Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went," Acts 8:1-4 ( NIV )
INTRODUCTION
A. Paul wrote " All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, " 2 Timothy 3:12
1. But many are wondering why righteous people, i.e. Christians should suffer persecutions?
2. Others believe that when they follow Christ- their lives will be blessed, peaceful and happy! Let us know the TRUTH, John 8:32
B. In this lesson, we shall learn the following lessons:
1. Persecution is Part of Being a Christian.
2. Persecution Resulted in the Preaching of the Gospel
3. Persecution Tells Christians to Get Out of their Comfort Zones
4. Persecution Is Aimed at Leading People to Christ
DISCUSSION
A. Persecution is Part of Being a Christian
1. " All that shall live godly shall suffer persecution," 2 Timothy 3:12
2. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount has the following words:
a. " Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," Matthew 5:10
b. " Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake," Matthew 5:11
c. " Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you," Matthew 5:12 ( KJV )
3. In Matthew 24:9, Jesus told His disciples " They shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my Name's sake." ( KJV )
4. To those who are AFRAID of persecution, Jesus said " Woe unto you, when ALL MEN shall speak well of you for so did their fathers to the FALSE PROPHETS," Luke 6:26
5. Persecution proves that Christians are God- pleasers, not men-pleasers.
B. Persecution Resulted in the Preaching of the Gospel
1. " ..There was a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem and they were ALL scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, except the apostles," Acts 8:1
2. " They that were scattered abroad went EVERY WHERE preaching the WORD," Acts 8:4
3. Thus, we see that God allowed persecution so that the NT gospel will be preached.
4. Before His ascension, Jesus told the 11 apostles, " ...You shall be MY witnesses in Jerusalem, in ALL Judaea, and in Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth," Acts 1:8
5. Similar to God's statement to Adam and Eve, " Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth...," Genesis 1:28
6. " And this GOSPEL of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a WITNESS to all nations," Matthew 24:14
C. Persecution Tells Christians To Get Out of Their Comfort Zones
1. At Jerusalem, the church had the 12 apostles with them.
2. " And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers," Acts 2:42
3. " And all that believed were together; and had all things in common," Acts 2:44
4. " And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking of bread from house to house, did eat their food ( meat ) with gladness and and singleness of heart," Acts 2:46
5. The preceding verses are saying that the Jerusalem church was in their " comfort zone."
6. But God wanted them " to preach the gospel to all the world hence the ensuing persecution mentioned in Acts 8:1-4.
7. Today, many believe that preaching should be in their comfort zone ( one area, in the chapel only or in one village " barangay " only)
D. Persecution Is Aimed at Leading People to Christ
1. " You should live good lives among the people of the world. They might say evil things against you, as if you were doing wrong.
But when they see your good deeds, they will give glory to God..." I Peter 2:12 ( Simple English Bible )
2. Jesus said, " Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven," Matthew 5:16
3. Good works would mean " not returning evil for evil, but overcoming evil with good, " Romans 12:17,21
4. When people see that Christians live differently with the world, they will soon find out God is with them.
5. " But when they see your good deeds, they will give glory to God," I Peter 3:12
CONCLUSION
A. " But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is grace before God.
1. For to this you have been called, because Christ also SUFFERED for you, leaving you an EXAMPLE that you should follow in His footsteps," I Peter 2:20-21 ( New American Bible )
2. Our Lord Jesus Christ, as a True Leader, does not require us to do anything that He has NOT done first.
B. Become a Christian now before it is TOO LATE!
1. " Believe and be baptized to be saved, but he who does NOT believe will be condemned," Mark 16:16
2. " Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit," Acts 2:38
3. " Now is the acceptable time, today is the Day of Salvation," 2 Corinthians 6:2
4. Jesus is inviting you " to come to Him for spiritual rest," Matthew 11:28-30
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