Presentation Transcript

1. When Persecutions Come (Lk. 21:12)
2. Persecution of Early Christians
3. Persecution/Turning Toward Ungodliness “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – Bill of Rights, Amendment I
4. Persecution/Turning Toward Ungodliness Murfreesboro, TN
5. Persecution/Turning Toward Ungodliness
6. Persecution/Turning Toward Ungodliness
7. Jesus Predicted His Followers Would Face Persecution Luke 21:12 (NKJV) 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
8. Persecution is on its way. What will you do? Fewer People Identify With Christians Currently 75% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. That number is down from 86% in 1990, a decline of 11% in just 9 years. Although the percentage of Catholics and Mormons remained steady during that time, the percentage of evangelicals plummeted from 60% to 50% In the same period of time the number of Muslims has doubled in America - CNN, American Religious Identification Survey from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, 2009
9. Persecution is on its way. What will you do? Fewer People Identify With Christians After WWII approximately 92% of Americans professed at least some belief in God. In 2006 a similar poll was conducted and only 73% believe that God exists. 1972 the majority of people attended worship opportunities once or more per month. Today more people attend several times a year or less often & only between 17 and 30% of Americans attend any type of church weekly.
10. Persecution is on its way. What will you do? “The 2012 presidential election was a huge victory for liberalism. Liberal hero Barack Obama won re-election, marijuana was legalized in two states, gay marriage was legalized in states that have been blocking it for years, and climate change is now taking center stage.” - Obama’s Reelection Signals the Rise of Liberal America - The Washington Times Communities
11. Persecution is on its way. What will you do? The Time to Prepare is Now! Matthew 24:9 (NKJV) 9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
12. When man’s laws conflict with God’s laws, God’s laws take preeminence. Acts 4:18 (NKJV) 18 …commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:29 (NKJV) 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
13. When man’s laws conflict with God’s laws, God’s laws take preeminence. Acts 5:20 (NKJV) 20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” Acts 5:28 (NKJV) 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?…” Acts 5:29 (NKJV) 29 …Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
14. When man’s laws conflict with God’s laws, God’s laws take preeminence. But aren’t authorities appointed by God? Yes: “…there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” – Rom. 13:1 Limitations of Their Authority: “…who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him…” (1 Pet. 3:22)
15. When man’s laws conflict with God’s laws, God’s laws take preeminence. Defining What is “Legal” 1 John 3:4 (NKJV) 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
16. Man’s Illegal Laws: When Hate speech is “illegal” “Hate crimes are only named as such when victims are targeted specifically because of their race, color, religion or national origin. Convictions for hate crimes carry harsher sentences because the victimization goes beyond the individual targeted… The Matthew Shepard Act, named for a gay Wyoming man slain in 1998, would add sexual orientation, gender identity and disability to the list of federally-protected classes.” – Christian conservatives fight expansion of hate-crimes law, USA Today, June 15, 2009
17. Man’s Illegal Laws: When Hate speech is “illegal” 1972 – United church of Christ was the first mainline denomination to ordain openly gay clergy 2009 – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and in 2011 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada followed suit Presbyterian churches also ordain openly gay ministers Others have accepted this or split over this issue
18. Man’s Illegal Laws: When Hate speech is “illegal” “Many Churches of Christ are beginning to address this issue with an open and compassionate approach. Several universities associated with the fellowship have held forums and conferences to address the issue and to open up discussion on the approach Christians should take toward homosexuality…many urban and even small-town congregations are actively opening dialog with and seeking to minister to the gay population in their locales.” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominational_positions_on_homosexuality
19. Man’s Illegal Laws: When Preaching the Truth Becomes “Illegal” 2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV) 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
20. Man’s Illegal Laws: When Preaching the Truth Becomes “Illegal” Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV) 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…
21. Man’s Illegal Laws: When Praying Becomes Illegal
22. Man’s Illegal Laws: When Praying Becomes “Illegal” Acts 2:42 (NKJV) 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) 17 pray without ceasing
23. Man’s Illegal Laws: When Sharia Law is Enforced “Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant…The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth” – Omar M. Ahmad, Founder of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
24. Man’s Illegal Laws: When Sharia Law is Enforced Matthew 10:22 (NKJV) 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
25. Persecution is a Blessing 1 Peter 4:14 (NKJV) 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
26. Persecution Can Be Good For Church Growth Acts 4:2–4 (NKJV) 2 … they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day…4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
27. Persecution Can Be Good For Church Growth Acts 8:1–3 (NKJV) 1…At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
28. Persecution Can Be Good For Church Growth Acts 8:4 (NKJV) 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
29. Christians Had Better Prepare and Be As Zealous About Their Faith As Others Are About Theirs!
30. Why Are You Waiting? (2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV) "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.