Confronting the World

One of our themes this year has been sharing your faith. We had the four themes challenges challenge the staff. I would challenge you with these four themes study the word surrender to God's will serve the Lord and then share your faith, which is been focus of these last few weeks. The sudden on the my Jesus said you referring to his followers.

You are the light of the world light illuminating the darkness and not light first came to our world 2000 years ago with Jesus who is the light of the world, and we praise God… Lights can never ever be extinguished.

The forces of darkness may intensify as our culture is becoming increasingly dark but there is no force in the whole universe, including how itself which can extinguish this light. You are the light of the world, but that you should be, but you are so Jesus the light of the world so challenges as we share our faith that you are the lines for Jesus in your home in your neighborhood where you work at the school to college. The factory the hospital the night whatever God and his sovereign purposes is place you I remind you that you are there, not primarily to make a living, but you there. As the lights of God. I think many of you in Sunday school, learned the little song Jesus wants me for a sunbeam to shine for him each day I learned is not the most theologically deep mother was biblical song but I remember it.

Jesus wants me as a sunbeam to shine for him each day in every way try to please him at home schooling plate and then the freight is was reversed on. You learn that you did good and as a little boy I understood that I'm to shine for Jesus.

I didn't know all of that meant but I knew that Jesus wants people to shine for him in the building to teach children I wonder think the thing for adults to shine, Jesus, Christ, wherever you are.

I hear people say how dark the world is what a messed up world we have and that is true here in the United States wherever you go. Life is a mess back in the UK. Wherever you look, there's calluses, darkness was on the sprayer was not just curse the darkness as it were with Jesus calls you and me to shine for him that I would commitment to the Lord Jesus and our commitment to this book is the word of God and our commitment to the gospel must lead to sharing our faith. How could you not do it. The gospel is good news. We believe the mother of eternal life or eternal judgment. And so, last week we learned that Jesus is sending out the 12 to proclaim the glorious message of the kingdom of heaven. That's very exciting and address were taking it seriously to be a light thank you to so many of you have signed up for the program be a light about for all of us to shine whatever Jesus Christ has placed us. But as we come to this passage we learn, but as we do that we must be aware of certain realities. Jesus is giving a warning to his disciple, Jesus is preparing his disciples and us as to what awaits them as they go into the harvest yes were to proclaim the gospel with the shine for Christ. But even as we learn the last couple of verses last week. Not everyone will respond to the message. Matthew 10 if you got your Bible. There Matthew 10 the last two verses that we looked at last week. If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house sometime. Truly I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that time she was me, not everyone will listen. In fact, as were going to need in the first century, and indeed in the 22nd 21st century. Not only is there a position in some cases, that is active persecution by what awaits you and me as we take this challenge seriously coming from the very lips of our Lord Jesus Christ, to share our faith awaits us. What is unlikely that United States any of us will be imprisoned for faith, but increasingly, it seems to me that there is an increasing conflict between the word of God and our contemporary society are laws.

The decision of the courts, the attitudes of those in the media and then I thought everything that is this increasing conflict between the light of God in the darkness of our world. For example, to say that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation which is clearly taught in Scripture to say that is to be attacked as a bigot is intolerant even as unloving to declare this truth that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life. And increasingly, then followers of Jesus.

Those of us who accept the authority of Scripture.

And let's face it, less and less. Churches actually believe this book and even fewer features, even those who say they believe it are not necessarily preaching at giving up responded in theology. I kind of motivational type of exciting message rather than a declaration of the truth of the gospel. Those of us who accept and seek to live by. Holy Scripture.

I would submit to you out on a collision course with a dark hostile world. This is what Jesus is going to say in the first century if you share your faith. If you are a light for Jesus in your home and your neighborhood in your school and your place of business in your acquaintances.

Don't be surprised that there is opposition not only opposition but some hostility. Not even just some hostility, but perhaps active persecution, however, were going to read.

Don't be afraid to. Let's read about the reality of persecution in Matthew 10 from verse 16, one of the reasons I preach consecutively through Scripture is that we hear what Jesus is saying to us, rather than what I think you need to hear were going with the very words of Jesus in the context trying to understand them and asking God in his grace to integrate these truths into our lives. Matthew 1016 mold I'm sending you the 12 apostles.

I was in this. I'm sending you as she in the midst of moves wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in the synagogues and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them at the Gentiles when they deliver you over. Do not be anxious how you are to speak, or what you are to say what you are to say will be given to you in that hour for it is not used week, but the spirit of your father speaking through you brother will deliver brother over to that and the father his child and children will rise against parents and have them put to death and you will be hated by all for my namesake, but the one who endures to the end will be saved when they persecute you, and one time flee to the next. For truly I say to you, you will not have gone through all the times of Israel before the Son of Man comes disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.

If you have called the master of this Jesus revealed called the master of the house Beelzebub much more will they malign those of his household serious, sober passages and I'm called to be a light Jesus is sending us out, but now here is the reality, the sobering reality. The reality of persecution.

The world is hostile to followers of Jesus, you come across that notice what Jesus says, verse 16. I'm sending yard as she in the midst of wolves do. Wolves like sheep. Yes, because the attack going to devour them. I'm sending you my apostles as she, in the midst of wolves. However, notice this is Jesus who sending your he is commissioning's changes everything.

Doesn't it Paul is going to say in second Corinthians 5 you are ambassadors for Christ, you represent Christ.

Christ is in heaven seated at the father's right hand. We are here is a service. We are the light of the world. And as you go, remember this.

Whether people receive the word are not your representative of Jesus you are the lights of Jesus, a light into the world. Verse 18 as well. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake is not what Jesus taught in what we call the Beatitudes Matthew five verse 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you, and I turned all kinds of evil against you falsely on my accounts. Persecution is coming. But remember, I'm sending you and you're going to suffer on my accounts back to verse 16.

As you go as she in the midst of wolves hear things to characterize us. We are to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves see there are many false gospels compromise Gospels, the guys gospel and therefore we need to be as wise as serpents we need wisdom we need to be discerning when not to be naïve is the point we need to be shrewd yes were to be innocent as doves were to be pure weird to be authentic were to be transparent. But as we go into the world.

We realize that our wolves there, and therefore we need to exercise wisdom. We thought last time in cautions for Jesus. Paul said that we are to walk in the wisdom toward outsiders as you share your faith as you think.

I love my going to communicate the gospel to my parents to the fellow next door. I took my colleague at work, how my going to do this I need wisdom I need to be wise as serpents. Who is this individual. Yes, I'm to be innocent them to be pure to be kind and to be holy, but I'm not to be naïve. I need wisdom in the Bible says if you like wisdom, ask of God, the reality is the world hates Jesus and hates the gospel. Now, in this passage Jesus is referring primarily to his disciples were going to be proclaiming the gospel after the ascension. So he gives in the morning verse 17 beware of men going to be persecuted. Verse 22. You'll be hated by all for my sake. Verse 23 when they persecute you this stuff. Sending the arts and to review where a man I'm going to be persecuted on the Debbie hated because I'm a follower of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is preparing his disciples for the reality of future persecution. You stated this happen. Of course, is happened, read your Bible read the book of acts what happened and ask wonderful things.

These 12 ordinary men are totally transformed filled with the spirit, and they go preaching the gospel. Whatever ago they proclaim the name of Jesus. What happens in prisons flog stone as Jesus prophesied in verse 18. The dragged before governors and kings.

Some of them are even monitored farther faith and says Jesus. This persecution will continue throughout the world.

Did you notice verse 18 will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. The gospel started verse six with the lost sheep of the house of Israel, the disciples started first in Israel, not Samaria. Another not the Roman world going to Rome. No first they go to Israel. They stopped at home, the proclaim the gospel to the Jews first. But Jesus is saying is going to come a time when this message is going to go throughout the world is going to go to the Gentiles. And as you bring the message to the gospel to the Gentiles is going to be hatred and so the disciples are being prepared for the task of being a light to know today becoming relative comfort. Tovar don't wean the United States and worship one persecutes us, no one tells us you cannot worship but some of our brothers and sisters in Christ or the world. Many countries right now is a speak in prison for their faith lose their jobs is owned by the family refuse higher education because of the commitment to Jesus Christ and I'm so thankful here at Calvary.

We partner with missionaries. Some of them local missionaries throughout the world on Thursday had the privilege on our Day of prayer for missionaries with zoom. I joined it and most of the missionaries there the time I prayed with them were from central Asia. You know the strange sounding names has extent that you can send your spec to stand in all of the signs and I for the privilege of visiting some of them I know these men and women of God through the interpreter were learning about the prayer requests I did you know that one of the pastors that we support in his church path of the man had been arrested over over the period of time thrown into prison, sometimes for 15 days, sometimes up to a period of two years evil there doing nothing wrong there law-abiding citizens, the righteous man could you imagine was a situation that they thought it is really from them could come to Calvary. No, harass us and over a period of time. Half the men here would spend time in prison is a large sent for my attorneys not been a work trumped up charges fabricated charges false evidence and you spend time in prison to start with the pastors that would reduce our pastoral staff too much. Rob I know you you would take a bullet for me, so you probably will first but, but, seriously, how would it be I wouldn't be man if you were faced that if you come and live for Jesus Christ. Figure known as a Christian and fellowship in a Calvary church to be a strong possibility that you would be arrested, but some night, some that would come knocking on the door and the sailor got here just in such happens in the drag you off happens throughout the world through Christian history.

The organization, the voice of the martyrs monitor some of the persecution of Christians showing the world and defines a Christian martyr. In this way a Christian martyr is one who chooses to suffer death rather than to deny Christ without being prepared to die before I denied Christ the world with a gun to my head or facing a death by hanging.

Or however the going to kill me and I know that I would get off if I say no. I denied Christ and I curse the name of Christ or would I be prepared to die for my feet would you chooses to suffer death rather than deny Christ on his word. We people in this country.

Pastors who deny the word of God sacrifices something very important part of the kingdom of God and the sacrifices you follow Christ. Jews great suffering Christian witness. We had all been there, the shape because someone says I don't believe this is on the argues with us or someone says no or someone curses us because were a follower of Christ marked church for their faith. Jesus is preparing his followers for this possibility.

Did you notice verse 21 brother will deliver brother over to death and the father his child. Children will rise against parents and put them to death. Verse 34 don't think that I've come to bring peace to the art are not come to bring peace but a sword of come to set a man against his father and daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law and the persons enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me that stuff is good.

Jesus is sending us into our very family's but not all families will respond.

I'm sure if we went running all of the families represented here. It would be the unusual family who 100% believe in Christ and live for Christ.

The reality is that I heard of this this week of an example of someone was here last week and challenge them to share their faith with her family. They do that they call their family to speak to family members.

The speech of friends and most of them are outraged say no we don't believe you effectively going to believe that you are not going to be part of our family. I value my family very, very strongly. I can imagine when my parents were alive.

There were unbelievers of presented the gospel to them in the said John if you pursue that you are no longer my son, but that would just say that Mike talk loyalty and life is not to my life is not to my parents to honor my parents not to my brothers and sisters, is not to any other human being my first loyalty is to Jesus Christ is not what he saying if I live father or mother more than Christ.

And I'm not worthy of Christ, my love, my son who I love dearly more than Christ. I'm not worthy of being followed is hard-hitting and this is the gospel. Jesus knows as he saying these words that what lies ahead for him.

He's going to be flogged. He's going to be spine that is going to be falsely imprisoned.

These going to be ridiculed is good to be struck in the face and eventually is going to be led up that hill will go off of the place of the skull. He Lord of glory is going to be crucified. Jesus says in John 15 verse 25 they hated me without a cause if they hated Christ without a cause. And he is perfect. You really surprised generally not when people hate you for the gospel is a terrible thing to be heated by someone thing to be rejected by someone rejected by a brother rejected by a business partner that is very very tough.

Isn't it not to be surprised. Jesus is saying in verses 24 through 25. Don't be surprised if the maligned if they persecuted they hated me one of the going to do for you disciple. Verses 24 and 25 is to be like his teacher are you greater than Christ later said no no man ever suffered like Jesus.

He's a man of sorrow. Whatever suffering you're going through because you're a follower of Christ is small compared with the suffering of our Savior.

You are not greater than our Savior, but we are to be like him to follow in his steps. And sometimes that involves suffering or here's the point is, you share your faith. You may well experience hostility, opposition, and perhaps even active persecution. Paul said indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Two Timothy 412 and so Lord Jesus is preparing his disciples for this time was going is going to come receive in the short term. In the book of acts at time of suffering, a time of persecution and we know in the history of the Christian church is often said that God uses persecution to grow his charge that was acts like the more they persecuted the church, the more he grew the blood of the martyrs becomes the seed of the church with the world will be judged member God is on our side. And as we share our faith. We are to be wise as serpents we are to exercise wisdom, and as we read in verses 14 and 15 the disciples as they went from time to time to time. Sometimes they had to move on.

If the people of the time rejected them and rejected the gospel to shake off the dust from their feet and moved to the next. What you experienced when someone repeatedly and repeatedly and repeatedly reject the gospel only rejects the gospel makeup ship. Were you to do member in the teaching of the sermon on my Jesus says in John Matthew seven verse six not to throw your pearls before pigs strange scripture was the point. Be discerning and wise Christian, we discern sometimes when people are ignorant when they constantly reject the gospel as a time to stop, not because you're trying to escape persecution, but there is a time sometimes to stop continue to pray and ask in the future of the garden's grace would open the door so that this person who wants was very opposed to be open to the gospel and sometimes it is wise to move on using to give up and someone know to give up on them but to move on. Rather than to continue to receive abuse acts 13 may be an example of Paul and Barnabas there in Antioch, acts 13 verse 44 Matthew Mark Luke John acts book of the New Testament, chapter 13 verse 44 the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

How wonderful.

Yes, there are people who want to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the crowds that were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. Paul as an apostle giving the truth of God through the use case from the Old Testament they tried to contradict them so that we surprised when people try to contradict you, you're not the apostle Paul and they reviled him and Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying I love this it was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you since you thrust it aside and judge yourself unworthy of eternal life. The whole we are turning to the Gentiles for so the Lord has commanded us say I have made you a light in this light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the and when the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. You don't receive it. Were going to turn and proclaim the message to the Gentiles the time we are to be courageous. Notice what and to continue to proclaim the message. Verse 23 when they persecute you in one tiling fleet to the next.

For truly I say to you will not have gone through all the times of Israel before the Son of Man comes is very difficult. Reference thereto. The coming of the Son of Man is a reference to the coming of the Son of Man and judgment. In A.D. 70, when the Romans .52 Jerusalem and the Jewish people are scattered that the reference is a reference to the fulfillment of the ministry of Jesus when it comes to the father's right hand, and since the what we do know is this that during the tribulation.

As it was the tribulation tribulation is a. After the rapture. The next event in God's prophetic calendar is the rapture with our Lord Jesus Christ will come. We, the church will be caught up to be forever with them on the unbelievers are left within the purposes of God hundred and 44,000 Jewish evangelists are going to spread the word.

Revelation 7 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes and their going to spread the gospel throughout the world not only in Israel by throwing the world and then the Son of Man Jesus himself will come with power and glory was not what he says in Matthew 24 immediately at verse 25. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be dark and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven. The powers of the heavens will be shaken that will appear in heaven, the sign of the Son of Man and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory and will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other glorious event. We proclaim the gospel we keep doing because it went from time to time continued know the Son of Man reference to himself is going to come.

Meantime, until that happens. This is the reality as you share your faith. That is the reality of persecution is there when it's very discouraging.

Not really listen to the response. Were we to respond whether we tend to with this reality that as you go and share your faith, there's going to be opposition so I don't find the opposition. I'm just going to pull back know is up because it's all your to continue to share your faith, think of the response. Verse 26 through 42 so have no fear of them together. Don't be afraid so. Have no fear of them for nothing is covered that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark seen the light and when you hear whispered what you hear whispered proclaim on the house tops and do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Phoniness are not two sparrows sold for a penny, not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not, therefore you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my father who is in heaven. I read verses 34 through 37 verse 38, and whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Whoever receives you receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me the one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward, and whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple. Truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward enough time to go through all these verses one by one. Obviously, this morning, but think of it, big picture.

What is the response that I'm to have when I'm told to be a light and there's opposition and told not to be afraid. As I shared my fate was back to verse 19 when they deliver you over.

Do not be anxious. Soul rested here illegally worshiping God. Let's say you take before the judge. I want you in the same dimensions 12 as I am.

Don't be anxious how your to speak, or what you're to say for you. What you say will be given to you in that hour for it is not you who speak with the spirit of your father speaking through to find. Surely you have if you're a follower of Jesus.

Heaven earphones in the time of your deepest despair in the midst of the worst problem insinuation of your life is the case, God reveals himself to give you a piece which passes all understanding. It shows you that he is with you. Here is the promise of God. Here's a picture I before the governor because of a follower of Jesus Christ.

Jesus says John Darby anxious. Don't even worry what you're going to say because when that time comes up and give you the exact words of the Holy Spirit is going to going you experienced this. I hope you have you been witnessing to someone, perhaps a little anxious if you lie don't have all the answers to all of the questions was this hostile person may be that's true, none of us have all the answers but remember we have the Holy Spirit is that wonderful that's were talking to someone the Holy Spirit can bring a verse to my an illustration point of experience is incredible. God is helping me here. Does God want you to be aligned. Of course he does. That person is intimidating. I understand that your father's intimidating is tough to speak to that professor at the college is very supercilious and you feel so infinitive will be anxious share your faith draw on the wisdom of God and you will be amazed God will use you and it was difficult of circumstances. Why one word of truth is greater than the world of lies and deception around them is a father of lies. The father of deception and as you share your faith.

One thing that you must try to do is to share something from this book, you say I don't know the Bible too well well you need to start reading and studying it can help you with that. Read the Bible, but even if you're a young believer don't know too much. You know that God loves us know that Christ came. Can you call John 316, did you tell them of God's mighty love. Could you point them to the cross of Christ that we were singing about. Yes, you can I can you tell them that Christ is risen, is not our message is the gospel of God, and three times yes three times in verses 26 through 31.

Jesus tells us in these circumstances not to fear.

Verse 26 so have no fear of them.

Verse 28 and do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Verse 31. Fear not, therefore you are of more value than many sparrows. You're afraid of people.

Don't be afraid. Afraid of them be afraid of God because all the worst that already we can do is to kill us and while they can kill our body. Jesus is saying they can tell you're so don't fear that person.

No fear of God was able to put soul and body in hell forever, which is using this stuff is the teaching of Jesus. Why is it I ask you the apostles after being such an ordinary group of people. One of them debiting the resurrection.

One of them. The leader denying the Lord three times, all of them abandoning the Lord, how is it that just days after the resurrection they can go and with great boldness preach the gospel and in the sense that the world upside that happened. These are not great people in and of themselves. We saw that last week ordinary man fisherman tags collected as salad dieting.

Thomas will happen to them. We saw the risen Christ. They do, the reality of eternity that Jesus Christ was risen from the dead.

How is it that our brothers and sisters done through the centuries have stood some of them have been burned at the stake. Some of them have been stolen to dad how is it that they can stand these men and women of faith and not deny Christ. Why, because of the eternal reality they believe they believe there was a hell at the they believe there was a heaven and that whatever the devil can do.

He cannot take from you your salvation. He cannot separate you from your union with our Lord Jesus Christ that our Savior gives us eternal life, and we shall never perish. Don't be afraid of people, says Jesus. No fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. I wonder sometimes if we believe really believe in the gospel.

Do you really believe John 316. Let me tell you again, for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life, usually with a glorious promise. It is a glorious promise. And if you've never believed in the Lord Jesus Christ received them today as your Savior, but implicit in John 316 is this, but if I do not believe I will perish and help for during the 17th century installed in the world what was called the Scottish covenantor's the persecuted for their faith and they were persecuted, particularly by man John Graham of claimant house and he was looking for the particular man, one of the leaders of mine told Mr. Douglas and he came to the home of Mr. Douglas and he couldn't find a mini Saxony Saxon.

There was Mr. Douglas's little boy Jimmy Douglas and I claimant house was pretty sure that that we bought knew what his father was hiding and so he said to the little blood pressure diet and the little boy refused to speak so claimant house, picked up the little boy dangled him over a deep deep cliff and said to him as your dad will boy said, I'm not saying claimant house at the little boy look darn see how deeply this little boy who knew his Bible said yes but not as deep as hell know as deep as hell. Fear not.

Those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. But your brother or sister. If you're in the fence and followed Jesus Christ.

Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid Jesus is saying with these wonderful words that we love about the sparrows that your heavenly father is watching over you and cares for your good God's care for you as to the most intimate detail of your life and your person. Did you notice verse 34. Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. That is incredible incredible care. I love my wife interested in most of what she does 99.9% of what she does but have never sat down and I don't intend to number the hairs of your head.

When my interest in my wife doesn't extend to counting the numbers of hair on her head.

I do know that when we fell in love by the great head of hair and just cut my head ever since. So I have wondered about what she's done to me the hairs of your head are numbered.

I had that I had distorted of the man who was bald, please don't make jokes about people who are bold with very sensitive is not right Rob, yes, so people think young Tebaldi can make jokes and you can make jokes about someone with a big nose and big ears, but you make a fool of someone who is bald and there was this man who only had two hairs on his head and he cultivated and that he grew them long and long and any kind of cuddled among the top of his head. Using this, and he plastered them done with some kind of hand lotion and we went swimming in the windy day little embarrassing to have these two wife is left to have to hairs there with one morning he will come into his great dismay. The two hairs were on the pillow and he says all know I'm bald so sometimes it's easy to come. There's you had with her, but the point is this God knows how many hairs you God knows when the spiral falls you're driving along you have a little bird. You look back in your motor and you see it fluttering on the road than for about five seconds.

You feel good about about. Sorry Wilbert what does Jesus say, not one spiral all the tumor sold for a penny, not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your your father.

What is the points. The point is visibly obvious points that this great God that you go and use our firm and your sharing your faith and yes, there's hostility.

And yes, she sometimes unafraid Jesus is saying don't be anxious. Don't be afraid I'm with you I know you I love you even to the most intimate detail of your life that no one else knows about lesson loved by my wife loved my son I'm loved by you as I hope. But that doesn't compare with the love of God but God's love for me is greater than any other human being. The person in this universe who loves you the most that love is small compared with the love of God and so as you go, what you afraid about what you anxious about God is watching over you every single situation about it. Nothing can harm your apart from your father. If he watches over the fall of the spiral much more easy interested in those. He's redeemed by his blood on his joint heirs with Christ will be with them for all of eternity because he loves us. Of course he cares for us. Therefore, do not be afraid and share your faith with boldness when you do that versus 32 and 33, Thomas not deny Christ but to be open for the reasons we have baptisms is in that November 1 November 15. Lord willing, little baptisms here of her brothers and sisters openly confessing their faith not living in the shadows, not secret disciples but saying I love Christ and I want the whole world to know that the most important thing about me is I love Jesus Christ's and as you go, think of the blessings people receive Jesus said in these last two verses 40 and 42 to receive a prophet, a righteous person or a little one is to receive Christ himself seemingly trivial little deeds done in the name of Christ reap great rewards when the done for Jesus a cup of cold water given to the Siebel. Truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward regular position. Small just for time soon. All of us will be an eternity say to you, plead with you.

Make sure your loyalty to Jesus as the top loyalty of your life was in the verses 38 and 39.

Whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me today. Would you take up your cross and follow Jesus never done that. We did however does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it. What is to find a life job yourself at the center of your life is all about you, your career, your possessions, your friends, your happiness if you do that you lose your life for what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul. Whoever finds his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find lose your life for Jesus students you follow Christ seek first his kingdom. You'll never regret it. And by doing that you will reap rich rewards and the joy of the Lord. No greater joy than telling others about Jesus. Yes, the darkness and is intensifying yes. The opposition is real, but we are on the winning side of the way to do gold go boldly this week shining as lights in the darkness, telling people but Jesus saves. There's no greater message is no greater privilege. Share your faith be a light in the dark world help his father to do just that. We pray for those outside of Christ.

Father pray for what terrible would be that someone would come to call the church and ended hell itself to Christ, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved and help us.

Father Calvary church to rise up to be a church filled with the spirit, spiritually bold as we shine for Jesus in this world. We ask