80.2 Preach Despite Persecution

(Acts 5:17-21a)

Then the High Priest and all his companions, members of the local party of the Sadducees, became extremely jealous of the apostles; so they decided to take action. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But that night an angel of the Lord opened the prison gates, led the apostles out and said to them, "Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new life". The apostles obeyed , and at dawn they entered the Temple and started teaching.

80.1 Courage Under Persecution

(Luke 12: 4-12)

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot afterward do anything worse. I will show you whom to fear; fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell. Believe me, he is the one you must fear!

"Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one sparrow is forgotten by God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not  be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows!

"I assure you that whoever declares publicly that he belongs to me, the Son of Man will do the same for him before the angels of God. But whoever rejects me publicly, the Son of Man will also reject him before the angels of God.

"Anyone who says a word against the Son of Man can be forgiven; but whoever says evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

"When they bring you to be tried in the synagogues or before governors or rulers, do not be worried about how you will defend yourself or what you will say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."

79.4 Praise The Lord In The Assembly

(Psalm 149)

Praise the Lord!

Sing a new song to the Lord;
praise him in the assembly of his faithful people!
Be glad, Israel,because of your Creator;
rejoice, people of Zion, because of your king!
Praise his name with dancing;
play drums and harps in praise of him.

The Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he honors the humble with victory.
Let God's people rejoice in their triumph
and sing joyfully all night long.
Let them shout aloud as they praise God,
with their sharp swords in their hands
to defeat the nations and to punish the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains,
their leaders in chains of iron;
to punish the nations as God has commanded.
This is the victory of God's people.

Praise the Lord!

79.3 Go And Teach

(Matthew 28:17-20)

When they saw him, they worshiped him, even though some of them doubted. Jesus drew near and said to them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age." 

79.2 Witness Of What Happened Toward Damascus

(Acts 26:12-17)

"It was for this purpose that I went to Damascus with authority and orders from the chief priests. It was on the road at midday, Your Majesty, that I saw a light much brighter than the sun, coming from the sky and shining around me and the men traveling with me.  All of us fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by hitting back, like an ox kicking against its owner's stick.' 'Who are you Lord?' I asked. And the Lord answered, 'I am Jesus, whom you persecute. But get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant. You are to tell others what you have seen of me today and what I will show you in the future. I will rescue you from the people of Israel and from the Gentiles to whom I will send you.'