11TH JANUARY, 2025
PASTOR OLUBI JOHNSON
OVERCOMING AFFLICTION AND PERSECUTION
Mark 4:17 KJV
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
Affliction is bodily and circumstantial attacks orchestrated by Satan remotely, without any consciously willing human agent, to try to physically kill or destroy us. It is allowed by God to break our pride and draw us closer to God (2Cor. 12:7-10; Psa. 119:67).
Persecution is rejection and physical attack from men to pressurize us, to hinder our faith and take us away from God (Act. 16:19-40).
God allows, but does not initiate, persecution to test our loyalty and affliction, to break our pride.
Satan, however, is the one that initiates the persecution and affliction, NOT GOD (Jn. 10:10; Lam. 3:33)!
When Satan attacks us through persecution or affliction, it gives God a legal basis to eternally punish Satan and all rebels: both demonic and human (2Thess. 1:4-6).
How then do we overcome persecution?
By prayer and walking in love, like Paul and Silas did in Philippi, and got their jailor (persecutor) saved (Act. 16:23-34).
We overcome affliction, not by asking God to take it away, but by humbling ourselves before God to receive more grace to pray to overcome the affliction.
God’s grace does not take away the affliction; rather, it gives us a greater measure of life to pray through the affliction.
In other words, affliction cannot be avoided, but it can be overcome by becoming more humble and then praying (the humility must come before the praying) just like the Lord Jesus humbled and submitted to the will of God to go to the cross, before the angel strengthened Him through prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane (Luk. 22:42-45).
James 5:13 KJV
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
James 5:10-11 KJV
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Personal Reflection
1. Am I humbling myself before God to receive grace and pray through my current affliction or persecution?
2. How can I walk in love and pray for those persecuting or afflicting me, like Paul and Silas did?
3. Do I trust God’s tender mercy and compassionate nature to overcome my affliction, just like Job and the prophets did?
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