7th Oct 26 | 04:00
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Loving and praying for our persecutors
📖 Acts 17:06-08
Acts 17 - Series 01/Episode 23 - Mon 05th Oct 2026 - Loving and praying for our persecutors - Acts 17:01-09 - MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA - Matthew 05:44-45
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Acts 17:6-8 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. (7) Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king-Jesus." (8) And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.
The devil has blinded the minds of the people so that they do not see their predicament of being in the captivity of the devil and are exercising his authority to rule over the world. II Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, (4) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
We preach Jesus as Lord, but we are also bond servants to the people. II Corinthians 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, *but Christ Jesus the Lord*, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. This is indeed a strange combination. When we preach Jesus as Lord, we should be living in a sense of superiority over others. Whereas, as disciples of Christ, we demonstrate humility, and we serve people.
We do not use our freedom in Christ to give place to our flesh, but we serve others. Galatians 5:13-14 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." / John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (35) By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
This combination of preaching Jesus as Lord and simultaneously serving people is what the world does not understand. Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. (26) Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. (27) And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave- (28) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Persecution happened in Philippi, and it was happening again in Thessalonica. The leaders of the city did not take the effort to conduct an enquiry to find out the real issue. Instead, they accepted the words and noise of the crowds, instigated by the unbelieving Jews and acted. This shows the stranglehold that the devil has over the world systems. It is into this world that the Lord sends us to serve and make known Jesus as Lord.
John 15:18-23 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. (19) If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (20) Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (21) But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. (22) If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. (23) He who hates Me hates My Father also.
When the world hates us without a cause, we must keep in mind the frightening punishment that awaits those who do such things. II Thessalonians 1:5-10 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; (6) since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, (7) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, (8) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (10) when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
Learning: Let us love and pray for those who persecute us.
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