DOCTRINE: If you, believer, labor to glorify Christ in word and deed, you will be persecuted for Christ’s sake, and you must endure.

I. SAINTS WHO LABOR TO GLORIFY CHRIST IN WORD AND DEED WILL BE PERSECUTED FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE (1 Corinthians 4:12c)

3 FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS CONCERNING PERSECUTION (QUICKLY)

I) Paul persecuted believers before God saved him (Acts 22:4, 26:11).

Acts 22:4 “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,”

II) Paul experienced persecution for Christ’s sake (1 Corinthians 4:12c).

III) Christ Himself was persecuted (John 5:16).

John 5:16 (after He healed a man at the pool of Siloam on the Sabbath) “And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.”

4 SOBERING TRUTHS CONCERNING PERSECUTION
I) All of you who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).

2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. . .”

II) Christ promised that you would be persecuted if you belong to Him (John 15:20).

John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

III) False teachers avoid persecution by avoiding the offense of the cross and telling people they can be justified by their works (Galatians 6:12).

Galatians 6:12 “It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.”

IV) False Christians will avoid persecution at all costs (Matthew 13:20-21).

Matthew 13:20-21 “20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”

2 COMFORTING TRUTHS CONCERNING PERSECUTION

I) When you are persecuted, you are not forsaken (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 “8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”

II) When you are persecuted, Christ takes it as if He Himself is persecuted (Acts 9:4-5).

Acts 9:4-5 “4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

3 DIRECTIONS CONCERNING PERSECUTION

I) When you are persecuted, you must bless those who persecute you (Romans 12:14).

Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”

II) You must pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44).

Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

III) When you are persecuted, rejoice because your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:10-12).

10-Matt.5.12" class="scriptRef">Matthew 5:10-12 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Q. Why are you blessed when you are persecuted? A. Persecution is one of the main tools Christ providentially uses to scrape the love of the world off our souls, in order to get us rejoicing for heaven.