30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 26-43 THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS 13 Luke 23 34 Not to fear persecution
📖 Luke 23:26-43
Sun 26 Dec 2021 – Not to fear persecution - Luke 23:26-43 - THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (13) - Bible reading: Luke 12:4-5
“Lord Jesus, we thank You that you have shown us that as Your church, we will face persecution. Lord, those who persecute Your church do not understand that You gave Yourself to restore man and all of creation back to You. Lord, we pray that our eyes will be on You at all times. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.”
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
We have been meditating for a few days on why and how the Lord Jesus made that first statement from the cross, which was a prayer, seeking the Father’s forgiveness for those who were hurting Him.
We have been saying that this statement, seems incorrect as the persecutors of Christ did all that they did to Him, with intention and determination.
We have therefore been untying this first word of Jesus from the cross. This understanding changes us as the church, when we face persecution, knowing how we must respond.
Luke 12:4-5 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. (5) But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
People may hurt and even kill our bodies. Our body is temporary and it will go back to dust. By hurting us, physically, they are not causing any harm to us. What we must fear is for our walk with the Lord.
God is the righteous judge and He judges our hearts and our spirits. He knows if we are walking before Him in trust and in obedience. Our fear needs to be toward God, not men.
Revelation 2:10 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.
The Lord is showing us that the church will face challenges. Challenges that may even lead us to death, but we ought not to fear.
This was Apostle Paul’s encouragement to Timothy.
II Timothy 3:10-12 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, (11) 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. (12) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Paul is encouraging Timothy to see and follow his life as an example of how to undergo persecution.
This was how the church in general was being encouraged by the Apostles.
Acts 14:21-22 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, (22) strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, " We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God ."
We see a practical demonstration of this in the lives of these three young men.
Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (17) If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. (18) 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."
They were not afraid of Emperor Nebuchadnezzar nor of his threats. They knew that God could deliver them but they were also prepared that if God did not deliver them from the fiery furnace, they still would not bow to the gods of Babylon. This was the level of their fearlessness.
Nebuchadnezzar was astounded when he saw that the Lord God was with them when he threw these men into the burning fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar had to acknowledge the God of heaven and earth.
We must also know that those who persecute the church will face perdition and the wrath of God. We must therefore pray that they will repent and return to God or else the anger of God on them will burn hot.
Philippians 1:27-30 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, (28) and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. (29) For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, (30) having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
When we are not terrified by persecution, we are making a statement to our opponents that the wrath of God is on them.
II Thessalonians 1:5-7 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; (6) since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, (7) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
When we pray for our enemies, asking God to forgive them for they do not know what they do, we are praying relevantly.
Thought to ponder
Cast all your fears on Jesus and He will make you bold.