Persevering through Persecution

 

Read Leviticus 5:1; Acts 14

 

“If Paul would have been Mercury, he might have been worshipped; but if he will be a faithful minister of Christ, he shall be stoned, and thrown out of the city. Thus men who easily submit to strong delusions, hate to receive the truth in the love of it.” ~ Matthew Henry

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application - Prayer

 

S:  “… they gathered the church together and declared all that God had accomplished with them and how He had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith …”  Acts 14:27

 

O:  Paul and Barnabas had a great success in preaching the gospel, but not without difficulties (see verse 2, 4, 5, 18 and 19).  Paul even stated in verse 22, “ … it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God …”  But because of the Holy Spirit being with them they were able to have much success.  Paul and Barnabas persevered and kept telling people about Christ in the strength that was given to them by the Holy Spirit. 

 

 

(Paul's first Missionary Journey)

 

My kids and I watched a movie yesterday called, Paul the Apostle, on Amazon Prime.  It was a pretty good movie, but it did show some of the horrible things that the early church had to endure; James the brother of John being executed by Herod and the stoning of Stephen, and all the things we have been reading about together.  It was hard to explain to my kids why God’s people had to suffer the way they did.  We do not fully grasp the idea of persecution the way others do perhaps.

 

A:  Persevere.  We may not face the persecution that Paul and others in the early church suffered, but that certainly is a possibility in days to come.  I do believe however there are things we are called on to endure and to persevere through that we might enter the kingdom of God.  Here are a few verses to meditate on:

 

James 1:12 - Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

 

Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

James 1: 2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.  3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.  4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

P:  Father in Heaven, I know that You are working in us Your will and pleasure.  I also know that sometimes that requires us to endure trials or tribulations or even persecution.  Father I lift up those reading this now who are enduring hard things for Your Name’s Sake.  I pray that they would endure and overcome through this situation or trial knowing You are with them to help them and give them strength.  Father I pray when this life is said and done that we would be counted as those who overcame by the Blood of the Lamb.  In Jesus’ name, Yeshua the Messiah, I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

Discussion questions: 

1.     What trial(s) have you or are you enduring?

2.     When you read about people being stoned and the persecution of the early church, how do you relate that to our present day events?