Lest We Forget!!!

Remembering Those Who Served … God Bless America

Be Ye Thankful

Psalm 30:12 to the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for ever

Even when Persecutions Arise! Matt. 5: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

2 Tim. 3:10-12

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Timothy had an example: Paul 1. He had FAITHFULLY (carefully )followed Paul’s a) Doctrine. “The reason Paul lived the way he lived was because he believed certain things.” ‘WHAT WE BELIEVE WILL DETERMINE HOW WE LIVE’! Is someone watching you?

2. Paul’s manner of life. (Phil. 1:27) There was just a certain Way that Paul lived, and Timothy was around him enough to Learn it and follow it. Examples are so important! For our family—children, grandchildren, others What kind of life are you living????

3. Timothy caught Paul’s purpose. Paul’s life had a Purpose! It was not without direction. Paul was Going somewhere, and that purpose had been established By God. Timothy saw that in Paul, he caught it, and he wanted To live his life that way! What is your purpose in life?

4. Timothy caught Paul’s Faith, Longsuffering, and Love… Timothy could see in Paul that he had a FAITH not everyone had..and Timothy wanted to catch it. a)Paul was longsuffering..that is patient with the little irritations of people and life in a special way. b)Paul had a love that made him stand out. c)Remember all of these flowed forth from the doctrine— the truth—Paul held on to and Timothy ‘carefully’ followed.

) Question: We might think that the person who lives their life with the right doctrine, with the right manner of life, with the right Purpose, faith, longsuffering and love would be loved and Accepted by everyone---but they are not!!

In fact, some level of persecution is CERTAIN for people who follow this kind of life! Listen to Paul: 2 Tim.3:12 Yea, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. a ) In our own day, Christians are being persecuted all over the World… 1. In China 2. In the Muslim world 3. In Russia 4. And in America…!!!

We must never forget this fact! Christians are persecuted for the same reason Jesus was persecuted. John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Paul mentions to Timothy about some of his persecutions:

“which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra..”

At Antioch Where Paul was kicked out of the city for preaching the gospel. Acts 13:50 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable(prominent) women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts (region)

At Iconium Where Paul was almost executed by stoning. Acts 14:5,6 5 And when there was an assault (violent attempt)was made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully (abuse), and to stone them, 6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

At Lystra Where they actually did stone Paul and leave him for dead. Acts 14:19 19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew(dragged) him out of the city, supposing he had been dead

But Paul’s conclusion: “And out of them all the Lord delivered me!” Where was Paul when he was writing these words? In a prison and waiting for his execution. (2 Tim.4:5-8) What did Paul know: “God was completely able to deliver him again, or that he might not. “ Paul was at peace with himself, leaving it all in the hands of God. Persecution was not going to stop Paul from following hard after Jesus Christ!

Persecution must not ever stop us from being faithful to Jesus Christ! We may or we may not in our day face strong violent persecution. I Pet. 4:4 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Some Examples in O.T. of people being persecuted: Abel, who offered a better sacrifice than Cain ( Gen 4:4-10 ; Heb 11:4 );Gen 4:4-10Heb 11:4 He was killed for doing right before God by his brother!

Jeremiah. Jerm. 9:11; Jeremiah, who spoke God's message of condemnation against Judah for her sins and the coming judgment against her to be brought by the Babylonians ( Jeremiah 9:11 Jeremiah 9:13-16 ; 21:3-7 ; 25:1-14 ),Jeremiah 9:11Jeremiah 9: :3-725:1-14 had his message rejected (Jer ), he was beaten ( Jer 37:15 ),Jer 37:15 and finally he was dropped into a muddy cistern ( Jer 38:6-13)Jer 38:6-13

Elijah – I Kings 18:25-40 Elijah, spoke against the prophets of Baal ( 1 Kings 18:25-40 )1 Kings 18:25-40 and against the idolatry of Israel ( 1 Kings 18:16-21 ),1 Kings 18:16-21 and was persecuted by Jezebel for his godly stand ( 1 Kings 19:1-3 );1 Kings 19:1-3

LOT - Gen. 19:9 1. a "righteous man who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men" ( 2 Peter 2:7 )2 Peter 2:7 2. A man whom the people rejected who "kept bringing pressure on [him] and moved forward to break down the door" of his house in Sodom ( Gen 19:9 );Gen 19:9

New Testament Examples: John the Baptist, He spoke out against the adultery of Herod Antipas and was beheaded ( Mark 6:21-29Mark 6:21-29

Stephen Acts 6:5; 7:1-60 Stoned to Death! Stephen, preaching the gospel before the Sanhedrin and proclaiming God's judgment because of the sins of the people, was rejected and stoned ( Acts 6:5 ; 7:1-60 ); Acts 6:57:1-60

Paul..2 Tim.4:6-8 Paul, who was persecuted, beaten, and imprisoned as he preached from place to place, and was finally killed in Rome

Jesus Himself cf.Heb2:9-10 Jesus himself who preached God's grace and judgment ( Matt 4:17 ; 11:28-29 ),Matt 4:1711:28-29 was persecuted by his hearers ( Luke 4:28-30 ),Luke 4:28-30 plotted against by his adversaries ( Mark 3:6 ),Mark 3:6 rejected ( Luke 13:34 ; John 6:66 ),Luke 13:34John 6:66 tried ( John 18:12-40 ),John 18:12-40 and finally crucified ( John 19:16-37 ; Phil. 2:9John 19:16-37Phil. 2:9

Lest we Forget!!

What does it take? 1. A heart truly dedicated to Jesus. God is looking at our heart! I Sam.16:7; Matt.15: A life filled with doing the will of the Lord No matter what the cost! Matt. 6:33; Heb. 12: A worker for the Lord…not a shirker! Jas.1:22 4. Being faithful to the end. I Cor. 15:58