Don’t Give Up: A Lesson in Christian Persecution

 Welcome brothers and sisters in Christ thanks for stopping by. I'm taking a little time off from apologetics to deliver a message edification and hope. I have been on HP for almost two years and I've had my share of persecution along with a lot of the Christians, from the forums to being trolled on individual hubs and me having my account closed "accidentally". But those cases are very small compared to the persecution occurring all over the world to followers of Jesus Christ.

Does this shock you? It shouldn't. Jesus spoke on upcoming persecution of His followers and soon after His Resurrection Jesus appeared in His resurrected body to over 500 witnesses. After Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus’ disciples and those witnesses were hunted down, jailed and persecuted. They were told to deny what they knew they saw, but they refused. They continued to spread the gospel and were willing to die (not kill) for that truth. With all the persecution and killing of Christians and Christianity at its birth...the church still grew.

The bible says in Romans 12 1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

"We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

2 Timothy 3:3-53 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

So when we are going through persecution let us remember: Jesus warned us, His Word prepares and comforts us, and Jesus is ALWAYS with us. Stay strong, I love you and most importantly may God continue to bless and keep you.