Nate Saint was a missionary pilot who was martyred in 1956 in Ecuador. His son Steve knew his father died for the Gospel, but that didn't keep him from wondering if his father's death had been necessary.
When he found himself in Timbuktu, God gave him a deep assurance that his father's death had great purposes. Please read Divine Appointment in Timbuktu as an introduction to this Bible study.
Bible Study
The following passages reveal various aspects of persecution. As you read through them, think about ways that they specifically apply to your life:
➜ It's inevitable - genuine believers will experience persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12: Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
➜ It's a privilege - it glorifies God.
1 Peter 4:14-16: If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
➜ We can be confident that God is with us no matter what we suffer.
Romans 8:31-35:What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
➜ We need an eternal perspective on suffering.
Matthew 10:28-33: And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ...
Let the passages above strengthen your faith:
Christians in America are facing increased persecution. It hasn't reached the level of imprisonment or physical abuse, but we are being persecuted for sharing unpopular Gospel truths.
Have you denied your faith in any area? Have you chosen to remain silent when you should have spoken the truth in love? Have you been ashamed to tell a friend or coworker about your faith, knowing they might reject you? Have you changed your moral values to fit the values of culture? Let's pray through the passages above and ask God to help us stand firm in every area of our faith.
copyright, Gail Burton Purath, 2015, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com
All passage this week are ESV
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