Surviving Persecution II

Extracted Verses and Quotes from the Sermon

Biblical Verses

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in our affliction so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.

Acts 12:2

He killed James the brother of John with the sword.

Acts 2:36

This Jesus whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ.

Acts 5:40

They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Acts 7:54-59

While they were stoning Stephen, he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

Acts 16

Paul and Silas were seized by the owners of a slave girl who had a spirit of divination, because they lost their hope of making money when Paul delivered her.

Acts 19

The silversmiths who made silver shrines for the goddess Artemis were greatly concerned because Paul’s preaching turned people away from their crafts.

Jeremiah 12:6

You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.

Matthew 10:35-36

For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

Proverbs 6:17

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

Matthew 23:12

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

Revelation 12:11

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Matthew 6:25-33

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Luke 12:4-5

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psalm 116:15

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.

Matthew 5:10-12

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Matthew 10:16-18

Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

Matthew 10:32-33

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Matthew 5:13-14

You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Memorable Quotes

Our real enemy is not any human actor or any political ideology but it is Satan himself.

Those who are in the persecuted church have lessons about God’s mercy and consolation that the Free Church can learn from.

Authoritarian governments do not like Christians to be in their midst because Christians bear a higher loyalty than to the state itself.

The most bitter opponents of Jesus were the Jewish religious leaders, not the common people or the Romans.

Business interests often collide with the gospel; when threatened, commercial leaders may persecute Christians.

Satan will attack Christians through family pressure if he cannot attack through rulers, religious leaders, business leaders, or mobs.

When Satan attacks the church from the inside, the church often scatters like sheep without a shepherd.

One way Satan attacks the church from the inside is through pride—when believers think they deserve positions or recognition, it leads to division.

True guilt is when Satan accuses us of real sins, trying to discourage us by making us feel beyond the reach of God’s grace.

False guilt comes when believers wrongly believe that persecution or hardships come because of weak faith or unforgiven sins; this drains spiritual energy.

Fear is a powerful and debilitating attack from Satan, but the best antidote is to choose to praise God, even in the darkest times.

Materialism is the most terrible way Satan attacks the church internally; money and possessions can become destructive masters if they replace God.

95% of believers who face external persecution will pass the test, but 95% who face the test of prosperity will fail it.

When the darkness of persecution gathers, your candle will shine brighter, not because it is brighter, but because of the surrounding darkness.

Character is not formed in times of crisis; it is revealed. Every decision today shapes who we will be tomorrow.

Are you consciously building your life on the teachings of Jesus? If not, that is the open door Satan will use to bring you down from the inside.

How we respond to those who face persecution is an indicator of our response to our Heavenly Father.

You are the light of the world, and in the midst of persecution you are a preserving influence in a dying society.

Other Quotations

Dr. Johan Candlin

Three stages in the process by which countries move from being religiously inclusive and tolerant to persecuting Christians: disinformation, discrimination, and active persecution.

Romanian Church Leader

In my experience, 95% of the believers who face the test of external persecution will pass it, but 95% of the believers who face the test of prosperity will fail it.