UNLEASHED L.O.T.E.: Conduct During Persecution101

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. ² (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) ³ But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

 

⁴ But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.  Acts 8:1-4

 

I'm not sure what you had in mind when you think or thought of persecution, but what the early believers and many in other countries today, truly endure persecution in ways that cost them their careers, and even their very lives.   But we here in America, the land of the free, the home of the brave don't endure people storming our homes and dragging us out to the middle of the street or coliseums to be killed (above pictured of believers in Hungary).    We don't REALLY endure real and intense persecution simply because of our faith, but they did, how did they respond?

 

But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.   I'm comforted that they didn't waste their time teeing off on the Romans, Paul and anyone else during that time, but rather focused on preaching the GOSPEL.   You know......the real GOSPEL!  

 

1) Telling people about WHO GOD IS, and how much He loves us.

 

2) Who we are in relation to GOD, and what separates us from GOD (our sin).

 

3) GOD has a solution for our problem.....JESUS, and

 

4) Simply what will be our response!

 

Now....they did this under persecution!  Not in a nice comfortable setting, but sometimes on the run, or in unfavorable places, but nonetheless they did it.  As we will continue to see this week, the saying is true....it's not always what you say.....it's how you say it....and for some people we'd do better with a piece of duck tape over our mouths and rather show people the GOSPEL!  So as you read this on the GO, or sitting in your cubicle or preparing to leave out........I know or have heard where you work, and how bad, or good it is....but I wonder.....under the persecution of the day.....what will your response be, Stephen and Jesus both asked for, prayed for God's forgiveness....and they honestly, affectionately meant that.  How long will your response be.....Ray I hear ya bro, but I'm just not there?  LGLP