Your enemy the devil prowls around Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion like a roaring lion looking for someone looking for someone to devourto devour. Resist him, . Resist him, standing firmstanding firm in in the faith, because the faith, because you know that you know that your your brothers throughout the worldbrothers throughout the world are are undergoing the same kind of sufferingsundergoing the same kind of sufferings. .

1 Peter 5:8-91 Peter 5:8-9

  

Throughout the Throughout the world… 450 world… 450 Christians killed for Christians killed for their faith each day.their faith each day.

200 million 200 million Christians Christians persecuted.persecuted.

Nov. 17: “It was confirmed today that an underground church leader, his family members and dozens of his followers are likely to be executed.”

The Staines family:

Graham

Gladys

Esther

Philip

Timothy

Safely Home

“ “Well done, Well done, my good and my good and faithful faithful servant; servant; enter into the enter into the joy of your joy of your Master.”Master.”

God chose to include in God chose to include in Scripture His people’s Scripture His people’s cries for deliverance and cries for deliverance and justice.justice.

We are objects of reproach…of scorn We are objects of reproach…of scorn and derision to those around us. and derision to those around us. How How long, O LORD?long, O LORD? … … Pour out your wrathPour out your wrath on the nations that do not on the nations that do not acknowledge you…we are in desperate acknowledge you…we are in desperate need.… need.… make known among the make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servantsblood of your servants. . May the groans May the groans of the prisoners come before you. of the prisoners come before you.

Psalm 79:1-12 Psalm 79:1-12

God promises He will God promises He will ultimately bring both ultimately bring both deliverance and justice.deliverance and justice.

They crush your people, O LORD… They crush your people, O LORD… They They slay the widow and the alienslay the widow and the alien; they ; they murder the fatherless…. murder the fatherless…. They band They band together against the righteous and together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to deathcondemn the innocent to death. But the . But the LORD has become my fortress, and my LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. God the rock in whom I take refuge. He He willwill repay them for their sins and destroy repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickednessthem for their wickedness. .

Psalm 94:3-23Psalm 94:3-23

God promises special blessing God promises special blessing and and eternaleternal reward for His reward for His persecuted people.persecuted people.

Be faithful, even to the point of Be faithful, even to the point of death, and death, and I will give you the I will give you the crown of lifecrown of life. .

Revelation 2:10Revelation 2:10

Blessed are you who mournBlessed are you who mourn, , for you will be comforted…. for you will be comforted…. Blessed are you when people Blessed are you when people insult you, insult you, persecute youpersecute you and falsely say all kinds of and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. evil against you because of me. Rejoice Rejoice and be gladand be glad, , because great is your because great is your reward in heavenreward in heaven, for in the same way , for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were they persecuted the prophets who were before you. before you.

Matthew 5:11-12Matthew 5:11-12

The persecution of The persecution of God’s people is directly God’s people is directly linked to verbally linked to verbally confessing His Lordship confessing His Lordship before others.before others.

They were They were greatly disturbed greatly disturbed because the apostles were because the apostles were teaching the people and teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the proclaiming in Jesus the resurrectionresurrection of the dead. They of the dead. They seized Peter and John…they put seized Peter and John…they put them in jail. them in jail.

Acts 4:1-4Acts 4:1-4

“ “And now you have betrayed and And now you have betrayed and murdered him” [Jesus]….When they murdered him” [Jesus]….When they heard this, heard this, they were furious and they were furious and gnashed their teeth at himgnashed their teeth at him. … “Look,” . … “Look,” Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this God.” At this they covered their ears and, they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voicesyelling at the top of their voices, they all , they all rushed at himrushed at him, dragged him out of the , dragged him out of the city and began to city and began to stonestone him…. him….

Acts 7:52ff.Acts 7:52ff.

If the world hates you, keep in mind If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.that it hated me first. If you belonged If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its to the world, it would love you as its own. … I have chosen you out of the own. … I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates world. That is why the world hates you….you….No servant is greater than his No servant is greater than his mastermaster. . If they persecuted me, they will If they persecuted me, they will persecute you alsopersecute you also. …They will treat . …They will treat you this way because of my name, for you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. they do not know the One who sent me.

JesusJesus, John 15:17-22 , John 15:17-22

Those who follow Christ Those who follow Christ willwill be persecuted—it is be persecuted—it is inevitable, and it is inevitable, and it is promised.promised.

If you suffer for doing good and you endure If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. it, this is commendable before God. To this To this you were calledyou were called, because Christ suffered for , because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you, leaving you an example, that you you should follow in his stepsshould follow in his steps. …When they . …When they hurled their insults at him, he did not hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him he entrusted himself to him who judges justlywho judges justly. .

1 Peter 2:19-231 Peter 2:19-23

Dear friends, Dear friends, do not be surpriseddo not be surprised at the at the painful trial you are sufferingpainful trial you are suffering, , as though as though something strange were happening to something strange were happening to youyou. But rejoice that you participate in . But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so the sufferings of Christ, so that you may that you may be overjoyed when his glory is be overjoyed when his glory is revealedrevealed…if you suffer as a Christian, do …if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but not be ashamed, but praise God that praise God that you bear that nameyou bear that name. . 1 Peter 4:12-171 Peter 4:12-17

For to you it has been granted for For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also Him, but also to suffer for His saketo suffer for His sake..

Philippians 1:29Philippians 1:29

Everyone Everyone who wants to live a who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. persecution.

2 Timothy 3:122 Timothy 3:12

So….what are you doing, and So….what are you doing, and saying, for Jesus that is resulting saying, for Jesus that is resulting in you being persecuted?in you being persecuted?

(Persecution isn’t a goal, but an (Persecution isn’t a goal, but an unavoidable byproduct of unavoidable byproduct of faithfulness.)faithfulness.)

If you are If you are not not being persecuted being persecuted in your school or workplace, is it in your school or workplace, is it because you are “fitting in” by because you are “fitting in” by failing to speak up for Christ?failing to speak up for Christ?

God gives us the God gives us the example of the example of the persecuted church so persecuted church so we might raise the bar we might raise the bar and take risks for Jesus, and take risks for Jesus, in what we say and do.in what we say and do.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospelserved to advance the gospel. As a result, . As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that palace guard and to everyone else that I I am in chains for Christam in chains for Christ. Because of my . Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been have been encouraged to speak the word encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlesslyof God more courageously and fearlessly. .

Philippians 1:12-13Philippians 1:12-13

They called the apostles in and They called the apostles in and had them floggedhad them flogged. Then . Then they they ordered them not to speak in the ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesusname of Jesus, and let them go. , and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Namedisgrace for the Name. Day after . Day after day, in the temple courts and day, in the temple courts and from house to house, from house to house, they never they never stoppedstopped teaching and proclaiming teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the the good news that Jesus is the Christ.Christ.

Acts 5:40-42Acts 5:40-42

Being a good witness for Being a good witness for Christ is Christ is not not measured by measured by whether or not people like us whether or not people like us or get mad at us. or get mad at us.

Being Christlike is not just Being Christlike is not just being “nice” being “nice” and making and making everybody approve of us.everybody approve of us.

God uses persecution God uses persecution and suffering to show and suffering to show the world that his the world that his people have a people have a supernatural inner joy supernatural inner joy and peace, and an and peace, and an eternal hope.eternal hope.

We are We are hard pressedhard pressed on every side, but on every side, but not crushed; not crushed; perplexedperplexed, but not in despair; , but not in despair; persecutedpersecuted, but not abandoned; , but not abandoned; struck struck downdown, but not destroyed. We always carry , but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, around in our body the death of Jesus, so so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our bodyin our body. For we who are alive are . For we who are alive are always being given over to death for always being given over to death for Jesus’ sakeJesus’ sake, , so that his life may be so that his life may be revealedrevealed in our mortal body. in our mortal body.

2 Corinthians 4:8-112 Corinthians 4:8-11

Suffering is sure to come. Let’s Suffering is sure to come. Let’s follow the example of our perse-follow the example of our perse-cuted brothers and sisters by:cuted brothers and sisters by:

• Not wasting our sufferingNot wasting our suffering in self-pity in self-pity or resentment, but or resentment, but giving thanks. giving thanks.

• Drawing near to GodDrawing near to God for his comfort, for his comfort, strength and joy in our suffering.strength and joy in our suffering.

They overcame himThey overcame him [Satan][Satan] by the blood of the Lamb by the blood of the Lamb and by the and by the wordword of their of their testimony; testimony; they did not love they did not love their lives so much as to their lives so much as to shrink from death. shrink from death.

Revelation 12:10-11 Revelation 12:10-11

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

January 9, 1956

““The blood of the martyrs is the The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” seed of the church.” TertullianTertullian

Steve Saint and Mincaye, at Good Shepherd Jan. 21-22

The End of the Spear, in theatres nationwide January 20

Before Communism: Less than 1 million Christians; Today: 100 million?

God hears the cries of God hears the cries of his people who suffer.  his people who suffer.  

He fell to the ground and He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute persecute MEME?”?”

““Who are you, Lord?” Saul Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. asked.

““I am Jesus, whom you are I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,”persecuting,” he replied. he replied.

Acts 9:4-5Acts 9:4-5

Christ takes it personally Christ takes it personally when his people suffer:when his people suffer:

• To hurt them is to hurt Him. To hurt them is to hurt Him.

• To help them is to help Him. To help them is to help Him.

The King will reply, “I tell The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”you did for me.”

Matthew 25:40Matthew 25:40

I tell you the truth, anyone I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a who gives you a cup of cup of waterwater in my name because in my name because you belong to Christ will you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his certainly not lose his reward. reward.

Jesus, Matthew 9:41 Jesus, Matthew 9:41

Christian children of Uganda

[The martyrs][The martyrs] called out in a loud called out in a loud voice, “voice, “How long, Sovereign LordHow long, Sovereign Lord, , holy and true, holy and true, until you judgeuntil you judge the the inhabitants of the earth inhabitants of the earth and and avengeavenge our blood?” Then each of our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and them was given a white robe, and they were they were told to wait a little told to wait a little longerlonger, until the number of their , until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been were to be killed as they had been was completed. was completed.

Revelation 6:10-11Revelation 6:10-11

When they see the smoke of her When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, “Woe! Woe, O burning, they will exclaim, “Woe! Woe, O great city…” great city…”     In one hour she has been brought to     In one hour she has been brought to ruin! ruin!

Rejoice over her, O heaven!Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets!saints and apostles and prophets!     God has judged her for the way she God has judged her for the way she treated you.treated you.

Revelation 18:18-20Revelation 18:18-20

The Lord said, “The Lord said, “I have indeed I have indeed seen the miseryseen the misery of my people of my people in in Egypt. Egypt. I have I have heard them crying heard them crying outout because of their slave because of their slave drivers, and drivers, and I am I am concerned concerned about their sufferingabout their suffering.…So .…So I have I have come down to rescuecome down to rescue them them from from the hand of the Egyptians.” the hand of the Egyptians.”

Exodus 3Exodus 3

Speak up for those who Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselvescannot speak for themselves, , for the rights of all who are for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; fairly; defend the rights of the defend the rights of the poor and needypoor and needy..

Proverbs 31:8-9Proverbs 31:8-9

What can we do?What can we do?• Become informed (books, magazines, Become informed (books, magazines,

websites, emails, videos); websites, emails, videos); “17 Countries “17 Countries Where…”Where…”

• Pray (for deliverance, endurance, boldness); Pray (for deliverance, endurance, boldness); “How to pray for…”“How to pray for…”

• FastFast• GiveGive• GoGo• Speak up; letters, phone callsSpeak up; letters, phone calls• Follow their exampleFollow their example

The biggest barrier to The biggest barrier to faith in God:faith in God: the the problem of evil and problem of evil and sufferingsuffering

The Logic:The Logic: “A God who is “A God who is both all-good and all-both all-good and all-powerful powerful could notcould not allow allow such evil and suffering. such evil and suffering. IfIf He He is there, He must not care.”is there, He must not care.”

The Truth:The Truth: God has God has never allowed never allowed anyoneanyone to endure suffering as to endure suffering as great as He has great as He has willingly taken on willingly taken on himself.himself.

Aslan is not a tame lion.

“ “You know that every You know that every traitor belongs to me as traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have for every treachery I have a right to a kill.” a right to a kill.” “I do not deny it,” Aslan said.

““Please—Aslan,” Please—Aslan,” said Lucy, “can said Lucy, “can anything be done anything be done to save Edmund?”to save Edmund?”

“All shall be done,” said Aslan. “But it may be harder than you think.” And then he was silent again for some time.

The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him.

Luke 22:63-65

“Are you not going to answer?”….But Jesus remained silent.

Matthew 26:62-63

Between them Between them they rolled the huge Lion over on his back and tied all his four paws together, shouting and , shouting and cheering as if they had done something cheering as if they had done something brave, though, brave, though, had the Lion chosen, one of those paws could have been the death of them all. But he made no noise, even when the enemies, , even when the enemies, straining and tugging, straining and tugging, pulled the cords so tight that they cut into his flesh.

“He is worthy of death.”…Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”

[They] came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.…he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Matthew 26:66-68; 27:1-2

Then they began to drag Aslan towards the stone table. The Witch said, “Let him first be shaved.” Another roar of mean laughter went up from her followers….

Why, he’s only a great cat after all!” cried one. “Is that what we were afraid of?” said another. And they surged round Aslan, jeering at him, saying “How many mice have you caught today, Cat?”

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head.

Matthew 27:27-31Matthew 27:27-31

“Muzzle him!” said the Witch. And even now, as they worked about his face putting on the muzzle, one bite from his jaws would have cost two or three of them their hands. But he never moved.

…for a few minutes the two girls could not even see him—so thickly was he surrounded by the whole crowd of creatures kicking him, hitting him, spitting on him, jeering at him.

They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:29-31

They dragged the bound and muzzled Lion to the Stone Table, some pulling and some pushing.

He was so huge that even when they got him there it took all their efforts to hoist him on to the surface of it. Then there was more tying and tightening of cords.

The Witch bared her arms, then began to whet her knife…

Had the Lion chosen, one of those paws could have been the death of them all.

One bite from his jaws would have cost two or three of them their hands. But he never moved.

“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”

Matthew 26:53

Ask yourself:Ask yourself:

Can you honestly look at this Can you honestly look at this God who became the suffering God who became the suffering Savior and Savior and fault him for his lack fault him for his lack of compassionof compassion or understanding or understanding of those who suffer? of those who suffer?

Can you accuse Him of Can you accuse Him of staying staying at a distanceat a distance and and not doing not doing enoughenough to deal with evil and to deal with evil and suffering?suffering?

Christ chose to give himself over to death Christ chose to give himself over to death to save us. Then to save us. Then he restrained himself from he restrained himself from stopping the stopping the worst injusticeworst injustice and and worst evilworst evil and and worst sufferingworst suffering of history: on himself. of history: on himself. (All for us.)(All for us.)

If we remember this, we’ll If we remember this, we’ll alwaysalways be be grateful, grateful, nevernever resentful, regardless of what resentful, regardless of what we suffer. we suffer. No more spirit of entitlement. No No more spirit of entitlement. No more whining.more whining.

Because of our sins Because of our sins we we deserve an eternity in Helldeserve an eternity in Hell. .

Because of his love and Because of his love and sacrifice, sacrifice, he offers us an he offers us an eternity in Heaveneternity in Heaven. .

Thanks to Jesus, we will Thanks to Jesus, we will nevernever get what we deserve. get what we deserve.

To meditate on Thanksgiving week:To meditate on Thanksgiving week:

““Give thanks in all circumstancesGive thanks in all circumstances, for this is , for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:181 Thessalonians 5:18

We are never grateful for what we think We are never grateful for what we think we’re entitled to. We are only bitter when it’s we’re entitled to. We are only bitter when it’s taken from us. taken from us.

If God can bring If God can bring the single the single greatest goodgreatest good in history, in history, human redemption, out of human redemption, out of the single most horrible the single most horrible eventevent in human history, the in human history, the crucifixion of Jesus…crucifixion of Jesus…

Can he also use the suffering Can he also use the suffering of his persecuted people—of his persecuted people—and and ourour suffering—for good?suffering—for good?