1. II Timothy 3:10-12 (NKJV) 10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

2. I SURRENDER MY COMFORT II Timothy 3:10-12

3. I Surrender My Comfort  We continue to concentrate on our theme for 2012, “I Surrender All”  This morning I want us to think about how comfortable we are  We normally will go out of our way to avoid being uncomfortable, or in uncomfortable situations

4. I Surrender My Comfort  We like to live a comfortable life  However, I’m not sure how possible that is when you’re a follower of Christ  I’m afraid that there are too many Christians that aren’t willing to surrender their comfort, and therefore aren’t willing to surrender all

5. I Surrender My Comfort  How much do we do for the cause of Christ that takes away our comfort?  What things do we do that perhaps bring about some persecution for the sake of Jesus?  If you go through your life and never face persecution on any level, are you really serving God?

6. I Surrender My Comfort  1. Certainty of Persecution  Anyone who lives a Christian life, letting their light shine & speaking about the Lord, will suffer persecution  Paul mentioned the persecutions that he had faced (II Tim. 3:10-12)  He then said that all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution

7. I Surrender My Comfort  1. Certainty of Persecution  Jesus said with certainty that His disciples would be hated because of Him (Matt. 10:22-25)  Again Jesus tells us that because of Him and because we are different from the world, that we will be hated and treated accordingly (Jn. 15:19-21; 16:33; 17:14)

8. I Surrender My Comfort  1. Certainty of Persecution  Paul told those in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch that “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22)  Paul knew that persecution would come, and it did (I Thess. 3:3-4)  It should be no surprise when it happens (I Pet. 4:12-16)

9. I Surrender My Comfort  1. Certainty of Persecution  Evil has always despised good, and it will continue that way until God separates them at the end of time (Ps. 37:12-15)  Knowing this should be part of “counting the cost of discipleship”  We must realize that it will happen and prepare ourselves for it

10. I Surrender My Comfort  2. Crisis of Persecution  There is some danger inherent with persecution on the Christian  Like with anything else, the threat of persecution can make a person think twice about who or what they stand with  Persecution suffered by disciples of Christ is no different

11. I Surrender My Comfort  2. Crisis of Persecution  Jesus spoke of the seed that fell on stony places (Matt. 13:20-21; Mk. 4:16-17)  This individual only endures for a while  “For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles”

12. I Surrender My Comfort  2. Crisis of Persecution  This is exactly why the Bible stresses that we endure and remain faithful to the end (Rev. 2:10)  There are many who are in danger of falling away because there were not willing to surrender the comfort of their lives

13. I Surrender My Comfort  3. Charity of Persecution  Lest we think persecution is only bad, we need to understand that some good can come from our being persecuted  Jesus said we should count ourselves blessed when we are persecuted for His sake (Matt. 5:10-12)

14. I Surrender My Comfort  3. Charity of Persecution  “…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”  “…for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you”  Jesus warned His disciples of persecution, but told them they would be saved if they endured to the end (Matt. 10:22)

15. I Surrender My Comfort  3. Charity of Persecution  Christ gave hope through persecution when He said that He had overcome the world (Jn. 16:33)  Peter also counted those who suffered as blessed (I Pet. 3:14; 4:14)  A crown of life is to those who endure (Rev. 2:9-10; 7:14)

16. I Surrender My Comfort  4. Character of Persecution  How should we act when suffering persecution for the cause of Christ?  Jesus said we should “rejoice and be exceedingly glad” (Matt. 5:12)  Peter said if we suffer patiently, it is commendable before God (I Pet. 2:20)

17. I Surrender My Comfort  4. Character of Persecution  Peter also said we should “rejoice” and be “glad with exceeding joy” (I Pet. 4:13)  We should not be ashamed, but rather glorify God (I Pet. 4:16)  Peter gives us comfort in I Peter 5:9 when he tells us others suffer along with us

18. I Surrender My Comfort  4. Character of Persecution  In the very next verse he tells us that after suffering God will “perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you”  Paul told the Thessalonians not to be shaken by persecutions that would happen (I Thess. 3:3-4)

19. I Surrender My Comfort  4. Character of Persecution  James tells us to count it all joy when we suffer (1:2)  This will produce patience in us (1:3)  We also have the example of the apostles rejoicing following their time of suffering (Acts 5:41-42)

20. I Surrender My Comfort  5. Case of Persecution  We are not without examples of persecutions in the Bible  Just about anyone who proclaimed God’s word was persecuted  Hebrews outlines many who suffered in some very terrible ways (11:35-40)

21. I Surrender My Comfort  5. Case of Persecution  Christ was the ultimate example of how we are to handle being persecuted (I Pet. 2:21-23)  John was being persecuted by being exiled to the island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9-10)  Again, the apostles suffered (Acts 5:40-42)

22. I Surrender My Comfort  5. Case of Persecution  In Acts 12, James was killed while Peter was thrown into prison, and later escaped  In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were imprisoned for their righteous works  We are not alone in our sufferings for Christ, knowing that many have had it much worse