The early church bore witness to the fulfillment of the Savior’s Words amidst great adversity and persecution.
The extent of the persecution and bloodshed in the face of the continual growth compelled an early Christian thinker by the name of Tertullian to say, “The more you mow us down, the more we grow. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.
Examples:
Waves of persecution were experienced under
Maximinus Thrax c. 235
Decius c. 25
Valerian c. 257
The Great persecution under Dioceltian c. 302.
Cyprian of Carthage and Sixtus II of Rome were among the bishops who fell victim to the persecution of Valerian.
Diocletian’s persecution was so brutal that the beginning of his reign was appointed the start of the ecclesiastical calendar adopted in Alexandria known as the calendar of the martyrs.
Stripped of their possessions and driven from their homes, they endured the harsh realities of a society that rejected their beliefs.
Hebrews 10:32 speaks of the great fight of afflictions endured by these early Christians.
They endured harsh ridicule, brutal beatings, confinement, and baseless allegations.
Frequently unjustly charged with grave offenses, they were subjected to society’s scorn and doubt.
Many paid the ultimate price, sealing their testimony with their blood. The noble and the slave, the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant – all were indiscriminately slain without mercy.
Amidst the storm of persecution, early Christians found themselves at the mercy of false allegations and misunderstandings.
They were wrongly implicated in crimes and blamed for calamities such as famine, pestilence, and earthquakes. Despite the veils of deception that shrouded their true motives, their unwavering faith in Christ sustained them through the darkest of times.
The persecution, which began under Nero and persisted for centuries, saw Christians being condemned as rebels, foes of religion, and pests to society.
They faced gruesome fates …
Thrown to wild beasts, burned alive in amphitheaters, crucified, or torn apart by dogs.
Their suffering was often turned into public entertainment, with vast crowds gathering to witness their agonizing deaths.
Their unwavering commitment to their beliefs in the midst of unimaginable suffering inspires us to stand strong in our own faith, even when faced with overwhelming challenges.
God even told the people in Deuteronomy where “Eyes to See” and “Ears to Hear” come from…” It is from God⤵️
Deuteronomy 29:4:
“… to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.”
Paul clearly tells us there is a remnant that is chosen by Grace, not works of man.
Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking so the ELECT obtained it & the rest were HARDENED…
Then he quotes the Torah for understanding saying:
God gave them (those who are not elect) eyes that will not see and ears that can’t hear) ⤵️
“So at present there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer based on works; otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”
– Romans 11:5-8
The Lord gives David an open ear:
In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Psalm 40:6
Having Ears to Hear is quite literally having an opened heart to pay attention to God’s TRUTHS, as God did TO LYDIA …
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
Acts 16:14
God Hides These Things
Jesus clearly says, if we read the entire passage that God hides “these things” from the wise & Jesus says that God is the one who has revealed them.
& He says the Son, Jesus chooses who will KNOW the Father & Son… having understanding and relationship with God is what having ears to hear and eyes to see is. ⤵️
✝️ “In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them as to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Luke 10:21-24
GOD makes us alive…⤵️
✝️ We were dead in the trespasses and by nature are children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. When we were dead in our trespasses God MADE US ALIVE together with Christ.
Ephesians 2:1, 3 5
The ‘essence’/ substance of having eyes to See and Ears to Hear:⤵️
✝️ The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.
1 Corinthians 2:14
Who appoints belief?
God… One can’t BELIEVE without Eyes to See & Ears to HEAR.⤵️
✝️ “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were APPOINTED to eternal life believed.”
The Lord opened Isaiah’s Ear, GOD awakened his ear to learn…
✝️ The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.– Isaiah 50:4-5
In Isaiah God says to the rebellious that they never heard because their ear had not been opened because GOD knew they would deal treacherously…
EVEN BEFORE THEY WERE BORN THEY WERE CALLED “REBEL“:⤵️
✝️ You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel.-Isaiah 48:8
WE can’t understand God without the Spirit of God, ears to hear & eyes to see comes from God’s Spirit..⤵️
✝️ “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. –1 Corinthians 2:14, 16
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:7
If we must have the Spirit of God to understand God as 1 Corinthians 2 says then how can WE HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS apart from Spirit…. we can’t.
Having ears to hear and eyes to see is NOT PHYSICAL and does NOT COME FROM YOURSELF.
To be “in Christ” is what it means to be a Christian.
Scripture says:
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith inthe Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
-Galatians 2:20
For inChrist Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
-Galatians 3:26
For the law of the Spirit of life inChrist Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
-Romans 8:2
Pious Defined:
Webster 1812 Dictionary:
Danger of Relying On Outward Appearances
“Appearances” refers to the way that a person or thing looks on the outside, including their physical attributes and presentation. However, this external appearance is often not a true reflection of a person’s inner self or identity. It is more a projection of how the inner self wants to be perceived by others, and thus the true identity remains hidden.
Jesus:
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
– Matthew 23:27-28
What are “whitewashed tombs” ?
Whitewashed tombs appear clean and pure on the outside, but are filled with decay and death on the inside.
True piety lies in the inner purity and authenticity of one’s faith, rather than in mere external acts or appearances.
To achieve piety in Christ, one must undergo a genuine transformation of the heart and sincerely follow the teachings of Jesus.
This kind of piety implants a pure and genuine heart that is aligned with the mind of God.
The hypocritical leaders that Jesus speaks of were not paying attention to the inner state of their hearts but rather using God and his word as a tool to elevate themselves and control others.
Beyond Appearances
To truly understand someone’s character, it’s essential to look past appearances and analyze their intentions. Don’t blindly follow those whose motives you can’t discern, but also refrain from rushing to judgment.
Wisdom is not judging before Discerning… Discernment allows right judgment.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world…
1 John 4:1
We are sheep in the midst of wolves, we must be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
The Enemy’s Tactics
Several strategies will help you in this regard.
Focus on Eliminating Repentance
Repentance is the very practice that makes piety possible. Ideally, your targets would adopt the practice of rarely—if ever—asking for forgiveness from our Enemy, much less from each other.
It is helpful if His followers never see anyone else asking for forgiveness. An atmosphere lacking in repentance breeds moralism and hard-heartedness.
Emphasize Outward Appearances
Ensure that you make keen use of your targets’ pride in executing this strategy.
As you pique His followers’ pride, ensure they notice others.
For example, prompt your targets to be casually covetous of one or two particular families every time they go to worship.
Get them to notice new cars, beautiful spouses, or well behaved children that they will compare with their own.
Observable Signs of False Piety:
Pretending to Represent Jesus:
Claiming to act on behalf of Jesus while promoting personal agendas and rules, rather than embodying true Christian values.
Exclusiveness and Judgment:
Displaying an “Us vs. Them” attitude, considering oneself superior based on personal interpretations of rules and beliefs, and condemning those who do not conform.
Control and Manipulation:
Feigning love while attempting to control others’ beliefs, actions, or thoughts to align with one’s own views.
Rule-Keeping Salvation:
Believing salvation comes from strict adherence to rules rather than genuine faith and relationship with God.
Appearance Over Substance:
Focusing on external displays of piety while lacking true inner transformation and righteousness.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, 12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, 15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.
