Preparing for Persecution as Culture Clashes With Faith

1
Preparing for Persecution as Culture Clashes
With Faith

• Blessed are those who are persecuted for
  righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of
  heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and
  persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against
  you falsely for My sake. Matthew 510,11

2
Persecution Is Inevitable

• Gods people will always be out of step with the
  direction in which the world chooses to go!

• Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ
  Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 312
• There is a way that seems right to a man, but
  its end is the way of death. Proverbs 1412

3
Examples From the Past

• Joseph in Egypt
• Decisions made using different standards.
• There is no one greater in this house than I,
  nor has he kept back anything from me but you,
  because you are his wife. How then can I do this
  great wickedness, and sin against God? Genesis
  399

4
Examples From the Past

• Daniel in Babylon.
• Decisions made using different standards.
• But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would
  not defile himself with the portion of the king's
  delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank
  therefore he requested of the chief of the
  eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
  Daniel 18

5
Examples From the Past

• Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Babylon.
• Decisions made using different standards.
• But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that
  we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship
  the gold image which you have set up. Daniel
  318

6
Examples From the Past

• Esther in Persia.
• Decisions made using different standards.
• Go, gather all the Jews who are present in
  Shushan, and fast for me neither eat nor drink
  for three days, night or day. My maids and I will
  fast likewise. And so I will go to the king,
  which is against the law and if I perish, I
  perish! Esther 416

7
Examples From the Past

• Early disciples in Rome.
• Decisions made using different standards.
• Do not fear any of those things which you are
  about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to
  throw some of you into prison, that you may be
  tested, and you will have tribulation ten days.
  Be faithful until death, and I will give you the
  crown of life. Revelation 210

8
Present-Day Examples

• Spread of the Muslim religion.
• Decisions made using different standards.
• There is one body and one Spirit, just as you
  were called in one hope of your calling one
  Lord, one faith, one baptism one God and Father
  of all, who is above all, and through all, and in
  you all. Ephesians 44-6

9
Can we accept the idea that one religion is as
good as another?
10
Present-Day Examples

• Discussion of homosexuality.
• Different conclusions different standards.
• For this reason God gave them up to vile
  passions. For even their women exchanged the
  natural use for what is against nature. Romans
  126

11
Present-Day Examples

• Discussion of homosexuality.
• Different conclusions different standards.
• Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use
  of the woman, burned in their lust for one
  another, men with men committing what is
  shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty
  of their error which was due. Romans 127

12
Present-Day Examples

• Discussion of abortion.
• Different conclusions different standards.
• A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed
  innocent blood. Proverbs
  616
• Envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the
  like of which I tell you beforehand, just as I
  also told you in time past, that those who
  practice such things will not inherit the kingdom
  of God. Galatians 521

California
13
Present-Day Examples

• Discussion of creation.
• Different conclusions different starting points.
• For in six days the LORD made the heavens and
  the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and
  rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD
  blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
  Exodus 2011

14
Present-Day Examples

• The womans role.
• Different agendas arrive at different
  conclusions.
• And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have
  authority over a man, but to be in silence.
  1 Timothy 212

15
Present-Day Examples

• The womans role.
• Different agendas arrive at different
  conclusions.
• But I want you to know that the head of every
  man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the
  head of Christ is God.
  1 Corinthians 113

16
Present-Day Examples

• Discussion of humanism.
• Different conclusionsdifferent starting points.
• O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself
  it is not in man who walks to direct his own
  steps. Jeremiah 1023

• We believe, however, that traditional dogmatic
  or authoritarian religions that place revelation,
  God, ritual, or creed above human needs and
  experience do a disservice to the human species.
  Any account of nature should pass the tests of
  scientific evidence in our judgment, the dogmas
  and myths of traditional religions do not do so.

17
Present-Day Examples

• We appreciate the need to preserve the best
  ethical teachings in the religious traditions of
  humankind, many of which we share in common. But
  we reject those features of traditional religious
  morality that deny humans a full appreciation of
  their own potentialities and responsibilities.
  Traditional religions often offer solace to
  humans, but, as often, they inhibit humans from
  helping themselves or experiencing their full
  potentialities.

• Discussion of secular humanism.
• Different conclusionsdifferent starting points.
• There is a way that seems right to a man, But
  its end is the way of death.
  Proverbs 1412

18
What Is Our Answer?

• Hold our ground.
• Do not compromise the faith.
• Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be
  strong.1 Corinthians 1613

19
What Is Our Answer?

• Do not become entangled with the world.
• Do not lose your spiritual compass.
• No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with
  the affairs of this life, that he may please Him
  who enlisted him as a soldier.
  2 Timothy 24

20
What Is Our Answer?

• Trust the Lord.
• Allow His word to guide you.
• So shall My word be that goes forth from My
  mouth It shall not return to Me void, But it
  shall accomplish what I please, and it shall
  prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
  Isaiah 5511

21
What Is Our Answer?

• Never be ashamed.
• Do not become timid or silent.
• What then shall we say to these things? If God
  is for us, who can be against us? He who did not
  spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us
  all, how shall He not with Him also freely give
  us all things. Romans 831,32

our standard
22
What Is Our Answer?

• Do not allow the world to mold you.
• You belong to the Lord!
• And do not be conformed to this world, but be
  transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
  you may prove what is that good and acceptable
  and perfect will of God. Romans 122

23
How Do We Answer?

• Our answers come from God.
• Divine truth is the only answer.
• But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and
  always be ready to give a defense to everyone who
  asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
  with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 315

24
Persecution Takes Many Forms

• There will always be issues.
• The 20th century had its issues during the 21st,
  we will have ours.
• We may not be imprisoned or put to death, but we
  will have trials.
• No matter what the culture determines, our path
  is already decided.

Can God Count on You to
Stand up for Him?