DEALING WITH PERSECUTIONS TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS

                                                   TRETS: JUNE 8, 2017.

DEALING WITH PERSECUTIONS, TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS  

Text:      1 Peter 4: 12–16,19, 2 Tim. 3:12, Mark 10:28-30, 1 Peter 1:6-7

The Bible emphasizes that trials, temptations and indeed persecutions are inevitable experience of he faithful believers in this world. This is because the world is ungodly and is being controlled by Satan, and he is opposed to God and the gospel. Therefore, it is a known fact that those who would stand in the truth against error will surely be persecuted for their truthfulness and those who believe and stand in righteousness in this world of sin will surely be persecuted for righteousness sake. 2 Tim 3.12.

Actually, our Lord Jesus had hinted us that persecution, trials and temptations are part of the cross that Christians are to bear, it is even sometimes a proof that we actually belong to Him and not compromising with the world. In Mark 10: 28-30, He Himself was tempted by Satan but He was victorious. He faced fiery trials and was triumphant, severe persecutions but yet didn’t submit to the enemy. He had assured us of same victory if we can persistently deal with the situation.  God has provided us with adequate spiritual ammunition and resources for our victory. He had also shown us what our attitude should be during persecution and what rewards and benefits awaits us if we continue to the end without failing (1 Peter 1.6-7).

1.      

      DIVERSE PERSECUTIONS, TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS IN SCRIPTURES

1 Peter 4.12, 1 Peter 1.7, 1 Peter 5:8, Matt 5:10-12, Matt.10:12, Luke 21:12-19

Satan brings temptations, trials and persecutions to entice and subdue the believers’ faith so he may fall. The major purpose for this is to make the Christian deny His God and loose Heaven, but we must resist him steadfastly in the faith. When Satan had tried all and failed he brings persecution to make the Christian suffer for his righteousness so as to lose focus of his goal and compromise and eventually backslides. Note that temptation to sin is introduced first to seduce and tempt the believer, when he/she refuses to yield to the temptation, then persecution follows aiming at subduing his faith. This experience of hardship and difficulties is called Trial of faith.  

Trials, Temptations and Persecution are interchanged  by many names in scriptures and it presents itself in various forms at various stages in the life of a believer. Sometimes it is called temptations, trials of faith, suffering, afflictions, reproach, reviling, tribulations or trouble. This brings sorrow of heart to a Christian who knew he had not committed any thing worthy of the sufferings but was only being punished for his stand for righteousness. Persecutions, however, vary from person to person depending on how closer you are to the Lord depending on your responsibility and calling whether secular or ministerial. As we look at the people in scriptures who suffer persecutions, we equally discovered the various patterns in which persecution may come to a believer today. Joseph in Egypt was tempted by his master’s wife saying “lie with me…”, His refusal led him to the prison. (Gen. 39. 7, 12 – 20), Elijah’s life was threatened by Ahab and Jezebel for bringing holy revival and true worship back to Israel (1 Kings 19:2), Micaiah the prophet was put into the prison with severe affliction for telling Ahab the truth from God (2 Chronicles 18:25-26), Jeremiah was bitten and thrown into the prison and then into the dungeon of mire for prophesying of Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah 37:15, 38:6), John the Baptist was beheaded for preaching against the sin of Herod’s adultery (Matt. 14: 8-12), Stephen was stoned to death for preaching righteousness (Acts 7:50-60), Paul the apostle was bitten and stoned and imprisoned for preaching Jesus, Peter was imprisoned and could have been killed by Herod. Many of the early church disciples suffered one hardship and suffering or the other for the sake of Christ. In our contemporary time, a believing woman could be persecuted by the unbelieving woman to the point of bringing a strange woman to the house. A Christian employee could suffer reveling and hardship of no promotion in his employer and other co-workers.  These and many more examples simply conform too the words of Christ that “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” (John 15.20). “ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matt 10.22).

Dealing with PERSECUTIONS, Trials AND temptations 

1 Peter 2.11-23.2 Cor. 13:6, Phil. 2.14-16, Luke 9:23, 2 Cor. 12.10. James 5:7-8, 10-11, 13a, 16b

The time of trials and persecution is a time of self examination. The first thing to do when you no notice traces of persecution is to subject yourself to the mirror of God’s word and will for thorough examination. Ask yourself whether you are being persecuted or you are suffering for your wrong doing (or mistakes). If for wrong doing, then repent and apologize but if not then rejoice in the Lord. Our calling is to face suffering with patience, calmness and confidence in Christ as He did without falling. Our attitude during persecution must be that of Humility and honesty to all men without murmuring but with patience and continual well doing. The bible says “in your patience posses ye your souls” (Luke 21:19). We must never allow the suffering or reproach and persecution to make us sin otherwise we lose totally.  We must be determined to deny ourselves, take up our cross day after day, and follow our master.

Paul the Apostle confirmed this by saying “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong (2 Cor 12.10). Daniel persevered when the decree and the writing was signed and continued to pray as he always do aforetime, The three Hebrew children endured the threat and opposition of the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar and didn’t bow down to the golden image. The apostles Peter and John were beaten for preaching the gospel yet they didn’t stop but continued preaching happily. Even John the beloved was put into boiling oil for his preaching and stand for Jesus and when he didn’t die, he was banished to the isles of Patmos .If these people continued to the end, we will also continued in Jesus name.

But another very important attitude in persecution is prayer. Our text says that Christ “committed himself to him that judgeth uprightly”(1 Peter 2:23) Persecution time must be a time of prayer and even fasting to commit yourself into God’s hand. The focus of your prayer must be to strengthen you in faith, to make you wiser in the midst of the opposition, and to keep you standing glorifying God in spite of the trial. And that God should remember your low estate and painful condition. The Psalmist pray in Psalm 102.1 “O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come unto thee” Note the title of the psalm as “A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.” David ‘s prayer during persecution is “…And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. (2Sa 15:31)

DIVINE POSSIBILITIES AND TRIUMP THROUGH PERSECUTIONS.

Matt.5:10-12, 2Co 4:17; 2Ti 2:12; 1Pe 3:14, 1Peter 4.14, Rom 8:35-39

There are great possibilities and profits when the believer endures afflictions and pray during persecutions. God always answer them and brings reward and promotion to those who are persecuted. Though there are no persecution that is comfortable to the flesh, yet enduring persecution faithfully makes us strong in the Lord, brings us closer to God in prayer, refines us as gold through its fire, makes us to examine and renew our commitment to the Lord, and gives us the joy for serving Him. It also brings us to experience uncommon supernatural miracles that wouldn’t have come naturally.

Joseph eventually became the prime minister in Egypt, and the entire Egyptian were subject to him (including Potiphar)

Daniel was promoted to become a minister in Babylon after enduring fierce persecution of the Lion’s den (Daniel 6:28), The three Hebrew children were equally rewarded for their stand for the lord bring the cruel king to change his ungodly decree (Dan 3.28-30), Paul and Silas were delivered from the prison with an earthquake leading to the conversion of the Philippian jailor and his household (Acts 16:30-31), John the beloved was given the book of revelation while serving persecution in the Isles of Patmos (Rev. 1.9), Though Stephen was persecuted and martyred, yet his death led to the conversion of Paul the great apostle. We too must realize that if we stand for the Lord and the gospel’s sake and persevere during persecution, many miracles and testimonies such as were listed above will follow us. Even when we do not see physical deliverance from our suffering, we are sure of our reward in eternity. Enduring temptations and persecutions make believers more than conquerors (Rom 8.35-39).