Regarding persecution

Acts 13:13~48 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. (44~45)

♬ Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #543 Simply Trusting Every Day (#342 in previous version)

Why do we face hardships, crises and persecution in our lives? Most people give in to or try to avoid persecution or simply follow the crowd. As they do so, they are taken aback, become confused, lose hold of the truth and are robbed of the blessings that they must relay to the future generations. If we are indeed God’s children and evangelists, then it is necessary for us to find the clear answer from the Bible with respect to our perspective on problems and attitude in the face of persecution. The Bible calls those who are persecuted because of the Gospel, ‘blessed.’

1. Path of blessings, path of curses

A life standing on the path of blessings and not on the path of curses is a blessed life. The Jewish people hindered the Gospel and consequently found themselves on the path of curses. It appears as though the people of the Early Church faced persecution and were put to death, but they were essentially standing on the path of blessings. If so, we must not fear hardships or sufferings but search for and enjoy the blessings that God has bestowed upon us. Within the method by which God leads and blesses His people and accomplishes His covenant, persecution always followed. In the midst of it all, God displays His power and enables us to experience it. If we know God’s plan and change our views on problems, the path on which we, as evangelists, are walking in the midst of persecution will turn into the path of blessings.

2. Covenantal persecution

The problem of people opposing the Gospel will continue until the end of the age. If so, then those who are persecuted because of the Gospel are the true people of God. Because the Early Church held on to the accurate Gospel, they were utterly fearless in the face of persecution and hardships. This is the fight that we must fight. Therefore, persecution is the pathway of blessings as well as the means to fulfill God’s covenant.

3. Persecution is ‘temporary,’ answers are ‘eternal’

The people of faith recorded in the Bible and church history are those who aligned their direction with God’s. Though they were persecuted, they are the people who received eternal answers. We, too, may face problems and hardships, but we must be able to see the blessings that God bestows upon His children. This is the filling of the Holy Spirit. It is this extraordinary power, namely the power that God gives to us through the Word of God, that enables us to overcome our limitations. We just need to enter into this unseen yet real, substantial power, not the power that the world offers.

Forum Topic

Are you confident that you are standing on the path of fundamental blessings in your life? If so, trust that problems, crises, persecution and hardships are platforms of blessings and make a resolution to live your day today within the power of the Holy Spirit!

Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 1st Service / 2013.8.18