Persecution vs Betrayal!!

Persecution and Betrayal are both different words. First let's discuss of each word separately, then we'll understand both.

1) PERSECUTION:

Persecution will vary from place to place, from time to time, from individual to individual. Sometimes it will result in physical sufferings, sometimes it will mean facing dislike and discrimination. But all godly believers will face it in some measure at some times in their lives.

Christian persecution is to be expected: the apostle Paul warned that “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution". 2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV.

"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". John 15:20 NKJV. 

Jesus made it clear that those of the world will hate Christians because the world hates Christ.

Christians must learn to recognize the value of persecution and even to rejoice in it.

Keypoints:

First, the persecution of Christians allows them to share in a unique fellowship with the Lord.

Second, in all truth, Christian persecution is good for believers.

"He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly". 1 Peter 2:23 NLT.

Third, Christian persecution enables believers to better value the support of true friends.

Hardship can stimulate the Lord’s people toward a greater resolve to love and comfort one another and lift one another to the throne of grace in prayer.

Even in the face of Christian persecution, we can thank God for His grace and patience with us. We can express gratitude for those whom we love in the Lord and who stand with us in times of distress. And we can pray for those who would accuse, misuse, or abuse us.

"Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes". 2 Corinthians 11:24 NLT.

2) BETRAYAL: 

Betrayal is a gross violation of trust and can be one of the most devastating forms of pain inflicted upon a human being. The suffering of betrayal is often magnified by a sense of vulnerability and exposure.

David was no stranger to betrayal: "It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God." Psalms 55:12‭-14 NLT

Jesus knew the pain of betrayal firsthand. The worst, most treacherous betrayal of all time was Judas’s betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. 

"Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me." Psalms 41:9 NLT

But Jesus did not become vindictive, bitter, or angry. Just the opposite. After receiving the traitor’s kiss, Jesus addressed Judas as “friend” (Matthew 26:50).

Despite the pain, there is a way we can overcome betrayal. The power comes directly from God and the strength of forgiveness.

Keypoints:

The first key is to cry out to God. Though we may want to strike out at the betrayer, we need to take our cause to the Lord.

"Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing." 1 Peter 3:9 NLT

Another key in overcoming the pain of betrayal is to remember Jesus’ example. Our sinful nature impels us to “repay evil with evil,” but Jesus taught us otherwise: “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. . . . Pray for those who persecute you.”

Tit for tat is not a solution my friends.

"But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also". Matthew 5:39 NKJV

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." Matthew 5:44 NKJV

Another powerful key in overcoming the bitterness of betrayal is our God-given ability to forgive the betrayer. The word forgiveness includes the word give. When we choose to forgive someone, we actually give that person a gift—the freedom from personal retaliation. But you are also giving yourself a gift—a “grudge-free life.”

Jesus taught that “loving our neighbor as ourselves” should be proactive: “But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. Without a question, it is enormously difficult to forgive a person who’s betrayed our trust. It is only possible with God.

Lastly, my friends, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion." Romans 12:14‭-‬16 NKJV

Persecution is another level, first you'll face betrayal among friends, family and colleagues. In that situation you'll be feel to not to believe anybody. But, I say to you, we all have commonly one good and really close friend, Jesus Christ, Amen!!

How to know that someone is filled with Holy Spirit?

For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Acts 1:5 NKJV

“Baptized with the Holy Spirit”– four different expressions are used to describe what the disciples received on the day of Pentecost – here:

“baptized with the Holy Spirit”

v 8: “when the Holy Spirit comes on you”

2:4: “filled with the Holy Spirit”

10:47: “received the Holy Spirit”.

All four references speak of the same event described in Acts 2:1-4. It is important to see this. On that day Christ gave them God’s Spirit in a new way. 

This was like immersing them in the Spirit, or pouring the Spirit on them (Acts 2:33; 10:45), and the result was that their whole inner being was filled with the Spirit, and they received power to live the Christian life and to witness and serve God as they ought. 

They began to live and move in God’s Spirit, to be inspired, motivated, and controlled by God’s Spirit. From that time to this, individuals receive God’s Spirit when they believe in the Lord Jesus. 

If they have not received Christ’s Spirit, Who is the Spirit of God, they do not belong to Christ; that is, they have not really believed in Him or been born from above.

According to 1 Cor 12:12-13 every believer has been baptized with God’s Spirit into the Body of Christ (or baptized “by” or “in” God’s Spirit – the Greek word can mean any of these, and the same word is used there that is used here in Acts). 

This too happens when they receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. They no longer have to wait for this as the original apostles had to wait for God’s appointed time for the coming of the Spirit. 

God had chosen that day of Pentecost to begin this era of the Spirit, this age of grace, this new work in the earth. Now, since it has begun and has been going on for these many centuries waiting is no longer necessary.

After receiving the Holy Spirit by receiving Christ, and, at that same time, being baptized by the Spirit into Christ’s Body, every believer should earnestly seek to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18). 

There is only one baptism of the Holy Spirit, but believers may be filled again and again. And recognizing that we have the Spirit living in us, that we have been baptized with the Spirit, if we have reason to think that we are not filled with Him, we should seek the fullness of the Spirit with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. Eph. 5:18 NKJV

“Filled with the Holy Spirit”– this is God’s will for every believer. God does not tell us to do something or to have something which is not His will for us. This fullness of God’s Spirit is the same thing seen in Paul’s prayer for believers in Eph 3:19. 

Since this is God’s will we know that we can have this fullness (1 John 5:14-15; Luke 11:13). We can have it by going directly to the heavenly Father and receiving this by faith, without the involvement of any human being. 

“Be filled” means to be constantly filled, to receive the fullness and remain in that condition. God wants this to be the normal state of all believers. This is the Christian life as we should live it. 

How else can we deny ourselves as we should and live as we should and serve Christ as we should? To be constantly filled means, on our part, constant obedience, submission and trust. 

What does “filled” mean? 

A person drunk on wine is under the influence and control of wine. A person filled with God’s Spirit is controlled by God’s Spirit. But this does not mean he loses control of himself (1 Cor 14:32-33. A fruit of the Spirit is self-control – Gal 5:23). It is a conscious, loving obedience to the Spirit and a joyful fellowship with Him.

"Self-control”– this is a fruit of God’s Spirit (Gal 5:23). We “add” it by yielding to the Spirit and walking in the Spirit and using the strength the Spirit gives to bring our thoughts and desires and actions under control.

Can a person know he is filled with the Holy Spirit if there are no accompanying signs? 

Certainly. He can know by faith (1 John 5:14-15), faith based on God’s promises. And his experience afterwards will confirm that he is filled with the Spirit – he will have power for holy living and for witness and service.

Is God's promises lasts forever? Covenant vs Promise.

The Psalm chp. 105 reveals God’s sovereignty over both the history of Israel and the acts of sinful men. Notice carefully how God was involved in ruling over everything – vs 14,16,17,24,25,26, etc. He was continually at work to fulfill His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – vs 8-10. 

We might say this is the psalm concerning God’s covenant with Abraham, just as Psalm 89 is the psalm of His covenant with David. Like Psalms 78 and 106, this one deals with history. 

Ps 78 was given chiefly for the purpose of teaching and exhortation. Ps 106 is a confession of Israel’s many sins. 

But this psalm rejoices in the mighty acts of the LORD God and there is no mention at all of the sin of Israel. The first 15 verses are found in 1 Chron 16:8-22. From that reference we may judge that David wrote it.

All God did is what He did to fulfill His covenant and promises. To do that (fulfill promise) God would be willing to move heaven and earth.

In the introduction (vs 1-7) David sets forth seven duties or privileges of God’s people –

1) Giving thanks,

2) Praying,

3) Making known God’s deeds,

4) Singing to God or about God,

5) Glorying in Him,

6) Seeking Him, And 

7) Remembering His wonderful works and words.

Following these instructions will result in a healthy spiritual life in any believer.

Covenant vs Promise:

But I will establish My covenant with you.

Gen. 6:18

In this verse the first use in the Bible of the word “covenant” occurs. It is a very important word, used nearly 300 times. 

The Hebrew word (Covenant) means an agreement between two or more parties (21:27; 26:28; 2 Sam 3:12-13), whereas a Promise given by one party to another (Gen 9:8-11). 

Sometimes there were conditions laid down, sometimes not. There was often some sign given and a sacrifice offered in connection with the establishment of a covenant.

God made very important covenants with men on several occasions –

1) with Noah and all mankind (9:8-17);

2) with Abraham and his descendants (15:18-21);

3) with the nation Israel (Ex 19:5);

4) with David and his offspring (2 Sam 7:16); and 

5) The New Covenant (Matt 26:27-29).

Old Testament vs New Testament:

The first part of the Bible is called the Old Testament (or Covenant) because it has to do for the most part with God’s covenant made with Israel at Sinai (Ex 19:5). 

The second part of the Bible is called the New Testament (or Covenant) because it has to do with the covenant Christ made with His disciples just before His crucifixion.

“I am the vine, you are the branches." John 15:5

I think Jesus here talking about or mentioning the Israelites as Israelites was God’s unfaithful vine. But Jesus is the true and faithful vine and the Father is the vinedresser.

Here is a parable regarding the nation of Israel as a whole and the tribe of Judah in particular. (See Isa. 5:1-7). Those who thought of themselves as God’s people are called a vineyard.

First, both the fruitless branch and the fruitful branch refer to true believers. The phrase every branch in Me, which refers to genuine believers. Elsewhere in the NT, nonbelievers are never said to be “in Me (Christ)” in any sense. 

The verb translated takes away can just as easily be translated “lifts up,” denoting the Vinedresser’s action in stimulating growth in a fruitless branch (God helping a fruitless believer to produce fruit). 

In the viticulture of Israel, late fall was the season for removing dead branches (v. 6). The springtime (the time of the upper room message and Jesus’ death) was the season to “lift up” fruitless branches from the ground to encourage productivity. The fruitful branch (i.e., a fruitful believer) receives pruning (divine discipline) so that it might be even more fruitful.

HE is speaking of what happens to literal branches cut from a vine. He does not say that some believers may not remain in Him and that if they do not, they will be burned in the fires of hell. That will be the fate of unbelievers, like Judas Iscariot, but not of believers. 

If any believer fears it might happen to him let him be sure to take hold of all the truth Christ taught and remain in Him. Then he will certainly not fall away.

Publicity of the Bible Authors/Writers?

The writers of the Bible were not concerned with promoting themselves. They would all have agreed with the psalmist who said “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory” (Ps 115:1). 

They wrote by the inspiration of the one true God (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21), and their concern was to record exactly what God inspired them to record. In a very real sense the author of every book of the Bible was God Himself using human instruments. 

This does not mean that the writers of the Bible were like robots or inanimate word processors. God took the writers as they were, with their faults and failings, with their human intellects and emotions and wills, and worked in them and through them to bring His Word into the world, just as He wanted it to be. 

God is great enough and wise enough to be able to do this, and He did do it. Men wrote the Bible, but what they wrote came from the mouth of God (Matt 4:4).