First Two Commandments – Practical Ap
Jesus said in Matthew 4:10: “Worship the Lord Your God, and serve Him only.” He also said in Luke 16:13: “No servant can serve two masters.” Evaluate your efforts on the first two commandments. You may share if you like, any successes and failures:
Prayer in Persecution
Dear Lord, we are sorely tried in these days of persecution and need. We have not always loved You with all our heart nor served You. We confess that we have not always done what you wanted us to. Forgive us, O Lord, all our sins, our neglect, our indifference, our coldness. In Your mercy, O Lord, turn your face again toward us. Help us, we pray, and give us today what we need to support ourselves and all those who are persecuted. Fill also our souls with peace and love. To You belongs the glory both now and forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Comfort
When I’m in trouble, where should I go first for comfort? Psalm 119:52; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Since God is our ultimate comfort, his Word is our greatest resource for comfort. God’s Word is as close as our fingertips, and God himself is as close as our whispered prayer. How does God give us comfort? Psalm 23:4; Matthew 5:4 Comfort when we grieve. Psalm 147:3 Comfort when we are discouraged. Exodus 14:13; Psalm 145:14 Comfort when we are overwhelmed. John 16:33; 1 Peter 5:7 Comfort when we are persecuted. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. Isaiah 41:10 Comfort when we are rejected. Psalm 138:3 Comfort in the midst of conflict. Genesis 26:24 Comfort when we are afraid. Psalm 41:3 Comfort when we are ill. Romans 8:28 Comfort when we wonder about our plans for the future. How can we comfort others? 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 The comforted becomes the comforter. That is the role God has for us. As he comforts us in our time of trouble, so we comfort others. @Promise from God: Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows everyone who trusts in him. Bible Persecutions The Persecuted The Persecutors Why the Persecution Result Reference Uriah Jehoiakim Uriah confronted Jehoiakim about his evil ways Uriah was butchered to death Jeremiah 26:20-23 Jeremiah Zedekiah Zedekiah thought Jeremiah was a traitor for prophesying Jerusalem's fall Jeremiah was thrown in prison, then into a muddy well Jeremiah 37:1–38:13 Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego Nebuchadnezzar The three men refused to bow down to anyone but God They were thrown into a fiery furnace, but God miraculously saved them Daniel 3 Daniel National leaders Daniel was praying Daniel was thrown into a den of lions, but God miraculously saved him Daniel 6 Job Satan Satan wanted to prove that pain and suffering would make a person abandon God Job remained faithful to God and was restored Job 1:8-12; 2:3-7 John the Baptist Herod and Herodias John confronted King Herod's adultery John was beheaded Matthew 14:3-13 Jesus Religious leaders Jesus exposed their sinful motives Jesus was crucified, but rose again from the dead to show his authority over all evil Mark 7:1-16; Luke 22:63–24:7 Peter and John Religious leaders Peter and John preached that Jesus was God's Son and the only way to salvation They were thrown into prison, but later released Acts 4:1-31 Stephen Religious leaders Stephen exposed their guilt in crucifying Jesus Stephen was stoned to death Acts 6–7 The church Paul and others The Christians preached Jesus as the Messiah Believers faced death, prison, torture, exile Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-9 James Herod Agrippa I To please the Jewish leaders James was executed Acts 12:1-2 Peter Herod Agrippa I To please the Jewish leaders Peter was thrown into prison Acts 12:3-17 Paul Jews, city officials Paul preached about Jesus and confronted those who made money by manipulating others Paul was stoned; thrown into prison Acts 14:19; 16:16-24 Timothy Unknown Unknown Timothy was thrown into prison Hebrews 13:23 John Probably the Romans John told others about Jesus John was sent into exile on a remote island Revelation 1:9 Micaiah, like thousands of believers before and after him, was persecuted for his faith. The chart shows that persecution comes from a variety of people and is given in a variety of way,. Sometimes God protects us from it; sometimes he doesn’t. but as long as we remain faithful to God alone, we must expect persecution (see also Luke 6:22; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 2 Timothy 2:9-12; Revelation 2:10). God also seems to have a special reward for those who endure such persecution (Revelation 6:9-11; 20:4). Persecution
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.(2 Timothy 3:12) In this charge, Paul told Timothy that people who obey God and live for Christ will be persecuted. Don’t be surprised when people misunderstand, criticize, and even try to hurt you because of what you believe and how you live. Don’t give up. Continue to live as you know you should. God is the only one you need to please. See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners. The attitude exist, because God wants us to build our commitment to Him. He wants us to place Him first in your life and love so you can choose to love Him with your WHOLE heart, mind, soul, and strength. His desires and wants should be the most important things in your life, more than anything else in our life. This means that everything else must be downgraded. And he uses persecution (to afflict or harass constantly so as to distress for reasons of religion – to trouble or annoy). We need to come to the place where you know which love you are living for, and for this cause you should not be afraid to suffer and, if need be, die. We need to be willing to “take the heat” and stand alone for what is right in this love affair. We need to take any criticism without self pity or self righteousness. And we need to have the ability to stand up for what our lover – God desires without getting defensive or compromising our shared love. When we can do this, we will inherit the love fest in heaven to be with our lover. We should not think that this is unusual. We may need to do similar things in family, school, work relationships. Where ever any relationship exist that would require us to go against the flow of the regular society we live in. Example:: Instead of going out and parting, going home and caring for a spousal or parental need. All this going against the normal flow of the society will build your relationships and improve the quality of your life. |