SURE PERSECUTION BUT ALSO SURE RESCUE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

2 Timothy 3:10-13

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

For as long as the Gospel has existed, there has been resistance to it. It will always be present up to the time that Jesus returns.

We know this - not just because the scriptures affirm it in the New Testament, history has attested to it ever since then, and the Bible also foretells of it up to the second coming – but also because we know the nature of Satan. He is always in opposition to every good and perfect thing God tries to do and that includes saving His people who believe in His Son Jesus.

God desires that His people be atoned from their sinfulness by accepting His Son as Savior. This simple act of faith to gain salvation rescues the sinner from sure eternal damnation and torment (aka Hell).

Satan, already destined for Hell, wants company there. Just as much as God wishes for people to live with Him forever, so too does Satan want to have a multitude in everlasting suffering right along with him.

And so as Christian believers go forth to carry out Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) with the goal of saving lost souls, Satan has, is, and always will raise up conflict and confrontation, even going as far as killing anyone who is obedient to the call to make disciples of all nations.

No one knew this better than the Apostle Paul and through his many epistles that comprise a majority of the New Testament, we find him sharing his testimonies. Our passage today from 2 Timothy 3 is one such place. Look again at his words here:

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Vv. 10-13

Timothy was once a young Christian who had potential to grow into a leader for the cause of the Gospel. We first meet him in the first five verses of the Book of Acts, chapter 16, as Paul visits Lystra during his second missionary journey. From that point on, Paul mentored Timothy and watched him mature to where he could pastor a church and we know from the two letters to him from Paul that he was doing just that in Ephesus.

Just as in other places where Timothy had traveled with Paul, Ephesus was a place where persecution was always lingering. And so we get a sense that Paul is preparing his missionary partner for when that time would come.

Indeed, Paul endured a lot of sufferings, harassment, and maltreatment for the cause of Jesus. He seemingly was threatened at nearly every turn as he went from place to place as Satan relentlessly tried to eliminate who was arguably the greatest disciple maker ever.

And yet, despite all of these attempts to derail the devoted work Paul engaged in for the cause of Christ and the salvation of the lost, he was rescued by the Lord, over and over and over again. Despite Satan’s efforts, he was always left defeated. He was then, he is today, and he will always be for Jesus has already won the victory.

Friends, persecution is going to come to all who opt “to live a godly life in Christ Jesus” and be faithful to His Great Commission calling. There are always going to be “evil doers” who will work overtime for the devil to try and keep people from finding eternal life. But we believers need not fear because just as sure as persecution is so too is the Lord’s rescue from the efforts of Satan. He is with us and for us and no one can stand against us because of this truth (Romans 8:31). He is also our refuge and very present help in times of trouble therefore we have no reason to fear (Psalm 46:1-2a). So let us go forth bold and unafraid for the One who is with us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4)...and it’s not even close.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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