Persecutor

Jesus said,

If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. – John 15:20 (NKJV)

Listen, on this spiritual journey – your Christian walk – expect to be persecuted. Don’t be at all surprised when tongues start wagging, and persons who you know, some you may be very close to, are the ones with the most to say. They are the ones with the largest armoury, always at the ready to pull out some type of weapon against you.

While the persecutor is shooting arrows, keep Isaiah 54:17 in mind,

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. (NKJV)

But I want to share something about the persecutor that you may find a bit disconcerting.

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job…And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. – Job 1:8 &12

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. – Luke 22:31 (NKJV)

There is a commonality in both instances. Satan was given permission by God to persecute these two god-fearing men. In the first instance, it was God who suggested Job.

You see, no matter who does the persecuting, it’s God who gives the permission. He allows it. I know some I-can-walk-on-water Christians must be damning me right now but read those two verses again. Now you tell me if it’s not God allowing it.

Let’s have a look at 2 Samuel 16:10 & 11

But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” And David said…Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. (NKJV)

It was God who told Shimei to curse David, God gave Satan permission to sift Peter as wheat and God allowed Satan to afflict Job. All these men underwent persecution at the behest of the Lord. Check it out, in every verse, “the Lord said”. Who “said”, who “has said” and who “ordered”? Okay then. But it’s for good reason, so don’t be like, “But how God could allow that?”

Persecution is a means of distinguishing the sincere follower from the hypocritical one. When suffering comes, who will endure? When blustery storms set in, who will take hold of the mast and sail through?

We like to believe that only unbelievers persecute believers, but believers persecute believers. Those same I-can-walk-on-water Christians, pretend to be devout followers in good times but as soon as the going gets a little too tough they bail, they scatter. They are only willing to navigate the calm seas. They will follow Christ to the Garden of Gethsemane but not to Calvary.

They say that they are self-denying Christians but when the fiery arrows fly, it’s then you see the hypocrite run off in self-preservation. Persecution is a heart revealer.

Please, don’t get me wrong, this spiritual walk is not always easy, and one may be sincerely zealous at first, but become faint-hearted along the way. To suffer through the trials is difficult; the ridicule from friends and family is painful; the condemnation from the pharisaic brethren can be hard to ignore (I have mastered the art) but beloved that’s why you must depend on God all through the testing.

As a child of God, you will go through times of persecution (see 1 Peter 4:12). When you are placed in that fire of affliction, know that it is not to destroy you but it’s to “take away the dross from silver” to be used by the Jeweller (see Proverbs 25:4). When you are being sifted as wheat know that it’s a test of your faith (see Luke 22:31).  

All who are walking this road are tried and tested but do not turn back or turn away from God. Hold on to God, for when you are weak, then you are strong (see 2 Corinthians 12:10), and be assured that,

“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NRSV)

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Persecutor” © January 28, 2025