PERSECUTED FOR CHRIST’S SAKE – Part 1

 ANCHOR OF LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

MONDAY, 16TH MAY, 2022

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

General Overseer

Topic: PERSECUTED FOR CHRIST’S SAKE – Part 1

MEMORIZE: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.” Matthew 24:9.

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 24:9-13.

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

EXPOSITION:

Persecution is the torture or maltreatment someone suffered because of what he stands for. It could be religious, political or tribal in nature. The most common of them is persecution because of one’s religion. Some people were denied employment, and some, promotion because of his religion. Many were maltreated and even humiliated because of their religion. In many countries of the world, Christians were regarded as second citizen, not valued nor honored. But it is not a new thing, Jesus Christ has prophesied about it.

Here are some references to Prediction of persecution concerning the Church

  Matthew 10:16-18 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.” 

  Matthew 24:9 “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.”

Luke 21:12 “But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.”

John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” 

John 16:2 “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Revelation 2:10 “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

What God said concerning the persecution of the brethren for the sake of Christ is that:

i. Blessed are you when you are persecuted for Christ’s sake – Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Peter 3:14

ii. Don’t suffer persecution for your wrong doing – 1 Peter 2:19-20; 4:12-16.

iii. Let your persecution or suffering be for righteousness’ sake – 1 Peter 3:17

iv. Persecution is one of the signs of the end time – Matthew 24:3, 8.

To this, God’s expectation from us toward persecution is to endure it and remain uncompromised till the end – “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13.

PRAYER POINT:

Use Jeremiah 15:15 and Psalm 68:30 for prayer against the persecutors of the Christian in Nigeria and overseas.

Jeremiah 15:15 “O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.” 

Psalm 68:30 “Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.” 

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Job 8-10.

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