Bearing Up Under Persecution
January 19, 2014
Bearing Up Under Persecution.... Bro Enginger, New Aubern
Imagine needing to go through woods, it is challenging. but on the other side is the ocean with a ship that is going to take you to a better place. you have to endure getting through the woods, you are bound to get injured along the way. but it will be worth it when you get to the other side.
2 Tim 3:12... those desiring to live with Godly devotion.. will experience persecution...
We all have at some point experienced persecution, we may not have realized it.
& 11... I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me through these all....
What type of persecution have I faced and why?
Mark 10: 29 & 30... no one has left brother or sister or ... will receive more... and received ever lasting life...
even now, we may have left family but gained millions of brother and sisters worldwide.
persecution takes a variety of forms. some are verbal. students, teachers, workmates, in the ministry.. everywhere we go, when we are given a hard time, that is a form a persecution. it can even come from family members.
1 Pet 2:23... when he was being insulted, he did not insulted in return...
Jesus set the perfect example. when we are persecuted, we need to return in kindness.
...it puts under computation... the name of the wild beast...
it is already happening where the economic pressures can persecute us... having to have a political card. Government can take our homes if they choose.
Paul often went without food, clothing, shelter.
Heb 10:34... you have a better enduring possession.
Persecution also involves physical abuse. Some of our brothers and sisters have died. But, many of us won't ever be tortured or put to death.
Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow. so we don't want to become overly stressed.
83' WT... continued to approach Jehovah daily when persecuted. Stephen was courageous and serine. But he had the face of a confident angle. He knew he was going to die, but he was able to pray to Jehovah and have comfort.
1 John 5:4... everyone borne from God has conquered the world...
1982 WT... the real investigator of our persecution is the Devil. Satan puts potholes in front of us to weaken us, and cause us to give up.
Why does he do this? it stems back to the garden of Eden, and he wanted his own followers.
Jehovah has asked each one of us to prove Satan a liar. When we are persecuted, we are helping Jehovah by not giving up. Jesus being the King of God's kingdom, it also involves him.
Perhaps we know people who have faithfully worshiped Jehovah for 80 years or more. Or those who have just begun. How sad to give up now.
Some give up because of weaknesses of faith. When trials expose weaknesses, it is the time to recognize those weaknesses, and then fortify them.
We might be verbally abused, but we endured it and continued on. That too shows us, we are able to endure and assure us we know we can endure it again.
We have so much info to read from, that is there to help us. We have conventions, meetings and assemblies to help spiritually enlighten us. We also have the ministry work, family worship and personal study that also helps us to strengthen us. Plus we have numerous examples recorded in the Bible as well as modern day examples that comfort and strengthen us to endure.
1 Joh 5:14 & 15... no matter that what we ask according to his will... he will hear us...
Jehovah also provides his own holy spirit to help us to endure.
That boat is going to take us to paradise. Do we see ourselves running through those woods? Getting on that boat? Being in that paradise.
1 Pet 5:10... after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness.. will finish your training...he will make us strong...
We are not there yet, but we can smell the ocean.
***************************WT
Seven Shepherds, Eight Dukes - What They Mean For Us Today
Mic 5:5... We shall also have to raise up against him seven shepherds, yes, eight dukes of mankind
How did Hezekiah, Isaiah, Micah and the princes of Jerusalem prove to be fine shepherds in the eight century B.C. E.?
Hezekiah was a spiritual man. His first act as king was to reestablish pure worship and reinforce the nations' frayed relationship with Jehovah. He understood God's will for him and acted decisively. He placed his trust in Jehovah. He along with Isaiah and Micah gathered the people and encouraged them spiritually.
Who correspond to the seven shepherds and eight dukes today? In what ways?
they are the cong elders. as they are spiritual men who shepherd the cong.
What is the most important thing that you can do now to prepare for any future attack on God's people?
1... We need to strengthen our faith in God and help our brothers to do the same.
2... be absolutely convinced that Jehovah will deliver us
3... Be ready to obey ANY instructions we may receive
4... If we are depending on material things and secular education we MUST adjust our thinking
Imagine needing to go through woods, it is challenging. but on the other side is the ocean with a ship that is going to take you to a better place. you have to endure getting through the woods, you are bound to get injured along the way. but it will be worth it when you get to the other side.
2 Tim 3:12... those desiring to live with Godly devotion.. will experience persecution...
We all have at some point experienced persecution, we may not have realized it.
& 11... I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me through these all....
What type of persecution have I faced and why?
Mark 10: 29 & 30... no one has left brother or sister or ... will receive more... and received ever lasting life...
even now, we may have left family but gained millions of brother and sisters worldwide.
persecution takes a variety of forms. some are verbal. students, teachers, workmates, in the ministry.. everywhere we go, when we are given a hard time, that is a form a persecution. it can even come from family members.
1 Pet 2:23... when he was being insulted, he did not insulted in return...
Jesus set the perfect example. when we are persecuted, we need to return in kindness.
...it puts under computation... the name of the wild beast...
it is already happening where the economic pressures can persecute us... having to have a political card. Government can take our homes if they choose.
Paul often went without food, clothing, shelter.
Heb 10:34... you have a better enduring possession.
Persecution also involves physical abuse. Some of our brothers and sisters have died. But, many of us won't ever be tortured or put to death.
Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow. so we don't want to become overly stressed.
83' WT... continued to approach Jehovah daily when persecuted. Stephen was courageous and serine. But he had the face of a confident angle. He knew he was going to die, but he was able to pray to Jehovah and have comfort.
1 John 5:4... everyone borne from God has conquered the world...
1982 WT... the real investigator of our persecution is the Devil. Satan puts potholes in front of us to weaken us, and cause us to give up.
Why does he do this? it stems back to the garden of Eden, and he wanted his own followers.
Jehovah has asked each one of us to prove Satan a liar. When we are persecuted, we are helping Jehovah by not giving up. Jesus being the King of God's kingdom, it also involves him.
Perhaps we know people who have faithfully worshiped Jehovah for 80 years or more. Or those who have just begun. How sad to give up now.
Some give up because of weaknesses of faith. When trials expose weaknesses, it is the time to recognize those weaknesses, and then fortify them.
We might be verbally abused, but we endured it and continued on. That too shows us, we are able to endure and assure us we know we can endure it again.
We have so much info to read from, that is there to help us. We have conventions, meetings and assemblies to help spiritually enlighten us. We also have the ministry work, family worship and personal study that also helps us to strengthen us. Plus we have numerous examples recorded in the Bible as well as modern day examples that comfort and strengthen us to endure.
1 Joh 5:14 & 15... no matter that what we ask according to his will... he will hear us...
Jehovah also provides his own holy spirit to help us to endure.
That boat is going to take us to paradise. Do we see ourselves running through those woods? Getting on that boat? Being in that paradise.
1 Pet 5:10... after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness.. will finish your training...he will make us strong...
We are not there yet, but we can smell the ocean.
***************************WT
Seven Shepherds, Eight Dukes - What They Mean For Us Today
Mic 5:5... We shall also have to raise up against him seven shepherds, yes, eight dukes of mankind
How did Hezekiah, Isaiah, Micah and the princes of Jerusalem prove to be fine shepherds in the eight century B.C. E.?
Hezekiah was a spiritual man. His first act as king was to reestablish pure worship and reinforce the nations' frayed relationship with Jehovah. He understood God's will for him and acted decisively. He placed his trust in Jehovah. He along with Isaiah and Micah gathered the people and encouraged them spiritually.
Who correspond to the seven shepherds and eight dukes today? In what ways?
they are the cong elders. as they are spiritual men who shepherd the cong.
What is the most important thing that you can do now to prepare for any future attack on God's people?
1... We need to strengthen our faith in God and help our brothers to do the same.
2... be absolutely convinced that Jehovah will deliver us
3... Be ready to obey ANY instructions we may receive
4... If we are depending on material things and secular education we MUST adjust our thinking
Posted by Robyn Nelson.
