“Emboldened to Run”

Persecuted for Christ part 1 of 3

Heb 11 (page 851 in chair Bible) & Selected

 

bullet God likens our Christian walk to a race… far too often we find ourselves sitting on the sidelines
bullet Exhausted, discouraged, so weak we seem like we just cannot go on… “Emboldened to Run”
bullet “Emboldened” means to be made bold or courageous, it’s being fearless and daring in Christ…

 

bullet When we understand the past history of Christianity, it helps bring our present situation into focus
bullet I encourage you to take notes… listen carefully… allow the Lord to speak to you…

 

Part I  The “Early” Church… Birthed at Pentecost… it began small but grew rapidly… what part did persecution play in growing the church? Who are the “heroes’ of faith God speaks about? 

 

Part II The “Middle Age” Church… you will find this very interesting… How much persecution did the church experience?  How did the Roman Catholic Church come into existence?  Don’t miss next week’s message…

 

Part III             Today’s “Postmodern” Church… What is it? Is it Biblical?  Are current events we’re seeing, signs of the end times? Will Christians in America soon be persecuted?  Is Christ’s return near?... you don’t want to miss this message either…

 

bullet God gives us a whole chapter in the book of Hebrews on the Heroes’ of faith…
bullet Then he gives us a very interesting, stirring yet powerful verse in 12:1…

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…

bullet It’s almost as if the scene is a great coliseum filled to capacity with spectators… a great cloud God’s heroes’ yelling… I ran my race, I finished my course… you can too!  The crowd in the bleachers are the heroes of Hebrews 11 who already participated in the race the Lord gave them… they have endured to the end… they are vitally interested in how we run the race… they believed God, stood strong in the face of opposition, trials, temptations… Their finishing the race, should embolden us to grow & stand…
bullet It’s almost like they’re the ones passing you and me the baton to carry… the Word of God…

 

I.        O.T. Heroes’ of Faith, Ran Their Race (Heb 11… page 851 in chair Bible)

By Faith Abel… Gen 4, Cain murdering his brother Abel because his sacrifice was accepted (righteous)

Enoch… Gen 5:24, he walked w/God, he was no more, God took him away… he pleased God (raptured)

Daniel… Dan 6, 82 year old prayed 3 times each day, defy kings decree… fed to the lions (God is glorified)

Joseph… Hated by his brothers, sold into Egyptian slavery, falsely accused, promoted (Sovereignty of God)

Moses… Burning bush, deliverance of 2M Jews from taskmasters, 40 years wanderings (humble servant)

David… Shepherd boy, giant killer, to Israel’s greatest king, man after God’s own heart (faith, faith…)

Many other heroes’ listed… some well know, some obscure… all a part of the great cloud of witness…

 

Hebrews 11:32-39 32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.

 

The Old Testament saints, saved by faith, were persecuted because of their belief in Jehovah God

II.      Age Old Conflict Between…

Good & Evil, Light & Darkness, Truth & Lies, God & Satan

 

·         The Lord Jesus Almighty Ruler of the Universe / Heaven… relationship with Jesus – born again

·         Satan, ultimately will be thrown into the Lake of Fire… unbelieving sinners, rejected Christ

·         In disobedience Adam fell into sin, hence the entire human race… tree of knowledge of good & evil

 

John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil (vile, wicked, hurtful).

 

1 Corinthians 4:12-13 “…When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse (garbage) of the world.”

 

John 15:18,20 "If the world hates you, (destest maliciously toward the innocent) keep in mind that it hated me first. “…If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also…” (prolonged pursuit)

 

 2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

·         Are you suffering persecution?  If you’re arrested for being a Christian, will there be enough evidence to convict you?

 

 

III.    N.T. Believers, by Faith, Ran Their Race (Acts…)

Acts 2:42-47 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

 

Common denominator among the Believers found throughout the Book of Acts…

·         They Devoted themselves… their commitment level was great… they were loyal, dedicated, faithful

 

·         Apostles teaching… they maintained and knew Doctrine… truth, teachings, dogma…

 

·         Fellowship… they partnered together, unified in beliefs & practices, love… both vertical & horizontal

 

 

120 saved in the upper room… 3000 saved… 5000 men saved… read the book of Acts – it’s exciting!

Acts 6:7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

bullet N.T. early church by faith were making disciples!  God was working big time in their hearts….
bullet BUT wherever God works – the Devil is not too far behind… remember the Age Old conflict…

IV.      Persecution Increased and the Church Exploded in Growth

Stephen’s sermon to the Jews… he becomes the first Christian Martyr

 

Acts 7:54-8:4 54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. 1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

 

Acts 11:19-21 19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

 

bullet God’s Grace was upon them… great number of people saved… many verse like this one… read Acts…
bullet God used persecution to save more souls… the church exploded in Asia Minor, Europe, India… all over

 

 

History tells us what became of the Apostles…

·         Judas Iscariot, after betraying his Lord, hanged himself.

·         Peter was crucified by Emperor Nero rose up quickly… popular with the lower class of people for his laws favoring them… became power hungry… almost bankrupted the public treasury… turned savage toward believers (late 1st C.)—Christians were thrown to hungry lions in coliseums, while the blood-thirsty crowd cheered with delight. It was a new spectator sport, watching Christians be torn apart! Nero himself had Christians, wrapped in robes, dipped into giant vats of hot wax, then hung on poles in his garden at night, set ablaze as living, human torches, giving light to his dinner party, as he rode around naked & drunk in his chariot.  Tradition says that the Apostle Peter refused to be crucified like Jesus, and was, by his own request, crucified upside down. Nero had the apostle Paul beheaded also.

·         Andrew died on a cross in Achaia, a Grecian Colony.

·         James, the younger half brother of Jesus, was thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple, and then beaten to death with a club.

·         Bartholomew was flayed alive in Albanapolis, Armenia.

·         James, the elder son of Zebedee, was beheaded at Jerusalem.

·         Thomas, the doubter, was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel, in the East Indies.

·         Philip was hanged against a pillar at Heropolis (Abyssinia).

·         Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows.

·         Simon died on a cross in Persia (now Iran).

·         John was the only apostle who died a natural death. He was seized by the authorities under the order of Emperor Domitian who reigned from AD 81-96. Tradition says that John drank poison to prove that Jesus and the Holy Spirit were with him to protect him. A condemned prisoner was then forced to drink the poison to prove that it was lethal. The prisoner died and John raised him from the dead. John was then thrown into a caldron of boiling oil which also failed to kill him. He was eventually banished to the Island of Patmos where he received the awesome revelation of Jesus Christ… Rev. 1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  John died of extreme old age in Ephesus.

·         O.T and N.T. heroes’ of faith are now cheering you on in the race marked out for you…

·         The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church… what a history

·         They have passed the baton, generation to generation… how are you doing?

 

·         My friends, your faith doesn’t come cheap… It cost dearly when God sent His Son to die in your place.  It’s called substitutionary atonement… Jesus shed His blood so your sins can be forgiven…

·         He has done everything He could… now it’s in your court… Will you receive Jesus today?

 

 

V.        Consider My Faith?  My Race?  My Church?

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

·         Consider MY Faith?  God says there are two ways of dying… You can die in faith OR you can die without mercy Heb 10:28… We had about 10 children trust Jesus during VBS… how about you?

·         Consider MY Race?  God has a personalize race mark out with your name on it… who are you sharing your faith with?  How’s your burden for the lost?  What Impact for Christ are you making?

·         Consider MY Church?  God calling you to get off the sideline and begin running the race… What ministries are you involved with?  Are you being persecuted for Jesus?  Marathon not a sprint race!

 

“Emboldened to Run” the Race Marked out for me!