Dear Brother, I am not one to talk anything about suffering physical persecutions for our precious LORD. But He is preparing me. But I know by faith in His word, that it is the greatest joy to suffer for Him: "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11 I can only offer one thing, and that is my life. I lay down my life for Him. And I offer my life to die for you, that the Gospel may go forward. "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." 1 John 3:16 We just go forward, walking by His grace, trusting in Him to help us in our deepest time of need (Heb. 4:16). In 2 Cor 12:9, Paul says "My grace is sufficient for you...". So, anytime we are facing persecutions, we must know that His grace is sufficient for us. "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 Here are just a few verses that He has given to prepare us for suffering for Him. God grants the suffering, it is not something we seek, it is something we are granted to endure for Him. We also see this with the life of Job. "For to you it has been granted on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Philippians 1:29 As a testimony... that believers will be strengthened and non-believers will be converted. "You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a TESTIMONY to them and to the Gentiles." Matthew 10:16 What is our response to suffering? "Blessed are you when they revile and 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 so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12 We see this principle played out in Acts: "So they departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING that *they were counted worthy* to suffer shame for His name." Acts 5:41 The Bible says that if we suffer for Him, then we will also reign with Him (2Ti 2:11-13). It also says that if we suffer with Him we can be joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). I believe that means that, if we die for Him, we will also rule with Him. "Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God.... And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." Revelation 20:4 We also see Paul saying: "Therefore I TAKE PLEASURE in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10 and that suffering with Him is to better know Him: "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death." Philippians 3:10 The LORD also promises us in Isaiah 43:2: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned." He will be with us in our deepest time of need. We must trust Him for that. We must depend on His grace or we will never be able to do what He calls us to do. However, I must also warn that we must not seek persecution as a form of righteousness, but endure it when He gives it to us for a testimony for others. "For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we ENDURE (endure suffering), We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us." If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." 2Timothy 2:11-13 The LORD orders our steps. It is our duty to do His will whatever it may be. May our desire be the same of Jesus Christ: "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do." John 17:4 "For we are His workmanship..." Ephesian 2:10 The greatest thing that sums up our life in Christ is to say: "For to me, TO LIVE IS CHRIST, and TO DIE IS GAIN." Philippians 1:21 Love in Christ, wes