Preparing for Persecution

Before I left, we spent two weeks examining the last Beatitude in Matthew 5:10-12 in which Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (See: Blessed are the Persecuted & Rejoicing Though Persecuted). This morning I want to continue with this subject by looking at 1 Peter and how to be prepared for persecution.