Persecution

Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

The early church experienced too much persecution because she was not obedient to the call of soul winning to other places apart from Jerusalem. 

Persecution helps us to focus on the priorities. Is it that the persecution you are facing is a wakeup call for you to do what you are meant to do? If so, arise and do what you have to do. 

In our theme scripture, although the persecution was not God ordained but a work of the devil to stop the apostles' witness, it worked out for good because other places were able to receive the gospel because the apostles were scattered abroad. 

Some will take pride in being martyred yet it was their disobedience that led to that. You ought to be wiser than that. On the other hand sometimes the reason Christians are not being persecuted is because they look like the world. They walk in compromise, 2 Tim 3:12.

Child of God, you don't have to wait for persecution before you obey, walk in obedience everyday and there are persecutions you will avoid.

Further scriptures 

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.