Sermon Illustrations

One of my jobs some years ago was working with disabled people. I remember working with a young Christian woman and my job was teaching her how to read. She would readily share her faith to others and I enjoyed the opportunity to encourage her in her faith. I chose the 23rd Psalm in our lessons and encouraged her to do a Bible Reading at Church when we were finished. She experienced short term memory loss so it was at least 6 months before she was able to read in front of the Church. She received a standing ovation.

One of my work colleagues was scheduled to take a group of people out on a camping trip. Unfortunately this young Christian woman experienced a severe epileptic seizure on the camp and was rushed to hospital. She went into a coma for some days and came out of it speaking in tongues and praising God. My colleague, an atheist, was so totally disarmed by this behavior that she decided to accuse me of causing the seizure. She said that I had been teaching her how to speak in tongues and that my radical belief system had almost killed this young woman.

Although we had spoken about her faith, I had not caused her seizure, nor taught her to speak in tongues. My colleague however, was not satisfied and sought to have me fired from my position. Her complaints meant that I went before a board to answer her accusations and lies. Her relentless persecution was very unpleasant. In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus says,

"BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:10-12)

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