Video Transcript: Suffering and Persecution

Hi, welcome to Christian basics lesson 10 what the Bible says about suffering and  persecution? The main writer of this material is Dr. Ed Roels. And I'm David Feddes,  presenting Dr. Roels' material and adding some thoughts of my own introduction. The Bible  tells us that in the life to come true believers will experience unending joy and perfect peace.  In our present life, however, we often experienced tears and trials sickness and sadness,  suffering and sorrow. Sometimes we suffer simply because we're human beings who live on a sin cursed earth. At other times, our suffering comes because we are faithful followers of  Jesus Christ and we meet up with opposition. Whatever happens to us, however, we have the confidence and assurance that Christ will never leave us or forsake us. Question one, what  does the Bible teach us about the sufferings and trials which believers may experience?  Jesus told His followers that they would often face sufferings and trials if they faithfully sought  to live for Him and follow his example. Paul and other biblical writers also emphasized that  faithful believers would often suffer persecution because of their faith. Being a Christian in a  hostile environment would not be easy. But persecution would also be an indication that the  people being persecuted were faithful and true followers of Jesus. And true followers of Jesus would never be forsaken by their Lord. Scripture references, Jesus said on the night before  he went to the cross, if you were of the world, the world would love you as its own, that  because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore, the world hates  you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute  you. Jesus later said, and that same evening, in this world, you will have tribulation he didn't  say you might have he said you will have tribulation, but take heart. I have overcome the  world. The apostle Paul said in Acts 14:22, through many tribulations, we must enter the  kingdom of God. II Timothy 3:12, says all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be  persecuted. Question two, are there any examples of persecution in the New Testament? Yes, there are many church leaders and ordinary church members were often persecuted, some  were killed, and many others were beaten or imprisoned. Paul suffered persecution in most of the places where he preached the gospel, but he remained faithful. And along with other  believers, he continued to rejoice in the Lord and stayed strong in his faith in Jesus. And of  course, there was not just persecution in the New Testament. But already back in the Old  Testament, some of God's prophets ran into strong opposition, were repeatedly imprisoned,  mistreated, even killed, for their testimony to the Word of God, Jeremiah was in and out of a  dungeon a number of times Micaiah was locked in jail for telling the truth to King Ahab, you  read of it again and again and again. In the New Testament, James, one of Jesus's three  closest friends had his head chopped off, Stephen was pelted with rocks until he died. Later  on. After the time of the Bible. Peter was crucified upside down, the apostle Paul was  beheaded. Nearly all of the apostles were killed for their faith, except John who was exiled  and died in exile, the Emperor Nero would light up his gardens with Christians who are  doused in pitch or tar, and then lit on fire, they would have Christians brought into the  stadiums and then killed by wild beasts, or murdered by a gladiators for the entertainment of  the crowd. And this went on and on throughout church history. There have been times when  people were killed and persecuted for their faith. During the time of the Reformation.  Sometimes the persecutors were themselves, church leaders, and those who were calling the church back to the Bible, were burned at the stake or tortured or persecuted in other ways in  the 20th century. And even in our own time. The persecutions can sometimes be very terrible  and intense 1000s and 1000s of pastors and priests were murdered under communism, and  are still being hunted down and killed in some parts of the world today because of opposition  to Christianity. So yes, there are examples of persecution in the New Testament. In the Old  Testament throughout the history of the church, Acts 8:1 says that right after Stephen was  murdered, there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. II 

Corinthians 6 says, as servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way, by great  endurance in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, laborers,  sleepless nights hunger, as dying, and behold, we live as punished and yet not killed as  

sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. Question three, Does God care that his children suffer  persecution? He certainly does. However, he promises that if we patiently endure suffering for Christ's sake, we will receive special blessings in this life and will receive a great reward in  heaven when this life is over. God also declares that he will punish unrepentant persecutors,  God does care. And he will inflict his punishment on the enemies of his people if they do not  repent, and he will tenderly cared for and bless His people. But we must always remember  the master died upon a cross, and He calls his people to bear the cross as well. I Peter 4:13.  Rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when  his glory is revealed. Those early Christians had a sense that if you suffered with Christ, you  would also be glorified with Christ. Jesus himself said in Matthew 5:11-12, Blessed are you  when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my  account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for in the same way they  persecuted the prophets who were before you. The apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 4, we  do not lose heart, though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day  by day. For this light, momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory,  beyond all comparison, he considered all those terrible sufferings he went through, to not be  worth comparing to the visions of glory and the experiences of heaven that God had already  given him. And he wants us to know that God has tremendous rewards waiting for us, who  also may suffer or be persecuted. II Thessalonians 1:6 says, God considers it just to repay  with affliction, those who afflict you. And it says that when Christ returns with His angels, the  persecutors and the enemies will pay a heavy price. And so while there's still time, God calls  on his enemies to repent. Remember, the apostle Paul himself, was the one who was  supervising the murder of the first Christian martyr Stephen. And yet God converted him. So  God will punish unrepentant persecutors, but in the meantime, he brings many of them to  salvation, sometimes even through watching the boldness and the courage of those who  undergo persecution. Question four, what are some of the ways in which persecution and  trials can be a source of blessing in our present lives? trial and suffering for Christ's sake can  help us to strengthen our character, increase our joy, confirm our commitment to follow Jesus, increase our patients prove the genuineness of our faith, teach us to depend on the Lord and  not on our own resources, confirm our testimony, and enable us to serve as an example to  others. persecution and trials may cause us sorrow and pain and suffering but they can also  produce precious spiritual fruit in our lives. Jesus says in Luke 6, Blessed are you when  people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil on  account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy for Behold, your reward is  great in heaven. For so their fathers did to the prophets well to you, when all people speak  well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. So if you're being picked on for living  and speaking for the Lord, you're in good company. That's how the true prophets of God were treated. The false prophets are the ones who everybody likes because they just tell people  what they already believe what they already want to hear. Jesus says, Rejoice when you're  different. rejoice when you're like the prophets who were before you when you're like Jesus  himself and remember the reward that's coming. I Peter 4:14 says, if you are insulted for the  name of Christ, you are blessed. Because the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. When  you hear the voice of somebody cursing you, because you are a follower of Jesus, listen to a  greater voice blessing you, at the same time the voice of Jesus of the Lord Himself. And this  persecution also proves you're the real deal. I Peter 1:6-7, In this you rejoice that is in the joy  of Jesus's resurrection though now for a little while, if necessary. You've been grieved by 

various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold, may be  found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. See that  phrase, tested. genuineness like gold, gold is refined by putting it under very hot  temperatures. And it separates out from less pure and valuable things. And your faith is  proved to be genuine. And at the same time, things that are less noble in you can often be  melted away by the fires of persecution. I Thessalonians 1:6-8 says You became imitators of  us and of the Lord, for you receive the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.  See, they had much affliction and the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers, your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, where people are persecuted,  they suffer more physical pain, many other hardships. But God the Holy Spirit, gives them a  great additional joy. James 1:2-4 says count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of  various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let  steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  steadfastness means that you can stand strong, that you have a character that doesn't blow  around in the wind. And the more you have to deal with trials, and the more the Lord upholds  you, the stronger and braver and more steadfast you are, and it brings you to fuller maturity in the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:12, 14 I want you to know brothers, says Paul, that what  has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. He's writing this particular letter from prison. And most of the brothers having become confident in the Lord by my  imprisonment, are much more bold, to speak the word without fear. Paul's imprisonment is  advancing the gospel. II Corinthians 1:8-10, we do not want you to be unaware brothers of the affliction we experienced we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength, that we despaired of life itself. So obviously, it wasn't easy. It was overwhelming, it was excruciating. Indeed, we  felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on  ourselves, but on God on him, we have set our hope that he will deliver us again, when you  can get by on your own power. You usually do. When your own power has utterly failed you,  then you really depend on God's power. We've set our hope on God, we rely not on  ourselves, but on God. Question five, what encouragement does the Bible give to those who  suffer persecution? God will never leave or forsake those who suffer for Christ's sake, he will  ultimately work out all things for the benefit of those who love Him. And those who persevere  to the end will receive a crown of glory. Scripture references, Hebrews 13:5-6, God has said I  will never leave you nor forsake you. So we confidently say the Lord is my helper. I will not  fear What can man do to me. Hebrews 12:3 points us to Jesus consider him who endured  from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary, or fainthearted.  Hebrews 10:34. You notice a lot of quotes from Hebrews here, the book of Hebrews is all  about standing strong, even when you're running into opposition and persecution. Hebrews  10:30 forces you had compassion on those in prison. And you joyfully accepted the  plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourself had a better possession and an  abiding one. Their losses on Earth, reminded them of their riches in heaven, and help them  set their heart more on the future God had promised than ever. And then the fact that God  always works this out for our good Romans 8:28. And we know that for those Love God all  things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. II Timothy  1:11-2 of this gospel I Paul was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I  suffer as I do, but I'm not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed. And I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day, what has been entrusted to me later in that same letter, the  apostle Paul wrote, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race I've kept the faith.  And now there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous  judge will award to me and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  One brief sentence, the apostle Paul says in II Timothy 2:12, if we endure, we will also reign 

with him when you're being persecuted. You may feel weak, you may be may feel vulnerable,  you are actually reigning with Christ Christ who began his reign from a cross has many of his  followers go through many trials before they take their thrones and wear their crowns.  Question six, what should we do if we suffer trials or persecution because of our faith, we  should commit our lives to the Lord continue to live a Christian life and focus on the glory to  come. Though present trials can be very severe, we should remember that they cannot  compare with glory that will someday be ours. When we are with Christ, Stephen, when he  was being pelted with rocks and was nearing death, prayed, Lord, do not hold this sin against  them. And then he gave his spirit up to the Lord and just before that he saw heaven opened,  and Jesus at the right hand of God. And Stepen is an example of what is true for each of us  that we pray for our persecutors and that we realize that Jesus is raining and calling us to  share in His glory. I Peter 4:19, says, Let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. Romans 8:18, says, I considered the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  Tremendous glory that awaits us, of reigning with Christ forever and ever of living in a  renewed creation, and of enjoying the Lord and His angels. All these wonderful realities will  far outweigh the sufferings of the present time, no matter how bad those sufferings might be.  II Corinthians 4:16-18 Sounds a similar note we do not lose heart, though our outer self is  wasting away our inner self is being renewed day by day, for this light, momentary affliction.  Remember, this is the man who was whipped five times beaten with rods three times, was  shipwrecked three times, spent years and years in prison unjustly had his head chopped off  this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all  comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen, for the  things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen, are eternal. These  persecutions last only a little while the rewards last forever. Question seven, what attitude  should we have towards those who persecute us? We should not seek to get even with them,  but leave revenge to God, trusting that he will do what is just and right. As difficult as it may  be, we should love them in Christ, pray for them, and seek to do them good. Jesus himself is  our example of how we should live among people who oppose us, oppress us or persecute  us. This is something we cannot do in our own strength, but something we can do through the indwelling power of Christ. It is his love that wins a victory, even if we have to die for our faith.  Romans 12:19-21 Beloved, never avenge yourself, but leave it to the wrath of God for it his  written Vengeance is mine. I will repay says the Lord. So leave the vengeance to him. He can  take care of it, he'll do it a lot more justly than we do to the contrary. If your enemy is hungry,  feed him. If he's thirsty, give him something to drink. Do not be overcome by evil, but  overcome evil with good, now is the time of grace. And as God is extending his grace towards the wicked and inviting them, to seek Him and to be forgiven by him, we are to be  ambassadors of His grace. A time will come when God will judge and punish forever, but that  time has not yet come. And we are in tune with our father. And as he is extending his Grace,  we show grace and as we receive so much grace and having our sins forgiven, we pray,  forgive us our debts as we also forgive those who sin against us. Matthew 5, Jesus said, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father  who is in heaven. And Jesus didn't just say it, he did it. When he was being nailed to the cross by those soldiers. What did he say? Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are  doing. That was Stephens prayer, Lord, do not hold the sin to their charge. And you know  what happened when Steven prayed that prayer. The person supervising his execution was  Saul the killer. And not long after that God came to Saul Jesus appeared to Saul. And Saul  became the greatest missionary Paul in the history of the world Stephen prayed for his  persecutor, and that persecutor became a mighty man of God. I Peter 2:21, 23, Christ also 

suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps. When he was  reviled, He did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued in  trusting himself. To him who judges justly. Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, and he prayed  father into your hands, I commit my Spirit He trusted his father. I Peter 3:9, Do not repay evil  for evil, or reviling for reviling. But on the contrary, bless. For to this you were called that you  may have obtained a blessing we are part of the solution, not part of the problem. And the  solution is grace, not hate. We don't fight fire with fire when you get when you fight hell with  hell, you just get more Hell. When you live in the love of God and show the forgiveness of  God then you are part of the solution. Question Eight does God promised that he will always  keep believers from illness or injury or will heal them miraculously if they are sick, injured,  suffering or persecuted? No. Some sometimes believers are miraculously healed when they  are sick or injured. And sometimes they are spared from injury or sickness or accident,  through the special grace of God, but not always. Both believers and unbelievers often suffer  and die from the same diseases and afflictions. And both believers and unbelievers often  suffer and die from accidents or in floods or hurricanes or other natural disasters. In addition,  believers in many parts of the world also face persecution, because of their faith. God does  love and protect and care for his children in very special ways. But he does not promise that  they will escape all the suffering and trials that others experience. I remember hearing Pastor  Josephson from Romania, who had many of his own pastor, friends, murdered or tortured for  the faith, and he was here in America speaking. And he said, Only in America, when people  try to claim that if you really have faith in God and love Him, then you're not going to suffer,  and you're not going to be persecuted. It's just a fact that in many, many parts of the world,  those who are most faithful to the Lord suffer the most. And it is a damnable lie. That the only  reason you would ever suffer is if you didn't have enough faith. Sometimes God does rescue  sometimes God does heal and thank God when He does. Sometimes he doesn't. We need  the attitude of the three young men in the book of Daniel who are facing the fiery furnace,  because they would not bow down to an idol but remained true to God, the king threatened to  them. And they said, We have no need to answer you in this matter, oh king, our God who we  serve is able to rescue us. But even if he doesn't, we will never worship your idol. So they  weren't sure whether God was going to rescue them or not. They knew that he could. But  even if they had to die, they would die loyal to him. And so it is with us, we know God can  rescue. We just don't know whether he will right away, we know that he will eventually and  bring us to glory. And so we trust him. But we do not trust that he's always going to let us take  the shortcut that goes around the suffering, that avoids persecution, sometimes we will be  persecuted. Sometimes there will be illnesses that don't go away. When we pray for them.  Thank God when they do, but also praise God when they don't and live by His grace.  However, as believers, we have the assurance that nothing can happen to us outside the will  of God. We also have the promise and assurance that everything that takes place in our lives  will ultimately in some way, turn out for our good. So we pray in faith that God will keep us  from injury, accident and sickness in the confidence that such prayers are often answered. So we should pray. Lord, rescue us from persecution, Lord for protect us from harm and from  illness and injury, we can pray that way. That's our desire and we can ask. But if we're not  spared from these things, or if we're not immediately healed, we have the confidence that  God can use unpleasant or painful situations to help us become the kind of persons he wants  us to be. And if our sickness or accident or injury ends in death, we know that we will be taken into the glorious presence of our Savior, where where we will be forever free from sickness,  suffering, or pain. Scripture references Psalm 119, it is good for me that I was afflicted, that I  might learn your statutes. I know, oh, Lord, that in faithfulness, you have afflicted me, God has His purposes, in afflictions, and sometimes it's good for us. Hebrews 12:11. For the moment 

all discipline seems painful, rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of  righteousness to those who have been trained by it. So we're not supposed to say, Oh, this is  fun being persecuted, or this is fun being sick. Or this is fun dealing with these hardships in  my life. It's not it's painful. Pain hurts, but it can still yield great fruit by God's grace. The  apostle Paul went through many persecutions that God didn't spare him from he also went  through things that he prayed about, and he did not get the answer he desired. He writes, to  keep me from being conceited, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to  harass me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he  said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may  rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,  persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. hardship and  persecution, are going to come into each of our lives at one time or another. We must not  listen to the false claims that strong faith keeps us from any difficulties in life, we must instead realize that when we hold on to God by faith, and more importantly, when he holds on to us,  the eternal God is our refuge underneath are the everlasting arms. God is our refuge and our  strength. He does not always spare us from difficulties on the outside, but he makes us  stronger on the inside. He does not always spare us from times of weakness, but instead in  our times of weakness, he pours his power out upon us. And this makes us stronger in him. It  also aids the spread of his gospel. There are many people who on their sick beds have  testified to their faith in Jesus and those who heard them have been strengthened in faith or  have even come to faith. I remember a man who had tubes running into his body who was  near death of cancer, raising his hands and saying, Praise the Lord. He is king. He is king.  And what a testimony that was to my own faith. I remember what was written by the early  church fathers who said the blood of the martyrs is seed, because it seems the more people  were killed for the Christian faith, the more Christians stepped up to take their place. And  even many of the persecutors themselves. Even many in those stadiums watching the  Christians be killed, were cut to the heart and came to know the Lord. And so let us not simply expect to always avoid difficulty. Always avoid opposition. Let us instead realize that even  when we are in the midst of those things, we are blessed. And God is making us a blessing to others.