There's been a concept running around the forums lately, and I just wanted to try to introduce an argument to clear it up.
When someone claims or feels that they are being persecuted by everyone, does that mean that they are?
*What is persecution?*
Biblical persecution is when you're being attacked for your beliefs in God. You stand up for God and His ways, and instead of people seeing the wisdom and truth in that, they choose to ridicule you, and eventually, literally or figuratively, "stone" you to "death".
Generally, the persecution in question simply means that you are being denounced or attacked for what you believe.
*If there are many voices "persecuting" you, does it mean you are right?*
No. If you are the lone "wolf" sowing discord in the midst of the church of God, you don't get to be right if everyone is trying to correct you or put you out. So even if there are many people against you, you can be wrong.
*If there are only a few voices "persecuting" you, does it mean you are right?*
No. At times in the bible, God only had one little prophet to stand against entire nations. One small voice, but that one small voice was speaking for God and condemning those nations in their sin.
*Does it matter what kind of voices are "persecuting" you?*
Absolutely, and only there lies the evidence of persecution. You must look at what the voices are trying to do. Are they trying to mock you or correct you? Are they using scripture? But, to simply claim that you're being persecuted because everyone is speaking against you is a little ridiculous, and it's also ridiculous to claim that if there are many voices against you that it is evidence you are right about everything. Neither are safe positions, both are devices to blind you to potential correction and close your mind to possible truth.
We must keep our eyes and ears open, but guarded. I don't think anyone wants to be the person God has to slap in the face to get their attention.
I agree...and if you are bragging about being persecuted, you're probably in the wrong. Jesus accepted His persecution with silence. When He did speak, He posed questions back to the persecutors who could not provide answers.
1 Peter 1:5-11: Make every effort to add to you faith {A FREE GIFT} goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and **LOVE**. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective...and will make your calling and election sure...and you will receive a *RICH WELCOME* into our Eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ!
By saying REWARDS are not *EARNED* by the saints contradicts over 50 passages from the inspired Words of God and removes one of the most important incentives for obeying all of the NT commands with love with the hope countless eternal *REWARDS* for faithful and loving service!! There are many Satanic Calvinists who teach that born again saints do not have free will and that their good works are all predistined for the glory of God and therefore will not **EARN** heavenly **REWARDS**, However, what does God's infallible Words say about this ??
Daniel 12:3: Those who impart wisdom {NIV} will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness. like the stars for ever and ever!
Revelation 2:18; 3:21: Jesus says, "To him who overcomes I will give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it....And I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
Jesus says, "At the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne...Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive 100 times as much !!" Matthew 19:28,29
SALVATION IS 100% FREE BUT HEAVENLY REWARDS ARE 100% EARNED:
Hebrews 11:1,6: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see....And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS** those who earnestly seek Him!!
Ephesians 6:8: Serve wholeheartedly , as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will **REWARD** everyone for what ever good he does!.
Revelation 22:12 Jesus says, �Behold I am coming soon! My **REWARD** is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!�
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, �The Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and THEN He will **REWARD** each person according to what he has done!�
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: We make it our goal to please Him... for we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15: His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives , he will receive his **REWARD**. If it is burned up he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Colossians 3:23-25: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, siince you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a **REWARD**. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
How to Win Heavenly CROWNS:
I Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes in to strict training. They do it to get a **CROWN that will not last; but we do it to get a **CROWN THAT WILL LAST FOREVER! Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly. I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize!
2 John 1:8: Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be **REWARDED** fully!. Revelation 3:11: Jesus says, �I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your **CROWN!�
2 Timothy 4:7,8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the **CROWN of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,will award to me on that day�and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing!
The **CROWN of Life for those who persevere under trials and persecution:
James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the **CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who **LOVE** Him!
Revelation 2:10 Jesus says, �Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer... Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the **CROWN OF LIFE!�
Matthew 5:11,12: Jesus says, �Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, beacuase great is your **REWARD** in heaven!�
Hebrews 10:32-36: Remember those earlier days after you had received the Light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of sufferin. Sometimes you were publicaly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly **REWARDED**. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you receive what He has promised!
...I smell Pride and Ego along with an~tag~o~nis~tic~ISM...Lord have Mercy...the poor Yahoo believes we are the ones storing up Rewards for him in heaven ???...That's the most Arse Backwards thing I ever heard....Oh my...Prophet Richard...where are you ???...this Yahoo needs a reminder how the storing up of rewards works....X <>< O
I agree too, especially the argument of the prophets is very convincing :) It is very wise to think that yourself could also be wrong. So what I do when there are 'difficult/controversial things", I study the Bible and what people say about it and I pray God for wisdom and insight.
WHAT'S **LOVE**GOT TO DO WITH IT?? :hearts::hearts:
I Peter 1:22: "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere **LOVE** :hearts: for your brothers, **LOVE** :hearts: one another
deeply, from the heart."
I Corinthians 13:2,4-8: If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not **LOVE**:hearts: I am nothing...**LOVE** is patient, **LOVE**:hearts: is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. **LOVE**:hearts: does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. **LOVE**:hearts: never fails!
John 13:34: Jesus says, "A NEW command I give you: **LOVE** :hearts:one another As I have loved you, so you must **LOVE** :hearts: one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples."
Ephesians 3:17-19: I pray that you, being rooted and established in **LOVE**, :hearts:may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the **LOVE**:hearts: of Christ. and to know this **LOVE** :hearts: that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God!!
John 14:23: Jesus says, �If anyone **LOVES** :hearts: Me, he will obey My teaching, My Father will **LOVE** :hearts: him, and We will make Our home with him.�:hearts:
Matthew 28:19.20� Jesus commands, �Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to *OBEY EVERYTHING* I have commanded you!� {See I John 2:3-5}:hearts::hearts:
EVERYTHING would also include all the other commands in God's inspired Word from Acts to Revelation as per 2 Timothy 3:16: 4:2: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work...Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.":hearts:
1 question. Do you trust and no the Sprit of God in your live?
You dont need to answer.
My encouragement is this. I understand where you are coming from and because of where you are coming from you are right.
But where you are coming from is a missdunderstanding.
So since the Spirit of God is the one who leads us in all truth. Do you agree?
I encourage you to be still before God and listen and ask questions about persection to HIM.
Ask. Could I be mistaken? Is their something I am missing?
Ask...Do you have something even greater than what I have been holding fast?
The answer is yes.....God always has something greater than what we understand including mine.
One of the things I would ask the Spirit of God.
Have I been determining truth for my self?
When you do a study are you leading or is the Spirit leading?
Is your intellect leading or is the Spirit leading? Is your emotion leading or is the Spirit leading? Is your experience leading or is the Spirit leading?
Another fine display of Calvinistic egotism....or pride in 'knowing' you're elect. Which I still have not received a reasonable explanation on how you KNOW you are elect. I have asked this 612 times now but I never get any answer.
I KNOW I AM SAVED BECAUSE I CALLED UPON HIS NAME 45 YEARS AGO AND I GOT MY IRREVOCABLE FREE GIFT.
Isn't it strange. I've encountered this in person, having a discussion with 5 "reformed" people. One would simply keep saying that she wouldn't talk about any of it with me, and she would get up and leave the table, yet she kept coming back and talking about it. So why the posturing? It's just annoying. Stand and deliver! If you can't stand, then maybe you're not standing on the rock!
