Grosey's Messages

The numbers are staggering. Over 365 million Christians face significant persecution and discrimination for their faith, according to Open Doors. 1 in 7 Christians around the world are persecuted worldwide. Last year, almost 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith. Almost 15,000 churches and Christian properties were attacked. Over 4,000 Christians were detained.

The  Pursuit    The Reality of Persecution

Because it's hard to get our mind around numbers, sometimes we need to hear stories, stories like:

Amila, a single mother in Sri Lanka, who is determined to follow Jesus and raise her daughters to know him. When she became a Christian, her husband left them and she moved in with her mother and sister to have help with childcare. She faces hostility and mistreatment from her family, as well as relentless pressure to return to her previous faith.

The wife of a pastor in Laos in Southeast Asia, along with her two children. Her husband had been warned to stop preaching and promoting the gospel, but he refused. On July 23, two men wearing masks parked a motorbike in front of his home. They asked for the pastor's whereabouts from some children who were by the entryway of the house, which he overheard. He went out front and greeted the visitors. They proceeded to shoot him six times.

Or a 19-year-old girl in Uganda, whose father burned her with a hot flat iron and hot water because she had put her faith in Christ.

The numbers are staggering, and the stories are crushing. What would keep these 365 million Christians faithful to Christ in the face of suffering? What will keep us faithful to Christ if we're ever exposed to similar forms of suffering?

Kill us, torture us, condemn us, grind us to dust; your injustice is the proof that we are innocent... The more we are hewn down by you, the more numerous do we become.  The blood of Christians is seed. (Tertullian, Apology 50:13).

A. Personal Insult  when others revile you

So what was their problem? Verse 9 tells us: "I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan."

This church was suffering at the hands of its opponents. The word tribulation can be translated "crushing pressure." They were a church that faced intense pressure from opponents who wanted to destroy them.

What was the nature of the pressure? Slander, particularly from the Jewish community. It seems that the Jewish community in Smyrna wasn't very excited about the presence of Christians in the city. Romans had come to an understanding with Jews. Generally speaking, they wanted every people group to worship Roman gods. They had come to accept that this was a no-deal for Jews, who would rather die than stop worshiping the Lord. No other group had that exemption. It may be that the Jewish community exposed the Christians and said, "Look! They're not worshiping the Roman gods, and they're not one of us!" They slandered the Christians, which resulted in their persecution.

And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8:1b).

 

 

B. Physical Abuse and persecute you

This is not a benign persecution. Behind this persecution, Jesus says, is Satan himself.

Not only that, but Jesus tells them that things may get worse. Jesus says in verse 10, "Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death…" Imagine hearing that! Jesus doesn't give them assurances that things are going to get better. Instead, he tells them that things may actually get worse. Some of them were going to be imprisoned. Some of them could expect to die for their faith in Jesus.

Here's the thing we need to realize. At some point, we may experience persecution. The fact that we have not yet experienced this kind of persecution is a blessing, but not a guarantee. There may be a time in which we are called to join the 365 million Christians around the world who are suffering high levels of persecution for their faith.

Remember what happened to Paul? He got pursued from city to city. He was nearly stoned to death a few times.

2 Tim 3:10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra---which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Christianity versus Rome                A Conflict of Culture

The Roman military personnel were required to swear oaths to the emperor,

 

2 Corinthians 11: far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.28

C. Social Stigma    and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account

Cut off from work. Cut off from trade. Cut off from government. Left out for death.

The Persuasion for Persecution   The Reason for Persecution.

The second part of verse 11, "...because you are My followers." The fact is, the right reason for harassment is… "No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also." (John 15:20).

A. The Life We Live   for righteousness' sake

we are "a peculiar people." (1Peter 2:9) And, this world doesn't like peculiar people. It doesn't say we're odd. Now, I know some of us are odd, but that isn't what peculiar means. It means that we are different. We're children of light;; they're children of darkness. We live by faith; they live by sight. We understand them;; they don't understand us. We are salt, and salt stings and irritates. We are light, and light reveals.

A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest and happiest when he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible and knows that which passeth knowledge."― A.W. Tozer, The Root of the Righteous

1 Peter 4: 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something st range were happening to you.13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?18 And "If the righteous is scarcely saved,  what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

I heard of a lady who called her Husband on the car phone.

He was an elderly man. He'd gone Aldi. She said, "Now, Herbert, I've just listened to the news, and there is a crazy man on the expressway going the wrong way. Be careful."

He said, "One crazy man going the wrong way? They're all going the wrong way!"

When you stop being in collusion with the devil, you will find yourself being in collision with him.

B. The Lord We Love   on my account

John15: 18"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.19 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.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.21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also.24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'

 

Tertullian said that attendance at the Roman circus and theater was the equivalent to sacrificing to false gods.                  Roman religious tolerance vs Christianity's Exclusive claims.

Imperial cult    Reflected in our calendar  July (Julius Caesar)  August (Octavius Augustus)

Alexander the Great        Later Greek rulers

Octavius Augustus  Greek:  Huios tou Theou    Priene Inscription:  "…the birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning of glad tidings [euangelion] for the world…"

Nero : Great Fire of Rome: 64 A.D.      Christians charged with atheism

Torture:   Crucifixion       Torn by animals       Burning        Dragged to death

"They were clad in the hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed."  Tacitus, Annals 15:33

Polycarp 156 AD "Eighty-six years have I been His servant, and He hath done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?"

Justin Martyr 100-165 AD   Gentile pagan who grew up in Shechem   Became a Christian Started a school in Rome Beheaded for refusal to sacrifice to Roman gods  "The holy martyrs glorifying God betook themselves to the customary place, where they were beheaded and consummated their martyrdom confessing their Saviour."

Diogenetes  They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life (4).    Do you not see them exposed to wild beasts, that they may be persuaded to deny the Lord, and yet not overcome? Do you not see that the more of them are punished, the greater becomes the number of the rest? This does not seem to be the work of man: this is the power of God; these are the evidences of His manifestation (7).

The Promises in Persecution

A.   You Reign in Life    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 2:9: "I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan."

Jesus knows. Imagine how this church must have felt hearing this letter read out to them. Imagine them hearing the rebuke to Ephesus, and wondering what Jesus might say to them as they faced crushing pressure. And then imagine hearing him say, "I know." And he did, because Jesus knew what it was like to suffer. He'd been there too. We serve a Saviour who suffered and died for us to save anyone who comes to him from their sins. Jesus not only suffered; Jesus had died, which is why Jesus says, "The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life" (2:8).

And so when Jesus says, "I know," he really means he knows because he's been through suffering and persecution too.

Jesus stands among his churches. In Revelation 1:13, we read that Jesus stands among the seven golden lampstands, which represent the seven churches. Jesus stands among his church.

This should bring comfort to every church. Jesus knows.

Friends, Jesus knows us at Hope. He knows everything about it. Why? Because we are His church, and He stands among us. He cares more about this church than any of us do. Whatever we go through, we can always count on the fact that He knows, and He cares.

Jesus stands with us.

2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Your suffering will be Rewarded  "for your reward is great in heaven"

 (Rev 2:10-11). "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death."

If this life is all that there is, suffering makes no sense. But this life isn't all there is. Those who endure suffering will receive the crown of life. Jesus uses the image of the laurel wreath that was given to those who finished the race. If we are faithful, we will receive a crown that can't wither or fade. We will receive eternal life itself, an eternal reward that outweighs any suffering we can experience now.

And we won't be hurt by the second death. Nobody can escape the first death unless Jesus comes back first. We all will physically die. But those who trust Jesus and endure to the end will escape the second death, the spiritual death.

Friends, our sufferings in this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). "This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

What does Jesus say to the persecuted church? Indeed, what does he say to every Christian who may be called upon to suffer for him? When persecuted, take courage because Jesus knows, Satan is limited, and your suffering will be worth it.

B.  You Can Rejoice in the Lord   Rejoice and be glad

 Rejoice over it.

v. 12 "Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad."

He's not saying rejoice in the pain. He says, When people put you down for your faith – not because you're obnoxious or being pushy, but because you're being like Jesus, which means you'll be different - He says don't complain, celebrate.

Why should you rejoice?

1) It means that God's Spirit can be seen in my life.  If it couldn't be seen in your life nobody would be harassing you. It's an indication that people can see Jesus in your life. I Peter 4:14 "If you are insulted because of Christ, you are blessed, ... for God's Spirit rests on you."

If they outlawed Christianity, would there be enough evidence to convict you? If you were put on trial for being a Christian, could they prove it? Or would it just be circumstantial evidence?

2) It means God can trust me.

The Bible teaches that when you are being persecuted, harassed, it means that God can trust you with it.

Acts 5:41 "The apostles were full of joy that God considered them worthy to suffer disgrace for Jesus' name."  "considered them worthy".  We Christians in Australia know so little about persecution. We have it so easy. Yet around the world, thousands of Christians are martyred everyday.

3) It is only temporary.

2 Cor. 4:17 (Living Bible) "These troubles won't last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God's richest blessing upon us forever and ever!"

Look at it from an eternal perspective. When you get an eternal perspective all of a sudden all the cars don't matter. It's all going to burn up at the judgement. What is going to last is how I used my life now for the 70+years, then I get to reap the rewards for millions of years. You will spend far more time on that side of eternity than you will on this side of eternity. Make your life count.

Remember my reward.

v. 12 "Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward [not average, great] is your reward in heaven."  There are special honors reserved for those who experience persecution. Jesus says you are in good company: Apostles, Elijah etc. There are going to be degrees of reward in heaven. We're not all going to be the same.

Remain faith-full. 1Peter 4:19 "So those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."

Remain faithful, persevere in doing what's right. People can laugh at you until hell freezes over but it can't stop you unless you let it. A laugh never destroyed anybody. A put down never destroyed anybody. A rejection never destroyed anybody. Unless you let it.  The Apostle Paul was absolutely unstoppable. Nothing could stop the guy. In Acts he says, "I'm going to go back to Jerusalem." They said, "Don't you know there is a group in Jerusalem that have committed themselves to killing you. They've taken a vow before God that they're going to kill you if you come there." He said, "Big deal! A guy's got to die sometime. I'm going to Jerusalem."

Diognetes  "They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life (4). Do you not see them exposed to wild beasts, that they may be persuaded to deny the Lord, and yet not overcome? Do you not see that the more of them are punished, the greater becomes the number of the rest? This does not seem to be the work of man: this is the power of God; these are the evidences of His manifestation (7).

2. At what cost would you stay faithful to Christ? What could cause me to deny my faith?

Most of us are not worried about persecution. It's convenience. If it's not convenient I don't want to do it.  "I want to thank you for braving the heat today."

3. How many people know you're a Christian? How many people at work know you're a believer? Not that you go to church. How many of them know what you believe? Big difference. There are a lot of church goers. The number one reason that people don't witness is the fear of rejection.

Law Grace reading Revelation 2:8-11

Bible reading: Matthew 5:1-12.     

Doxology   Numbers 6:24-26    The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.