Christian's Persecution

 

*Acts 22:8 ’I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’*

The world has many definitions of this word “persecute” or “persecution”. (1) “persecute” — subject (someone) to hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of their ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation or their political beliefs. (2) “persecution” — persistent annoyance or harassment.

What does the Bible say? 

“persecute” in the original Hebrew defines as “to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by) — chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r). 

Simply put, when we are persecuted, we are in the process of “running away” from a thing that caused us to flee, and to escape. 

Let’s be honest here. How many of us are “running away”, or about to “run away” or already given up and ran away … ? I would say all of us. Yes, all of us. 

The things of this world persecutes us as believers. On account of His name, we are chased away unwelcome, or we are hunted for the same reason, that we are unwelcome. 

Why are we unwelcome? 

Go to John 15, read verse 18 to 21. _“If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. But they will treat you like this because of My name, since they do not know the One who sent Me.”_

Having said this, be of good cheer. Read the next chapter John 16. Read verse 20 to 22 _“Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and will lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be grieved, but your grief will turn to joy. The woman has pain when she is giving birth, because her hour has come; but when she brings forth the child, she remembers the tribulation no longer, on account of the joy that a man has been born into the world. Therefore you also indeed have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”_

Be of good cheer! 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to 18 _“Rejoice always. Pray unceasingly. Give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God toward you in Christ Jesus.”_ 

John 16:33 _“I have spoken these things to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world.