CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL November 4, 2021. (THE REALITIES OF PERSECUTION)
TOPIC: THE REALITIES OF PERSECUTION
Read 2 Corinthians 11:22-23
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
MEMORISE: Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often (2 Corinthians 11:23)
EXPOSITION
Many Christ’s followers nowadays think persecution is dead! They say so, maybe they are relatively ‘comfortable’ in preaching their Christian faith. The truth is, every child of God should expect persecution (Phil. 1:29). The day you declared your total allegiance to Christ, the devil began raising fierce battle against you. Jesus was persecuted during His earthly ministry. He was scourged, afflicted, and eventualy crucified in the most brutal manner.
His followers must be ready for it since we are not of the world. Of course, His early disciples suffered different forms of persecutions – beatings, imprisonment, killing in the most inhumane forms, afflictions of different measures, etc. yet they never compromised their faith!
Paul Apostle, who himself was a former chief persecutor of the early Church, was not spared after his conversion from Judaism to Christianity. The life and ministry of this man of God was dotted with series of persecutions – imprisonment, beatings, afflictions, shipwreck, snakebites, hunger, and his eventual beheading.
He told Timothy that doing the will of Christ attracts tribulations. However, the good news is that the trial of your faith eventually brings joy (Jas. 1:2-3).
Dear devout, in what area are you facing persecution in your family, among your co-workers, in the community, in the hands of constituted authority, or even the church? For choosing to stand out for God, be ready for it! The three Hebrews were threatened by Nebuchadnezzar but they never bulged. Just ensure that you are not a criminal (1 Pet. 4:12-19).
Face that persecution with boldness in the Holy Spirit. Don’t compromise your stand for the Lord! God sees it. Don’t disappoint Him! Fathers and mothers of faith did suffer for the Gospel’s sake. Be joyful that you are a partaker of Christ’s suffering that would qualify you for reigning with Him in His indescribable glory. Anyhow persecution comes, our Emmanuel is always around. Stay unmoved.
PRAYER POINTS
1. O Lord, help me to see persecution with Your own eyes, so that I can please You in it, and receive the blessings following it.
2. I will come out of the fire of persecution that the Lord would take me through gloriously, in Jesus’ name.
3. Pray for Christians in Gospe-unfriendly zones of the world, that they would receive God’s grace to withstand persecutions.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Jer. 23:7 – 25:19; 2 Tim. 4:13 – 4:22; Titus 1:1 – 1:11
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!
