Overcoming Persecution

David W Palmer

(Matthew 10:22 NKJV) “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

Up until Jesus said this, his new trainees were probably bursting with enthusiasm about getting their opportunity to do what they had been watching him do. When the Lord began his pre-mission briefing, he started by talking about preaching, miracles, healing, and casting out demons. He then spoke about the hospitality and miraculous provision they would receive. No doubt, up until that point their euphoric expectation had them chomping at the bit, ready to go.

But then he began to talk about what to do if you are not welcomed and rejected:

(Matthew 10:14 NLT) “If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.”

“If,” doesn’t mean that it will happen, but it does mean that it is possible; and that if it were to occur, the solution would be simple: shake off the dust, and move on to a place where they do accept the message. Then the fun of miracles, healings, new friends, and supernatural provision could begin.

However, to the surprise of his new trainee leaders, Jesus became very solemn in his outlook for them. What he said next did not sound at all like it “might” happen; rather it sounded like it “would” happen:

(Matthew 10:17–22 NKJV) “But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. {18} You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. {19} But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; {20} for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. {21} Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. {22} And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

What do we do when we are persecuted and mistreated while living as a witness for Jesus? Can we overcome it, and if so, how?

1. “Do not worry”

(Philippians 4:6 NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Even under the most extreme pressure of being accused before “governors and kings,” Jesus’s instruction is to not worry or be anxious. That will cause you to lose your peace—your ability to hear his still, small voice in the calmness of your quiet heart. It will be lost amid the turmoil of turbulent and agitated thoughts. Instead, the Holy Spirit instructs us to “pray about everything”—but not anxiously or fearfully. In other words, maintain your inner communication with him, and he will give you “in that hour what you should speak.” This is his opportunity to give testimony to your [otherwise] inaccessible audience.

God is a genius; he can gain you access to people that you otherwise could never reach. We just need to remember his instruction when we get there: “do not worry about how or what you should speak.”

2. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad

(Matthew 5:11-12 MKJV) “Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for My sake. {12} Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for your reward in Heaven is great. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

This instruction from Jesus is not merely a platitude, a palliative, or a line of eloquent religious poetry; this is a potent strategy for overcoming. (Remember, Heb. 5:9 says he can [only] help us in situations like this if we obey him.) We should take him literally in his directive; we should humbly rejoice when reviling persecution comes for the word’s sake. Why? “For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you,” and, “for your reward in heaven is great.” Can you imagine being classed with the prophets? Focus on that, and overcome persecution through rejoicing by keeping your eyes on the rewards—not just small rewards; Jesus said they were “great” rewards, praise the Lord!

3. Pray for the persecutors

(Matthew 5:44 MKJV) “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 despitefully use you and persecute you,”

Again, Jesus’s instructions couldn’t be clearer: love, bless, do good, and pray.

Personally, I have found this “prayer” approach to have a three-fold benefit: First, it allows God to work on the person for whom you are praying. In my experience, this greatly helps them toward salvation; and usually, it miraculously changes their attitude towards you. Second, it greatly helps me keep my heart clear of bitterness and unforgiveness towards them. And third, it allows God to encounter them directly. Through this, he can convict them of sin, and draw them to the Savior.

4. Flee

(Matthew 10:23 MKJV) “But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another; for truly I say to you, in no way shall you have finished the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”

What is Jesus’s tactic for victory over this type of persecution? He simply says to “flee”; leave quickly from a place where you receive persecution as a result of preaching. Our Lord doesn’t want us to waste time where his word is not celebrated; he would rather we preach his word where he is received. Therefore, this is not merely running for self-protection; it is a strategy for staying on the cutting edge of fruitfulness.

5. Trust the Holy Spirit to speak through you

(Matthew 10:19–20 NKJV) “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; {20} for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

Obviously, when we are arrested or cornered, the option to flee is not possible; so what does he say to do in this case? Jesus’s fourth strategy is not to worry or to try to figure out in advance what to say in court or when someone has you cornered and is demanding answers to their accusations. Jesus says that he will intervene in this situation personally; he will seize this opportunity to testify to those present. Jesus will supernaturally put his overcoming words in your mouth, which his enemies cannot “contradict,” or “withstand” (See: Luke 21:12-15).

Astonishingly, Jesus takes this type of persecution so personally that he will speak through you. So, if this happens to you—if you are caught in persecution in a situation from which you cannot flee—Jesus will step in and take over. He will manifest his Spirit on you, and put powerful overcoming words in your mouth.

6. Bless

(Romans 12:14 EMTV) Bless those that persecute you; bless and do not curse.

7. Endure

(Matthew 10:22 MKJV) “…he who endures to the end will be saved.”

Notice the word “endures” in this passage: kingdom fruit can only be produced in a heart that perseveres and endures—one that doesn’t give up on the word. We need to persevere in applying Jesus’s scriptural ways to overcome persecution; obedience to Jesus is our only way of being saved—both through these situations and then on into eternity (Heb. 5:9).

(1 Corinthians 4:12 EMTV) And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure.

Today, I encourage you; when people react poorly to your gospel witness, don’t retaliate or become defensive. The only wise response is to implement Jesus’s strategies for overcoming persecution: don’t worry, rejoice, pray, flee where possible, otherwise trust the Holy Spirit to speak through you, bless the persecutors, and endure to the end. We must persist vigilantly and patiently with these seven keys for overcoming persecution. (Note: Even if fleeing is an appropriate response, the Holy Spirit does not want us to retaliate before leaving.)

P.S. If people hate you because you identify with Jesus, don’t take it personally; their hatred is directed at him because they have been demonically brainwashed. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus.

(Matthew 10:22, 24–26 NKJV) “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. {25} It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! {26} Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”

(See all of Mat. 10.)