Persecution: Take Care of yourself
You are a valuable commodity
A born again, praying Christian is a very dangerous individual. Do not underestimate the fact that you have God within you. The powers that work against God HATE Christians and constantly wrestle against us.
Ephesians 6:12 warns us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, and against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
In other words, expect opposition when you are speaking out for Christ. We are trying to bring lost souls to Christ, but in fact the powers of darkness led by the devil do not want to release people into the Love of Christ that we seek to bring them into.
Indeed, it is often a ‘good sign’ when we are persecuted, it often means that we are doing exactly the right thing, that God intends us to do.
EXAMPLES As a school teacher, I was once taking a Religious Education lesson with small children. One of them chirped up that his mother did Tarot Cards. I was in the middle of something else, but made a brief comment that I personally did not agree that it was right to do that, and the Bible stated so. I mean, he had declared this to the whole class, and it was an issue to be answered. The next day I was, without being allowed to offer an explanation, told that I would no longer be teaching the class in Religious Education. The Headmistress took my class for four weeks, and in that time, did no useful oral or written religious education whatsoever. She knew I was a Christian, and she was an atheist. That situation continued to deteriorate, and eventually, I had to give up a promoted post in the school and move to another school as things became so unbearable, as did my wife.
On another occasion, I ran a lunch time, voluntary Christian Union, in another school, to which many older pupils came. It grew into a large meeting of about 100 teenagers, many of whom accepted Christ, and enjoyed the lively debates. The Headmaster, one day, called me into his office to advise me he was closing down the Christian Union because it was “too big”. We were prevented from meeting again, and once again, I gave up a promoted post I had worked very hard to earn, at that school, to get away from a difficult situation.
IN THE WORKPLACE think carefully before you speak and act. We have a duty to tell others about Christ. Would this be better done in the lunch break, in our own time, rather than during paid work time? Think carefully and prayerfully about who you evangelise to. Some may use it against you, and make your workplace intolerable. Others may be much helped and grateful for your timely intervention.
We are to be ‘subject to earthly rulers’ - 1 Peter 2:13. If our employer states we may not speak to patients or pupils about God, then we must obey the rules, as the word of God commands us. A voluntary Christian union in the lunch hour is not the same as in the classroom. Visiting a sick patient is not the same as being under your supervision on the ward.
I warn of these things simply because the Enemy has and will continue to persecute people, and at times, there may be a safer way to witness.
I once knew a man who was dismissed from his job because he was a ‘Religious maniac’ in the office. What sort of example is that?
The apostles were very bold in witnessing, and many thousands were added to the Church.
Acts 2:21. The Apostles were out of doors.
However, it was not long before Persecution came along, some were stoned, some sawn in two, some beheaded, for preaching the word.
There are, even today, hundreds of people around the world who are imprisoned for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some Missionaries have been killed for their faith.
One encouraging thought out of all of these facts is this: There is tremendous opposition to the Gospel, motivated by Satanic forces using people.
Conclusion: It is because what we say is true, life changing, and has ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES.
May God bless you in your Christian witness, and let us pray for opportunities to witness wisely and appropriately, and for God to care for us and protect us as we engage in what easily could become “Spiritual Warfare”.
Remain blessed and highly favoured.
Keith Dixon (Mr.)