The Fiend behind the persecution of the church

Matthew 16:13-18

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi; He was asking His disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? And they said, Some say John the Baptist;and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of [Hell] will not overpower it, NASB .

Hell's Assault - powerful but not victorious

The gates of hell, as all agree are the power and policy of it, or the acting’s of Satan, both as a lion and as a serpent, by rage and by subtlety. He does not act in a visible manner, in his own person, but by his agents. He always has two sorts of them, that work for him. He uses one class of demons and through them carries out his intention, which is his rage,and by the other his craft; which is his seductions, he now is acting like a lion and then acting like a serpent.

The Satanic work of this kind is of a double nature; ---the one, an effect of his power and rage, acted by the world in persecution--- the other, of his policy and craft, acted by heretics in seduction. By both means he works so as to separate the church from its foundation. The Works of John Owen.

Help the Persecuted Church

Christ our Leader was treated by contempt, insults, slanders, false accusations, blasphemy of his doctrine, reviling of His person and the like. Christ has made it clear to His followers that for the most part, persecution will be their lot in life.

Application

Heartfelt Ministries reports show that one of the highest web page visits is that of the Persecuted Church. I am sitting at a computer in West Palm Beach, Florida. My wife and I went to the beach on the sunny Atlantic Ocean. I am not on the run. However our brothers and sisters are not so well treated.
I fear that I will leave some out. But these are some of the countries where severe persecution is the worse: China, Iran, Iraq, Uzbekistan, South Sudan, Indonesia, Burma, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Pakistan, Vietnam and North Korea.

Let us obey the Scripture, Hebrews 13:3; Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body, NASB.

If a member of your physical body was hurting, you would take care of it and nurture it back to health. These persecuted people are evangelical believers, pray and go to our website for links to the Voice of Martyrs .