Based in New York City, Bishop Reid and Pastor Reid discusses the people and instruments of revival n this weekly podast series, Arrows of Revival

Persecution from Family

Persecution from Family

Omaudi Reid
Christian Living, Current Events, Family, Ministry

Persecution in the Family - How to Respond?

In this episode, we discuss: Current news reports of persecution Expecting Revival during persecution God's vengeance against persecution Dealing with persecution from family members and relatives.

                           

In Times of Persecution Expect Revival

In the times of persecution, the cup of God’s wrath is being filled as his servants are mocked, mistreated and even killed. But in this time of persecution, let us pursue and expect the revival.

Habakkuk 3:2  O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
(KJV)

God will Avenge the Persecuted

Ultimately, God will avenge the blood of the martyrs. Christians have no need to take up arms to fight against persecutors, or to wage physical war. Rather, in due time God will avenge his people. Therefore, we ought to leave the matter in God’s hand while we demonstrate his power and love to the world. The scripture below shows us that God will ultimately judge the persecutors of the saints.

Revelation 6:9-11  9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.   

Types of Persecution

  1. Legal Attacks

    1. Matthew 10:17 - Handed over to Local Councils

    2. Brought Before Governmental Leaders

    3. Taken to Court

    4. Police Arrests - Matthew 10:17

    5. New Laws

How to Respond:

  1. Beware of All  Matthew 10

      1. Be watchful as a believer.

      2. Be alert when sharing the gospel.

      3. Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid drawing the attention of local authorities where preaching is frowned upon.

  2. Be Ready to Die

      1. Be willing and ready to die for the cause of Christ.

      2. Do not be afraid of losing your body. Your soul will live forever with God.

  3. Depend on the Spirit Matthew 10:19-20

      1. When questioned by legal authorities, depend on the Spirit of God.

      2. When you are being questioned and mocked by naysayers, depend on the Spirit of God to respond.

  1. Religious Attacks

    1. False Religions Matthew 10:17

    2. False Christians

    3. Doctrinal Attacks Matthew 9:3-5

How to Respond

  1. Answer Ignorant Questions/Ideas Matthew 9:3-5  Matthew 12:1-9 (healing on Sabbath Day)

      1. Where possible, answer ignorant questions with God’s word. Perhaps the hearing may be won by the patient teaching of God’s word.

      2. Jesus corrected the Pharisees on the true meaning of the Sabbath Day.

  2. Correct Religious Accusations with Authority  Matthew 12:22-32  (Accusation of Beelzebub)

      1. Where possible, and as led by the Spirit, correct and rebuke accusations against the gospel and the work of the Spirit.

      2. Jesus sharply corrected the Pharisees when they accused him of casting out devils by the prince of devils (Beelzebub).

  3. Leave them alone Matthew 15:13-14 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

      1. In many cases, leave your accusers to themselves.

      2. The action of the blind will lead to their own mishap and downfall.

3) Family Betrayal -  Matthew 10:21, 35 - 36

    1. Hated of Own Family

Matthew 10:35-36 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

    1. Betrayed  by Household Members (Reported, Handed Over)

Matthew 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

How to Respond

  1. Prioritize God’s Family

Matthew 12:46-50 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

  1. Show love to your physical family, but remember that ultimately you are part of the family of God.

  2. Realize that those who do God’s will are your brothers and sisters in Christ.

  1. Take Protection from Those Who Receive You

Matthew 10:40-42 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.41He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

      1. God has designed for you to be taken care of and comforted by those who receive you because of your faith in Christ.

      2. When others receive you due to your faith, receive their protection and care.

  1. Verbal Attacks - Matthew 5:12

    1. Insults

    2. Name-Calling

    3. False Accusations

    4. Trapping Questions

How to Answer

  1. Rejoice Over False Accusations Matthew 5:12

  2. Let them Decide Matthew. 22:15-22  (With Trapping Questions)

      1. When they attempt to trap you with questions, leave the answer in their hands.

      2. Don’t feel compelled to answer every question, just share the gospel.

  3. Rebuke Them Matthew 16:1-3  (Pharisees and Sadducees sought for a sign)

    1. Paul Rebuke the False Prophet the Sorcerer

      1. Acts 8:8-11  But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,10And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind,

  4. Remain Silent Matthew 26:62-63; ...But Jesus held his peace. Matthew 27:12-14 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing...

  1. Physical Attacks

    1. Governmental Oppression

    2. Criminals and those Seeing Christianity as a Threat

How to Respond

  1. Leave to another area Matthew 10:23

  • Matthew 12:14-15

  • Matt 14:12-13

  1. Be Harmless

    • in Word

    • and Action  Matthew 10:16

24 General Guidelines on Responding to Persecution

  1. Beware of All  Matthew 10:17 Beware of men...

  2. Don't Fear them Matthew 10:26 Fear them not therefore:

  3. Be Ready to Die  Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul...

  4. Depend on the Spirit Matthew 10:19-20 ...For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

  5. Rejoice Matthew 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

  6. Be Harmless in Word and Action  Matthew 10:16 be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

  7. Prioritize God’s Family Matt 12:46-50  ... For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

  8. Answer Ignorant Questions/Ideas Matthew 9:3-6 (Answer to Forgiving Man with Palsy) Matthew 12:1-9 (Healing on Sabbath Days

  9. Correct Accusations with Authority  Matthew 12:22-32  (Accusation of Beelzebub)

  10. Leave to Another Area Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another:

    1. Jesus Withdrew Himself. Matthew 12:14-15 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence

    2. Jesus After Hearing of John’s Beheading.  Matt 14:13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart

  11. Raise Up Others Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

    1. Paul when His Death Was Near, Left a stirring word to Timothy and ultimately to all that would read the epistle.

    2. Elijah When Jezebel Sought His life, God commanded him to anoint Jehu and Elisha to continue his work.

  12. Avoid Attention Matthew 12:16 And charged them that they should not make him known

  13. Leave Them Alone Matt. 15:13-14 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

    1. Don’t seek them out.

    2. Don’t try to Go to them.

  14. Rebuke Them Matthew 16:1-3  (Pharisees and Sadducees sought for a sign)

  15. Let them Decide Matthew 22:15-22 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk… (Question Him On Paying Taxes to Ceasar)

  16. Prophesy to them Matthew 26:64 nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

  17. Remain Silent Matthew 26:62-63; ...But Jesus held his peace. Matthew 27:12-14 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing...

  18. Refuse to Retaliate

    1. John 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

    2. I Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously

    19. Plan for Your Possible Death

    1. John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

    2. 2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

    20. Take Protection from Those Who Receive You Matthew 10:40-42 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me…

    1. Remember Rahab

    21. Come Together

    1. Acts 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

    22. Report Acts 4:23 - Report the persecution to other saints so that they can pray, and provide strength.

    23. Pray  

    1. Acts 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord,

    24. Comfort Each Other   2 Timothy 4:16 - 17



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