We are truly sorry to hear that you may face severe persecution soon, Elfbaugh. We want to assure you from the Bible, where it is written in 2 Timothy 3:12 WEB, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." But we are told also in the Bible, "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12.
Elfbaugh, let's address the severity of the persecution. It could mean anything from physical to mental to even spiritual. Let's tell you something important from 1 Peter 4:12-14, 16 WEB. "Beloved, don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. But because you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ...Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name.
We see that persecution is to be expected, but it can be endured with joy. Jesus warned us plainly. In John 15 :18-19, 21, Jesus said, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ... But all these things will they do to you for my name's sake, because they don't know him who sent me.
Following Jesus requires dying to self and trusting God will sustain believers during persecution and hatred from the world. If this world will not know you, stand with God and his people. "I will never leave you or forsake you," is what God promises in Hebrews 13:5.
Let's pray for you, Elfbaugh.
Father God, thank you for Elfbaugh and for the opportunity to pray on their behalf. We ask, Jesus, that you give them strength to face the severe persecution they may face soon. We encourage them to rejoice in you, Lord and that they would have such a deep and unshakable sense of who you are in these last days that they would be able to suffer any sorrow and rejoice in it. We ask that you draw Elfbaugh closer to you, never leaving or forsaking them, and that they be a shining beacon and witness of you in their circumstances. We rebuke the spirit of fear that might come with persecution and declare boldness and love through your Holy Spirit, Lord God.
And as we agree in prayer, we say thank you, for answered prayer, and that we know that you are in charge of your kingdom, and that the enemy has no authority over you, and certainly not over us, and that the victory is in your hands and therefore our hands. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.