Persecution

Laying Down Your Life to Peach? – George Whitefield

The good old Puritans, I believe, never preached better than when in danger of being taken to prison as soon as they had finished their sermon. And however the church may be at peace now, yet I am persuaded, unless you go forth with the same temper, you will never preach with the same demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Study, therefore, my brethren, I beseech you by the mercies of God in Christ Jesus, study your hearts as well as books; ask yourselves again and again whether you would preach for Christ, if you were sure to lay down your lives for so doing?

– George Whitefield –

Don’t Preach Repentance Until You’ve Pledged Your Head – Joseph Parker

The man whose little sermon is “repent” sets himself against his age, and will for the time being be battered mercilessly by the age whose moral tone he challenges.  There is but one end for such a man – “off with his head!”  You had better not try to preach repentance until you have pledged your head to heaven.

– Joseph Parker –

Christians Are Cowards – Charles Finney

If Christians were not such cowards, and absolutely disobedient to this plain command of God… one thing would certainly come of it — either they would be murdered in the streets as martyrs, because men could not bear the intolerable presence of truth, or they would be speedily converted to God.

– Charles Finney –

Not Asked to Preach – John Wesley

From the journals of John Wesley:

  • Sunday a.m., May 5 – Preached in St. Ann’s; was asked not to come back any more.
  • Sunday p.m., May 5 – Preached at St. John’s; deacons said, ‘Get out and stay out.’
  • Sunday a.m., May 12 – Preached at St. Jude’s; can’t go back there either.
  • Sunday p.m., May 12 – Preached at St. George’s; kicked out again.
  • Sunday a.m., May 19 – Preached at St. Somebody Else’s; deacons called a special meeting and said I couldn’t return.
  • Sunday p.m., May 19 – Preached on the street; kicked off the street.
  • Sunday a.m., May 26 – Preached out in a meadow; chased out of meadow when a bull was turned loose during the service.
  • Sunday a.m., June 2 – Preached out at the edge of town; kicked off the highway.
  • Sunday p.m., June 2 – Afternoon service, preached in pasture; 10,000 people came.

– John Wesley –

Stand in the Hour of Trial – George Müller

Do but stand still in the hour of trial, and you will see the help of God, if you trust in Him. But there is so often a forsaking the ways of the Lord in the hour of trial, and thus the food of faith, the means whereby our faith may be increased, is lost.

– George Müller – 
from Answers to Prayer