Preparing for Persecution

Should Christians prepare for persecution. Listen to Adrian Rogers is no way to be a genuine Christian, a true man of God, a true woman of God and escape persecution. So I want to speak to you today on the subject, preparing for persecution. Now you can rub shoulders with this world. You can compromise with this will, you can go along with this world and not receive any persecution. The persecution comes to those who will live godly in Christ Jesus.

Welcome to Ludwig finding featuring the insightful teaching of Adrian Rogers Matthew 510 appears as for persecution, as it reveals Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven according to the Scripture becoming a genuine Christian means becoming the blood of the world's jokes. It means being ostracized socially and considered inappropriate to society. But no matter what happens, nothing can take our joy. One of the reasons for persecution.

One of the results of it.

And perhaps the most important thing to consider what is our response persecution. If you have your Bible turned out in Matthew chapter 5 is Adrian Rogers begins the message preparing for persecution. I have a feeling ladies and gentlemen that we are living in the lengthening shadows of the last day. I believe that Jesus Christ is coming soon and one of the marks of the last days and we can see it fulfilled his persecution of the saints of God. The children of God is no way to be a genuine Christian, a true man of God, a true woman of God and escape persecution. I want you to put in your margin second Timothy chapter 3 in verse 12, the apostle Paul said yay and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution as know it sounds and bots about that all who will that is who determined to live godly in Christ Jesus, so I want to speak to you today on the subject, preparing for persecution and you need to prepare your children, just as you prepare them to go to school, you need to prepare them to live in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile.

The Bible believing Christians. Now you can rub shoulders with this world. You can compromise with this world. You can go along with this world and not receive any persecution.

The persecution comes to those who will live godly in Christ Jesus. Now we have been studying together the Beatitudes. We've said Beatitudes that ought to be the character of the Christian what a Christian is really like, and we call these the keys of the kingdom, and today we come to Matthew chapter 5 and verse 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for the Bears is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Now, as a matter fact, this verse that I just read to you speaks of joy is as rejoice and be exceeding glad, and this makes a persecution that's incredible that God would put both join persecution in the same passages in the let me tell you what joy is an limitation walked up.

Persecution is joy is the thermostat persecution is the thermometer is a what he mean by that one no matter what happens, the joy of the Lord is there to regulate conditions in your life is nothing that can take your joy from you. Joy controls conditions like a thermostat, let me tell you about persecution. Persecution is the thermometer that registers how much you love Jesus. That's it. If you're out and out for Jesus Christ. You can tell whether or not you're out and out for Jesus Christ by the persecution you get Matthew not getting any persecution Kurt told say you must be doing a wonderful job very frankly doing a poor job for the Bible said yay and all you live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

That doesn't mean that they going to throw you and Benjamin. That doesn't mean that they're going to tie it to a post and with you.

That doesn't mean that they going to come in with a machine gun and kill your children. All that may happen but that is what that necessarily means the word persecution literally means to pursue his legacy had a moment they going to follow after you in many ways, you will become the butt of jokes you become ostracized socially. You be passed by for promotions you be looked down upon us socially appropriate. If you live godly for Christ Jesus.

When I was young man working my way through school I was in construction work and I was a carpenter's helper. I worked alongside a man who was quite a profane man when he learned that I was going to be a preacher. He really enjoyed riding me about my faith which I did mind really, but I was the butt of a lot of jokes and a lot of innuendos and so forth.

But then he said, listen young man if you're going to be a preacher.

Why don't you be a good one and they said I am a preacher one time he was a preacher possible. Tell me about all he said he was a great guy said you could be around him. He would never mention politics or religion was his idea preacher man who never talked about God knife you want to just be the kind of person who never takes a stand for anything metal witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. The people like that profane man that I was working on the link that you are just five. Why are Christians persecuted look in verse 10, if you will.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake.

Is it that's the reason for righteousness sake. Now the word righteousness comes from the Greek word which means to divide the reason that Christians are persecuted is that in a very real sense, they are divisive they divide, they are different. You seek to divide means to be different. Christians are different. Christians ought to stand out like a diamond in the coal mine like a gardenia in a garbage can. Christians are different. If you just take the first seven Beatitudes that we read and look at how different they are from the world. We are just simply different. For example, he says. Blessed are the poor in spirit world as a believer to be poor in spirit.

Humility is laugh at today. They were told 1, assert yourself, the Beatitudes say Blessed are they that mourn in America wants to mourn. America is laughing her way into hell. Blessed are the meek worlds. As will be a meek man be a mighty man be a muscleman be a moneyman be a missile man a.k.a. man, the world is a light that world thinks that meekness is weakness of the world's attitude in motto is winner take all.

If you will take these Beatitudes. I will guarantee if you take the first seven Beatitudes and begin to live that way. The number eight is guaranteed.

You will be persecute, you will be persecute that you not living by the first seven you're not going to get number eight but if you take the first seven if you take these Beatitudes and you will begin to put them into shoe leather get them out of that notebook that you're writing in and get them into shoe leather. The eight is guaranteed. Why because children of God are children of light and their children of darkness.

My dear friend, we are alive in the spirit they are dead in trespasses and sins. We live by faith. They walk by sight. We understand them but they do not understand us and Jesus after he talked about being persecuted.

He said you the solidarity of the light of the world.

Salt irritates when it is poured into womb, and light reveals I'm telling you that the gospel of Jesus Christ is an irritant to the putrefying wounds of this world and the gospel of Jesus Christ is revealing light to the things of darkness of this world, and therefore they say remove that salt and put out that lie now when we are persecuted for righteousness sake, we must be very careful here.

We must be very careful that it is persecution and not punishment. A lot of Christians confuse persecution and punishment, and let me tell you the difference point persecution and punishment. We are punished by good people. When we do evil, we are persecuted by evil people. When we do good, and that's the difference now that a lot of people very frankly think that being persecuted when they are simply receiving punishment that they ought to receive when Christians are filled with the spirit they going to be naturally supernatural. They going to be different and they will be persecuted. But don't go around it & you persecuted. If you're not living for the Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage of Scripture in the Beatitudes as number one. It must be fall, what they say about you and number two it must be for his sake. The very first reason they were persecuted. Number one, my dear friend is because of what we are.

That is the life we live.

Second reason were persecuted. Look at the Scripture again.

Look at verse 10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake. That's the first reason Outlook if you live in verse 11. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. That's the second reason the life we live the Lord. We love that will bring persecution by life righteousness sake Jesus.

As for my sake may I tell you this world hates Jesus Christ is at home. No world is in a Jesus Christ my friend the world's Jesus Christ. Now when I say that a lot of people understand why say that, let me say this, my dear friend, the world does not hate the baby Jesus doesn't hate the baby Jesus dear people made, but by and large the world to get a crowd dances around the major and the merchants will make millions mine the baby Jesus, take something else. The world is not hate the Jesus that he was sick and fed the multitudes doesn't hate that Jesus all why the world hates Jesus.

That's all you know the Lord Jesus Christ and you may think of the world really doesn't hate the Lord Jesus. Why the world hates Jesus, Jesus, and I have come to destroy the works of the devil and that my dear friend, is why the world hates Jesus.

Jesus has come to destroy the works of the devil. What are they liquor in our graphic pride, racism and greed and Jesus Christ stands against that and the world stands for lesson what Jesus Christ said in John chapter 15 verse 19 and following Jesus said to his disciples, if you were of the world, the world would love his own, but because you're not of the world, but because I've chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hated you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

My dear friend, the only reason that the world hates Jesus is because Jesus is not of the world and the reason that a Christian, a real Christian is persecuted. Number one is for righteousness sake. He is different and number two for the Lord say he is devoted the life we live and the Lord will love my dear friend, you begin to live by these Beatitudes and you beat out and out with a burning blazing passionate emotional loud for Jesus Christ that will not back up plan up or shut up in this world will come down on you like a hammer. If you don't believe it is because you're not doing my dear friend.

The Bible says yea, and all all all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall, shall, shall suffer persecution that my dear friend is the thermometer that registers how much you love the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now here's the second thing none of the reason for persecution, but the result of this persecution. What shall it be like. First of all, is going to be personal insult will revile you there. People are going to laugh at you. I don't ever since I was a teenager gave my heart to Christ in high school and would not do things the other guys did and would not use the language the other guys you I was In my football team present in our class.

But nonetheless I knew what it was to be ridiculed and reviled for Jesus Christ. Not only will I revile you, my dear friend, there may be not only personal insult, but physical abuse Bible says they will persecute you in this work, persecute has more than just being revile. It means actually they will do you harm if they can.

But not only will it be personal insult and physical abuse.

There will be social stigma.

They will say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake by different Christians never truly true Christian Bible believing Christians to report known in the newspapers or in the media. Most of the time, at least as they ought. If you ever see a situational comedy the Bible believing Christian, what you made to look like he is number one made to look like some authoritarian make it a some cruel monster are some hypocrite and the whipping boy. I say society today is the Bible believing Christian. He may be the most widely hated species on this earth, much of it comes from the radical liberal media and radical civil libertarians in the pornography industry mainstream film and television producers are becoming overtly overtly anti-Christian. That's the result of a number three.

What is your response.

How are you going to respond well number one. My dear friend, you need to respond like a king look at it if you will, he says in this verse. Blessed are ye, are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake forebears is the kingdom of heaven by just underscore that very first thing you do is rain like a king when you're persecuted never come down to their level.

You are a part of the kingdom, and you need to live like you need to walk like you need to talk like never get down on their level. Remember, yours is the kingdom, you're one of the king's kids and learn to act like it and would like it at three levels of life.

First of all is what I want to call the hellish level. That's the level that returns evil for good.

That's what Jesus is talking that we persecuted for righteousness sake. All of that is out of hell if you want to persecute the righteous. May God have mercy upon you. There is the hellish level then there's a human level the human level returns good for good and evil for evil. Most people are mad then not only hellish level are only human level, but my dear friend is a heavenly level that heavenly level, the level of the kingdom returns good free. Now that's the level you to get all when you're persecuted.

No, don't return evil for good.

I don't even return good for good or evil for evil, but learn return good for evil that my different is what we call to do look in Matthew chapter 5 in verse 43 Eve heard that it hath been said, thou shall love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy but I send you love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the children of your father which is in heaven. That's what I'm saying.

You're the king's case. You are the king's kid like your father in heaven return good for evil reign in life. Number two. Rejoice in the Lord.

Look in verse 12 he says to rejoice and be exceeding glad this word means that little means to leap and jump I made to dance so happy you can keep your feet on the ground because you been persecuted.

They say that that makes sense whole frame when you realize they can finally see the difference when you realize that somebody has discovered that I'm a Christian. Somebody said if most people were arrested for being a Christian, there would be enough evidence to convict him. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, because somehow they have identified you with the Lord and that ought to be a time of great joy I was reading in acts chapter 5, verse 41 about those early apostles were persecuted and the Bible says in acts chapter 5, verse 41 after they had been put on trial.

The Bible says and they departed from the presence of the Council rejoicing, rejoicing, rejoicing that they were counted more to suffer shame for his name appointment.

A great person could ever said thank you Lord, thank you, thank you. I'm working the suffer shame for your name reign in life. Rejoice in the Lord Lord has commanded that you to rejoice and be exceeding glad the Bible says in second Timothy chapter 2 verse 12 if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.

If we deny him, he will also deny us. The third thing.

Not only should you reign in life and rejoice in the Lord that you should respond in love just respond in love. What a witness that is this a Moroni's love the world and me what it deserves your love is love is not giving people what they deserve. Love is giving people what they need and Jesus said love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate what witness Saul before he became the apostle Paul Saul hated a Christian that Christians name was Stephen.

Stephen stood up for the Lord Jesus Christ. And Paul hated and also if you guys want a stony mouse hole. I'll hold your coats marital Saul only holding the coats looking with glee as though Stephen is being stone Stephen over here. The stones are falling on these crumpling to the earth and it is to pray Mrs. Lord Jesus, lay not this individual French pension process all over Saul for God and for God. It later on when Saul got say Jesus.

It is hard for you miss all the kick against the pricks. That is it so hard for you to rebel against what is happening in your heart and your life because you saw the love of God released a man who is being persecuted for righteousness sake. He return good for evil. The greatest Christian ever lived came to Jesus Christ and say well I hope these people persecuting me as I get saved I don't know where they'll be better and modify return good for evil.

I don't know whether they will or not either. I don't know whether they'll be better not myself. On the one thing you will be better disabled folks, we are not in this world to please other people. We are please Jesus.

I'm told that a concert violinist played a concert and when he finished playing the people stood to their feet and Paul's violinist put his face in his hands and went. They said to wait Weeping standing. These are they not all standing. So you see that man down there.

He's not spending said he's only one man that I know but he's my teacher.

He's not please, please paren I will tell you something.

It doesn't matter if you please. A whole world, and on please. Jesus with you. Please, Jesus didn't matter whom you displease with Encouraging Word for us today from Adrian Rogers, if you please. Jesus doesn't matter who you displease. If you have questions regarding your faith in Jesus about following him fully with your life. We love to offer you an insight for resource. It's at our website and it's called the Discover Jesus page to find answers, you may need about your faith something that's rolling around your soul.

Today there is a response section is well.

Would love to hear how this message is affected your life just go to LWF.org/radio and click the tab that says Discover Jesus can't wait to hear from you again LWF.org/radio and click Discover Jesus now if you like to order a copy of today's message in its entirety. Call us at 1877 love God and mentioned the title preparing for persecution of this message is also part of the insightful sermon on the Mount series. The keys to the kingdom for the complete collection all eight powerful messages: number 1877 love God or go online to LWF.org/radio or you can write us at love worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183 was so glad today that you've taken some time to study God's word with us knowing the reasons for persecution and the results of it, but your response. Are you willing to follow Jesus in the world that hates him. When you persecuted, rejoice in the Lord and respond in love. Be sure to tune in next time for more profound truth simply stayed right on love with will. In today's fast-paced self focused world. It's difficult to find quality biblical teaching, let alone teaching that simplifies profound truth so that it can be applied to our everyday life this year alone. We proudly launched four new resources to help you share the only love worth finding this Christmas to new books. His story and Discover Jesus tell the story of our Savior in a fresh and exciting way and are two new cards to profound truth. Simply stated, and names of God are the perfect gift for loved ones of all ages and don't forget about our special calendar year-end giving opportunity what our love worth finding Francis given generous gift with the hope of motivating you to give above and beyond.

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