Session 13: The Certainty of Persecution in the West & Its Blessing
Notes: https://rb.gy/gbkmec
Persecution is both a demonic attack to hinder our spiritual growth and a divine gift to enhance it. God granted and appointed that His people endure persecution (1 Thes. 3:3; Phil. 1:29) that they may be transformed by it for their great benefit in this age and in the age to come. We do not make persecution happen to us in the will of God—it is granted as a divine opportunity that we don’t have unless God grants it to us. The apostles rejoiced in being “counted worthy” to suffer knowing how it transformed them and how precious it is to have it in their testimony when they stand before God.
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ…to suffer for His sake… (Phil. 1:29)
…[to not be] shaken by these afflictions…know that we are appointed to this. (1 Thes. 3:3)
They departed…rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer…for His name. (Acts 5:41)
There is a tension in rejoicing when God grants persecution to us as a gift (Acts 5:41; 2 Cor. 12:7- 12; Phil. 1:29; 3:10; Col. 1:24; 1 Thes. 3:3; 1 Pet. 2:21) while being exhorted to pray for protection and deliverance from prison (Acts 12:5) or from the evil one (Jn. 17:15; Phil. 1:19, 25; 2 Thes. 3:3).
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