GREAT REWARDS OF PERSECUTION



By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi
“Many evils confront the (consistently) righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.  He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken Psalm 34:19-20
   The word 'persecute' means to harass, afflict, hunt down, or put to death, especially for religious or political opinions. The world unfortunately celebrates and rewards evil more than  good : this is the reason behind the increase in wickedness in the world. Whoever opposes the promotion of evil over good will be be persecuted . Despite the prevalence of these anti-Christ ideologies, there exists a remnant who refuse to be overwhelmed by the tidal wave of societal decay and maladjustment.

    These persons have made an irrevocable commitment to be agents of the kingdom of God and beacons of hope in a hopeless generation and as in every marathon race, any one who runs against the traffic is most likely to meet with strong opposition.

      Followers of Jesus Christ will suffer persecution on a daily basis  :  regardless of how kind  you may be as a child of God; you will suffer persecution.  The world is full of hate due to the burden of sin and rejoices in the misfortunes of others. Love and commitment to a relationship is viewed  as foolishness in the world and these virtues are what the believer in Christ promotes. Through Jesus Christ, we receive a new heart full of compassion, peace and unquantifiable joy,
indeed , all who delight in and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution (will be made to suffer because of their religious stand) 2Timothy 3:12 Amp. Bible.
    Jesus told His disciples “Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord.  If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; John 15:20 KJV.
There are benefits for being persecuted
1.)  There is a heavenly reward for those who endure persecution, you are reassured of your place in heaven.  “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed  are you when people insult you.  Persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”  Mathew 5:10-11 Niv. “For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hours) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an ever lasting weight of glory (beyond measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!)…… 2 Corinthians 4:17Amp. Bible.
2. )   The Lord never abandons us during periods of persecution.  He will help us.
    Regardless of how severe your persecution may be, God is ever present to deliver us at the appointed time.  He will never leave nor forsake us, “God is ever present to deliver us at an ever present help in trouble” Psalm 46:1 NIV. “The wicked lie in wait for the (uncompromising) righteous and seek to put them to death. The Lord will not leave them in their hands, or (suffer them to) condemn them when they are judged Psalm 37:32-33 Amp.Bible
3) .Persecution results in grace for increase ; Ps 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. KJV It is during persecution that you receive grace for extraordinary discoveries and breakthroughs. While in bondage in Egypt , the Isrealites suffered persecution from their slave masters and the more they were oppressed, the more they increased in numerical strength.  God will never abandon you at the hands of the enemy. Persecution always marks the beginning of a greater chapter in the life of the uncompromisingly righteous.They are promoted to the place of great influence.
Prayer: Heavenly Father forgive me for my sins against you, I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation . I receive him as lord and saviour and receive grace for protection against the evil one in Jesus' name I pray .Amen
Prayer/couselling +234 8035536911.+234 8098536911, Email:michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
Pics credit :pixabay /cocoparisienne

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