Sheep among Wolves: What to Expect, Part 3

Today an important reminder from Chuck Swindoll second Timothy 312. You will be persecuted, don't be surprised when it happens be surprised when it doesn't surprise when you're rejected be thrilled when you're accepted more and more public gathering. An individual is not free to use the name Jesus Christ's or even referred to the creator. Why should we be some five faith in God. After all, Jesus warned us that the day was coming when those who speak in his name would be ridiculed if not outright rejected today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll's teaching from Matthew chapter 10 in this passage, Jesus explained that the road ahead would not be easy for those who invoke his name is warning certainly has obvious implications for followers of Jesus today titled today's message sheep among wolves what to expect believers live. We live among and they are growing in number. Their savagery is making more and more of the headlines. Be aware that the same time. Don't be afraid of the warnings that follow or for you to read and analyze. I haven't the time to do much in that I will simply give the overview first. You can expect as he speaks to his apostles. Religious persecution look at this, you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogue. You didn't misread it. This is religious persecution. When you encounter fellow Jews. They are all Jews. These disciples when you encounter fellow Jews, they will hate you because of me. Next, you can expect national punishment or governmental punishment.

Verse 18.

Your stand trial before governors you will be standing trial before Kings because you are my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me when you're arrested what the words don't worry about how to respond or what to say God will give you the right words at the right time.

No reason to prepare your speech or put it together in a very carefully worded manner. It will be the spirit of your father speaking through you about this family persecution Brother will betray brother, father, will betray his own child. Children will rebel against their parents, and cause them to be kill all nations will hate you look at the next statement because you are my followers reminds me of a lion, John 15, would you take your time to turn their turn ahead to the fourth gospel John 15 beginning of verse 18. Look at what Jesus says in another setting. If the world hates you. Remember, it hated me first.

The world would love you as one of its own.

If you belong to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out over the world, so it hates you, you remember what I told you slave is not greater than his master. Since they persecuted me naturally, they will persecute you. If they had listened to me they would listen to you.

They will do all this because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.

We are living to see the fulfillment of this right now. It will be increasingly more fulfilled in the days yet future and it was fulfilled in the days of the apostles. Though there are various fulfillments along the way. The next when you're some wisdom.

Verse 23, which are persecuted in one town fleet to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you erase all the towns of Israel as those of the initial calling of the apostles. Suitors are not greater than their teacher and the slaves were not greater than their master.

You are to be like your teacher and sleeves are to be like your master inside the master of the household been called the prince of demons, the members of the household will be called by even worse name. There will be those who will hate you in the realm of your culture. The great temptation is to be afraid of what's ahead back to the passage verse 26. Don't be afraid of those who threaten you. Verse 28. Don't be afraid of those who want to kill verse 2031. Don't be afraid or you not more valuable to God than a flock. Do not fear turn from here and hold your place but go to the letters to Timothy go 1st to 1st Timothy chapter 4 now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last time someone will turn away from the true faith they will follow deceptive spirits teachings that, from demons. Look at second Timothy chapter 3 verse one you should know this Timothy in the last days there will be very difficult times that were difficult is a rather soft rendering of a term that could be handled violent, savage times when I read the passage I'm often tempted to read that in these last days difficult times have come.

We are in.

What is it like verse two. People will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to parents of ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

Look at this.

This is the newspaper of yesterday morning or evening. This is the newscaster last night unfolding imprint right here in our eyes they will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving, unforgiving, they will slander others there will have no self-control that will be cruel and hate what is good, they will betray friends they will be reckless puffed up with pride and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that verse 12. Talk about a statement for today. Yes, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. It happened before too many years in the days of the New Testament. Paul said to the elders at Ephesus acts 20 verse 29 after my departure he was leaving them and would not return to be among the people of Ephesus that this after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Watch out man be on guard. You people of Ephesus talk times are coming when you get to the end of the New Testament and your read of the church at Ephesus.

What you read. It has already left its first love the savage wolves came in and they took their toll. Those who are responsible to guard the flock fails to guard the flock and the wolves came impacts will be a final grade persecution of God's people worldwide religious system called Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth who will become drunk with the blood of the St. the witness and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. Revelation 17 56. It is coming. It has come, it will intensify and will become a worldwide suite of persecution back to Matthew to attend. It may sound like mockery to say, do not fear or it may sound like I'm not taking it seriously. I'm simply repeating what is said three times in the passage, the Lord promises his presence and his power, and I will tell you without hesitation. The greatest equipment you can carry with you into days like this would be the truth. From this book become a serious student. A careful and faithful reader of the book of God. It will equip you for whatever I've spoken to those who have gone through horrible horrible concentration camp experiences and they say virtually without exception, those people who were raised to pray or to study and learn the Bible and especially those who could who could quote from the Scriptures were the ones who remain stable in the midst of the of the what we were doing almost without exception, greatest preparation is to remain students of lovers of the word of God. I know you hear that a lot from this pulpit you will continue to hear that a lot. You cannot have better ammunition than the pages from this great book on occasion, it may not hurt to have a loaded weapon, but that's another subject, I will get it I won't. I'm not going when you say a couple of principles before I'm I'm finished. What can we expect as we hear this written to the apostles in the 12 and when we imagine what they went through and then we see what they went through. Interestingly, virtually everyone of them died a martyr's death. Most of them were crucified. John lived on to old age. But the future of most of these 12 rather weak but Judas, of course, took his own life. He wasn't one of the called. He was called, but he wasn't one of the elect and the. The other 11 suffered terribly. As a result of their faithful witness, but in the process they turn the world upside down.

What can we expect the very same treatment. Second Timothy 312. You will be persecuted, don't be surprised when it happened, when it happens be surprised when it doesn't, don't be surprised when you're rejected be thrilled when you're accepted more and more in public gatherings. An individual is not free to use the name Jesus Christ's or even referred to the creator God expect the same treatment is the second, I want to mention what must we remember. Don't be afraid. The very same promises that they were given our hours to clean my application me close with a quick story that's a true story Charlie cost is one of my favorite guys. He's on the front lines. He's an Arabic speaking citizen of Beirut is a magistrate as well as a missionary. He is a study that's most interesting is bullet holes in it is been shot in. He finds that exciting.

Reminds me of Churchill's words few things in life are more exhilarating than being shot at without result. Charlie has lived and he cannot make his identity known everyplace ago. He understands the real world we had it with us in our all staff meeting several months ago we brought with him some video clips of the summer camp that we gave money to and help put together and Charlie did a wonderful job bringing the Iraqi kids over that would know nothing of the summer sports or fun time together and provide them with the camp that they enjoyed it showed pictures of him and the time of life.

They were having an and then Charlie got real serious and he said you folks sitting here today. Cannot imagine what these kids will face because a number of them came to Christ as a go back to would make you shudder in the room was as quiet as our room right now so I thought is my moment. I'm going to ask the question.

Can we expect this to come into our own land. He did not even hesitate. I don't believe I got those words out of my mouth completely before he merely answered absolutely, absolutely. Then he mentioned several occasions which told me he knew our news as well as we do. It is easy to think it it's always over there or are up there or organ.

That's cool, or in this neighborhood but mine hours under profit.

I'm not making a prediction here. I'm simply reading what you've just read with me from the Scriptures. Savage times have come we are facing an incredibly difficult era that will not from a human point of view and well sometimes Cynthia and I get real quiet as we think about the future of our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren. These are treacherous times, men and women can't imagine going into them without a deep abiding faith relationship with Jesus Christ don't do that. Don't take that risk be difficult enough for the believer, but to go without faith to stand up against those who live for your demise. This is a moment to take care of. Please bow with me please close your eyes. You know the Lord. Please pray right now for those sitting around you for all you know that person has never trusted in Christ Jesus, think because we all sit together and sing together and participate in a service like this were all together in the faith in a gathering this large. There are some who are not. If you were one of them. Please pause and imagine facing this kind of future without any divine assistance. This is your moment to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal savior in your own words. A simple prayer will do it or not I I don't understand a lot of things related to the Christian life. But I know this I'm not ready to step into eternity on my own. I need your son Jesus as my Savior. I take him now. I trust in him. I believe it take me just as I am. Forgive me begin to prepare me for what is ahead. Give me the life I need to deal with the times that I will face thank you for coming into my life.

Pause let this sink in. No one else can believe in Christ for you know heritage will be great enough for it to flow over into your life, your own parents may have loved Jesus deeply that has nothing to do with your Christian life as far as coming into the family of God as each of us must be borne individually. So each of us must be born again individually.

If we can help you following the service. That is why we are here if you need help in making this journey to Christ were here for that reason, thank you father that we sit in this room, and a majority one of the few places on earth where believers can be together outnumbering the unbeliever that gives us a sense of hope, but it can create a false security because we leave and she to live among wolves greatly. We need this message dear father and I pray that it will seep into our soul and will not soon forget it. Give a snake like thinking but dove like attitude and responses make us discerning without being paranoid. Conscious of our surroundings without being suspicious of everyone. Make us courageous but not belligerent strong but still gracious that we might be the answer for some who are searching for hope in a way to find relief from their fear hear the prayers of those today called on you for salvation to begin a growth in you will stabilize them for the life I want to him who is able to guard us from stumbling and present is faultless before the presence of your glory with exceeding great joy to the only wise God, our senior glory and majesty to make now and forever and ever. Christ all God's people, a man who is becoming more and more apparent that persecution is encroached on our own land and wiser those who heed the counsel from Jesus to be fully aware his followers are vulnerable to attack like sheep among wolves. You're listening to the Bible teaching of pastor and author Chuck Swindoll and this is insight for living learn more about this ministry. Please visit us online@insightworld.org in addition to providing these daily programs were inviting you to add the Swindoll study Bible to your personal library.

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