Only the truth will deliver people from darkness. There could be darkness in people's lives that they don't even recognize as being darkness. When you are speaking the truth and walking in the light, the light will expose the darkness.

If everybody loves you and loves everything about your ministry, then you could be doing what the false prophets did: teaching things that tickled the people's ears - not telling them the truth (2 Tim. 4:3-4)!

In Luke 6:26 Jesus said, "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets."

You have to preach the truth! Not everyone will love you because not everyone wants to hear the truth. The truth sometimes hurts.

The next time someone acts as though he hates you, or doesn't invite you to his Bible study, or doesn't want to hear what you have to say, then rejoice! Be scriptural—that's what Jesus said to do.

The devil can only know how you are coping with a situation by your reaction to it. You may be temped to cry about persecution, but always remember: As long as the devil can get you in a corner and keep you there, he has it made! You have to advance on him with what Jesus said about overcoming persecution. Do what Jesus said outwardly.

Source: Understanding Persecution by Annette Capps
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers