Tag-Archive for ◊ persecution ◊

17 Aug 2023 Acts (Program #53)

Acts (Program #53) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (19)

In Acts Chapter 20, the Apostle Paul, anticipating his possible martyrdom, declared, “But I consider my life of no account as if precious to myself, in order that I may finish my course and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus to solemnly testify of the gospel of the grace of God… For I did not shrink from declaring to you all the counsel of God.”

This was God’s foremost Apostle, the one in whom God had committed the ministry of the age, and yet he found himself in such extreme persecution that he feared that he would not be spared to continue. What brought about such a dramatic moment in his magnificent ministry? Stay with us as we’ll find out in today’s life study of the Bible.

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09 Aug 2023 Acts (Program #45)

Acts (Program #45) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (11)

To suffer persecution on behalf of Jesus is not uncommon. Believers have experienced this glory from the first century. We may think that the Biblical pattern for such suffering is to bear it humbly, meekly, as a lamb led to the slaughter. The Bible does show us such examples, but there are other examples completely different attitude for the sake of the Gospel. We will see one such example on today’s life study of the Bible.

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28 Jul 2023 Acts (Program #33)

Acts (Program #33) – The Propagation in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria through the Ministry of Peter’s Company (25)

After a glorious beginning, the church in Jerusalem underwent a sudden turn and persecution fell heavily upon the church. The trouble and persecution became so heavy in fact that nearly all the believers except the apostles were forced to leave and were scattered, to use the Bible’s own phrase. Was this just God’s enemy reacting to the early success of the gospel or was this a genuine move of God under His sovereign hand?  Stay with us for an enlightening and compelling look at the gospel as it was spread in the first-century church on today’s life study of the Bible.

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18 Jul 2023 Acts (Program #23)

Acts (Program #23) – The Propagation in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria through the Ministry of Peter’s Company (18)

The early Church life of the saints in first-century Jerusalem was typified by extremes in their environment. On the one hand, the Lord was moving mightily among them and their enjoyment of Christ was nearly boundless. But outwardly, their environment was harsh due to the oppression and persecution by the religious and political leaders. This persecution resulted in the eventual scattering of believers away from Jerusalem. But, this scattering was used by God to spread the Gospel into new regions. Stay with us for another remarkable exploration of the book of Acts on today’s life study of the Bible.

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17 Jul 2023 Acts (Program #22)

Acts (Program #22) – The Propagation in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria through the Ministry of Peter’s Company (17)

The Kingdom of God must be preached, and must be in our preaching of the Gospel. Otherwise Christ is not the King, He is only a savior that satisfies our need but doesn’t accomplish God’s goal.

After a glorious beginning, the church in Jerusalem underwent a sudden turn and persecution fell heavily upon the church. The trouble and persecution became so heavy that nearly all the believers except the apostles were forced to leave. They were scattered, to use the Bible’s own phrase.  Was this just God’s enemy reacting to the early success of the gospel or was this a genuine move of God under his sovereign hand? Stay with us for an enlightening and compelling look at the Gospel as it was spread in the first-century church on today’s life study of the Bible.

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16 Jul 2023 Acts (Program #21)

Acts (Program #21) – The Propagation in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria through the Ministry of Peter’s Company (16)

Fifteen thousand in the Church. They all left to other cities and other places, preaching the Gospel everywhere. Can you imagine the activated Body of Christ with every member going out to announce this resurrected and ascended Christ to propagate Him? This is the real preaching of the Gospel.

We have an extraordinary and poignant program on today’s life study of the Bible. We have the inspiring account of a first century martyr on today’s program. But, these stories are not limited to the first century, even in the 20th century. Saint’s suffering for the gospel of Christ and His New Testament ministry continue.

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16 Nov 2022 Matthew (Program #30)

Matthew (Program #30) – The Enlargement of the King’s Ministry (2)

In Matthew chapter 10, the Lord Jesus appointed His 12 apostles.  Later in that chapter, He sent them out to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God, enlarging His earthly ministry.  But before He sent them out to the cities of Israel to proclaim this gospel, He first prepared them to be persecuted and rejected by both the religious and political institutions of that time.  This persecution always accompanies the enlargement of the King’s ministry.  As we once again look at the Lord’s sheep in the midst all the wolves of religions and politics.

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10 Jun 2022 1 Peter (Program #27)

1 Peter (Program #27) – The Mighty Hand of God and Its Goal (2)

1 Peter is a book written with a specific view to God’s governmental dealing with His people.  It also lays out very clearly as God’s people we should expect sufferings and persecution from time to time in our Christian life.

But Peter did not just leave us with a sober realization that God will measure to us sufferings and trying circumstances in order to discipline us.  Actually the book opens with and concludes with grace.  In fact all throughout the book Peter encourages the believers with grace, not a superficial religious expression but marvelous expressions that convey to us four divine acts of grace to be our supply, our strength and our empowering, to be kept in perfect peace regardless of the outward situation we are faced with.

 

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04 Jun 2022 1 & 2 Samuel (Program #22)

1 & 2 Samuel (Program #22) – The History Concerning David (9)

After years of being persecuted at the hands of the evil king Saul, David has finally become king, fulfilling the promise that Jehovah had given to him as a young boy. Now, the entire nation of Israel was with him. And, even the surrounding nations lent their support to him as king. But most importantly, David had Jehovah’s presence with him as well. With all things fully in order under God’s sovereign arrangement, what would David turn his attention to now?

Many before him had sought greater riches and glory for themselves, but David has a different kind of heart. David had a heart that was fully one with the Lord. So and with his own house in order, David turned his full attention to God’s house. What a marvelous picture and pattern for us as believers today.

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