The Christian response to persecution

[hannah07]

on persecution

Bright morning Christserf,

There are times when i flee too. When we live godly in Christ Jesus, persecution will always be there. It's inevitable. I have a big mouth for evangelizing people and enjoy the ministy of prophetic prayers, prophecy and deliverance. The enemy of course doesn't like that so he looks for ways to make me ineffective. Sometimes he uses not only the people i love but also other christians. I just duck, evade, and flee from their presence for a while. Then love them again,.. and again. Here's an insight from my book Bosom entitled When...:

When people try to pull you down, it's only because they see you above or ahead of them, and they see themselves beneath or behind you. Only those who've truly taken the lead and remain on top are capable of lifting up those who've fallen or have come behind.

When they try to ruin your reputation, they're just telling you, 'you're too good to be true, why can't you be like one of us?' Those who do this are normally the ones who hardly know you. They have decided to put you in the list of their enemies before they can even memorize your name. Being different from everyone else makes you an unlikely candidate for friendship.

When they keep throwing stones at you, they're just envious to see you fruiting. Your silent suffering turns their anger into rage that they're losing control, and perhaps their wits too. And when they condemn you without fair trial, they're merely afraid to know you're right. When you
do what is right, it doesn't matter if men approve of you or not. Your uprightness will uphold you. The truth you live by has the power to deliver and liberate you from their condemnation.

So don't pay heed to what they do. Just keep on doing good, keep on loving and being true. They probably just need to learn from you.

You're blessed and anointed!

andrea
Christ rose to life to prove we can, champion LOVE through Him again.

 

[andrea]

correction

My friend Hannah07 used my computer and forgot to log out. The thread is not from Hannah07 but from andrea. Thanks a lot.

 

[christserf]

Amen, Andrea!

Keep strong in the faith in the face of persecution. I'll pray for your safety and your effectiveness. Do you have Christian fellowship with you? Do you ever get persecuted by your government?

In Yahweh's Love and Truth,

Christ's Serf

 

[andrea]

Our government

Hi Christserf,

About your question. Secular news have much negative reports about our government. But as far as I'm concerned, I believe that we're all blessed to have a government and leaders who promote the restoration of national discipline in our society. Retired BGen R. Saavedra, a christian in the military, instituted the "Task Force Disiplina" where I am a volunteer in the speaker's bureau.

Christians here are free to preach in public places. Reason why my evangelistic training was not only in the pulpit but also in market places, homes, jails, hospitals, street corners, commuter vehicles, and everywhere the sharing of the gospel is allowed. Our country's name Philippines was derived from King Philip of Spain. His was taken from Philip the evangelist. Many filipino christians believe that this is God's call for us as a nation. Filipinos are being sent abroad now not as overseas filipino workers but as missionaries and church planters. I earnestly desire to do mission work and plant churches outside my country in the near future. And should we face persecution, a true disciple has this to say: For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.

You are blessed and anointed, bro.
andrea

Christ rose to life to prove we can, champion LOVE through Him again.

 

[christserf]

Andrea:

That's good to hear, I'll remember it. What kind of discipline are they restoring? What do you do in the speaker's bureau, do you make speeches?

We've had the freedom to preach in this country since our beginning, but occasionally you might get harrassed by the police for it (of course you might get harrassed by the public more often). This hasn't happened to me personally, but it has happened to my dad. I am pleased to report that we haven't had any police troubles of this kind since we came to Alaska.

In Yahweh's Love and Truth,

Christ's Serf

 

[andrea]

Bright morning Christserf,

Sometime in the past our government launched a moral recovery program and gave christian pastors and preachers IDs so we could be welcomed and authorized to teach and preach in government offices and any public places without getting harassed. I got my first ID from the Chaplain's office of the Philippine National Police. I and some friends in VCFGaleria were able to hold a seminar in Mayuyao, Ifugao to government employees because the pastor who invited us was provided an ID by the Ombudsman's office. When Hannah07 and I went for a mission trip in Bohol, all we had to do was show our PNP ids to bus conductors and they allowed us to evangelize to the passengers. Everyone's aware of our government's moral recovery program.

At the Greenbelt Park in Makati, however, we were prevented from distributing tracts because the place is owned privately. The guards were very strict in implementing the rule. But that was a long time ago. I dont know if it still applies now.

Andrea

 

[MavMin]

Keep the Matthew 24 passage in context. This is to the Jews during the Trib and they were specifically told to flee. Without divine intervention Stephen would not have been able to flee if he tried and in his case God did choose to allow him to die a martyr. If God wants you to die a martyr you will at some point but you may come close several times like Paul who was let down over the wall in a basket and taken out of a city by other believers yet in the end he was beheaded.

A wise man seeth the evil and avoids it can be applied to if you know they are gunning for you don't stand still give them a moving target. Many believers over the ages have fled from persecution. Some made it and some didn't. When you know you have no way out then stand and die like Stephen.

 

[andrea]

Persecution

If you've experienced persecution like I did a lot of times before, you'd realize that trusting the Holy Spirit in every situation is the best thing to do. In Batac, Ilocos Norte, while preaching at a revival meeting in a pentecostal church, a man fuming with curses and threats aimed his gun at me and demanded me to stop preaching. He was standing outside the opened door of the left side area. It was dark outside so I couldn't see him. I only noticed that other places were filled with people but that part was not occupied. I just knew that if I saved my life, I'd lose it. Had I stopped preaching, I'd miss the opportunity to witness God's power at work. How can I serve a God I could not trust all the way? His grace is always sufficient so I determined to finish His message.

Later, I saw men in fatigue. During altar call, the Lord took over. People came weeping, fell in the presence of God and many were baptized with the Holy Spirit as the ministers laid hands on them. After the service, the Kapitana (female barangay captain) testified to me that she used to be afraid of the man because he gets wild each time he got drunk. But as she listened to the Word, God urged her to face her fears and gave her courage to exercise her authority. She quickly rose from her seat; confronted the man; grabbed his gun; pushed him to the side; and reprimanded him fearlessly. He was so stupefied that he didn't say a word until the military came to secure the area. That night satan was reminded who's the Boss and in control.

How wonderful to know the worth of our investment by the quality of returns. Whatever we give to the Lord, whether it's our tithes or life itself, is never an expense but always an investment. But the fruit of our investment is determined by how much we've invested. When we share the Word fearlessly, fully convinced of the Truth and Life it provides, the Lord in us produces His own kind in the lives of those who listen and receive His words.

DARE
Dare to live what you believe when others toe the line.
Dare to cling to God's promises though it may take some time.
Dare to keep a holy life while others compromise.
Dare to walk the extra mile just to see Him smile.
Dare to boldly share the Word no matter what the cost.
Dare to live and die on call if Christ is truly Lord of all.

If Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.

Thank you my Talk Jesus friends! It's such a privilege to be here. I love you all.

andrea

 

[MavMin]

I am sometimes afraid that there are people who seek martyrdom when they are not ordained to be one. In this case, it was not to be for you or you would not be writing. I would say that it is fitting to be willing to be martyred but not to seek it but if it is obvious to be than embrace it and sing as other did on their way to the lions. Not every Christian died during the great persecutions or we would not be here and the scripture about the gates of Hell not prevailing would have been null and void. Since you do not know if you are to be part of the remnant or wear the martyr's crown I would say do all you can to stay alive for the sake of the Church but be like Paul and be ready to depart if your good fight is over. He seemed to have a choice when he was writing from prison. It would appear he could have been martyred sooner but chose to stay for the sake of the Church though he would have desired to be gone to his reward. If Paul could flee than I think we have a right to do so but knowing our success or failure in escaping will be up to God.

 

[ltpage]

Well put my friend.

 

[ltpage]

Keep the Matthew 24 passage in context. This is to the Jews during the Trib and they were specifically told to flee. Without divine intervention Stephen would not have been able to flee if he tried and in his case God did choose to allow him to die a martyr. If God wants you to die a martyr you will at some point but you may come close several times like Paul who was let down over the wall in a basket and taken out of a city by other believers yet in the end he was beheaded.

A wise man seeth the evil and avoids it can be applied to if you know they are gunning for you don't stand still give them a moving target. Many believers over the ages have fled from persecution. Some made it and some didn't. When you know you have no way out then stand and die like Stephen.

Well put my friend.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Re:Christian Response / Persecution

I don't see anything in Andrea's post that indicates any kind of self-serving motive. I've read a fair amount of testimony of what life is like for Christians in her part of the world. Most of us who live in North America have no real idea of how perilous it is to be an authentic believer in the Third World. Christians in that part of the world who speak up for Jesus are tortured, imprisoned, and martyred often.

SLE

 

[ushalk]

mavmin that is a thological teaching out of a theology school taught by men. how do i know this. because he was talking directly and answering the deciples who were gentiles. acts 2. 1 john also states that we are all going to be persecuted.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

I believe that the Matthew 24 citation applies first to the Jews who were living in Jerusalem in AD 70, when the Roman Army sacked and burned the entire city.

SLE

 

[ushalk]

sle, if the word of god only came to the jews then why do we claim salvation that are not jews? and if it was only written for that time why is matthew 24 still taking place today? why are we christians slowly having laws put against us using jesus name in public prayer and why are the christians in egypt being killed and beaten in egypt? remember this is only for the jews in your own words.

 

[MavMin]

I believe that the Matthew 24 citation applies first to the Jews who were living in Jerusalem in AD 70, when the Roman Army sacked and burned the entire city.

SLE

It was certainly a foreshadowing just as Hitler and Stalin were a foreshadowing of the AntiChrist but the temple will be rebuilt and much of Matthew 24 will be repeated or actually be completely fulfilled.

 

[MavMin]

mavmin that is a thological teaching out of a theology school taught by men. how do i know this. because he was talking directly and answering the deciples who were gentiles. acts 2. 1 john also states that we are all going to be persecuted.

Ah, they were Jews, not Gentiles. And we are all indeed persecuted in varying degrees. It is going to get worse in the Western nations shortly but the brethren are suffering in many places around the globe and many more will suffer during the Trib but just as Noah entered the ark and then Wham so also as in the days of Noe will it be when we are taken out by the Spirit and Wham until the Millennium and then the fireworks begin after the Millennium.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

sle, if the word of god only came to the jews then why do we claim salvation that are not jews? and if it was only written for that time why is matthew 24 still taking place today? why are we christians slowly having laws put against us using jesus name in public prayer and why are the christians in egypt being killed and beaten in egypt? remember this is only for the jews in your own words.

I didn't say it was written only for that time. I said it applies first to that time.

SLE