God's Grace through Christ Jesus

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1: 4-8)

1. Paul always thanked God for His work in the Corinthian believers' live.
   - He did it continually and deliberately.
   - He thanked God for His grace through Christ Jesus.
   
2.  The Corinthian believers were enriched in everything by Christ Jesus.
   - They were enriched with a great capacity to know the things of God.
   - They were enriched with a great ability to share the things of God.
3. The gospel of Christ was confirmed and established among them.
4. They were blessed with spiritual gifts.
5. They would eagerly persevere to the end.
6. They would be assured of their safety in Christ.
7. They would be blameless to the end.

• We must take time and effort to affirm and encourage fellow Christian believers.

•  We must also thank God for what He is doing through them.

Appealing to Legal Rights

Acts 22:25

As they stretched him out to flog him,
Paul said to the centurion standing there,
“Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen
who hasn’t even been found guilty?”

The scriptures illustrate responses to persecution in 3 primary ways:

• To flee when it occurs
• To stay and endure, persevering through the challenges.
  
• To appeal to our legal rights for protection from a needless beating.
  

Let us speak out against
injustice and discrimination of brothers wherever it occurs.

Thank You, Lord,
for brave brethren who stand for justice and truth.

Persecution and Perseverance

Matthew 10: 16-26

Story & Lessons

The Lord Jesus left His disciples under no illusion about the cost of following Him.

There were weak and frail, but He chooses to use those whom the world considers weak.

"Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves." (16)

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Like the disciples, we too go as sheep among wolves.

We too face opposition and all kinds of danger.

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We need plenty of wisdom, discernment, common sense and gentleness.

"Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (16).

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Jesus warns us that we will be hated by all kinds of people for His sake.

Persecution will come from those who are religious, from the state, and even more hurtful and distressing, from within our own families.

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The Holy Spirit is with us and will help us and we do not need to fear those who hate us.

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Christ's disciples must follow His example and live out His teaching; like Him they will be accused of belonging to Satan.

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We must not be daunted by persecution and our Master encourages us not to fear the enemies of the gospel.

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When early Christians were forced to flee from one city, they went to another and spread the gospel.

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If Christians were attacked and imprisoned where you live, would you stand up and be counted?

Would you refuse to deny the Lord Jesus who died to save you from your sins?

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The gospel must first be preached in all the world before the end comes.

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Persecution will come in every age.

But we must continue to follow him and persevere in our work for Him.