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“Lead us NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT . . . “ “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (II Tim.3:12) Matthew 5:10-13;43-45: Jesus said: “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 manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth; but if salt loses it flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then god for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” “You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to them those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. That you may be sons of your Father which is in Heaven: for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” Adrian Rogers – Notes* “Suffer for righteousness sake” (to divide) “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you for the Spirit of glory and God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none o you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” (I Pet.4:14-16) Pursue = persecute REASON – Lifestyle we show, lies we suffer, Lord we serve. John 15:19-22: Jesus says: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 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 would keep yours also. But all things will they do to you for My names sake. Because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.” “Suffer for righteousness sake” RESULTS – Personal insults, Physical injury (intimidation), Social injustice REACT – Reign in life. “Kingdom” living, Rejoice in the Lord. “Reward in Heaven”, Release Love, Treat others as Jesus treats me. Martyr and Witness (the same Greek word) Stephen – “Lay not this sin to their charge.” Jesus – “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”
