Have you or someone you know been at the receiving end of the anger or persecution of others, but not because you actually did something wrong, just “because.” Maybe they didn’t like the way that you looked, or maybe they were jealous of an ability that you had and they didn’t. It could be any number of things, but you were hated in the eyes of someone else.
Well, Jesus taught that the world will hate those who follow Him. The world will hate Christians, not because of anything wrong that they have done, but because of the world’s hatred towards Jesus, that is why they will hate Christians.
John 15:18-23 “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
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.
But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
He that hateth me hateth my Father also.”
This is nothing new. The Old Testament prophets were hated, persecuted, and killed for their faith in God. Similarly, the disciples of Jesus were persecuted, hated, and killed because they served Christ.
Persecution is going to happen when a person becomes a Christian. The Apostle Paul found this out very soon after his conversion. Days after becoming a Christian, the Jews sought an opportunity to put him to death because he was out talking to people about Jesus. And this didn’t just happen to Paul, it happened to all of the Apostles. They were thrown into prison, beaten, stoned and killed, all because of their faith in Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
But we do not need to be afraid when these persecutions happen. Instead, we can be glad, knowing that when we suffer at the hands of others for Christ we are going through the exact same thing that Jesus went through.
1 Peter 4:12-14 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Persecution is a part of being a Christian, it’s the way it is, and when you are persecuted for the name of Christ, don’t be ashamed or troubled, but be filled with joy that you are counted worthy to suffer for Him. God will bless you!
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 