#6. WHAT IF I MUST SUFFER FOR MY FAITH?

(Dealing with the Possibility of Persecution - Part 2 of 3)

Matthew 10:16-22 NASB “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21“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. 22You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

I.Why does Christianity draw such intense persecution?

A.Because salvation through Christ requires submission to God.

B.Because the Christian message requires an admission of guilt.

C.Because the ministry of the Holy Spirit makes the Gospel impossible to ignore.

D.Because the fall of man resulted in darkened, deceived, deceiving hearts.

Romans 1:20-21 NIV For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

II.The Biblical Record:

A.King Herod - Matthew 2:1-16

B.King Herod’s son, Herod Antipas, beheaded John the Baptist - Mark 6:25-29.

C.Enemies of Jesus sought to kill Him, even before His crucifixion - Luke 4:28-30, 13:31; John 5:16-18, 7:1, 19, 25, 44, 8:37-40, 11:53.

D.The Apostles were regularly arrested for declaring the Name and message of Jesus - Acts 4:1-3, 5:17-18, 22-40, 12:1-4.

E.Stephen was stoned to death by the Sanhedrin for preaching the message of Jesus - Acts 7:54-60.

F.Many Christians in Jerusalem were forced to leave their homes due to severe persecution - Acts 8:1.

G.Eleven of the twelve Apostles died violent deaths as a result of their allegiance to Christ.

H.Paul suffered intense persecution throughout his entire ministry and died as a martyr under the rule of Nero - 2 Corinthians 11:22-29.

III.The Historical Record:

A.Rome:

1.Nero - killed for entertainment

2.Domitian - required that he would be worshipped as a God, and there was no allowance made for any other view. Jews and Christians in particular were targeted.

3.Incest - Cannibalism - Atheism

4.Caesar is Lord v. Christ is Lord

5.ICHTHUS - Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior

6.Until 313 AD

B.Religious inquisitions and wars, as well as cultural purging

1.In the Middle Ages, nearly 2,000,000 Christians died at the hands of other Christians.

2.Protestants vs. Catholics

3.Europe

4.Japan

5.Islam - the Ottoman Empire may have killed as many as 50,000,000 Christians (2.7 million in Turkey in 1915 alone).

6.Untold millions in China and Russia during the Twentieth century.

IV.Persecution in today’s world:

A.Open Doors reported last year (2016) that every month, 322 Christians are killed for their faith; 214 church properties are destroyed; 772 forms of violence are endured ─ there are over 15,000 serious incidents of persecution. Add to this millions of lesser forms of harassment, and the concept of persecution is staggering.

B.I recommend that you follow:

1.Voice of the Martyrs

2.Todd Starnes - Christian Columnist

Christian Life Lessons

1.The early Christians responded to persecution in an amazing way!

A.Acts 4:32-35 NIV All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

B.Acts 4:29-30 NIV Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

C.Hebrews 10:34 ESV For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

2.At the very least, in our intercession and giving, we should stand with persecuted Believers around the world.

3.The Martyrs in the Book of Revelation teach us to cry out for an end to the violence against Believers.

IMMANUEL: THE PROPHECIES

SCRIPTURE

This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when He told them in advance about Christ's suffering and His great glory afterward. They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. 1 Peter 1:10-12 NLT

God was sending the gift of salvation through His Son and wanted people to recognize!

INTRO

The Bible has two parts… Old Testament: “Something is coming!”

New Testament: “That something is here!”

Scripture records more than 300 prophecies pointing to Jesus’ Messiahship. Nearly 100 of those surround His birth.

THE MESSIANIC PROPHECIES

1/ Messiah would be born of a virgin.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14b, ESV

Fulfillment in Matthew 1:18

2/ Messiah would come as a male child.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14b, ESV

Fulfillment in Luke 2:7

3/ Messiah would come from the lineage of Abraham.

“…and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed Me.” Genesis 22:18, NIV

Fulfillment in Acts 3:24-26

4/ Messiah would come from the lineage of David.

“The days are coming,” declares thee Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” Jeremiah 23:5, NIV

Fulfillment Luke 3:23-34

5/ Messiah would come from Bethlehem.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me one who will be Ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micha 5:2, NIV

Fulfillment in Matthew 2:1

6/ Messiah would come out of Egypt.

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My Son.” Hosea 11:1

Fulfillment in Matthew 2:13-15

7/ Messiah would be raised in Nazareth.

“Prophets” (Isaiah, Zechariah, Psalms)

Fulfillment in Matthew 2:23

THE GIFT OF BELIEF

"If I heard a voice from heaven, and it predicted a series of things and they came to pass, then I guess I'd have to believe there's some kind of supernatural being." Bertrand Russell, Why I Am Not A Christian

“They may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding.” Mark 4:12, NIV

“The Son of God became a son of man to enable the sons of man to become Sons of God.”

C.S. Lewi