What Good can come from it? There is righteous-production and purpose from persecution when there is believing-prayer, praise, and powerful preaching?

When we have peace with Christ as Lord obediently living in His will, we can also enjoy the peace of Christ. That’s when He rules without rival in our hearts.. regardless of who comes against us.

That’s when thankfulness and praise overflows unto God the Father. Yes, even in the darkest of times we can still praise and worship the Lord (like what David did and experienced for ten long grueling years being chased by that madman king Saul).

What did David feel like when he penned Psalm 59? What did he feel like when King Saul was chasing him with javelins in hand?

We can still worship God acceptably because of who He is, and for his great love for us. We can praise Him in all circumstances (IN, not for all of them). We can pray and praise the Lord for His sovereignty, and all His Bible promises that He keeps. We can thank God for being near to us whenever we humbly call out to Him. Decide early on.. when things get hot, stay cool. Pray, calmly obey and praise the Lord!

1.) I will pray earnestly even when I feel like being passive (Ps. 59:1–7). David compared his enemies to dogs prowling the city streets and growling over the garbage. Saul was after him again (1 Sam. 19:1–11), and only the Lord could deliver David.
2.) I will wait patiently even when I feel like getting distracted (Ps. 59:8–15). David’s wife helped him escape that time, but David faced several years of danger and exile before he received his rightful throne. Twice he could have killed Saul, but he refused to do so. He knew that God would deal with his enemies in His way and in His time (1 Sam. 26:8–11).
3.) I will sing His praises even when I feel like celebrating a pity party or a full-on depression session (Ps. 59:16–17). David had a song in the morning because God gave him joy in the morning (Ps. 30:5). Things often look worse at night, so wait for the morning; God will give you your song of praise.

“The Assured Judgment of the Wicked To the Chief Musician (named Altaschith). Set to ‘Do Not Destroy.’ A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him. 59:1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from bloodthirsty men. 3 For look, they lie in wait for my life; The mighty gather against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord. 4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold! 5 You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah 6 At evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city. 7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; For they say, “Who hears?” 8 But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision. 9 I will wait for You, O You his Strength; for God is my defense. 10 My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies. 11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget; Scatter them by Your power, And bring them down, O Lord our shield. 12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they speak. 13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, That they may not be; And let them know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. Selah 14 And at evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city. 15 They wander up and down for food, And howl if they are not satisfied. 16 But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble. 17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, My God of mercy.” Psalm 59 nkjv

This was at the time when religious Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Yes, God allowed David to be persecuted.

It’s hard for anyone to take. Psalm 59 is basically a candid prayer of David composed at that time when Saul sought to murder him. Commentator Cyril Rodd describes it as a “vigorous plea for the destruction of the psalmist’s enemies”.

David fervently, diligently, earnestly and reverently cried out, “O my God,” through this psalm. He declared his close and personal relational connection with God.

· My God (Psalm 59:1).

· My Defense (Psalm 59:9, 17).

· My God of mercy (Psalm 59:10, 17).

· My Strength (Psalm 59:9, 17).

I hope all those in our day who have thoughtlessly exclaimed O my God would simply alter that approach, and then cry out with the same heart of holy fear and respectful trust in which David prayed.

In David’s younger years, he had played the harp for Saul to calm him. But after Saul threw spears at him on three occasions, David realized Saul was out to get him. So he escaped in the middle of the night. This is the background for Psalm 59…

David likens those watching his house, waiting to devour him, to dogs. The apostle Paul would use this same analogy…

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:2, 3

The concision were legalizers who followed Paul saying, “Paul preached grace, but it’s not that easy. It’s not that simple. If you’re really serious about following God, you must keep these rules and those regulations.”

Who are the true people of God? Those who worship God in the Spirit, those who choose to rejoice in Christ Jesus, those who have no confidence in their flesh. Zero. Period.

See Psalm 59:16, 17.. But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

“Dogs, you can snap at me. Legalists, you can find fault with me. But God is my defense, so I will sing.” ~ Anon.

David went through trial after testing after hard trial (persecuted) — yet he always ended up singing a praise song (at least in his heart in praise), but often times on his lips too. Yes, out loud in worship as well. It was because he hoped and believed in God. Today, we can do that as well!

“But I’m not getting what I want, Kurt” you might say. “How can I praise God?”

If you’re not getting what you want, then praise God anyway that you’re not getting what you deserve.. what you don’t want.

Jeremiah declared, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3:22). We deserve terrible things to come upon us really. We deserve the cross Jesus endured. We deserve to be consumed. But often God has been merciful to us instead. So, even if you’re not getting what you want, just praise God that you’re not getting what you really don’t want. And keep singing to God, for truly He is a God of strong defense for you and matchless mercy.

“The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (Read the full chapter - 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 esv). Sometimes ya just don’t feel like it at all when evil things happen to people. Not “for all" praisin’ away, but God’s word says “in all circumstances” do that. Sure, whether you feel like it or not. He can turn it around for you. Trust Him, he can make it work out for your the good, believer. (See Romans 8:28–29). God allowed some intense, painful, really hard things into David’s life because the Lord was preparing David to reign in a way unlike lame religious Saul did as king.

How should a Christian respond to persecution?

Why is our reward in heaven great if we are persecuted and reviled (Matthew 5:12)?

What does it mean that blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake?

What are some Bible verses about persecution?

What was early Christianity like?

What does it mean to be sheep in the midst of wolves (Matthew 10:16)?

What does it mean that blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake?

What is the Hall of Faith in the Bible.. and does that relate to all this?

How was the gospel preserved during the Middle Ages?

What is Israel’s role in the end times?

What does the Bible mean when it refers to the Diaspora?

What is the synagogue of Satan in Revelation? Why are the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia warned about the synagogue of Satan?

If I convert to Christianity, my family will disown me, and I will be persecuted. Should I follow Jesus?

Did Jesus come to bring peace on earth? Really?

What does it mean to always be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15)?

How should Christians react to so called persecution against today’s LGBTQ community?

Is it wrong to be a Christian secretly in order to preserve your own life?

Is suffering for Christ always going to be a part of being a follower of Christ?

Christian martyrdom, it’s happens today. So what does the Bible say about it?

Were righteous leaders and believers in the Old Testament persecuted any? Yes, they were. Sinless Jesus was too, Christians of our day are, and His followers in the future will be as well.

Back in Christ’s day here Jesus said, “As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation. Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering. As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things..” Luke 11:50–53

(Paul said)..my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra — which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Jesus Christ will be persecuted.. 2 Timothy 3:11–12. In the original language “all" actually means all.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10–12

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.” Mark 10:29–30

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. Revelation 2:10–11

But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9–10

Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. Galatians 4:29

(Paul challenged) ..that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass and just as you know. 1 Thessalonians 3:3–4

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. (said Jesus) Matthew 10:16–18

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:12–14

Suffering is the norm for Christians, it’s not a surprising exception that happens. Check out all of church history. It comes from so many directions at times, even from straight, fairly moral looking people including several religious folk. Not all of them. To suffer as a Christian (not for doing evil) is a call to rejoice in the Lord as His disciple, and such joy is the prelude to the greatest joy that is to come at the return of Christ to earth (when We see his face and his glory will be revealed).

To be insulted because one belongs to Christ will mean to be blessed by God, because in such times the Spirit of glory, God the Holy Spirit, rests upon believers in an especially powerful way. Further, it is the same Spirit that rested on Jesus Himself (see Isa. 11:2; cf. Matt. 3:16) who now lives within every real believer.

In the NT Jesus said, “Then they will hand you over to [endure] tribulation, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved. 14 This good news of the kingdom [the gospel] will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the age] will come.” Matthew 24:9–14 amp

Not being prayerfully prepared in the Word for those hard times (brought on due to our faith in Christ) can be very dangerous ..like when those hard times arrive. We’ve got to make wise decisions and not compulsively react. You want to spiritually advance and mature rather than just sink or digress! I want us all to be well-prepared with grace and the Bible.. and Jesus also wanted us to be well-prepared. He gave us some thorough warnings for the Church’s future. Still does want us to prepare and be well-prepared. One of the best ways to be prepared is to intercede early, and listen to what He said to his disciples regarding persecution. As Jesus sat with them on the Mount of Olives (see Matthew 24:9) He prepped-em well.. you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death and you will be hated by all nations because of me Jesus explained.

The record of persecution against His Church goes way WAY back. How long has there been persecution here? I think about righteous Able and the OT prophets who suffered. And It happened since there was Jesus Christ on this earth too. He himself was rejected, mocked, beaten, disrespected, scourged and crucified. Christ was a man of sorrows the Scripture says because he really knew what that felt like. The early disciples were mocked, disrespected, arrested, scoffed at, whipped and forbidden to preach in the name of Jesus.. though they were bold and would not be silenced regarding their first love or biblical faith. Many people get persecuted and foolishly change their sound theology but not these guys!

Stephen became the first mere human in the NT to get persecuted and then die for his faith in Christ. I named my first son after him to encourage vertical faithfulness. Acts 7 is devoted to telling us the story of that tough event when he was martyred. So many have been killed because of their tender love, God-ward.

In fact 11 of the 12 apostles perished violently. Yes, every one of them did except John who was banished away to the island of Patmos in his old age.

You might think we’d see a decrease in persecution in our day with our advanced technology and higher collegiate learning, but we have not.

Isn’t this world supposedly getting better and better, Kurt?

It’s not. But isn’t it better now, progressive and gooder with good people? Unfortunately, this is not true.

In many parts of the world today the persecution of Christians now exceeds any period in all of world history. According to Dr. Todd M. Johnson of Gordon Conwell Seminary more than 70 million Christians have been martyred throughout history and more than half of those deaths occurred during the 20th century. He also estimates that 1 million Christians were killed between 2001 and 2010 and another 900,000 have been killed between 2011 and 2020. Persecution has been on the increase in these times which you and I have lived, but we don’t know that much about it because so much of it happens in other far away places. Guess what though.. it’s now starting to creep on into our U.S. culture more and more.. yes, more than you can imagine. Persecution has continued to grow in occurrences.

The reality of Christian persecution is so evident each year. You remember that Christian charity called Opened Doors. They release a world-watch list highlighting the 50 places on the planet where faith in Jesus costs the most. In 2022 it was in Afghanistan, in North Korea, in Somalia, in Libya, in Yemen. These are the places that topped their list. Furthermore they estimate that 360 million Christians in the world today do sadly experience extreme persecution because of their faith in the Jesus of the Bible. Need some context with that? That is one out of every seven believers in this world. Yes, one out of every seven born again Christians suffer in this way. Hey, it’s time to live prepared in God’s grace and Word.

Ungodly infiltration into the church has been bad (See Acts 16 with a possessed lady briefly agreeing to get incuded?). But persecution hasn’t worked out to be bad for the church. Listen, every believer needs to be filled with the Spirit and the Word and go tell! Then they’ll praise God and infiltrate society (instead of isolate, they’ll infiltrate, we’ll invade instead of evade) to be uncompromising witnesses making an impact! Yes, instead of allowing the world to invade the church. Go share the gospel and when demonized people show up, just cast out the demons in Jesus name!

For Christians, what good can actually come from persecution? Many people ask that question. David gained godly character, confidence, some iron in his soul and special training for reigning from God. Take a look at some aspects of the persecution in Acts 16:19–40. Guess what.. you’ll see five things in the text related to it and see what good can come from persecution:

1.) Like an alarm clock or a wakeup call there’s the suffering of persecution (and it’s normal for us Christians not to feel so fond of that) which in Acts 16,

2.) Led to the honest singing praises to the Lord which,

3.) Led to preaching salvation for decisions from the lost which,

4.) Led to seeing real production (church growth) which,

5.) Led to securing real protection. Talk about being a blessing, the cycle ran full circle.

Paul traveling with Silas cast a demon out of a lady which affected her income and the 2 believers got thrown in jail (The Man with a legion of devils in him Mark got em cast out into pigs and it also affected the income and then Jesus caught persecution). I like how Jesus and Paul always spelled persecution: OPPORTUNITY! Paul’s boldness with the Gospel brought persecution which was always turned into opportunity to glorify the Father! Scripture encourages us to rejoice in the Lord, not in our circumstances, and to even praise the Lord in all circumstances, not FOR all circumstances. Why focus on circumstances when we can focus on Jesus — He’ll keep us in peace. We all read Romans 8:28, but how many of us believe it and then rejoice in Him?

Here Are 20 Bible Verses About Expressing Thankfulness Unto God Even When It Get’s Very Hard.

1. Ezra 3:11 (Now From The OT)

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: ‘He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.’ And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

2. Psalm 7:17

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

3. Psalm 9:1

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

4. Psalm 35:18

I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.

5. Psalm 69:30

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

6. Psalm 95:1–3

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.

7. Psalm 100:4–5

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

8. Psalm 106:1

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

9. Psalm 107:21–22

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

10. Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

11. Psalm 147:7

Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.

12. Daniel 2:23

I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.

13. Ephesians 5:18–20 (Now From The NT)

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

14. Philippians 4:6–7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

15. Colossians 2:6–7

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

16. Colossians 3:15–17

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

17. Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

18. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19. Hebrews 12:28–29 -

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Hey Believer, when life in this fallen world, and the people (lost or saved) give you a hundred plus reasons to feel grieved and weep, just remember that God has given you (a saved sinner) a thousand reasons to smile and all-out-praise.

20. Hebrews 13:15–16 -

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. www.F4Skurt.blogspot.com