on public squares. Mobs have wiped out whole villages in Pakistan.
Peter penned his letter to Christians who were about to face severe persecution. The Roman authorities felt threatened by the rapid growth of the church and Nero was determined to eliminate the church by force.
Peter understood that some of these Christians would lose their employment, be imprisoned and tortured, thrown to the beasts and gladiators in the arena, and/or crucified and torched to illuminate Nero's garden.
A portion of two chapters in this letter were written to encourage us to remain faithful, even if we suffer for doing what's right. As Americans, we have no concept of suffering. When was the last time you passed a Policeman and worried about anything other than a speeding ticket?
From my vantage point, it appears that Satan's strategy is to lull us into a deep sleep. Occasionally we are ridiculed or stereotyped, or we're labeled as hateful by a judgmental world. Satan uses criticism and ostracism to destroy our confidence. We don't suffer from overt persecution, but we need to be prepared, just in case.
Look at two verses in 1 Peter 3: "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed" (vvs. 13-14).
The first w ...
Series: Finding Your Way
Author: Tony Thomas
Text: 1 Peter 3:13-22; 4:12-19
The Voice of the Martyrs designated November 5 as a, "Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church." Were you aware that more Christians have been martyred in the twenty-first century than in the previous twenty centuries combined? While we enjoy our freedom, thousands of believers around the globe are persecuted every single day.
In Cuba, preachers are routinely arrested and incarcerated for months and years without any judicial process. In Somalia, believers are forbidden from buying goods. Christians who acknowledge their faith in Iran and Saudi Arabia are hung on public squares. Mobs have wiped out whole villages in Pakistan.
Peter penned his letter to Christians who were about to face severe persecution. The Roman authorities felt threatened by the rapid growth of the church and Nero was determined to eliminate the church by force.
Peter understood that some of these Christians would lose their employment, be imprisoned and tortured, thrown to the beasts and gladiators in the arena, and/or crucified and torched to illuminate Nero's garden.
A portion of two chapters in this letter were written to encourage us to remain faithful, even if we suffer for doing what's right. As Americans, we have no concept of suffering. When was the last time you passed a Policeman and worried about anything other than a speeding ticket?
From my vantage point, it appears that Satan's strategy is to lull us into a deep sleep. Occasionally we are ridiculed or stereotyped, or we're labeled as hateful by a judgmental world. Satan uses criticism and ostracism to destroy our confidence. We don't suffer from overt persecution, but we need to be prepared, just in case.
Look at two verses in 1 Peter 3: "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed" (vvs. 13-14).
The first w ...
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