Christians Are Being Persecuted — A Biblical Response | John Giftah

0:01 Speaker 1: Do you ever look around and think, Wow, the world is a crazy place and it just seems to get crazier and crazier. Ease your mind and take a break. This is Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. We're a hub for inspirational Christian sermons, practical keys for Christian living, in Christian discussions and interviews. You'll be inspired to live the life that you were created for. Your host is a top ranking podcaster, best selling author, world record holder, aerospace engineer, life coach, evangelist, and founder of John Gifta International.

0:41 Speaker 1: Welcome to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta.

0:46 Speaker 2: Hello everyone, Welcome to this edition of the Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta podcast. I'm really glad that you're joining in today where I want to just address a couple of things that's going on in the world right now at the same time from a biblical perspective, so that we can have the right perspective in the way we are supposed to regard to these things. And first things. For first, I want to talk about how recently in India a pastor was forced to eat cow dang and chant Hindu slogans and similarly a lot of attacks have happened or you know, especially in a lot of parts of India, especially recently with Christmas and all of that.

1:29 Speaker 2: Uh, and and even in even in the United States for that matter. Recently, you know, a group of people, including well known journalists Don Lenin, parched into a church and disrupted a church service. And you know, a lot of things that's been have been going on, and uh, we don't want to get into the nittigrity of things, but but I want to just remind you of an important aspect, right Like, when you see all this happening, it's very very easy to get riled up. We are in a place where, especially you know, the media force feeds us with information that can make us get really angry, and you know, like the whole society is getting polarized.

2:16 Speaker 2: Sometimes I'm just amazed that sometimes you can be you know, like in a place where you hate your own family members, so you hate other people just because of a difference in opinion, or or when you look at what somebody is doing, when you look at how a leader is doing, sometimes you can be so mad that you just want the worse for them. But I really challenge you today that even even a while ago in India there was there was a man that went viral for going and disrupting a church service and uh, you know, leading up to a lot of arguments and you know, bashing the past and all of these things.

3:01 Speaker 2: Here's the thing I want you to understand, right, I know that it affects us as human beings and it saddens us when we see these things happen. But I want to just remind you of a few scriptures to align on us in the right track with regard to these things. First things first, what Jesus said in Matthew five point forty four, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. Right, It's it's very clear what Jesus said, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Luke six seven to twenty eight.

3:42 Speaker 2: When you say it says for I say to you who hear, love your enemies and do good to those who hate you, Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Right, I know this contradicts what the world is saying. You know, if if you hate them, hate on them, you know, and not good people just hate them, you know. But what does the Bible say, blessed those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Luke twenty three thirty four says, is a moment when Jesus hung on the cross and he said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.

4:18 Speaker 2: And if you look at Romans twelve fourteen, again it says, blessed those to persecute you, bless and do not curse. And the first Peter three verse nine says, do not repay evil for evil, or raveling for raveling. But on the contrary, bless for you are called and you may obtain a blessing. Now, the reason I wanted to share these scriptures is to remind you and ground you to be grounded on the word. Right. What does the Bible say, love your enemies? Jesus says this, love your enemies, you know. Just think about this.

4:54 Speaker 2: If even on your worst enemy, instead of saying, you know, let them go to hell, I'm telling you, can you have a compassionate heart, a godlike heart, a christ like heart, and say, Lord, you love them as much as you love me, you know, And you don't want to see them going to Hell. The Bible says, you know, it is not God's will for anyone to perish, but for them to have eternal life. You know. Personally, I think I've shared this many times on the podcast and as well. I've had encounters where the Lord has shown me glimpses of Hell.

5:32 Speaker 2: Hell is not a joke. It's not something we can just play up and say, go to Hell. Let themseten in Hell. No, like, I've had personal experiences where I when I look at people that I you know, like I would trouble me a lot or given me a heart time, or or they making such a havoc, or they could be even terrorists for that matter, I have prayed that they will know Jesus before they go to Hell, you know, like when they pass from planet eart. Because I want to tell you something, all right, Yes, people are bad.

6:09 Speaker 2: They don't They are inherently bad because of the fallen nature of man. But always remember this, if not for the grace of God, you could also be in the same position. You know, you could also be in the same ignorant face. You could also be in the same arrogance. You know, if you are now able to understand the finished work of Jesus. If you are where you are right now, the apostle pause said this, I am what I am by the grace of God in the Book of Corinthians. So likewise, you are who you are right now only because of the grace of God.

6:43 Speaker 2: If not for that, you could be in the same change that somebody else is. If not for the grace of God, you could be, you know, a murderer. Like I'm just being straight out and saying this, If not for the grace of God, you could be, you know, in the worst sin, or brainwashed in the wrong faith that says, you know, go and kill other people. You could be in that same position. You could be in that place, you know, the other day. Many times I look at the people who have been brainwashed by their faith or religion saying go and kill people and all of that, and I just can't imagine how much they've been brainwashed to think that killing other people is the way for them to inherit, you know, heaven.

7:34 Speaker 2: And I can't imagine or wrap my head around the fact when they die they realized they didn't go to heaven, They've gone to eternal hell. Think about this Can we go to that place where we have that mercy for people. When you look at someone persecuting, can you pray pray for them and say, Lord, this person encounter you. Let this person be like right now, how solid was God encountered and he transformed into Paul apostle Paul, God can do that even now? Can you pray for that transformation? Can you bless those who curse you?

8:22 Speaker 2: Can you bless those who are giving you trouble? Can you bless those who persecute you because they in reality do not know what they do because they are clouded, they are chained, they have been brainwashed and deceived by the enemy. Today, guys, I really challenge each one of us when we look at all that's happening, instead of getting riled up, instead of just going with the flow and you know, being more atticant and adding fuel to the fire, I really challenge you to ask the Lord to fill you with that compassion, fill you with that sense of purpose of intercession, to pray, to intercede, to bless those who persecute and curse you.

9:16 Speaker 2: Because I believe that the Bible says allow this scripture, because it says you know that when you actually do this, you will obtain a blessing. In first bit to three ninety says ys, you will obtain a blessing. I mean, don't do this so that you will obtain a blessing, but I'm saying the Bible says this. You will actually obtain a blessing when you actually bless those who curse you. So instead of expecting the worse on people, instead of having that attitude to say, let them go to hell, you know, let them suffer in hell, pray for them, Pray for them.

9:54 Speaker 2: Pray for your enemies, Pray for those who abused you. Pray for those who have given you a hard time. Pray for those who have persecuted you. Pray for those who have given you the worst experience or nightmare. Pray for them. Pray for them. Because when you release that, when you pray and release that instead of sitting in bitterness, if you're letting go of unfigiveness, what happens. You will be free. You will be set free to live the life that God has for you.

10:30 Speaker 1: Amen.

10:31 Speaker 2: Shat this with someone who needs to hear this word, and I will catch up with you very soon. God bless you.

10:39 Speaker 1: You've been listening to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. We hope you were blessed and inspired to live the life that God has for you. Make sure to subscribe to the John gifted YouTube channel for regular uploads of sermons, skits, interviews, and more. Follow John Gifta on Instagram for regular inspirational posts. Don't forget to check out the best selling books written by John Gifta, Who Am I which will help you understand your identity and the latest number one best seller Unveil your Purpose, helping you discover your purpose and to start walking in it.

11:14 Speaker 1: Make sure to leave a rating and review and be sure to share it with your friends and loved ones. If you'd like to donate, you can find the PayPal link in the description, and if you'd like to invite John Gifta to speak at your event or to get more details, go to the website at www Godjohngifted dot com. See you on the next episode of the Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. God bless you. You've been listening to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. We hope you were blessed and inspired to live the life that God has for you, make sure to subscribe to the John Gifta YouTube channel for regular uploads of sermons, skits, interviews, and more.

12:06 Speaker 1: Follow John Gifta on Instagram for regular inspirational posts, and don't forget to check out the best selling books written by John Gifta, Who Am I which will help you understand your identity and the latest number one best seller Unveil your Purpose, helping you discover your purpose and to start walking in it. Make sure to leave a rating and review, and be sure to share it with your friends and loved ones. If you'd like to donate, you can find the PayPal link in the description, and if you'd like to invite John Gifta to speak at your event or to get more details, go to the website at www dot John gifted dot com.

12:43 Speaker 1: See you on the next episode.