Persecution

In light of the recent events that has befallen the Church, nearly anything that moves and breathes has been involved in this situation.

It is not so much of a concern who did this to the Church, but why. Be it politicians fault, be it vandals fault, be it George W Bush's fault, whose ever fault it is, they will answer to God in His presence when the day comes. But what reason sparks all of this? Jealousy, hatred, money, etc..... list can be very long though.

In the Bible, countless accounts of the Church being tarnished, persecuted, abused, threatened and nearly wiped out are recorded. Yet till today, the Church still lives on. No one has succeeded nor been able to wipe out the Church of God. Why? Simply because, God watches over His church. Church not the building, but His people. His beloved sons and daughters, heirs of His Kingdom.

Even God Himself was persecuted, when He Himself became as flesh to die for our sins. That alone being the ultimate form of persecution on any being, in this case, The Creator being persecuted by His own creation. Some may say that was a sad and dumb thing to be done. But it wasnt a dumb foolish act if you could resurrect and say "Im here again" right after being declared dead, mummified and burried for 3 days in a stone cave.

The devil hates the church. So much so he will do anything to stop it from progressing. He is after all the one who opposes God, the greatest enemy and accuser of the church. And he has never stopped doing that since he got kicked out of heaven for being too smart to overtake God's place.

So are all these persecutions and temptations part of his plans? Yes. Partially but for the most part his. Sometimes it is also out of human choice and human heart that is full of hatred that can trigger such actions and thoughts. Just that the devil is good at flaming the fire bigger. In this case, two negatives dont make a positive, it just makes double trouble.

So the whole of Malaysia goes hoo haa over this. But what has the Church been doing? Keeping quite? Being rock steady? Pray for the perpetrators to be arrested? Pray for peace? Cry over their losses?

Here are some encouraging, God assuring truths : -

But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior;
therefore my persecutors will stumble;
they will not overcome me.
They will be greatly shamed,
for they will not succeed.
Their eternal dishonor
will never be forgotten.

—Jeremiah 20:11

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

—Matthew 5:10-12

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

—John 15:18-20

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

—Romans 8:35-39

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

—2 Corinthians 12:10

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

—2 Timothy 3:12

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

—1 Peter 4:12-14, 16

Christians have always been a prime target. Why?

Everyone targets something valuable, something big, something important. Something that they know has the potential, the power, the ability, the uniqueness, the difference, the goodness. That sums up all that makes up the Christian faith. And that also sums up the God, Yahweh, that we believe in.

Anyone can shake our church building. But no one can shake our faith.

For so as long God watches over His people, there is refuge and deliverance.

 ¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ^[a]
 2 I will say ^[b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
       my God, in whom I trust."
 ³ Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
       and from the deadly pestilence.
 ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
       and under his wings you will find refuge;
       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
 ⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
       nor the arrow that flies by day,
 ⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
       nor the plague that destroys at midday.
 ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
       ten thousand at your right hand,
       but it will not come near you.
 ⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
       and see the punishment of the wicked.
 ⁹ If you make the Most High your dwelling—
       even the LORD, who is my refuge-
 ¹⁰ then no harm will befall you,
       no disaster will come near your tent.
 ¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
       to guard you in all your ways;
 ¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
       so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
 ¹³ You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
       you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
 ¹⁴ "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
 ¹⁵ He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
       I will be with him in trouble,
       I will deliver him and honor him.
 ¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him
       and show him my salvation."

-Psalm 91-