I'm Leaving, I Don't Have To Take This...Persecuted for Christ

This morning I woke up to a CNN alert about a Canadian Pastor who was being held in North Korea after an aid mission.

Yesterday, I went to lunch with a girlfriend who needed godly counsel about a personal situation that was unfair.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

Seems like every time we turn around as the people of God, we are being targeted and unfairly accused or mistreated. This is definitely NOT FAIR!

2 Timothy 2:12 (NLT) 

If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.

But, let's look at 1 Peter 4:16 (KJV):

"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

Now, it is easy to read this scripture and just dismiss it as another scripture, but let's apply it to our daily lives. Circumstances where we as Christians are targeted and falsely accused and / or mistreated for the sake of Christ:

• You may be the only Christian in your office, and therefore mocked, laughed at, or rejected because you do not take part in the worldly festivities.
• You could be a Woman of GOD who is married to an unbeliever and therefore subject to mistreatment at times by your husband.
• You might be a friendly volunteer who like to dedicate some time to your favorite causes and some of the other people just don't like you. No reason, just don't like you.

Let's establish that first of all you are not of the same kingdom as the world. The Word of GOD plainly tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV):

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

While your body has not changed, your spirit, priorities, and thoughts have. In fact, day by day you are either drawing closer to the Spirit of your Heavenly Father or backsliding into your old nature. Whatever you feed will grow.

Romans 8:5 (NIV)

"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

There has been a change in you and whether you know it or not, it is seen by those around you. So, there is an automatic distinction between you and others who are not followers of Christ.

Colossians 1:13 (NIV)

"For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,"

As I mentioned earlier, you are no longer in the same kingdom. There is a difference now and the kingdom of darkness will reject you. They rejected Jesus Christ and continue to so we are no different.

This is one of the reasons why you are hated for no reason; accused of thinking you are better; mocked or persecuted. You can either allow this to take you back into your old sinful nature, or you can grow in grace and grow stronger in your faith.

So, why would God allow this for his greatly beloved children? What parent would allow their children to be misused?

There has to be a contrast between us and the world. We cannot call ourselves citizens of the Kingdom of God while we continue to manifest the works of the flesh, which are:
Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV)

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings (excessive partying i.e. clubbing, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

There is supposed to be a contrast between us and the world. We should not in anyway be mistaken as the world. We are the light of the world and our lifestyles should catch peoples attention. Sometimes the very person we receive the most hatred from is the very person that will give their lives to Christ because of our conduct.

It is not easy to endure these things, but Jesus Christ requires us to be patient and long-suffering with others just as He has been with us when we walked in sin and darkness.

Personally, I can think of the many men and women of GOD that were sent across my path to bring me back into fellowship with Christ, but I did not want to hear anything they had to say. I willfully walked in sin because I thought it was fun and easier than living a godly life.

Well, I can tell you that when the devil got through beating me up I was running back to my Father. You see, even though I was living an ungodly lifestyle, I was still God's daughter. Remember the prodigal son?

He went out to a far country and lived like the citizens of that country (just like when we walk away from Holiness to live a life displeasing to the Lord), but when he came to himself and remembered who His Father was, He went back home!

Whether you are living in sin or struggling with some things, the devil and his kingdom know that you belong to God. You won't have much success out there. The Lord will send His servants to find His lost daughter or son because He knows you by name and have numbered the hairs on your head.

There is good news. As a child of God, you are favored by God (though hated by mankind) -- this isn't fair either.

• You have favor in situations that the children of the world do not enjoy.
• God hears and answers your prayers.
• He will avenge you of your enemies.
• He has not forgotten about the mistreatment you endure, but He allows it to produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life. 
• You have divine favor that others do not enjoy. 
• You are blessed!

To be blessed means:

"happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable"

People are angry at you for a reason.
People envy you for a reason.
People want your life for a reason.
God designed it to be like that.

Maybe they will decide to come out of sin because of the blessings God pours out on you. Maybe they will see that there is something to your God, that He is real, that He is worth a try...

Don't allow the tactics of the enemy to cause you distress. Give over your circumstances to the Lord and when His purpose is accomplished, He will reward you OPENLY.

Those who have mistreated you without cause will be an audience to your increase, your blessings, your prosperity. God's Word is true and cannot return void. Trust Him!

God purposely surrounded you with enemies, to show His glory and to show off His child:

Psalms23:5

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." 

 1 Peter 2:11 -12 (NLT) 

Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

So what can you do to help yourself? Here are some helpful scriptures that will give you real results:

• Prayer of protection: Psalms 91
• Prayer that assures you God is watching and will act on your behalf: Psalms 37
• Prayer for when you feel like God has forgotten or abandoned you: Psalms 23 & 27
• Prayer of repentance when you get in the flesh and allow Satan to use your mouth against others: Psalms 51
• Prayer to make sure you're keeping the right company to receive God's blessings: Psalms 1

If you have a specific issue you need Word for, leave it in the comments. There is a weapon for every dart the enemy sends against us.

Never Forget: 

Isaiah 54:17: "no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD."