PERSECUTED? FEARFUL? TAKE COURAGE!
Thank you for joining us. Our study today is important for the time in which we live. I pray the Lord will give personal revelation and enlightenment of His Word. Eric
In our modern times, just as in the early church, our exercising and living out our Christian faith requires courage. Jesus faced constant challenges and persecution from the Jewish religious leaders, the High Priests, Sadducees, Pharisees, Herodians and even the people from His own town.
Our stand for Christ, in these last days before His return, will be challenged by society, government, those who hold to different beliefs and those who are following after the world. All of the persecution believers face comes from satan and those who follow after him and do not live by Christian standards.
Satan’s plan for all believers is to destroy their faith in Jesus and have them worship himself. Satan knows that his time is short and will do all he can to destroy the believer’s faith and end their life as well, if possible. (John 10:10). The devil’s desire is that none would come to a restored relationship with Christ. He does not want us to gain the inheritance Christ has provided for believers - eternal life with God!
1 Timothy 6:12 reads, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” The phrase, “‘fight the good fight’ emphasizes the Christian life as a spiritual battle. The imagery of fighting suggests perseverance and struggle against spiritual adversaries.” (Bible Hub Study Bible). The ‘good fight of faith’ means it is valuable, it’s worth the effort! The ‘fight of faith’ is not a physical battle. Our enemy is not flesh and blood, but powers and principalities in the spirit realm. The battle takes place as we align our lives with the values and teaching of Jesus. It is a battle that we engage in to maintain and defend the Christian doctrine and our personal belief in Jesus Christ. When we accept Christ, we are assured of our promise of eternal life. Our eternal life begins when we become believers.
“When we become Christians, we are born on a battlefield. Our choice is not whether we want to enter into a conflict, rather, war has already been declared against us. Our only choice is whether we want to be trampled by the enemy or learn to fight and win.” (Chuck Pierce).
It takes courage to fight this spiritual battle. John 15:18-22 reveals, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.” In verse 18, ‘hate’ means: detest, to hate and pursue with hatred. In verse 20, a ‘servant’ refers to one who willingly offers obedience, devotion and loyalty to another. It is the principle of humility and submission which Jesus exemplified in his relationship with the Father. By extension that is the model we have for the relationship we are to have with the Father.
“Godless secular society is hostile toward Christ and His followers, simply because Christian standards are in opposition to the world’s system.” (Textual notes NSFLB)
Jesus revealed in John 16:33a and b that in Him we may have peace. The peace Jesus offers is not the absence of conflict, but a deep, abiding sense of well-being and assurance found only in Him. “Our peace is rooted in the relationship we have with Christ.” (Textual notes NSFLB).
In the world, we will have tribulation. ‘Tribulation’ thlepsis in this verse, means: pressure, oppression, stress, anguish, adversity, affliction and distress. “Thlepsis is like spiritual bench-pressing.” (Word Wealth NSFLB).
Many churches throughout the world face tremendous persecution. They have bravely faced the hatred and evil of the world.
At this time, believers in the Western world are beginning to experience more persecution from members of our society, which is rapidly being influenced by anti-Christian thinking. Many of us have been thrust into fighting against or holding back the ungodly beliefs that are increasing in our communities and states. The Govenor of the state we live in has proclaimed that he “desires to make our state the abortion capital of the world.’ Yes, the battle here has intensified.
Many western nations once considered ‘Christian’ are no longer following the tenets of faith presented to us in Scripture. Even many churches are falling away (abandoning) the truth of God’s Word.
When God’s people have faced times of grave danger and great trouble and were fully engaged in battle, God’s prophets, leaders and Jesus encouraged them to be courageous.
Jesus told His followers that in Him they would have peace. And yet, Jesus surely understood the influence of sin in the world, the opposition to God and the challenges that would come to those who have chosen or will choose to follow Him. Read what He told His disciples, “But take courage; I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33). Jesus was also aware that the courage He was speaking of wouldn’t come from them. This courage is empowered by faith in Him and the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Deuteronomy 31:6 reads, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." ‘Strong’ hisqu in the Hebrew means: courageous, strengthen, mighty, valiant, and to be resolute. ‘Courageous’ means: brave, alert, bold, determined, strong, of good courage, established, steadfastly minded, and resolute. In Bible Hub, Topical Lexicon, courageous means: to be emboldened which depicts having an inner fortitude granted or commanded by God and then expressed in decisive action! Do not be ‘afraid’ means: do not fear, dread, be terrified or frightened. The Israelites were entering a time in their lives where they were going into battle and would be facing many enemies. Could they rise above their fear and being afraid? Yes, they could! Why? The end of the verse reads, ”for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” “The call to strength and courage is not based on human ability, but on trust in God’s promises and presence. It takes faith and reliance on God in the face of daunting challenges.” (Bible Hub Study Bible).
We can trust in God’s sovereignty over circumstances. God’s presence is with us - we have the Holy Spirit and Jesus living inside us! (Matthew 28:20). The presence of God ensures victory and guidance. God has made an unwavering commitment to His children (believers) that regardless of circumstances, His presence is with us!
We see this word again in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Take note, that is a command from God and remember, whatever He commands or calls you to do - He equips! Our obedience to His commands is vital. “This command (to be strong and courageous and to not be afraid or discouraged) includes our rejection of fear and discouragement through the exercise of our faith.” (trusting God’s power and faithfulness). (Bible Hub Study Bible).
“The average believer tends to doubt or fear the prospect of receiving dominion over the dark powers of the enemy.” (Kingdom Dynamics NSFLB). Everyone feels afraid at times. However, faith can turn fear into trust. We must choose to trust in the Lord. We set our eyes on Him and remind ourselves that He is greater than anything we fear. “Fear is not condemned in Scripture but is presented as an opportunity to turn to God.” (Bible Hub Study Bible). Psalm 56:3 exhorts us that, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You!” To trust, batach in the Greek means to have confidence, to be bold, be secure and to feel safe. Our trust is not in our own ability but in the faithfulness of God.
Isaiah 41:10 is an amazing verse! “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ‘Fear’ in this verse means, be afraid, dread, be terrified. ‘Dismayed’ means dismay or feel anxiety. The Lord again encourages us with the knowledge that He is with us. He proceeds to assure us that He is our God. This emphasizes the personal relationship He enables us to have with Himself. Then, He gives us His promises: I will ‘strengthen’ (make strong, brave and bold) you. I will ‘help’ (support, protect and surround) you. I will ‘uphold’ (grasp, hold and support) you. When He promises to strengthen, help and uphold us, it is a promise that we will not be overwhelmed by circumstances. God not only has an unwavering commitment to His people but, His help is active! His ‘right hand’ is an instrument of deliverance!
Our sure hope comes from the victory that came about by Jesus’ triumph over sin, death and satan. We know we share this victory because of the truth presented to us in Romans 8:37, through Christ we are “more than conquerors!”
In John 16:33c we read, “But take courage; I have overcome the world.” ‘Courage' tharseite means: “to be bold or emboldened, showing boldness, to have confidence and to be unafraid. It refers to God bolstering the believers, empowering them with a bold inner-attitude. It means to be bolstered within which supports unflinching courage.” (HELPS Word studies).
Many of our brothers and sisters who are facing extreme persecution are armed with the courage which they receive from God, Who has overcome the world. When any of us begin to face severe persecution, He will arm us with that same courage!
Praise God!
Be courageous!
Take courage!
Our inheritance and the promises we have from God are absolutes and if we have to resist to the point of losing our life, I pray we will have the same courage and mindset as the Apostle Paul as revealed in 2 Corinthians 4:16a, “Therefore, do not lose heart…17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
All Scripture is taken from the New International Version.