Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

To be “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” is to be persecuted for standing firm in obedience to God’s Word. There was a brother-in-Christ whose work required him to submit bids to secure projects for his company. One day, the boss of his company gave him a photostated copy of his competitor’s bid and asked him to use it to secure the tender. He would just have to bid slightly higher than his competitor’s bid and he would have won the project. But he did not! He had to resign from his company for his own testimony’s sake.

D. L. Moody saw that the blessedness of trials was a heart of rejoicing when he observed, “Happiness is caused by things that happen around me, and circumstances will mar it; but joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows on through persecution and opposition. It is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring the world can’t see and doesn’t know anything about. The Lord gives his people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to him.” This is the comfort of every persecuted saint. The Lord is with you, press on!

There is a woman living in Shunem described in 2 Kings 4:8 as “great”, 8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. Possibly she was greatly endowed with material wealth. But I believe this is a spiritual attribute that is accorded to her. She provided hospitality in her home for God’s prophet Elisha. She invited Elisha to her home provided needful food for the travelling prophet. Elisha obliged. She can see that Elisha was a holy man of God. She discussed with her husband to make an extra room in the house to provide shelter to Elisha whenever he would pass by their way. God blessed her with a son, opening her barren womb.

Acts 20:35 “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

The blessing of giving has to be experienced. How can we understand this truth except through the exercise of faith in our giving? We are to support the weak, those who are unable to return our favour, those who are truly in need. We have to take God at His Word to give and experience God’s blessing. When we give, we lose what we have given, how can it be more blessed? We are to take Jesus at His Word, obey and behold His glory in our lives in our giving.

The Christian knows the efficacy of prayer and therefore persists in prayer. In times of trial, prayer is that which stills the heart and strengthens the mind as burdens are brought before the throne of grace.

Our Lord Jesus exhorts us to keep praying for our heavenly Father desires to answer them, Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Our Father in heaven desires to give good gifts to His children who call upon Him, Matthew 7:9-11 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Are you in some trial and feeling a sense of despondency? Do not be! God is with you. Our faith is exercised during the time of trial. Hang in there. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

The word “tribulation” is derived from the verb “to press”, describing the crushing of grapes and olives, suggesting heavy pressures of outward trouble or inward anguish. Tribulation produces patient endurance – the ability to keep the faith and not fall apart. This brave endurance produces experience or more accurately “character”. Character is built in suffering (Murray).

Hodge observed well, “These exhortations refer to nearly related duties: Christians are to be joyful, patient, and prayerful. However adverse their circumstances, hope, patience, and prayer are not only duties, but the richest sources of consolation and support.”

He further explained, “‘Rejoicing on account of hope, or in the joyful expectation of future good.’ This hope of salvation is the most effectual means of producing patience under present afflictions; for if we feel “that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” it will not be difficult to bear them patiently.””¹