"Standing Strong Through Persecution" (1 Thess 2:13-16)

For the Christ follower, persecution in America for our faith has already started and it will increase as well as intensify! The goal of this teaching is to aid you to be ready for it. Businesses have been fined and some forced out of business due to alleged discrimination against the LGBT agenda. Pressure comes from the government as well as from politically correct organizations to force everyone to give permission to men who identify themselves as women the right to use women's showers and restroom facilities! Recently, at their convention in the city of Philadelphia, the Democratic Party along with their candidate for president declared their support for abortion rights. Concerning homosexuality, it was said, "[We] applaud last year's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that recognized that LGBT people, like other Americans, have the right to marry the person they love." Christ followers around the world have been arrested for preaching and teaching what God says about homosexuality! Do not be surprised as persecution intensifies, that this country will soon do the same! As we faithfully hold to what God says in the Bible concerning these moral issues, persecution will intensify! So, the question becomes, "As Christ followers, will we continue to stand and hold to what God says in the Bible, at the risk of being persecuted, or do we surrender to this godless culture to avoid being persecuted?" Our text says, "For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe" (1 Thess 1:13). To stand against persecution, we must believe God's Word! This is God's means of encouraging and strengthening us! Notice the phrase that God's Word, "also performs its work in you who believe." God's Word performs its work of encouraging and strengthening all who believe it as His Word! When we truly believe God's Word is not the word of men, we'll run to it to learn what it says and how to apply it to every area of our lives, including persecution! In it we'll discover real life examples of Christ followers who because of their faith, endured persecution! Your move. Be encouraged!