12 THINGS THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT PERSECUTION
- Persecution for righteousness sake is a blessing.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10–12
- Persecution is inevitable for those who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus.
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” II Timothy 3:12
- God gives us grace not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer (persecution) for His sake.
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” Phillipians 1:29
- Persecution can never separate us from the love of God.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” Romans 8:35
- You should pray for and bless those who persecuted us.
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
- The Holy Spirit will give you what to say when you face persecution.
“When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.” Matthew 10:19
- Remember the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you when you go through persecution.
“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” I Peter 4:14
- There will be rewards for those who suffered loss for righteousness sake.
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30
- God’s grace is sufficient for you to be strong in the midst of persecution.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” II Corinthians 12:9
- Being persecuted is the evidence that you are not of the world.
“If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 5:19
- Enduring persecution is also an example of a church leader. “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.” II Timothy 3:10-11
- Choose the attitude of faith when you are persecuted.
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosened.”’ Acts 16:25-26
