The paradox, of persecution

October 2, 2011
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GRAB YOUR BIBLES Acts 8:1-5
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Today my message is going to be about “Persecution”...and our victory over it!
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LETS READ THE TEXT Acts 8:1-5
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THE PARADOX, OF PERSECUTION
A paradox....is a self-contradictory statement or proposition:
And this statement......sums up “Christian persecution” pretty will:
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Yes.....they can persecute a Christian: But they can’t hurt them!
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V.1A “And Saul was consenting unto his death.”
-THE WAY MOST PEOPLE....FEEL ABOUT CHRISTIANS-
(They would like to see us dead
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Now this is not talking about...those Christians:
Who are “Christian”....in name only:
And who...look and act...just like the world!
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The world doesn’t mind them a bit!
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But this is talking about....those Christians:
Who are truly born again:
And who.....are being used by God to minister:
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Always going around telling people are Jesus!
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-THE REASON.....PEOPLE HATE THIS ABOUT US-
➀ 1/3 of the population doesn’t want to change:
(So they don’t like us trying to change them
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➁ 1/3 of the population doesn’t want others to change:
(Because it will make them look bad
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➂ But about 1/3 of the population are willing to change:
(So they don’t mind us all that much.)
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V.1B “And at that time there was a great persecution”
“against the church which was at Jerusalem;”
-WHAT THIS HATRED......WILL ALWAYS LEAD TO-
(Great persecution.....against the Church
Because “the Church” ....is the only organism:
That God uses to change the world!
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-OUR TIME.....WILL BE HERE SOON-
We in America...have not experienced this yet:
But Christians all over the world have:
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And it is coming to America!
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V.1C “and they were all scattered abroad”
-WHERE PERSECUTION.....WILL LEAD MOST CHRISTIANS-
(Those who put the Lord first
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They will pull up stakes...and move:
Just like the patriarchs did:
This is why they lived in tents:
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But the other Christians.....
Are kind of like Lot’s wife:
Who love this world too much....to leave it!
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So they well....compromise their faith:
In order to....get along with the world!
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V.1D “throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria,”
-THE ROUTE.....THAT MOST CHRISTIANS WILL TAKE-
(Moving....just out of trouble’s reach
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But they will continue.....peaching Jesus:
Therefore...they will have to move again & again!
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Unless the Lord....has other plans for them!
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V.1E “except the apostles.”
-SOME CHRISTIANS....WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE-
(Because the Lord...has a higher calling for them
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Qt. Hebrews 11:35
“Women received their dead raised to life again:
and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance;
that they might obtain a better resurrection:”
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Those Christians who have their eyes on eternity:
May be led.....to stay right where they are:
And face the music:
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For a “a better resurrection”!
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V.2 “And devout men carried Stephen [to his burial],”
“and made great lamentation over him.”
-THE WAY SOME CHRISTIANS.....WILL FEEL ABOUT THIS-
(They will weep and mourn over them
But they shouldn’t:
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God makes it clear.....that we should not:
Sorrow....as those who have no hope......
1 Thessalonians 4:13
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
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V.3A “As for Saul,”
-THE MINDSET....OF THOSE WHO ARE HATING US-
(They think.....that they are in the right
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And the religious ones...will think:
That they are doing God.....a great service:
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Therefore....some of them will get saved:
When they hear....our “dying testimonies”!
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V.3B “he made havock of the church,”
-WHERE THE ZEAL OF CHRISTIAN HATRED.....WILL LEAD-
(They will try.....to destroy the Church
But that.....will never happen:
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The Church will be here:
Until “the Lord” takes it out:
At the Rapture.
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Then the world will have....what they always wanted:
A world controlled by the Devil!
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V.3C “entering into every house,”
-THE RIGHTS OF CHRISTIANS.....BEING STRIPPED AWAY-
(We see this already happening...everywhere
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But if you are keeping....your eyes on eternity:
This will just cause you......to rejoice:
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Because the Lord told you.....it was coming:
And you are ready to go....and be with Him!
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-INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE......WHO AREN’T READY TO GO-
If the thought of dying for you faith....bothers you:
Than you need to....ask the Lord “why”!
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V.3D “and haling men and women committed [them] to prison.”
-WHERE MANY CHRISTIANS.....ARE GOING TO END UP-
(In prison
Because the world...just doesn’t want us around:
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But just imagine...the great “prayer meetings”:
That we are going to be having...in prison!
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Kind of like...when they put Paul in prison.....
Acts 16:25
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them.”
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V.4A “Therefore they that were scattered abroad”
-WHERE THE REST....OF THE CHRISTIAN POPULATION WILL GO-
(In accordance....to God’s plan
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They will continue....to evangelize the world:
As truly..... “independent” missionaries:
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This is why...this persecution is a paradox!
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...This world is not my home, I’m just a-pass’n through
My treasures are laid up, some where beyond the blue
The angels beckon me, from heavens open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world any more!...
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V.4B “went every where preaching the word.”
-SOMETHING THAT IS ABOVE....THIS WORLD’S POWER-
(The preaching....of God’s Word
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No matter what the world may do:
God’s Word....will always be preached!
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V.5 “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria,”
“and preached Christ unto them.”
-A PERSONAL EXAMPLE....OF ONE CHRISTIAN’S EXPERIENCE-
(When Philip follow the Lord’s leadership
And went to Samaria...to preach the Gospel:
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Faithful Christians...will be following the Lord’s instructions!
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