How To Protect Yourself Against Persecutions
By Dr.James. A McBean D.Th., MCC
Copyright © 2008 Library of Congress
Washington.D.C.20559
I f a Christian has no knowledge of how to deal with persecution, the enemy will chop he or she down like a rotten log. As a Christian, you will need to wake up and smell the coffee. People cannot do without Christians, but they do not like us. Take the Christians out of the community and see what happens to it! Take the Christians off the job sites and see what happens to it! Take the Christians out of the school system and see what happens to it! Every thing gradually diminished and crumbly likes a dried up leaf.
The Bible predicts that persecution will overtake the Children of God. At the same time it shows us, how to fend it off, make it none affect and even using it to fuel us to reach our intended port. Persecution can drive a victim mad, making you loose jobs, loose your home, and loose your health. Persecution can castrate your character and ruin your reputation beyond repair. Ancient persecution never left, it only went underground. Today there are web sites, established directly for persecution. Recently I came upon a web site that is established to ruin the character of ones neighbors. There are web sites that are not open to the public, but only open to employers. If an employer wants to find out any thing about a prospected employee, he or she can visit that web site to see what other employers have to say about that employee. These files are posted on. “File Servers” You have to be a member of certain clubs to know about these. If an employer really wants to destroy an employee, the employee better has another trade to go practice, because he or she is not going to get another job in that trade.
1 Peter 4:15 (KJV) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 1 Peter 4:16 (KJV) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Why Persecution Arises.
Matthew 13:21 (KJV) Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
2 Tim. 3:12 (KJV) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Christians are persecuted because of two things. (1) Godly living. (2) The word. If you are goodly, and are practicing the word, you are going to be different. In addition, once you are different, you bound to get thrown off the ship.
Where Persecution Arises.
3 John 1:9-10 (KJV) I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. [10] Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
The place of modern persecution is right there in the church where you worship. People are fighting for post in the local churches, and in fighting each other, they are telling lies on each other, ruining each other reputation on purpose. If the lord gives you a ministry, you need to seek how to set up your own ministry outside of the church.
Persecution coming from within the church and racial persecution does not change. You will have to run. That whole generation of people had to died out and a new generation arises, that has different belief system, and does not value those things. Some of the leaders within the church where I got saved, never did like me. I was full of zeal, I would give out ever gospel tracts. They developed a negative image of me because of that. Thirty years later they still feel the same way. Satan live right there in the Church, and is there pretending to be the Holy Spirit.
Rev. 2:13 (KJV) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Run, Run, And Run.
God has some good fighters but, poor runners. Christians do not know when to run, so they stay there and absorbed too much punches. Once you get the feeling that the person around the pulpit or the ruling body of the church has a vague impression of you, it is time to run, because you will never be feed under that ministry are reaches any where in that church.
Matthew 10:23 (KJV) But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Not a cowardly flight, but a wise act to further the gospel. It deprives persecutors of their evil design, and conveys truth to others. If the preacher stayed and was killed he could not help the local flock or start others elsewhere.
Acts 14:5-6 (KJV) And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, [6] They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
An attempt to discredit them and accuse them of sedition so they could be stoned. Aware. They were informed of the plot to stone them so they fled, not from fear, but to live to continue the work
In The Job Market.
The second place where Christians get persecution is in the jobs market. The same seen played out like in the churches. The way to fight this is to develop yourself and become a multitasking person.
1 Thes. 4:11 (KJV) And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
Protecting Your Beliefs System.
Hosea 4:6 (KJV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge,--.
Isaiah 5:13 (KJV) Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
Christians that had bad beliefs systems are easily fall under persecution. Recently I visited a Bible study. They were talking about. “Forgiveness” In their belief system, “Forgiveness” Mean to forget. However, “Forgiveness” Mean to stop feeling angry or resentfully toward (someone) for an offense or mistake. Not to desire recompense. Not to want vengeance. Forgiveness does not mean to forget, if somebody rapes your wife, killed your family, and makes you loose your job, house, and car. Who has the power to forget that? You can stop feeling resentful, and stop-seeking revenge, but to make yourself forget is impossible, only God has the power to do that. One friend hurt me years ago and I followed the bad teaching of forgetting. Some thirty years later, I trusted them again and loose all of my saving. Six months saving wiped out just like that. They screwed me again and screwed me good and laughed. Because! I forget who and what I was dealing with.
Sometime Only Jesus Can Help Us
Acts 4:12 (KJV)Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Romans 5:6 (KJV) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:7 (KJV) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. Romans 5:8 (KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:9 (KJV) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:10 (KJV) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Romans 5:11 (KJV) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Matthew 6:33-AV But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Isaiah 55:6-AV Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Isaiah 55:7-AV Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
The Bearer's Of The "Mind Sword"
