Persecution: Not a Threat but a Promise

Let's pray father as we talk about the Knights of this persecution that you have promised that you said is inevitable for all time for believers in this fallen world from the side of eternity.

I pray that you would strengthen us that we would take your word seriously that you would make us Parisians ready always give a reason for the hope that is within pray for those now who feel that pressure perhaps at work, perhaps in with family gatherings and other situations are that that pressure to compromise that squeeze of the world, saying, just give in just event just given, would you send your Holy Spirit to strengthen, to gird up your loins. I pray we would be strong. When that day comes for those who are in the midst of it, would you strengthen them.

Pray now that you would give me wisdom and clarity and great humility. It is a fearful thing to handle the word of God and we need your father thank you for Jesus our Lord, our Savior, and I can get it through him that we pray this, a man I will apologize in advance. Imes perhaps used a classroom setting. And so if I ask a question, feel free whether there are no wrong answers or something that will freely yell out answers as I last question like that you like what Rip van Winkle the story he is out hunting squirrels in the Catskill Mountains. And while he's there, he's not a big fan of his wife and so he gets away a lot and he falls asleep. Perhaps you been drinking it story. It appears maybe and what happens, that's right.

20 years later he wakes up and he goes into town and now things the same and everything you talked to was changed and other was a movie in the 90s. Dude, where's my car worth my country, what happened, everything is different here and I wonder, perhaps, would you ever feel like you look at the culture go to the sides of the same, but things changed and it's only speeding up know how long Rip van Winkle Boeing story that's not true. I obviously but my know how long he slept story 20 years. That's exactly right. I would suggest to you that perhaps instead of 20 years. The American evangelical churches, perhaps, been asleep for about 50 to 60 years and it's happened America is so interesting.

We have lived relatively free of persecution of Christians in America had it relatively easy. That's not normal when you look at the mission Nero when you look at communist China, well communist anything, Venezuela, North Korea, when you look at Islamic countries which it but which by the way. Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise living free of persecution is not normal. Peter said don't be surprised when he thinks fiery trial, that is to be the norm. Believers who take a stand for Christ believers who don't do that when you talk about that some they will experience it as much. For believers who say I'm not doing that I serve the Lord Jesus Christ and I'm not doing that persecution shattering the shack and Abednego literally a fiery trial is sure to follow so well the evangelical church which I am certainly a member of has perhaps like Rip van Winkle been asleep.

We lost our institutions. We can look and we can say yes, that college that's the problem. Okay yes, K-12. I'm going to be charitable. Perhaps we we call them public schools and by way I went through a public school there also government schools and so evolution only.

We celebrate LGBT today. Karl Marx is revered any type of Christian influence is to be frowned upon were so while we been asleep atheism. Marxism has taken over our institutions and I want to encourage you, perhaps with this word if you can, and might be good to investigate ways to take your children out of this. They have an agenda and it is not pro-Christ.

They have a clear agenda and I always think it's funny. We look at colleges in the of our children come home after visiting college and they say you know what I'm really into now is Marxism and atheism and and then you get the bill.

McAuley says that'll be $40,000 can ruin your kids for free and $40,000. While we been added abortion on demand has become the law of the land, so there's talk the governor of Virginia was talking about post birth abortions was the sixth commandment: as is murder. By the way, course in utero and she really doesn't matter murder. Regardless of this idea, child.

That's that's not going away evolution only education gay marriage and I want to bring this up very quickly can you mention in 2008 when when Pres. Obama became the president's stance on gay marriage was he was against it. Just think about that for a second anybody politician publicly saying there against gay marriage. That was so common in 2008 x 2015 if you thought mention being women's bathrooms. You are homophobic to get things are changing and are changing quickly, the rate at which things are changing only appears to be speeding up boy, can you see I feel like Rip van Winkle was going here and so if you're following the news and I kinda checked out of the last couple months for the first time in a while is just but there's more coming down the pike get ready. Jesus promised this. This is not a threat. This is a promise that I would keep your eye very, be very wary right now there's a push to say this is as a public service number announcement towards acceptance of pedophilia.

And when you see the phrase love is love. That's what that means another several things that mean by that one of them is the legitimization of pedophilia. Love is love and so interesting. I hope are intolerant. I hope the things that we look ago.

I'm not tolerating that it's not okay. Certainly when you look at a critical race theory in her sexuality. This cultural push towards androgyny what it's about the prayer two weeks ago and the Congress a man and that was doesn't even makes sense. You know what that means but world is a push towards feminine men, masculine women, so everybody always towards the middle when the goal is of course androgyny so you get Bibles where instead of a man had three sons.

Suddenly we have a person had three children always towards erasing the God-given distinction between male and female. None of this is persecution, though persecution comes when you say I'm not doing that this is not okay persecution comes when you take a stand, Luther. The diet of worms sit here I stand by, I can do no other. He went on to save my God is never disowned me. How can I disown him now, so I like to encourage you and by the way, this is a uniquely anti-Christian movement. Buddhism gets a complete pass Islam. You will never lose a book written a few years ago called Islam Ophelia philia, meaning, love Islam, which is much more real, much harder on women and human rights in general will always get a complete pass and I tell you that not to pick on other religions, but to tell you that you were the ones being picked on.

It isn't distinctly anti-Christian bias in Jesus promised, that's exactly what Jesus promised metal to be talking about some more tonight, but I do want to just lay the groundwork over the last 40 to 60 years.

It's not uncommon for a Christian leader to say hey just compromise with the world. Here, okay, just give them what they want Makepeace and what is compromise lead to more compromise did not doubt a domino, guess what happens then the next one falls so we didn't get here by accident.

We got your group compromise after compromise after compromise.

Do where's my country. That's how we've gotten here.

I worded the set apart a little bit more what I like to do will be bouncing around a little bit in Scripture.

If you got your Bibles if you will turn with me to John 15 restaurant verses 18 through 25 before I read this am looking to bear in mind in Scripture, there are certain phrases that are repeated over and over and over again. For emphasis what word is repeated three times forgot that's exactly right.

Not love love love, mercy, mercy, mercy what's God's primary defining attribute. The only one missing three times this is holiness, not like us not like us not like us.

Jesus would say truly, truly, I say to you, and that really what about the say state of the take note as we read through this passage I like to invite you what you hear over and over and over again. For emphasis. This begins in the verse 18 John 15 Jesus says if the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own, but because you were not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said you a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me also persecute you.

If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do on my account on the account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me if I'd not come and spoken to them, they would not of been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin and whoever hates me hates my father also find not done among them the works, but no one else did they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my father, but the word that is written in the law must be fulfilled. They hated me without cause, what's the word somebody describe the world's attitude toward you and me and all who believe.

Okay that's exactly rights. It's not slightly dislike it's not ambivalent it's not.

They're not going to invite you to the parties what that state they hate you they hate you because they hate Christ. There is no compromise. The feeling that the world has toward you regardless of how it stressed out regardless of the nomenclature that you always boils down to hatred of you because of hatred for Christ. Why will very quickly Jesus diagnoses it in verse 19 he says they're going to hatred by the way you maybe thinking this I pay my taxes unreasonably funny.

I volunteer sometimes at the soup kitchen. We got all these babies what what's going on.

Jesus explains it. Verse 19, number one, because you're not of the world you will belong to the same club that they do number two verse 20 you serve Christ. It's bad enough that you're in a different club assuring that those intolerant though scared I heard pastor that I greatly respect you tell somebody I'm Christian Mason you believe the world was created in seven days and he said absolutely not sexy rested on the seventh.

Absolutely.

Not only do I not not part of your club. I'm part of the family over here the family of faith.

So they hate you because you're not of this world because you serve Christ number three because you bear his name. You want to suck the air out of the room at a party where everybody's having fun.

Start talk about Jesus, but that's wonderful but expected. That's a form of persecution before we expose sin, say we walk around. Thou shalt not, thou shalt not, but at the same time somebody comes up to you and says a what you think about evolution has a chance to let your light shine and you might be hated for because we expose it. Modern psychology by the way, says the main problem in the world is guilt just need to get rid of the guilt. Jesus says the main problem for the gay woman the attic.

The disobedient child transsexual man sin against God. And the answer is run to Jesus. They don't want to hear. Don't want to hear that they hated and by the way, my call is to love them when they look and say I hate you guys and they mean it. In spite of all the claims of tolerance.

I hate you guys.

My call is to say how I tell you about Jesus. He loved you so much. He so much better than you think.

How did this happen just so last week is some good news. 88% of the members of Congress identify as Christian. So people don't worry, beloved, wherein good hands. Oh, it was in my lap actually being serious. 65.

Chris, 65% of Americans still identify as believers, according to a recent survey of the very suspicious of those by the way it's always is not uncommon for them to go to somebody say, given the church and they go yeah like 30 years ago ago okay Christian and though that's whenever you read this. Just bear in mind what you and I mean by a Christian someone who's trusting in Christ alone, by grace alone through faith alone isn't necessarily what the survey or me but 65% of American adults say they are Christians. So what's going on how we how is this happening you for so Christian number one, there are plenty of believers who have a false assurance of their faith. What I mean by that is there plenty of people and perhaps I should even use the word believers who go to church who perhaps during a worship song they were chill bumps. Perhaps they prayed a prayer once and they go.

I'm a believer, but there's no evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in their life. There's no fruit of the spirit.

Paul talks about in Galatians. So we do have plenty of people every Sunday, every church has this you may never actually given their heart or soul.

Jesus Christ is the Lord savoring King number two we because we been so comfortable we have an epidemic of uneducated believers.

Believers who appear completely disinterested and growing in their faith who look and then take no advantage of the Scripture that sitting on the shelf. The means of grace, meeting with other believers and by the way, I have been guilty of this. There are times in my spiritual life, and I thought, you know, let me just kick my feet back and I'll just coast mayors councils were tell you in a marriage, and I like this. You are always either moving toward your spouse or away from your spouse, you can never simply hosts the coast to quit trying to put putting effort into it is to move away from one another as a believer beloved.

That's the same with our faith. I am always either taking steps towards Christ away.

But when I say it's okay. I'm just gonna rest another prayer might go to church and just kick back and relax Jesus and I are just fine. Don't be deceived. That's moving away from Christ. Philippians 212 Paul says you need to continually be working out your salvation with fear and trembling, don't stop continually grow deeper in the things of our faith. Hebrews 5 the writer of Hebrews says look. Don't be a baby in your faith.

Everybody starts off as a child in their faith. Perhaps immature. That's the way it goes. Grow pursue those things to come deeper in your relationship with Christ and so how is this happening want number one false assurances of faith.

Number two believers who have remained sort of uneducated in their faith and number three and this is perhaps the most convicting of all unfaithful shepherds, unfaithful shepherds, Christian leader pastors who well I say this is a mean I remember the famous was the guy was so good at boxing is real fast. Mohammed Ali and verify float like a butterfly sting like a bee.

There was this wonderful little picture of a jellyfish and Mohammed Ali says float like a butterfly. Jellyfish says okay okay and that is a sting like a bee jellyfish says I am nailing this okay so visual jokes never work is never a party. Don't do it. I just by many of our leaders resembled a jellyfish jellyfish is an invertebrate spice CS Lewis called us men without chests, they don't take a stand for anything, I guess. Perhaps if I'm feeling confrontational. I would say that this is certainly not true your pastor any of many pastors today are simply cowards. They want the world's approval. I want to be popular bill even say were not enough lights yet Paul speaks about the spiritual armor of God in Ephesians 6, Paul tells Timothy like a good soldier, and yet these men often will say were not in a fight be nice compromise so Spurgeon, Charles Spurgeon said hey look, being in the world is like having a boat that's in the water you want your boat to be in the water. You don't want water to be in the boat. If that starts happening you got problems and so in the evangelical world is we've been asleep.

We can take on water and we been hungering after the things of the world and so is not uncommon for don't like this term at all. Celebrity pastors to advise compromise.

Compromise compromised the second largest church in America is pastored by a guy named Andy Stanley and several years ago. You guys will remember there was a couple that refused to bake a cake for a gay wedding. By the way was beautiful and Cheramie Scheck vinegar right where I doing that will assume you that's fine but I'm not doing that really taken to court and you lose your business. I don't care were not doing that, pastor of the second largest church in America said this about that serving people. We don't see eye to eye with is the essence of Christianity. First of all, false. Jesus died for world with which she didn't see eye to eye.

If a bakery doesn't want to sell his products to gay people as their business literally, but leave Jesus out of its leave Jesus. That's a quote I'm not he said leave Jesus out of it the second largest church in America. Why is this happening. What are shepherds doing Jeremiah 23 God says this woe to the shepherds to destroy and scatter the sheep of my pastor declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel concerning the shepherds who care for my people you have scattered my flock and have driven them away and you have not admit attended them, behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. And then I will gather the remnant of my flock. Out of all the countries of the way a remnants small little group of people who actually hear the Christianity to true Christianity remnant. It's always been like that. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock. Out of all the countries right driven them and I will bring them back to their fault and they shall be fruitful and multiply, and I will set shepherds over them who will care for them and they shall fear no more nor be dismayed either showing to be missing, declares the Lord God cares about shepherds and I would like to encourage you. Please pray for Doug. Please pray for Eugene. Please pray for Steve. Please pray for your elders. This is not an easy fight and they need you. The Saints calling in air support on their behalf.

Please, please pray for them there in the crosshairs of the enemy and incidentally I would love to tell you that other denominations of the problem. For if we could just look over the Baptist and Methodist Pentecostals are Episcopal or something our denomination has an openly gay youth pastor right now we are hosting a conference for gay Christians call the re-voice, in St. Louis, so that's the sound of the Domino following that's what it looks like when it happens and what's needed is for men and women to stand up and say were not doing. It's not okay you can do what you will. That's not okay. So persecution I like to redefine it for a sec. I don't know about you, you really like pain this man give me some pain.

My natural reaction is that it's over there. I'll be over here that my wife is had seven kids. I'm such a wimp. I don't like pain and yes what were the like to turn for just a moment, is to show you that Jesus points out of the Peter James also affirmed this persecution. According to Christ as a blessing the blessing of persecution. One of the three offices of Christ, he is are blank our priest and our King was the first one. These are set profits. Now a profitable threat.

I pay some try to stay here a prophet of God. How once their batting average have to be present. You can't be wrong at all. Every time you have to be right if you're not your false prophet. So Jesus makes a prophecy were about to read something that he says how accurate is it you can take it to the bank. It's going to happen for sure, every time. So Jesus says in Matthew 510 through 12 less, less, or those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. What is the persecution what are you when you're persecuted, you are blessed by the way some amazing success for righteousness sake. That means is the righteous one God posted the imitator of him. So when you're imitating God we are striving for righteous righteousness, you're going to be persecuted. But it's a blessing the blessing of persecution for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And then he goes on to say, and blessed are you when others revile. I do look up revile it means when you are rent relentlessly criticized and unfairly mischaracterized everything that happened. Christians, relentless critters that criticism unfairly mischaracterized. That's our lot. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. So when I think of blessing.

I think coming home in San honey, I got the promotion go ahead and buy the big car were to tear out everything downstairs and remodel it. Or better yet… Buy another house and my kids are so well behaved that people think I'm a great father. That's what I think of his blessing. And Jesus looks and he says not to know the American dream was a chicken in every pot in the know blessing is when others come after you slander you and relentlessly mischaracterize your positions on purpose to make you look evil blessing comes when you don't compromise your faith in Christ and are called intolerant hateful and so what we do.

I want to encourage you. There's one word to talk about unpack this a little bit when we do, if we're Jesus promise this is coming in yet work kind of okay for the moments we prepare now is the time to prepare have the privilege of serving in youth ministry for 15 years maybe 15 years and one of the things that we talked about the frequently was purity because everybody was dating and so sexual purity was a really topic it came up all the time and one of the things that description of the size and and we try to emphasize is the time to prepare for your standards and dating, especially when it came to someone who might pressure you sexually was before you roll the dates decide before you go out with the person I'm not gonna do this.

I'm not going to this. This is too far.

I'm gonna protect myself or my husband or my wife one day I'm not to do anything to cause me shame, because if you're on the date and suddenly the person says hey, my parents aren't home you want to come in and you don't have a plan to you what you have not gotten intervened by the way, but the time Joshua said to Joshua 24 choose this day whom you're going to serve this day. Right now, sitting here before the heat gets there because if you haven't planned something and things heat up are likely to fail. So between now and when he comes.

I would encourage you begin preparing now one of the things in your life that you look at it. You say I'm not doing that I'm not compromising their I'm not aware of a flag for gay pride day. I don't care is mandatory or not. I'm not doing it if somebody asked you why. Be prepared to tell them because Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, and I can't serve man but you that's what happened in acts 529 right. I have to serve God I can't serve you.

I'm sorry got a higher calling. Would you like to hear about like to tell you about change your life in effect in first Peter three 1415 Jesus Peter says going back to the steam of persecution is blessing if you should suffer for righteousness sake you will be blessed. Have no fear of those who persecute you, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ.

Why does he have to say that because our temptation is to always give people and things more honor than they deserve. So in your hearts set aside all that other stuff and put Christ as your Lord honor Christ and then this is the linchpin of all apologetics always being prepared, repaired to make a defense to anyone who asked you for the reason for the hope that is in you. Somebody comes up and they say, believe that no one grabbed two of every kind of animal just led them to the arcing of all. Hey little little ants come on their you need to be ready so you're darn right I do of course I do.

Scripture says, and I believe that settles it. And by the way, is the one who live animals know it was just shepherded them in their is no issue there. You need to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within you always. I was watching a movie called collision is Emily saying that it's a series of debates between Doug Wilson and Christopher Hitchens. It's worth saying if you if you've got the time to sit one of the things that Wilson says is the way I prepared as I just had conversations in my mind the thought of every possible answer and I just did that until I knew what I thought, so I don't have to keep rehearsing this I would encourage you be prepared to give the reason for the hope start thinking through think how I responded that I'm sort of want to go too far in this because I have a lifetime but be prepared when somebody says well God is all-powerful, why do bad things happen to good people.

First of all, the 600 books written on the subject. Second of all that we prepared we can do this. God speaks to these things. Being prepared. James picks up on this Blessed is the man who remain steadfast under trial.

When you stood the test to receive the crown of life which God's promise to him again persecution as Westinghouse so what what's blessing. It's got stamp of approval. God blesses those things which he likes the old test of the most common sign of blessing for so was the presence of God, but material speaking.

The most common sign of God's blessing was a family like Eugene's sick kids, lots of babies. Those were God's blessing. That's where the reasons were against abortion children are a sign of God's blessing at all times all places, all circumstances, regardless of the genetic genetic makeup.

Children are blasting. That's a got stamp of approval. So Jesus says when your persecuted that God saying to you. Good job Stephen just before he was killed was significant about what he saw. He looked up at Jesus, what was Jesus doing standing where is Jesus a seat at the right hand of God, and he looks down at Stephen just before he gets his head bashed in for proclaiming the gospel any standing persecution is of God's side of St. the job you're doing the right thing people know you're following me persecution. According to Philippians 3 allows you to know Christ for all, says for the sake of suffer the loss of all things, and Paul had some things circumcise on the eighth day agenda Jew abuse a Pharisee of Pharisees of the tribe of Benjamin last of the law blameless.

He had some things I counted all loss.

I counted all rubbish in order that as I let it go. I came Christ you have some things in the world can take away from you, but you will gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my only come from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God depends on faith that I may know him, I may know the power of his resurrection, and I may share in his sufferings, becoming like him, becoming like him in his death, suffering allows us to know Christ more female missionary came and spoke our church. Years ago in Chattanooga.

I can't believe how many people say talk of a Muslim country. Christ, she went quickly caught quickly imprisoned in a silo that had been overturned for months that have been overturned and I don't know how to say this gently, so I'm I'm going to say it, she was raped multiple times a day for months for faith and she said she shared with our congregation that she was in there with the pain through the humiliation every day for months. She prayed and felt God say to her sister.

They're not doing it to you are doing it to me in the midst of that he was there with her persecution.

Christ is with us in the midst of that persecution allows us to experience the presence of Christ in ways that we don't otherwise Sean hurried is about to leave the big missionary in South Africa pray for him is Isaac.

There is going will amend John's three daughters were talking the other day and he said you know in 1949 when Tom China whenever communism underestimated 1 million believers in there now 72 years later still, just as anti-Christian as it was before his family.

Believers are now the estimate. 100 million hundred million people who were saying on trust in Christ you can do what you want to. I counted all lost my life. I counted loss, so when we do in the meantime, we pray we have access to the most powerful being in the universe and he likes us God's not mad at us because Christ is covered. All of our said he sees the righteousness of God when he looks at everyone in here who's trusted Christ as their Lord and Savior so we pray we pray for revival. I like to point out what happened to Nineveh when Joan went there heads outside the gates will have that they repented you look at America.

Sometimes it just got good grades and hopeless and guises don't say that I can do it and then I can do it here.

Pray for revival God hears your prayers and your prayers. Move the hand of God, pray for revival pray for your own backbone. Pray that when the time comes for you to take a stand for Christ and it's coming. Jesus can't be wrong. He said it's coming but you will stand there and say I'm taking a stand and I'm not doing that, by the way, for Christ in the name of Jesus.

I'm not backing down Jeremy Scheck and Abednego when they were told to worship idols obelisk the planes they are outside of Babylon. The said for throat of the blazing furnace. The God we serve is able to able to deliver us and deliver us from your Majesty's hand. But even if he doesn't sovereignty even if he doesn't we want you to know your Majesty were not serving your gods were not worshiping the image of gold you have set up. Pray for that grace and enable backbone to look when the time comes in second not doing it.

I serve someone who sovereign and omnipotent. I'm not doing that next shine flip is to be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine like stars you shine like stars holding fast to the word of life. Jesus said, let your light shine. The gospel of John said the darkness has not overcome it.

It's going to be hard. The darkness is going to try to overcome you at your light shine. My would not let your light shine. The grace of the. The witness of being good and moral and what is I don't cost you were runaround girls who do know let it shine for Christ for the gospel overtly number three. Don't stop attending church. Keep coming back in person zoo miscommunication but encourage you to get community.

Hebrews 1040 24 to 26 let us consider how we can stir one another onto love. I need to be stirred up. Don't you come in, beaten, bruised and battered by the world in a nice Believers who go. Let's pray let's talk soon with the word has to say about spur one another on anything. By the way how long the Christians make skipping church at least since the book of Hebrews was written because he says this is nothing new, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some churches like 40 years old at this point, I got a bedside Baptist, but encouraging. Okay there is a bedside Baptist that there is tell me about examine one eye, but encouraging one another all the more as you see the day drawing near. Churches are moment of sanity by the way. Certainly, these walls of the church building, but you were the church. You were the church the people and praise God for a church like grace with the word of God is seldom high regard and finally we do we run towards the darkness Chinese missionaries, your work needs missionaries your family needs. Missionaries run towards the darkness. I always think of 9/11 and the pictures that certainly stick with me or the firemen were running up the stairs and care. This is what I'm called to do this is what I'm going to even if it cost me everything. This is my job.

You and I have a job run towards the darkness. Let's pray father, thank you for that high and lofty calling that you've given us that calling to take a stand for Christ. Father I pray we run towards the darkness that we would not fear persecution you promised it, but I fear that we would bear up underneath it. At least people know were believers were being persecuted and I pray that that fear of man would dissolve. We would count lost.

We may gain Christ in us through Christ that we pray this amen