Thursday, 17^th April, 2025

Bible Reading: Acts 12: 1-5

Memory Verse: But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. Acts 12:5 (NLT)

Christian persecution is the hostility or discrimination that Christians face for their faith in Jesus Christ. It can include: hostile attitudes, restrictions, pressure, discrimination, opposition, disinformation, injustice, intimidation, mistreatment, beheadings, mutilations, stoning, imprisonments, terrorism, kidnappings, assault, martyrdom, or marginalization. 

Christian persecution isn’t new. Early Christians were persecuted at the hands of both Jews, from whose religion Christianity arose, and the Romans who controlled many of the early centres of Christianity in the Roman Empire. Apostle Paul said “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

According to Open Doors, an NGO that supports Christians worldwide, more than 312 million Christians in over 76 countries face high or extreme levels of persecution and discrimination: 

I. Number of Christians affected:  In 2023, Open Doors reported that over 365 million Christians, or one in seven Christians globally, faced high levels of persecution and discrimination. 

II. Countries affected: In 2023, 76 countries were considered to have high to extreme levels of persecution for Christians, up from 40 in 1993. 

III. Countries with the highest rates of persecution: North Korea, Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, and Yemen had the highest rates of reported persecution against Christians in 2023. 

IV. Number of Christians killed: In 2023, 4,998 Christians were killed for their faith, with 80% of those killed in Nigeria. 

V. Number of churches and Christian properties attacked: In the Year 2023, 14,766 churches and Christian properties were attacked, a seven-fold increase from 2022.

The US State Department labels some of the non-state actors that persecute Christians as “entities of particular concern”. These include: Boko Haram in Nigeria, The Houthi movement in Yemen, The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province in Pakistan, al-Shabaab in Somalia, and The Taliban in Afghanistan. 

What should be our love attitude as Christians to those who are persecuted?

1. Groan: Pray/Intercede.

2. Give: Partner directly or indirectly with Christian agencies in such countries on evangelical outreach. Send words of encouragement verbally or in print regularly.

3. Go: Become a missionary (part time or full time) to such places. 

Quote:  Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted – 2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB)

Prophetic Decree: The Lord shall behold their threatening and grant His Church deliverance from the surging attack of men, in Jesus name. 

Prayer Focus 

1. Thank you Father because you shall build your church and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it, in Jesus name.

2. Herod-like powers troubling the Church of God, we break your rank, in Jesus name. 

3. Lord, help your church to stand as one against the persecution of the enemy, in Jesus name.

4. Territorial principalities sponsoring Christian persecution, be pulled down, by the power in the Blood of Jesus.

5. Father, raise up men and women with a burden for evangelism and missions, in Jesus name. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 25-27