Robert Pate
Member
If you are a born again, Gospel believing, Christ loving Christian that is trying to be witness for Christ and his Gospel you will suffer persecution. Jesus said to the apostles, "If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you" John 15:20. The reason that you will be persecuted is because you belong to Jesus Christ and are an enemy of Satan. Who is it that will persecute you? All that do not have the Holy Spirit. It will most likely come from relatives, business associates, people that you work with and others. Have you noticed that some people hate you, while others love you for no particular reason.
Relationships are spiritual. Jesus said that even those of your own household will be you enemies, Matthew 10:34-36. This means that your children, possibly even your spouse will persecute you and will sin against you. Satan is out to ruin your witness for Christ and his Gospel. He will use anyone and everyone that is not a Christian to do it. Christians do not persecute other Christians. If you are being persecuted by someone that claims to be a Christian, they are not Christians, they are frauds.
What should we do when we are being persecuted? Don't retaliate or try to get even. The Lord said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" Romans 12:19. The Lord is zealous over those that are his. He will do a much better Job of dealing with them than you could ever do. I can recount many times when the Lord dealt with people that had persecuted me because of my faith in Christ and his Gospel.
Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you" Matthew 5:44. You may not be able to do that, but Jesus was able to do that. He did that in our name and on our behalf. Knowing that Jesus was able to do that gives us strength in Christ and his righteousness. Jesus asked for forgiveness for those that were nailing him to the cross, Luke 23:34. We should pray for those that are persecuting us, because they are actually persecuting Jesus and are under God's judgment.
Relationships are spiritual. Jesus said that even those of your own household will be you enemies, Matthew 10:34-36. This means that your children, possibly even your spouse will persecute you and will sin against you. Satan is out to ruin your witness for Christ and his Gospel. He will use anyone and everyone that is not a Christian to do it. Christians do not persecute other Christians. If you are being persecuted by someone that claims to be a Christian, they are not Christians, they are frauds.
What should we do when we are being persecuted? Don't retaliate or try to get even. The Lord said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" Romans 12:19. The Lord is zealous over those that are his. He will do a much better Job of dealing with them than you could ever do. I can recount many times when the Lord dealt with people that had persecuted me because of my faith in Christ and his Gospel.
Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you" Matthew 5:44. You may not be able to do that, but Jesus was able to do that. He did that in our name and on our behalf. Knowing that Jesus was able to do that gives us strength in Christ and his righteousness. Jesus asked for forgiveness for those that were nailing him to the cross, Luke 23:34. We should pray for those that are persecuting us, because they are actually persecuting Jesus and are under God's judgment.