But know that "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake; rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (Mat. 5:11-12). It is said that "A man's foes shall be they of his own household" (Mat.10:36); but remember, "when my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up" (Psa.27:10). Hoping you shall not be of the parabled seed which fell upon the rock of which the Lord saith "He that receiveth the seed into stony places is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it, yet has he not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by, he is offended" (Mat.13:21; Mark 4:17).
Therefore remember Christ saith "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time houses and brethren and sisters, and mothers and children, and lands with persecution, and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29-30). "FEAR NOT" therefore, "FOR I AM WITH THEE ..."saith the Lord (Isa.43:5). "Fear thou not, for I AM WITH THEE, be not dismayed, for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee, YEA I WILL HELP THEE, YEA I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Isa.41:10).
And he saith unto me "STRENGTHEN YE THE WEAK HANDS AND CONFIRM THE FEEBLE KNEES, SAY TO THEM THAT ARE OF A FEARFUL HEART, BE STRONG, FEAR NOT: BEHOLD YOUR GOD WILL COME WITH VENGEANCE, EVEN GOD WITH A RECOMPENCE" (Isa..35:3-4). Such has been written that "when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled" (Rev.6:9-11).
But the Lord Jesus Christ cometh, "seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you, and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thes: 1:6-7). Knowing these things, "I say unto you my friends, be not afraid of they that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do" (Luke 12:4). Rather, fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father; But the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
"Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Mat.10:28-31).
Yea brethren, "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?" may you also say; and the "Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psa.27:1). "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ; Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?.... Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom.8:35-39).
So, "Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
And it is written "FEAR NONE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH THOU SHALT SUFFER: BEHOLD, THE DEVIL SHALL CAST SOME OF YOU INTO PRISON THAT YE MAY BE TRIED, ..; BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE" (Rev.2:10).
Believer, We should be like apostle Paul who said "I take pleasure in persecution, in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in distresses for Christ's sake" (2 Cor: 12:10), and "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim.3:12). "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; If we suffer, we shall also reign with him; If we deny him, he will also deny us" (2 Tim.2:11-12). So that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Heb.13:6). For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear (Rom.8:15).
If ye love Jesus keep his commandment; compromise not with his word, like some who did compromise lest they should suffer persecution (Gal.6:12); and fear not to lay down your life for his name's sake, "FOR PERFECT LOVE CASTED OUT FEAR". He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18). Jesus also saith, "the prince of this world cometh and has nothing in me; But that the world may know that I LOVE the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment even so I do" (John 14:30-31). We also must be like our master and Lord Jesus Christ; if we love him, we must fear not to suffer for the testimony of him that we bear.
And to be perfect as he is, ye must "Pray for them that persecute you" (Mat.5:44) and "Bless them which persecute you; bless and curse not" (Rom.12:14). Yea IT IS A FAITHFUL SAYING "IF WE SUFFER WE SHALL REIGN WITH HIM". "FEAR NOT", SAITH THE LORD, "I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST" (Rev.1:17). A M E N .