Christian Persecution

I TOLD YOU ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE SPEAKING EVIL AGAINST THIS CHURCH

• ELDER SIMON
• ELDER HILMA’S COMPLAINTS

LUKE 21:10-19 “10THEN HE ADDED, “NATION WILL GO TO WAR AGAINST NATION, AND KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM. 11THERE WILL BE GREAT EARTHQUAKES, AND THERE WILL BE FAMINES AND PLAGUES IN MANY LANDS, AND THERE WILL BE TERRIFYING THINGS AND GREAT MIRACULOUS SIGNS FROM HEAVEN.12 “BUT BEFORE ALL THIS OCCURS, THERE WILL BE A TIME OF GREAT PERSECUTION. YOU WILL BE DRAGGED INTO SYNAGOGUES AND PRISONS, AND YOU WILL STAND TRIAL BEFORE KINGS AND GOVERNORS BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FOLLOWERS. 13BUT THIS WILL BE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THEM ABOUT ME. 14SO DON’T WORRY IN ADVANCE ABOUT HOW TO ANSWER THE CHARGES AGAINST YOU, 15FOR I WILL GIVE YOU THE RIGHT WORDS AND SUCH WISDOM THAT NONE OF YOUR OPPONENTS WILL BE ABLE TO REPLY OR REFUTE YOU! 16EVEN THOSE CLOSEST TO YOU—YOUR PARENTS, BROTHERS, RELATIVES, AND FRIENDS—WILL BETRAY YOU. THEY WILL EVEN KILL SOME OF YOU. 17AND EVERYONE WILL HATE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FOLLOWERS. 18BUT NOT A HAIR OF YOUR HEAD WILL PERISH! 19BY STANDING FIRM, YOU WILL WIN YOUR SOULS.

MATH 10:21-25; 31-42 “21 “A BROTHER WILL BETRAY HIS BROTHER TO DEATH, A FATHER WILL BETRAY HIS OWN CHILD, AND CHILDREN WILL REBEL AGAINST THEIR PARENTS AND CAUSE THEM TO BE KILLED. 22AND ALL NATIONS WILL HATE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FOLLOWERS.BUT EVERYONE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED. 23WHEN YOU ARE PERSECUTED IN ONE TOWN, FLEE TO THE NEXT. I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THE SON OF MANWILL RETURN BEFORE YOU HAVE REACHED ALL THE TOWNS OF ISRAEL. 24 “STUDENTSARE NOT GREATER THAN THEIR TEACHER, AND SLAVES ARE NOT GREATER THAN THEIR MASTER. 25STUDENTS ARE TO BE LIKE THEIR TEACHER, AND SLAVES ARE TO BE LIKE THEIR MASTER. AND SINCE I, THE MASTER OF THE HOUSEHOLD, HAVE BEEN CALLED THE PRINCE OF DEMONS,THE MEMBERS OF MY HOUSEHOLD WILL BE CALLED BY EVEN WORSE NAMES!

31SO DON’T BE AFRAID; YOU ARE MORE VALUABLE TO GOD THAN A WHOLE FLOCK OF SPARROWS.

32 “EVERYONE WHO ACKNOWLEDGES ME PUBLICLY HERE ON EARTH, I WILL ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. 33BUT EVERYONE WHO DENIES ME HERE ON EARTH, I WILL ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.

34 “DON’T IMAGINE THAT I CAME TO BRING PEACE TO THE EARTH! I CAME NOT TO BRING PEACE, BUT A SWORD.35 ‘I HAVE COME TO SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER,A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER,AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW.

36 YOUR ENEMIES WILL BE RIGHT IN YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD!’

37 “IF YOU LOVE YOUR FATHER OR MOTHER MORE THAN YOU LOVE ME, YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF BEING MINE; OR IF YOU LOVE YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER MORE THAN ME, YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF BEING MINE. 38IF YOU REFUSE TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME, YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF BEING MINE. 39IF YOU CLING TO YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL LOSE IT; BUT IF YOU GIVE UP YOUR LIFE FOR ME, YOU WILL FIND IT. 40 “ANYONE WHO RECEIVES YOU RECEIVES ME, AND ANYONE WHO RECEIVES ME RECEIVES THE FATHER WHO SENT ME. 41IF YOU RECEIVE A PROPHET AS ONE WHO SPEAKS FOR GOD,YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE SAME REWARD AS A PROPHET. AND IF YOU RECEIVE RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOU WILL BE GIVEN A REWARD LIKE THEIRS. 42 AND IF YOU GIVE EVEN A CUP OF COLD WATER TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF MY FOLLOWERS, YOU WILL SURELY BE REWARDED.”

MARK 10:29-31 “29 “YES,” JESUS REPLIED, “AND I ASSURE YOU THAT EVERYONE WHO HAS GIVEN UP HOUSE OR BROTHERS OR SISTERS OR MOTHER OR FATHER OR CHILDREN OR PROPERTY, FOR MY SAKE AND FOR THE GOOD NEWS, 30WILL RECEIVE NOW IN RETURN A HUNDRED TIMES AS MANY HOUSES, BROTHERS, SISTERS, MOTHERS, CHILDREN, AND PROPERTY—ALONG WITH PERSECUTION. AND IN THE WORLD TO COME THAT PERSON WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. 31BUT MANY WHO ARE THE GREATEST NOW WILL BE LEAST IMPORTANT THEN, AND THOSE WHO SEEM LEAST IMPORTANT NOW WILL BE THE GREATEST THEN.”

• WHILE THE LORD ALLOWS PERSECUTION FOR GROWTH HE DOES DELIVERS US
• 2 TIMOTHY 4:17-18 “17 BUT THE LORD STOOD WITH ME AND GAVE ME STRENGTH SO THAT I MIGHT PREACH THE GOOD NEWS IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR ALL THE GENTILES TO HEAR. AND HE RESCUED ME FROM CERTAIN DEATH. 18YES, AND THE LORD WILL DELIVER ME FROM EVERY EVIL ATTACK AND WILL BRING ME SAFELY INTO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM. ALL GLORY TO GOD FOREVER AND EVER! AMEN.
• 2 THESS. 1
• WE ARE TOLD TO PRAY CAST OUT DEVILS
• MARK 16:17-18 “17 THESE MIRACULOUS SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: THEY WILL CAST OUT DEMONS IN MY NAME, AND THEY WILL SPEAK IN NEW LANGUAGES. 18THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE SNAKES WITH SAFETY, AND IF THEY DRINK ANYTHING POISONOUS, IT WON’T HURT THEM. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PLACE THEIR HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY WILL BE HEALED.”

LUKE 10:17-20 WHEN THE SEVENTY-TWO DISCIPLES RETURNED, THEY JOYFULLY REPORTED TO HIM, “LORD, EVEN THE DEMONS OBEY US WHEN WE USE YOUR NAME!”

18 “YES,” HE TOLD THEM, “I SAW SATAN FALL FROM HEAVEN LIKE LIGHTNING! 19LOOK, I HAVE GIVEN YOU AUTHORITY OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY, AND YOU CAN WALK AMONG SNAKES AND SCORPIONS AND CRUSH THEM. NOTHING WILL INJURE YOU. 20BUT DON’T REJOICE BECAUSE EVIL SPIRITS OBEY YOU; REJOICE BECAUSE YOUR NAMES ARE REGISTERED IN HEAVEN.”

ACTS 13:4-12; 4SO BARNABAS AND SAUL WERE SENT OUT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THEY WENT DOWN TO THE SEAPORT OF SELEUCIA AND THEN SAILED FOR THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS. 5THERE, IN THE TOWN OF SALAMIS, THEY WENT TO THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUES AND PREACHED THE WORD OF GOD. JOHN MARK WENT WITH THEM AS THEIR ASSISTANT. 6AFTERWARD THEY TRAVELED FROM TOWN TO TOWN ACROSS THE ENTIRE ISLAND UNTIL FINALLY THEY REACHED PAPHOS, WHERE THEY MET A JEWISH SORCERER, A FALSE PROPHET NAMED BAR-JESUS. 7HE HAD ATTACHED HIMSELF TO THE GOVERNOR, SERGIUS PAULUS, WHO WAS AN INTELLIGENT MAN. THE GOVERNOR INVITED BARNABAS AND SAUL TO VISIT HIM, FOR HE WANTED TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD. 8BUT ELYMAS, THE SORCERER (AS HIS NAME MEANS IN GREEK), INTERFERED AND URGED THE GOVERNOR TO PAY NO ATTENTION TO WHAT BARNABAS AND SAUL SAID. HE WAS TRYING TO KEEP THE GOVERNOR FROM BELIEVING. 9 SAUL, ALSO KNOWN AS PAUL, WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND HE LOOKED THE SORCERER IN THE EYE. 10THEN HE SAID, “YOU SON OF THE DEVIL, FULL OF EVERY SORT OF DECEIT AND FRAUD, AND ENEMY OF ALL THAT IS GOOD! WILL YOU NEVER STOP PERVERTING THE TRUE WAYS OF THE LORD? 11WATCH NOW, FOR THE LORD HAS LAID HIS HAND OF PUNISHMENT UPON YOU, AND YOU WILL BE STRUCK BLIND. YOU WILL NOT SEE THE SUNLIGHT FOR SOME TIME.” INSTANTLY MIST AND DARKNESS CAME OVER THE MAN’S EYES, AND HE BEGAN GROPING AROUND BEGGING FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE HIS HAND AND LEAD HIM. 12WHEN THE GOVERNOR SAW WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE BECAME A BELIEVER, FOR HE WAS ASTONISHED AT THE TEACHING ABOUT THE LORD.

ACTS 8:13-25 13THEN SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED AND WAS BAPTIZED. HE BEGAN FOLLOWING PHILIP WHEREVER HE WENT, AND HE WAS AMAZED BY THE SIGNS AND GREAT MIRACLES PHILIP PERFORMED. 14 WHEN THE APOSTLES IN JERUSALEM HEARD THAT THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA HAD ACCEPTED GOD’S MESSAGE, THEY SENT PETER AND JOHN THERE. 15 AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVED, THEY PRAYED FOR THESE NEW BELIEVERS TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. 16 THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD NOT YET COME UPON ANY OF THEM, FOR THEY HAD ONLY BEEN BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. 17 THEN PETER AND JOHN LAID THEIR HANDS UPON THESE BELIEVERS, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT. 18 WHEN SIMON SAW THAT THE SPIRIT WAS GIVEN WHEN THE APOSTLES LAID THEIR HANDS ON PEOPLE, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY TO BUY THIS POWER. 19“LET ME HAVE THIS POWER, TOO,” HE EXCLAIMED, “SO THAT WHEN I LAY MY HANDS ON PEOPLE, THEY WILL RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!” 20 BUT PETER REPLIED, “MAY YOUR MONEY BE DESTROYED WITH YOU FOR THINKING GOD’S GIFT CAN BE BOUGHT! 21YOU CAN HAVE NO PART IN THIS, FOR YOUR HEART IS NOT RIGHT WITH GOD. 22 REPENT OF YOUR WICKEDNESS AND PRAY TO THE LORD. PERHAPS HE WILL FORGIVE YOUR EVIL THOUGHTS, 23FOR I CAN SEE THAT YOU ARE FULL OF BITTER JEALOUSY AND ARE HELD CAPTIVE BY SIN.” 24“PRAY TO THE LORD FOR ME,” SIMON EXCLAIMED, “THAT THESE TERRIBLE THINGS YOU’VE SAID WON’T HAPPEN TO ME!” 25 AFTER TESTIFYING AND PREACHING THE WORD OF THE LORD IN SAMARIA, PETER AND JOHN RETURNED TO JERUSALEM. AND THEY STOPPED IN MANY SAMARITAN VILLAGES ALONG THE WAY TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS.

ANOINTING SERVICE

• MARK 6:7,12-13 “7 AND HE CALLED HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES TOGETHER AND BEGAN SENDING THEM OUT TWO BY TWO, GIVING THEM AUTHORITY TO CAST OUT EVIL SPIRITS.
• 12-13 “12 SO THE DISCIPLES WENT OUT, TELLING EVERYONE THEY MET TO REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND TURN TO GOD. 13AND THEY CAST OUT MANY DEMONS AND HEALED MANY SICK PEOPLE, ANOINTING THEM WITH OLIVE OIL.
• ACTS 5:12-16 12THE APOSTLES WERE PERFORMING MANY MIRACULOUS SIGNS AND WONDERS AMONG THE PEOPLE. AND ALL THE BELIEVERS WERE MEETING REGULARLY AT THE TEMPLE IN THE AREA KNOWN AS SOLOMON’S COLONNADE. 13BUT NO ONE ELSE DARED TO JOIN THEM, EVEN THOUGH ALL THE PEOPLE HAD HIGH REGARD FOR THEM. 14YET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE BELIEVED AND WERE BROUGHT TO THE LORD—CROWDS OF BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. 15AS A RESULT OF THE APOSTLES’ WORK, SICK PEOPLE WERE BROUGHT OUT INTO THE STREETS ON BEDS AND MATS SO THAT PETER’S SHADOW MIGHT FALL ACROSS SOME OF THEM AS HE WENT BY. 16CROWDS CAME FROM THE VILLAGES AROUND JERUSALEM, BRINGING THEIR SICK AND THOSE POSSESSED BY EVIL SPIRITS, AND THEY WERE ALL HEALED.

OFFERING

• LUKE 10:25-37 “25ONE DAY AN EXPERT IN RELIGIOUS LAW STOOD UP TO TEST JESUS BY ASKING HIM THIS QUESTION: “TEACHER, WHAT SHOULD I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?”
• 26JESUS REPLIED, “WHAT DOES THE LAW OF MOSES SAY? HOW DO YOU READ IT?”
• 27THE MAN ANSWERED, “‘YOU MUST LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ALL YOUR SOUL, ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND ALL YOUR MIND.’ AND, ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”
• 28 “RIGHT!” JESUS TOLD HIM. “DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE!”
• 29THE MAN WANTED TO JUSTIFY HIS ACTIONS, SO HE ASKED JESUS, “AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?”
• PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
• 30JESUS REPLIED WITH A STORY: “A JEWISH MAN WAS TRAVELING FROM JERUSALEM DOWN TO JERICHO, AND HE WAS ATTACKED BY BANDITS. THEY STRIPPED HIM OF HIS CLOTHES, BEAT HIM UP, AND LEFT HIM HALF DEAD BESIDE THE ROAD.
• 31 “BY CHANCE A PRIEST CAME ALONG. BUT WHEN HE SAW THE MAN LYING THERE, HE CROSSED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PASSED HIM BY. 32A TEMPLE ASSISTANT WALKED OVER AND LOOKED AT HIM LYING THERE, BUT HE ALSO PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
• 33 “THEN A DESPISED SAMARITAN CAME ALONG, AND WHEN HE SAW THE MAN, HE FELT COMPASSION FOR HIM. 34GOING OVER TO HIM, THE SAMARITAN SOOTHED HIS WOUNDS WITH OLIVE OIL AND WINE AND BANDAGED THEM. THEN HE PUT THE MAN ON HIS OWN DONKEY AND TOOK HIM TO AN INN, WHERE HE TOOK CARE OF HIM. 35THE NEXT DAY HE HANDED THE INNKEEPER TWO SILVER COINS, TELLING HIM, ‘TAKE CARE OF THIS MAN. IF HIS BILL RUNS HIGHER THAN THIS, I’LL PAY YOU THE NEXT TIME I’M HERE.’
• 36 “NOW WHICH OF THESE THREE WOULD YOU SAY WAS A NEIGHBOR TO THE MAN WHO WAS ATTACKED BY BANDITS?” JESUS ASKED.
• 37THE MAN REPLIED, “THE ONE WHO SHOWED HIM MERCY.”
• THEN JESUS SAID, “YES, NOW GO AND DO THE SAME.”

ACTS 9:36-43 “36THERE WAS A BELIEVER IN JOPPA NAMED TABITHA (WHICH IN GREEK IS DORCAS). SHE WAS ALWAYS DOING KIND THINGS FOR OTHERS AND HELPING THE POOR. 37ABOUT THIS TIME SHE BECAME ILL AND DIED. HER BODY WAS WASHED FOR BURIAL AND LAID IN AN UPSTAIRS ROOM. 38BUT THE BELIEVERS HAD HEARD THAT PETER WAS NEARBY AT LYDDA, SO THEY SENT TWO MEN TO BEG HIM, “PLEASE COME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! 39SO PETER RETURNED WITH THEM; AND AS SOON AS HE ARRIVED, THEY TOOK HIM TO THE UPSTAIRS ROOM. THE ROOM WAS FILLED WITH WIDOWS WHO WERE WEEPING AND SHOWING HIM THE COATS AND OTHER CLOTHES DORCAS HAD MADE FOR THEM. 40BUT PETER ASKED THEM ALL TO LEAVE THE ROOM; THEN HE KNELT AND PRAYED. TURNING TO THE BODY HE SAID, “GET UP, TABITHA.” AND SHE OPENED HER EYES! WHEN SHE SAW PETER, SHE SAT UP! 41HE GAVE HER HIS HAND AND HELPED HER UP. THEN HE CALLED IN THE WIDOWS AND ALL THE BELIEVERS, AND HE PRESENTED HER TO THEM ALIVE.

42THE NEWS SPREAD THROUGH THE WHOLE TOWN, AND MANY BELIEVED IN THE LORD. 43AND PETER STAYED A LONG TIME IN JOPPA, LIVING WITH SIMON, A TANNER OF HIDES.

PRAYERS PSALM 2

• PSALM 35 VERSE BY VERSE
• A PSALM OF DAVID.
• 1 oLORD, OPPOSE THOSE WHO OPPOSE ME. FIGHT THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST ME.
• 2PUT ON YOUR ARMOR, AND TAKE UP YOUR SHIELD. PREPARE FOR BATTLE, AND COME TO MY AID.
• 3LIFT UP YOUR SPEAR AND JAVELIN AGAINST THOSE WHO PURSUE ME. LET ME HEAR YOU SAY, “I WILL GIVE YOU VICTORY!”
• 4BRING SHAME AND DISGRACE ON THOSE TRYING TO KILL ME; TURN THEM BACK AND HUMILIATE THOSE WHO WANT TO HARM ME.
• 5BLOW THEM AWAY LIKE CHAFF IN THE WIND— A WIND SENT BY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD.
• 6MAKE THEIR PATH DARK AND SLIPPERY, WITH THE ANGEL OF THE LORD PURSUING THEM.
• 7I DID THEM NO WRONG, BUT THEY LAID A TRAP FOR ME. I DID THEM NO WRONG, BUT THEY DUG A PIT TO CATCH ME.
• 8SO LET SUDDEN RUIN COME UPON THEM! LET THEM BE CAUGHT IN THE TRAP THEY SET FOR ME! LET THEM BE DESTROYED IN THE PIT THEY DUG FOR ME.
• 9THEN I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD. I WILL BE GLAD BECAUSE HE RESCUES ME.
• 10WITH EVERY BONE IN MY BODY I WILL PRAISE HIM: “LORD, WHO CAN COMPARE WITH YOU? WHO ELSE RESCUES THE HELPLESS FROM THE STRONG?
• WHO ELSE PROTECTS THE HELPLESS AND POOR FROM THOSE WHO ROB THEM?”
• 11MALICIOUS WITNESSES TESTIFY AGAINST ME. THEY ACCUSE ME OF CRIMES I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.
• 12THEY REPAY ME EVIL FOR GOOD. I AM SICK WITH DESPAIR.
• 13YET WHEN THEY WERE ILL, I GRIEVED FOR THEM. I DENIED MYSELF BY FASTING FOR THEM, BUT MY PRAYERS RETURNED UNANSWERED.
• 14I WAS SAD, AS THOUGH THEY WERE MY FRIENDS OR FAMILY, AS IF I WERE GRIEVING FOR MY OWN MOTHER.
• 15BUT THEY ARE GLAD NOW THAT I AM IN TROUBLE; THEY GLEEFULLY JOIN TOGETHER AGAINST ME. I AM ATTACKED BY PEOPLE I DON’T EVEN KNOW; THEY SLANDER ME CONSTANTLY.
• 16THEY MOCK ME AND CALL ME NAMES; THEY SNARL AT ME.
• 17HOW LONG, O LORD, WILL YOU LOOK ON AND DO NOTHING? RESCUE ME FROM THEIR FIERCE ATTACKS. PROTECT MY LIFE FROM THESE LIONS!
• 18THEN I WILL THANK YOU IN FRONT OF THE GREAT ASSEMBLY. I WILL PRAISE YOU BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE.
• 19DON’T LET MY TREACHEROUS ENEMIES REJOICE OVER MY DEFEAT. DON’T LET THOSE WHO HATE ME WITHOUT CAUSE GLOAT OVER MY SORROW.
• 20THEY DON’T TALK OF PEACE; THEY PLOT AGAINST INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS.
• 21THEY SHOUT, “AHA! AHA! WITH OUR OWN EYES WE SAW HIM DO IT!”
• 22O LORD, YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS. DO NOT STAY SILENT. DO NOT ABANDON ME NOW, O LORD.
• 23WAKE UP! RISE TO MY DEFENSE! TAKE UP MY CASE, MY GOD AND MY LORD.
• 24DECLARE ME NOT GUILTY, O LORD MY GOD, FOR YOU GIVE JUSTICE. DON’T LET MY ENEMIES LAUGH ABOUT ME IN MY TROUBLES.
• 25DON’T LET THEM SAY, “LOOK, WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED! NOW WE WILL EAT HIM ALIVE!”
• 26MAY THOSE WHO REJOICE AT MY TROUBLES BE HUMILIATED AND DISGRACED. MAY THOSE WHO TRIUMPH OVER ME, BE COVERED WITH SHAME AND DISHONOR. 27BUT GIVE GREAT JOY TO THOSE WHO CAME TO MY DEFENSE. LET THEM CONTINUALLY SAY, “GREAT IS THE LORD, WHO DELIGHTS IN BLESSING HIS SERVANT WITH PEACE!” 28 THEN I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR JUSTICE, AND I WILL PRAISE YOU ALL DAY LONG.
• PSALM 94