Grace Fellowship Grace Fellowship ChurchChurch

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Thursday, Thursday, October 28, 2010October 28, 2010

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

Memory VerseMemory Verse

Phil 2:5, Phil 2:5, “Have this attitude in “Have this attitude in

yourselves which was also yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”in Christ Jesus.”

John 15:18-21John 15:18-21 Obstructions to Divine Good Production:Obstructions to Divine Good Production:

Reason #1:Reason #1: Satan’s Cosmic System hates the Satan’s Cosmic System hates the believer! believer!Reason #2:Reason #2: We are not of this world-Election We are not of this world-Election

out from the World! out from the World!Reason #3:Reason #3: “The servant is not greater than “The servant is not greater than his Lord,” therefore we too will have his Lord,” therefore we too will have persecutions! persecutions!

Reason # 4 – John 15:21:Reason # 4 – John 15:21:“The Cosmos does not “The Cosmos does not

know God and is ignorant know God and is ignorant to His Plan.” to His Plan.”

Doctrine of PersecutionsDoctrine of Persecutions

I. DefinitionI. Definition

A. English DefinitionA. English Definition

1. To oppress or harass 1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment.with ill-treatment.

2. To treat someone 2. To treat someone extremely badly, or to extremely badly, or to

refuse them equal rights, refuse them equal rights, especially because of their especially because of their race, religion, or political race, religion, or political

beliefs.beliefs.

3. To frequently or 3. To frequently or persistently annoy or persistently annoy or

threaten someone, even of threaten someone, even of death.death.

B. From a Biblical perspective.B. From a Biblical perspective.

1. The hatred and affliction 1. The hatred and affliction that follows the witness and that follows the witness and

holy life of God’s people in a holy life of God’s people in a hostile world.hostile world.

2. It is a conflict in which 2. It is a conflict in which the fallen angels are pitted the fallen angels are pitted against God, against the against God, against the elect angels and against elect angels and against

believers.believers.

3. The angelic conflict has 3. The angelic conflict has shifted gears; every shifted gears; every

believer is now the target believer is now the target in the Angelic Conflict, in the Angelic Conflict,

which has greatly which has greatly intensified. intensified.

II. EtymologyII. Etymology

Greek - DIOGMOS and Greek - DIOGMOS and DIOKO (to pursue):DIOKO (to pursue):

Mat 13:21, Mark 10:30; 4:17; Mat 13:21, Mark 10:30; 4:17; Acts 8:1; Mat 5:10, 12; Acts 8:1; Mat 5:10, 12;

John 15:20 John 15:20

Hebrew – MURDAPH and Hebrew – MURDAPH and RADAPH RADAPH (to pursue):(to pursue):

Isa 14:6; Job 19:22, 28; Isa 14:6; Job 19:22, 28; Deut 30:7 Deut 30:7

III. Persecution in the III. Persecution in the Old Testament TimesOld Testament Times

A. Jesus said to the Pharisees A. Jesus said to the Pharisees that innocent blood had been that innocent blood had been shed in those times, and that shed in those times, and that

they were showing themselves they were showing themselves heirs to their fathers who had heirs to their fathers who had

persecuted the righteous. persecuted the righteous.

““From the blood of Abel From the blood of Abel the righteous unto the the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah”, blood of Zachariah”,

Mat 23:34-36; Luke 11:51.Mat 23:34-36; Luke 11:51.

B. In Acts 7:52 Stephen B. In Acts 7:52 Stephen accused the Pharisees of the accused the Pharisees of the

same, same, “Which one of the prophets did “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed your fathers not persecute? They killed

those who had previously announced the those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose coming of the Righteous One, whose

betrayers and murderers you have now betrayers and murderers you have now become.”become.”

C. The writer of Hebrews C. The writer of Hebrews listed many individuals who listed many individuals who

suffered persecution: Abel, at suffered persecution: Abel, at the hands of Cain; Joseph by the hands of Cain; Joseph by his brothers; David by Saul. his brothers; David by Saul. Elijah was forced to flee for Elijah was forced to flee for

his life, 1 Kings 19, …his life, 1 Kings 19, …

Jeremiah was dropped into Jeremiah was dropped into a well, Jeremiah 38, Amos a well, Jeremiah 38, Amos

was driven out of the was driven out of the sanctuary, Amos 7, and sanctuary, Amos 7, and

Daniel was thrown to the Daniel was thrown to the lions, Daniel 6.lions, Daniel 6.

D. As a nation, Israel D. As a nation, Israel experienced persecution all experienced persecution all

during its existence, during its existence, especially during the especially during the

period of the Maccabees, period of the Maccabees, (168 through 163 B.C.). (168 through 163 B.C.).

IV. Persecutions in the IV. Persecutions in the period between the close period between the close of the Old Testament and of the Old Testament and

the coming of Christ.the coming of Christ.

A. Believing Jews endured A. Believing Jews endured persecutions during this persecutions during this

period because of their refusal period because of their refusal to embrace idolatry, and of to embrace idolatry, and of

their faithfulness to the their faithfulness to the Mosaic Law and the true Mosaic Law and the true

worship of God. worship of God.

During that time there were During that time there were many who were true many who were true

martyrs and heroes of faith. martyrs and heroes of faith. For example:For example:

1. The Maccabees, were 1. The Maccabees, were among those who were as among those who were as

Daniel stated in Dan 11:32, Daniel stated in Dan 11:32, “The people who know their “The people who know their God will display strength and God will display strength and

take action.”take action.”

2. Jonathan the Jewish high 2. Jonathan the Jewish high priest said, priest said,

“We have no need of human “We have no need of human help having for our comfort help having for our comfort the sacred Scriptures which the sacred Scriptures which

are in our hands”, are in our hands”, 1 Macc 12:91 Macc 12:9..

3. In the Epistle to the 3. In the Epistle to the Hebrews, persecutions Hebrews, persecutions

during the Jewish during the Jewish Dispensation are summed Dispensation are summed

up in Heb 11:36-38.up in Heb 11:36-38.

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchThursday, October 28, 2010Thursday, October 28, 2010

Tape # 10-118Tape # 10-118

Obstructions to Divine Good Production, Part 13Obstructions to Divine Good Production, Part 13Persecution, Part 4Persecution, Part 4

Upper Room Discourse, Part 432Upper Room Discourse, Part 432

John 15:21; Heb 11:36-38 John 15:21; Heb 11:36-38 

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010