http://www.crossroad.to/Persecution/Scriptures.htm
Reason for Persecution: the Cross separates us from the world
John 15:18-21
“If the world
hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you
were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the
world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember
the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they will also
persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me."
John 16:1-4
“These things
I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put
you out of the synagogues [today it might be from churches]; yes, the
time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God
service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known
the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time
comes, you may remember that I told you of them."
John 17:14-18
"I have given
them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the
world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take
them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one."
Galatians 5:11
"And
I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer
persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased."
Reasons for Persecution: compromising leaders
John 12:42-44
"Nevertheless
even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees
they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
Acts 13:48-52
"The word of the
Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews [the religious
establishment] stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of
the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them
from their region. But...the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy
Spirit.
Covenant Relationship with Jesus:
Sharing in His suffering and promises
Matthew 10:16-20
“Behold, I send
you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and
harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to
councils and scourge you in their synagogues....But when they deliver you up,
do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in
that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit
of your Father who speaks in you."
Matthew 5:10-12
"Blessed are
those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you
when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you
falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your
reward in heaven...."
Matthew
20:23
"Jesus answered
and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup
that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized
with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”
Luke
22:20
"In the same way,
He took the cup after they had eaten saying, "This cup which is poured out for
you is the new covenant in My blood."
Romans 8:16-18
"The Spirit
Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we
suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
For I
consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in
us."
Romans 8:35-39
"Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?
...Yet in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved
us. For I am persuaded that neither
death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor
things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
2 Corinthians
4:7-11
"But we have this
treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are
hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are
perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the
dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our
body."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"And He said to
me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that
the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s
sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Prophecy
Matthew 10:21-22
"Now brother will
deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will
rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated
by all for My name’s sake."
Matthew 24:8-14
"... you will be
hated by all nations for My name's sake... And then many will be
offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many
false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will
abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be
saved."
Mark 13:11-13
"Now brother
will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children
will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will
be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be
saved."
2 Timothy 3:1-5, 10-14
"But know this,
that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of
themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without
self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…. And from such people turn
away!
"…all who
desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil
men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But
you must continue in the things which you have learned ..."
Luke 21:12-16
"…they will lay
hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons,
and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my
name. This will result in
your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry
beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom
that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents,
brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to
death."
Revelation
17:6
"I saw the woman, drunk with the
blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw
her, I marveled with great amazement.
Biblical Responses to Persecution
Psalms 31:16
But as for me, I
trust in You, O Lord;
I say, “You
are my God.”
My times
are in Your hand;
Deliver me from
the hand of my enemies,
And from those
who persecute me.
Make Your face
shine upon Your servant;
Save me for Your
mercies’ sake.
Matthew 5:43-45
“You have heard
that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say
to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those
who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you..."
Mark 8:34-36
“Whoever desires
to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he
gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
Mark 13:11
“But when they
arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate
what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it
is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit."
Acts 4:18-20
" Then
they... commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John replied,
“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than
God. For we cannot help
speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 5:28-29
“Did we not
strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled
Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But
Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God
rather than men.'"
Acts 5:40-42
"They
called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak
in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left... rejoicing
because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
Day after day, in the temple
courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the
good news that Jesus is the Christ."
Acts 7:54-57
"When they
heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with
their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven
and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and
said, 'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right
hand of God!' Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran
at him with one accord..."
Romans 12:14
"Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do not curse."
2 Thessalonians 1:3-6
"...
we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience
and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,
which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be
counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer...."
2 Timothy
2:10-12
"Therefore I
endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the
salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faithful
saying:
For if we died with Him, we shall also live with
Him.
If
we endure, we shall
also reign with Him.
If
we deny Him, He also will deny us."
Hebrews 11:24-28
"By faith Moses,
when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the
passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches
than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he
forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him
who is invisible."
Hebrews 13:12-15
"Therefore Jesus also, that He
might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by
Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise
to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. "
1 Peter 2:20-24
"... if you
suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
To this you were called,
because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow
in his steps. and
no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When they
hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no
threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges
justly."
1 Peter 3:14-15
"But even if
you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And
do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be
ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is
in you, with meekness and fear."
1 Peter 4:12-13
"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing
happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s
sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with
exceeding joy."
1 John 3:13
"Do not
marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you."
Revelation 2:10-11
“Do not fear
any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is
about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and
you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you
the crown of life."
Unbiblical Responses: Sin & Compromise
Matthew 13:18-23
"...hear the
parable of the sower: ... But he who received the seed on stony places, this
is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no
root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or
persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles."
Mark 8:38
“For whoever
is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of
him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes....”
2 Timothy 4:16-17
"... no one stood
with me, but all forsook me... But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me,
so that the message might be preached fully through me..."
Hebrews 10:32-36
"But
recall the former days .... you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and
partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had
compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your
goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves
in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great
reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of
God, you may receive the promise."
God’s Mercy for persecutors
Galatians 1:13-17
"You have
heard... how I persecuted
the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy
it.... But ... it pleased God… to reveal
His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles...."
Galatians 1:23-24
But they were
hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which
he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.
Triumph through Persecution
Philippians 1:12-14
But I want you to
know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually
turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become
evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in
Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my
chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Notice that His
triumphs are also shown in the above sections.
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