Sheep on a Slippery Slope!
This is not my typical narrative blog. The Lord has laid upon my heart a study of the persecuted church over the past couple of weeks. He has led me to teach on this topic at our monthly Ladies' Night meeting this Friday. Below, I will post the notes from the study praying that someone may be blessed and encouraged by what He has shown me through study and prayer. The lesson focuses on the teachings of God's promised protection in Psalm 121 alongside the persecution He promises for all who desire to live godly in Christ throughout the New Testament. The format will require you to go through the Scripture references and check out my applications and summaries for yourself. May the Holy Spirit bless you as you study through the passages and may He give you great comfort in the knowledge that He will keep you from stumbling during great trial and persecution for His name's sake. There may be slippery slopes when heavy persecution comes, but He will not allow the feet of His sheep to slip!
Psalm 121 in Light of Persecutions & Sufferings for Christ
"I will lift my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever."
(Psalm 121)
* [v. 1] - (2 Corinthians 1:3-11) God helps His people by comforting them in their suffering & imprisonment through the prayers and ministry of the brethren on their behalf.
* [v. 2] - (1 Peter 4:1-2) Christ models for us the life of suffering for His name's sake. Sufferings bring about extraordinary focus on God and produce in believers many Christ-like attributes, pulling us away from sinful self-centered thinking. (1 Peter 2:20-25)
We are admonished to follow Christ's example of suffering and to endure with great patience and love toward those who may inflict pain upon our bodies.
* [v. 3] - (James 1:12-17) Knowing that all trials and sufferings are gifts from God to refine and strengthen our faith, indeed we know that to slip would be to renounce Christ in the face of torment. God will be faithful to grant our perseverance that we may receive the promised crown of life in the end.
* [v. 4] - (2 Timothy 1:7-12) God keeps us by giving power, love & discipline that we may not be ashamed of our persecuted brethren, but join them in suffering for the furtherance of the gospel and the hastening of the day of the Lord's return.
* [v. 5] - (Romans 8:16-25) The Holy Spirit keeps us as He testifies of our salvation & sonship in sufferings, that we may see that glory which will one day be revealed. In the face of trial, He keeps us saved, for in the weakness of our flesh we would surely deny Him in search of physical relief!
* [v. 6] - (Psalm 91:5-7) We need not live in fear of what might happen tomorrow or the next night. (Matthew 10:28-31) We have no need to fear man or what he may do to us when our fear is in God who has ransomed us from what we deserve, which is to have our soul and body thrown into eternal fire. Even the worst tortures under a human hand are less severe than that punishment which we truly deserve. Thank You Jesus for counting me in the number of Your redeemed!
* [v. 7] - (Romans 8:26-39) If we find ourselves in a situation where we are being tortured or otherwise persecuted for the name of Christ at the hands of a sinful man, we must remember that though he means it for evil, God means it for our good. A woman named Ling, who was severely tortured by the Chinese government for her belief in Christ, said that persecution and torture were a school where she learned much deeper dependence upon God. Each time she was arrested and taken back to prison, she said "It must be time to go back to school!" (1 Peter 4:12-19) While God brings fiery ordeals for our testing, we can entrust our souls to our faithful Creator, knowing that He always does what is good!
* [v. 8] - (Acts 5:38-42) God will guard you no matter what you may be 'going out' or 'coming in' to, whether it be floggings, scurgings, starvation, solitary confinement, loss of personal property or loved ones, shame, humiliation, etc. He is in sovereign control of all that we encounter and experience, knowing fully what is best for each of His sheep at any given moment, and what will bring Him the most glory.
Psalm 121 in Light of Persecutions & Sufferings for Christ
"I will lift my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever."
(Psalm 121)
* [v. 1] - (2 Corinthians 1:3-11) God helps His people by comforting them in their suffering & imprisonment through the prayers and ministry of the brethren on their behalf.
* [v. 2] - (1 Peter 4:1-2) Christ models for us the life of suffering for His name's sake. Sufferings bring about extraordinary focus on God and produce in believers many Christ-like attributes, pulling us away from sinful self-centered thinking. (1 Peter 2:20-25)
We are admonished to follow Christ's example of suffering and to endure with great patience and love toward those who may inflict pain upon our bodies.
* [v. 3] - (James 1:12-17) Knowing that all trials and sufferings are gifts from God to refine and strengthen our faith, indeed we know that to slip would be to renounce Christ in the face of torment. God will be faithful to grant our perseverance that we may receive the promised crown of life in the end.
* [v. 4] - (2 Timothy 1:7-12) God keeps us by giving power, love & discipline that we may not be ashamed of our persecuted brethren, but join them in suffering for the furtherance of the gospel and the hastening of the day of the Lord's return.
* [v. 5] - (Romans 8:16-25) The Holy Spirit keeps us as He testifies of our salvation & sonship in sufferings, that we may see that glory which will one day be revealed. In the face of trial, He keeps us saved, for in the weakness of our flesh we would surely deny Him in search of physical relief!
* [v. 6] - (Psalm 91:5-7) We need not live in fear of what might happen tomorrow or the next night. (Matthew 10:28-31) We have no need to fear man or what he may do to us when our fear is in God who has ransomed us from what we deserve, which is to have our soul and body thrown into eternal fire. Even the worst tortures under a human hand are less severe than that punishment which we truly deserve. Thank You Jesus for counting me in the number of Your redeemed!
* [v. 7] - (Romans 8:26-39) If we find ourselves in a situation where we are being tortured or otherwise persecuted for the name of Christ at the hands of a sinful man, we must remember that though he means it for evil, God means it for our good. A woman named Ling, who was severely tortured by the Chinese government for her belief in Christ, said that persecution and torture were a school where she learned much deeper dependence upon God. Each time she was arrested and taken back to prison, she said "It must be time to go back to school!" (1 Peter 4:12-19) While God brings fiery ordeals for our testing, we can entrust our souls to our faithful Creator, knowing that He always does what is good!
* [v. 8] - (Acts 5:38-42) God will guard you no matter what you may be 'going out' or 'coming in' to, whether it be floggings, scurgings, starvation, solitary confinement, loss of personal property or loved ones, shame, humiliation, etc. He is in sovereign control of all that we encounter and experience, knowing fully what is best for each of His sheep at any given moment, and what will bring Him the most glory.
Aye, the Lord is faithful to see His people through the fieriest ordeals!
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