1. Prepared for Persecution
2 Timothy 3:1-13

2. 1 Peter 4:12–14
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

3. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

4. Don’t be Surprised by the darkness
WE LIVE IN DARK TIMES
Hebrews 1:1–2
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son....

5. Don’t be Surprised by the darkness
WE LIVE IN DARK TIMES
Meghan Trainor
If I were you, I would want to be me too!

6. Don’t be Surprised by the darkness
WE LIVE IN DARK TIMES
Whitney Houston
Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.

7. Don’t be Surprised by the darkness
WE LIVE IN DARK TIMES
Romans 1:25
For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

8. Don’t be Surprised by the darkness
IT’S ALWAYS BEEN DARK
Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between you [serpent] and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

9. Don’t be Surprised by the darkness
IT’S ALWAYS BEEN DARK
Tacitus
Before killing the Christians, Nero used them to amuse the people. Some were dressed in furs, to be killed by dogs. Others were crucified. Still others were set on fire early in the night, so that they might illumine it.

10. Don’t be Surprised by the darkness
IT WILL GET DARKER
John 15:18, 20
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you… ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you…”

11. opendoorsusa.org

13. Don’t be Surprised by the darkness
IT WILL GET DARKER
1 Corinthians 12:20, 26
But now there are many members, but one body... And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it....

14. Pray for the persecuted church
Hebrews 13:3
Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.

15. Pray for the persecuted church
Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.

16. Prepare yourself for persecution
Learn from those who endure
Consider your response ahead of time
Understand the value of tested faith

17. IDOP 2016 Interview Vignette - Iraq (by Open Doors USA)
YouTube:

18. Pray for the persecuted church
Brother Andrew
Our prayers can go where we cannot… there are no borders, no prison walls, no doors that are closed to us when we pray.

19. Pray for the persecuted church
Salvation
Endurance
Protection

21. Prepared for Persecution
2 Timothy 3:1-13