-
1 Thessalonians 2 2
On the contrary, after we had previously suffered, and we were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.
-
Acts 16:19-40
When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said,“ These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jewsand are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods.After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded.Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.But Paul called out in a loud voice,“ Don’t harm yourself, because all of us are here!”Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.Then he escorted them out and said,“ Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”So they said,“ Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved— you and your household.”Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house.He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized.He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say,“ Release those men!”The jailer reported these words to Paul:“ The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”But Paul said to them,“ They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!”Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.So they came and apologized to them, and escorting them out, they urged them to leave town.After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.
-
2 Timothy 4 7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
-
Romans 8:35-37
Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.
-
Hebrews 12:4
In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
-
2 Timothy 2 10-2 Timothy 2 12
This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.This saying is trustworthy: For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
-
Ephesians 6:11-18
Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest,and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
-
Hebrews 10:32-33
Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way.
-
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
-
Revelation 12:11
They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.
-
1 Timothy 6 12
Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life that you were called to and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses.
-
1 Corinthians 4 9-1 Corinthians 4 14
For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men.We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless;we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the world’s garbage, like the dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals.I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children.
-
1 Thessalonians 2 14-1 Thessalonians 2 15
For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jewswho killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us; they displease God and are hostile to everyone,
-
Revelation 2:10-11
Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.“ Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.
-
1 Corinthians 15 30-1 Corinthians 15 32
Why are we in danger every hour?I affirm by the pride in you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord: I die every day!If I fought wild animals in Ephesus with only human hope, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
-
1 Thessalonians 3 2-1 Thessalonians 3 4
And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith,so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened.
-
Colossians 1:29-2:1
I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.