{"id":18857,"date":"2016-05-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-29T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sugar-land-bible-church.local\/sermon\/persecution-and-the-christian\/"},"modified":"2023-08-03T08:49:25","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T13:49:25","slug":"persecution-and-the-christian","status":"publish","type":"sermon","link":"https:\/\/slbc.org\/es\/sermon\/persecution-and-the-christian\/","title":{"rendered":"Persecution and the Christian"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","book":[100],"series_event":[562],"sermon_service_type":[472],"speaker":[450],"class_list":["post-18857","sermon","type-sermon","status-publish","hentry","book-2-timothy","series_event-topical-morris","sermon_service_type-main-service","speaker-gabe-morris","no-post-thumbnail"],"acf":{"sermon_title":"Persecution and the Christian","sermon_date":"20160529","sermon_month":"05","sermon_year":"2016","sermon_notes":"","sermon_slides":3646,"sermon_mp3":3647,"sermon_id":"529161022308","series_or_event":562,"service_type":[472],"speaker":450,"books_of_the_bible":100,"chapter_and_verse":"3:12","sermon_transcript":"SUGAR LAND BIBLE CHURCH\r\n\r\nGabe Morris\r\n\r\nPersecution and the Christian\u00a0 2 Timothy 3:12\r\n\r\n5-29-16\r\n\r\nGood morning.\u00a0 I hope you all are having a great memorial weekend.\u00a0 For those who had sons or daughters who gave the ultimate sacrifice in serving our great country a huge thank you for your sacrifice and service.\u00a0 Military families serve and sacrifice too.\u00a0 Can we pray?\r\n\r\nFather, we give You praise and we exalt you, you alone are worthy to be praised.\u00a0 Lord God we thank You for the men and women and the heroes who gave their lives for this country; for that we are grateful.\u00a0 May our country as a whole remember those individuals, not just tomorrow but every time we enjoy the freedoms available to us.\u00a0 And Father, we thank You for this church, for Your church, we thank You for this body of believers ready to take part in Your Holy Word; Your Word is truth, Lord, and I pray you open our hearts and our minds to Your Word.\u00a0 Use me as You see fit; bless the preaching of Your Word.\u00a0 And may we leave here ready to serve You.\u00a0 In Jesus name, and God\u2019s people said\u2026 Amen.\r\n\r\nIf you recall a few Sundays back Andy covered 2 Timothy 3:11-13 in a sermon entitled Follow Me, Part 2, and in that sermon he covered the verse in the middle, which says, \u201cIndeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.\u201d\u00a0 In that sermon he talked about the life of Paul and his various sufferings and persecutions and his letters were basically telling his audience, particularly Timothy, the young pastor, to imitate me as I imitate Christ.\u00a0 He pulled that from 1 Corinthians 11:1.\u00a0 [1 Corinthians 11:1, \u201cBe imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.\u201d]\u00a0 Christ suffered and was terribly persecuted to the point of death.\u00a0 And Paul as well throughout the New Testament suffered and was persecuted to the point of death.\u00a0 Paul was exhorting Timothy in his letters not just to follow what I say but follow my example as I follow Christ.\r\n\r\nThe Bible doesn\u2019t actually tell us how Paul died; there\u2019s no way to be certain but church tradition tells us that Paul was beheaded in Rome at the hand of Nero.\u00a0 In fact tradition says that the Apostle Peter also died within that same time frame of Paul; because Peter was Jewish he was crucified tradition tells us.\u00a0 And because Paul was a Jew, but a Roman citizen, he was beheaded.\u00a0 Romans were normally exempt from crucifixion.\r\n\r\nBut in that sermon Andy briefly touched on American Christianity, the American church and persecution, and he said something that was very profound to me and for the rest of that day I couldn\u2019t help but\u2026 I couldn\u2019t stop thinking about it.\u00a0 What he said drove me to study about what the Bible spoke about persecution.\u00a0 He said that in Christianity America was an abnormality; you guys remember that?\u00a0 He called it a bubble and that\u2019s true; I believe that\u2019s true.\u00a0 We American Christians, we live in a bubble in regard to religious persecution, compared to the first century church, compared to other countries around the world Americans have, in fact, we have been sheltered and protected, literally protected in many ways from religious persecution.\r\n\r\nSo I decided to just put it in a sermon and I pray this will encourage someone today.\u00a0 The title of my message is Persecution and the Christian, Part I.\u00a0 And here\u2019s a brief outline of where we are headed today.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to talk about four characteristics of persecution and the Christian\u2019s attitude towards persecution.\u00a0 So can we turn to 2 Timothy 3:12.\u00a0 I will not be expositing this verse today, Andy already did that, I wanted to use this verse as a springboard into our topic of persecution.\r\n\r\nSo let\u2019s begin with defining persecution, 2 Timothy 3:12 says, \u201cIndeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.\u201d\u00a0 That word persecuted in Greek is the Greek verb di<\/em>\u014dochth\u0113sontai<\/em>, coming from the Greek word di<\/em>\u014dch<\/em>\u014d<\/em>, which means persecute, or pursue.\u00a0 It\u2019s to become subject to systematic harassment and attack due to one\u2019s religious beliefs.\u00a0 One Bible dictionary says: to use forcible means to inhibit the spread or practice of a religious faith; infliction of suffering,\u00a0 injury or death on others because of their beliefs.\r\n\r\nPersecution is a very large theme in the Bible.\u00a0 In fact, the very first book of the Bible begins with an account of persecution of the righteous by the unrighteousness.\u00a0 Genesis 4:3-7 we hear this story of Cain who was full of rage because God had no account for his offering but accepted Abel\u2019s offering instead.\u00a0 [Genesis 4:3-7, \u201cSo it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. [4] Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; [5]5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. [6] Then the LORD said to Cain, \u2018Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? [7] If you do well, will not your countenance<\/em> be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.\u201d]\r\n\r\nCain gave in to his sinful desires and rage and murdered his brother.\u00a0 And of course, all throughout the Old Testament we see the people of God, or the nation of Israel, being persecuted by Egypt, the Philistines, the Midianites, Babylon, the Persian, then Rome in the New Testament.\u00a0 For the first century believer persecution was the norm; it was normal.\u00a0 And in fact, Christianity was birthed, the church was birthed in a mixed persecution.\u00a0 And if anyone in the first century had the opportunity to hear the gospel and believe on Jesus Christ no doubt that person had to consider the reality that persecution would soon follow.\u00a0 Beyond that Jesus Himself warned His disciples and His potential disciples of imminent persecution.\u00a0 In other words, Scripture teaches us that discipleship is costly.\r\n\r\nHow much does it cost?\u00a0 Your life.\u00a0 Can we turn in our Bibles to Matthew 16:24, and in Matthew Jesus is with His disciples, He said this, Matthew 16:24, \u201c\u2026\u2018If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.; [25] For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.\u201d\r\n\r\nNow Jesus was not talking about giving up a few bad habits or sacrificing a Super Bowl Sunday to follow Him; He was talking about persecution.\u00a0 And how do we know that?\u00a0 Because in the verses prior to that, if you look up in verses 21-23 Jesus predicts His coming persecution and death by the chief priests and scribes.\u00a0 Verse 21 says, \u201cFrom that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. [22] Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, \u2018God forbid it,<\/em> Lord! This shall never happen to You.\u2019 [23]But He turned and said to Peter, \u2018Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God\u2019s interests, but man\u2019s.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 And here\u2019s verse 24, \u201cThen Jesus said to His disciples, \u201cIf anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself [and take up his cross and follow Me],\u201d and the verse continues.\r\n\r\nSo we clearly see that discipleship may cost you your life.\u00a0 Jesus referred to imagery of the cross , He said, \u201cTake up your cross and follow Me.\u201d\u00a0 When you were captured, when\u00a0 you were a captured criminal under Roman rule you were forced to carry your own cross to the place where you were to be crucified.\u00a0 And it signified submission to Rome.\u00a0 And Jesus here was warning His disciples of the potential reality if they were to follow Him.\u00a0 Please don\u2019t miss the conjunction there in the beginning of Christ\u2019s statement, \u201cIf,\u201d \u201cIf anyone wishes to follow me.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus is revealing a condition; if you agree to follow Me than you must expect this\u2014persecution.\r\n\r\nBack in chapter 10 of Matthew, verses 38-39, Jesus says it differently.\u00a0 He says, \u201cAnd he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. [40] He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.\u201d\u00a0 Now I\u2019m not a betting man but if I were I would bet that probably 95% or more of people sitting in this building, including myself, did not consider the reality of persecution the day we became a Christian.\u00a0 In other words, when you decided to become a believer did we weigh in our mind the reality of persecution coming on us and our families when we put our faith in Christ Jesus.\u00a0 I know I didn\u2019t.\u00a0 But yet there is verse after verse in the New Testament, Matthew 16:24 being one of them, 2 Timothy 3:12 being another, there is verse after verse explicitly warning us that persecution could be a reality once we decide to follow Jesus.\r\n\r\nBut as an American back in 1995 was when I became a Christian, I didn\u2019t have to weigh the reality of persecution; because of the religious freedom I enjoyed I didn\u2019t have to.\u00a0 The Bible says if you follow Jesus you will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12.\u00a0 We learn that that was the promise and I know this should always be a small percentage of exception, I know that.\u00a0 For example, would you agree that\u00a0 America has been that exception?\u00a0 At least in my mind; I know there\u2019s other countries that enjoy some freedom but America is a small exclusion in the sweep of church history in regards to Christian persecution.\u00a0 And, well at least in December, December 15, 1791 the enactment of the First Amendment which protected our religious freedom, Americans over a significant portion of the United States existence have literally enjoyed freedom of worship.\u00a0 But it wasn\u2019t always like this. America\u2019s beginnings were rooted in religious persecution if you recall.\u00a0 England\u2019s Puritans, remember them, leaving their homeland because of persecution.\u00a0 If it were not for those Puritans there would be no America.\u00a0 Or other people like George Washington, founders of our country, who loved Almighty God, without them there would be no United States.\u00a0 There would be no quote \u201cshining city on a hill\u201d as the Puritan, John Winthrop termed it.\u00a0 And Ronald Reagan also used that term.\u00a0 They called her, America, the shining city on a hill.\u201d\u00a0 Amen.\r\n\r\nBut since 1791, again we have been sheltered .\u00a0 If you are an American citizen consider yourself abundantly blessed.\u00a0 But as I look in regard to the church after studying the life of the church and how she has endured persecution from day 1 and how the apostles who laid the foundation for the church, who later endured tremendous persecution and died for their faith, after learning how Jesus warned all those who followed Him will endure persecution.\u00a0\u00a0 And Jesus endured persecution to the point of death.\u00a0 And how the New Testament reveals that persecution was considered a blessing.\r\n\r\nI had to ask myself as I studied this, will religious freedom in America continue to be a blessing as Jesus draws nigh, or will it handicap the American church.\u00a0 I thought that was a legitimate question to ask.\u00a0 And can I come at it from a different perspective: if our religious freedoms continue and I for one, I do pray that it does and I\u2019m sure all of you guys do too, but if religious freedom does continue then that would mean the American church by and large may not be a candidate for the crown of life.\u00a0 Can you imagine it, the Iranian Christian, the Indonesian Christian, the Chinese Christians, the Korean Christians and just a sprinkling of American Christians in the line to receive the crown of life.\r\n\r\nNow please don\u2019t misunderstand me, I\u2019m not saying we should go out and get persecuted;\u00a0 I\u2019m sure many of us contemplating this truth are thinking I would be content to just having one crown maybe two, maybe just eternity, I would be content with that.\u00a0 But what I\u2019m trying to wrap my mind around is the fact that Jesus Himself has called me to a life of suffering.\u00a0 Did not Paul say in Philippians 3:10 that his one desire was \u201cknow Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.\u201d\r\n\r\nPeter said it differently in 1 Peter 2:19-21, he said, \u201cFor this finds<\/em> favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. [20] For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it<\/em> you patiently endure it, this finds<\/em> favor with God. [21] For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,\u201d that sounds familiar.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t Paul say that to Timothy?\r\n\r\nWhat I\u2019m saying is that as the American church, we as a Bible-believing church need to seriously consider the cost of discipleship, especially in light of how Christians are being treated currently in America.\u00a0 Christianity is out of season in America.\r\n\r\nI came across an article, a journal article called The Conservative Theological Journal<\/em>, written by a man who was very dear to some of the members of this church, in fact, he mentored like some of our leaders, like Andy Woods and Jim McGowan. I wish I could have met this man; from what I now of him he was a man devoted to proclaiming God\u2019s truth and investing that truth into others; his name was Mal Couch and this article is written in December of 1999, almost 17 years ago.\u00a0 And he wrote this, please bear with me, these are all articles of persecution in the U.S.\r\n\r\nHe said this: \u201cIt is my firm conviction that the modern evangelical church will soon face direct persecution in America.\u00a0 It is has already begun in other parts of the world.\u00a0 In fact, some have estimated that more believers have died for their faith in Christ in this century than in any era of the early church.\u00a0 But such physical martyrdom has not often taken place in the U.S., though no one prays for martyrdom physical persecution in this country would rejuvenate the witness of the body of Christ.\r\n\r\n\u201cIt is interesting to note that the recent killings in the high school in Colorado and the shootings in Fort Worth, Texas,\u201d this is in 1999, \u201chad some elements of martyrdom.\u00a0 When one of the killers learned he was pointing his weapon at a Christian teenager with glee and relish he dispatched her out of this life.\u00a0 In a more direct way the killings in the Fort Worth church were fueled by a clear hatred for Christianity.\u00a0\u00a0 Though some may argue that the killers in both cases were mentally unstable, nevertheless, their anti-God sentiments were expressed long before these terrible events took place.\u00a0 Though I\u2019m certainly not a prophet I predict that within ten years American Christians will be facing a much more widespread baptism of fire.\u00a0 It may begin with a more intense legal and religious ostracization in order to smother our witness.\u00a0 It will then move to persecutions on the job, more public expressions of Christianity, such as take place around Christmas, will be limited.\u00a0 And finally, though we say this will never happen in America outright physical suffering may come about.\u00a0 If we but look back at how quickly the influence of Christianity has been curtailed I believe that we will have to ponder, could such persecution actually happen to us?\u00a0 Looking at the New Testament of the history of the early church we see that persecution was normative and not unusual; for believers in Christ it was expected.\u00a0 For the rapture of the church to glory I believe hatred and persecution against believers will sharply increase.\u00a0 Peter reminds us to expect fiery ordeals and testing\u2019s.\u201d\u00a0 He adds that \u201cSuch trials are not to be taken as strange but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ; keep on rejoicing.\u00a0 Further, if you are reviled for the name of Christ you are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.\u00a0 It must be remembered,\u201d last paragraph, it must be remembered that God is sovereign in history; if these things come upon us we are but one of many generations that will have suffered for the Lord.\u00a0 Peter reminds us of his providence since her name is bitter cup that may be out lot here at the end of the church age.\u00a0 Therefore let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.\u201d\r\n\r\nAre we ready for persecution?\u00a0 And since this is a Bible church and one of our aims is to equip the body of Christ let\u2019s do some equipping; shall we?\u00a0 Let\u2019s prepare for persecution.\u00a0 That was my introduction so let\u2019s begin.\r\n\r\nI wanted to begin with some of the breathtaking numbers and statistics regarding Christian persecution around the world today but that would have taken up the whole sermon.\u00a0 The slides you saw earlier were all from the U.S. and within the last year or so.\u00a0 Instead let\u2019s begin with learning about the nature of persecution.\r\n\r\nWhat are some of the characteristics of Christian persecution?\u00a0 And the first one is persecution is the characteristic of this world, Psalm 10: says this: \u201cWhy do you stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide Yourself<\/em> in times of trouble?\u00a0 [2] In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted; let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.\u00a0 [3] For the wicked boasts of his heart\u2019s desire, and the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD.\u00a0 [4] The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him.\u00a0 All his thoughts are, \u2018There is no God.\u2019\u201d\r\n\r\nHere David defined the characteristic of the persecutor, full of pride and arrogance, haughtiness; it is in their nature to speak and act abusively towards God\u2019s people.\u00a0 This person has absolutely no room for God or His laws.\u00a0 Just a hearing of God\u2019s words make him cringe, make him full of rage.\u00a0 Remember in the book of Acts, Stephen, when he was killed in Acts 7:54 is says, \u201cNow when they\u201d Stephen\u2019s adversaries, \u201cheard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.\u201d\u00a0 Such a person is fixed and immovable in his wickedness and he will go out of his way to be deceitful and destructive towards the one who does not think like he does.\r\n\r\nSo deceitful that in Psalm 10:7 it goes on to say, \u201cHis mouth is full of curse and deceit and oppression;\u00a0 under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.\u201d\u00a0 So the persecutor has no problem deceiving others in order to destroy or bring calamity to his adversaries.\u00a0 You can read more in that Psalm to learn more about the persecutor.\r\n\r\nBut persecution is the characteristic of this world.\u00a0 In 1 John 3:13 it says, \u201cDo not be surprised, brethren, fi the world hates you.\u201d\u00a0 It shouldn\u2019t surprise us.\u00a0 And the fact that the world hates us should put us at ease.\u00a0 Amen!\u00a0 Don\u2019t feel bad, it started with Jesus.\u00a0 Jesus came to the world that He created, He came to His own, the Bible says, John 1:10, and they did not receive Him.\u00a0 They later crucified Him.\u00a0 [John 1:10, \u201cHe was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.\u00a0 [11] He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.\u201d]\r\n\r\nPeople who are in this world, those that are unbelieving, are said to have their minds blinded by the god of this world so that they may not see the light of the gospel, 2 Corinthians 4:4.\u00a0 [\u201c in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.\u201d]\r\n\r\nThis brings us to our second characteristic of persecution and that is that Satan is the arch persecutor of God\u2019s people and that verse reference is Genesis 3:15, it says, \u201cAnd I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.\u201d\u00a0 Of course this is the verse known in theology as the fancy word protoevangelium with a prototype to the gospel.\u00a0 This decree, prophetic decree by God speaks of the unending struggle and hated and strife with Satan and mankind, and the offspring of the woman.\u00a0 As we stated before, this struggle started immediately with Cain and Abel; this struggle would continue to Christ and those ultimately found collectively in Him.\r\n\r\nAnd please do not overlook the Scripture that says the enmity will be \u201cbetween your seed,\u201d Satan\u2019s seed, \u201cand her seed;\u201d the devil will not be alone in his campaign against your life; this will include his demon cohorts and people as well.\r\n\r\nJesus, in John 8:44 spoke of people whose father is the devil.\u00a0 He told the Pharisees, \u201cYou are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.\u201d\u00a0 We see again in both Old and New Testament, remember the life of Job in the Old Testament, and Satan\u2019s role in Job\u2019s struggle and tragedy.\u00a0 Satan had all the power in his hands but he could not take Job\u2019s life.\u00a0 In the New Testament, Satan, in Luke 22:3-4, entered Judas.\u00a0 Satan entered Judas.\u00a0 It says, \u201cAnd Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. [4] And he\u201d Judas \u201cwent away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.\u201d\r\n\r\nSatan is the arc persecutor of God\u2019s people.\u00a0 1 Peter 5:8 says, \u201cBe of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Satan will persecute the church and the nation of Israel until the glorious end.\r\n\r\nAnother characteristic of persecution is its agency. What are some of the agencies of persecution?\u00a0 The first one is the world and the people of it.\u00a0\u00a0 In John 15:18-19 it says, \u201cIf the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated<\/em> you. [19] \u201cIf you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.\u201d\r\n\r\nWe read in John 3:13, \u201cDo not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.\u201d\u00a0 In both references the term \u201cworld\u201d here is the Greek word kosmos<\/em>.\u00a0 Andy explained this in many of his sermons; it\u2019s not talking about planet earth, it\u2019s talking about systems, its mindsets, its way of thinking, its worldview.\u00a0 Take the worldview of secular humanism, for example, where the ultimate authority is man; they\u2019re atheistic, their naturalistic philosophies and experiences, even morality, values, ethics, are all based in knowing their reality.\u00a0 They begin with the premise that denies God; they start off with that and end in it, they deny the supernatural.\r\n\r\nOne advocate of secular humanism says: we are intelligent, yet undersigned, self-aware and an unintended being.\u00a0 Men, therefore, are masters of their own destiny and creators of morality.\r\n\r\nBy the way, secular humanists pervade our government, our public schools, our court systems.\u00a0 And it\u2019s even crept into some of our churches.\u00a0 This is the world for you, complete and utterly contrary to what we learn in Scripture.\r\n\r\nAnd did you notice the term, how it describes how the world looks at us?\u00a0 It hates us.\u00a0 Brethren, do not be surprised if the world hates you. You are currently hated, abhorred; let me rephrase that, you as an individual, the world doesn\u2019t hate you, the world hates what\u2019s in you or who\u2019s in you.\u00a0 If you didn\u2019t have Jesus the world would love you.\u00a0 In John 15:19, \u201c\u201cIf you were of the world, the world would love its own; [but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you].\u201d\u00a0 Luke 21:17 says this: \u201cand you will be hated by all because of My name.\u201d]\u00a0 Notice the word \u201call: there, all the world.\r\n\r\nWhat\u2019s in the world?\u00a0 That brings us to our second agent of persecution, it\u2019s earthly government; earthly governments and religious authority.\u00a0 We see in both Old and New Testaments that earthly governments had their fair share of oppressing God\u2019s people and persecuting them.\u00a0 We talked about Egypt and the Philistines, and Babylon, Persia, and Rome.\u00a0 Even Israel herself persecuted her own and oppressed her own.\r\n\r\nRemember the story of King Ahab, one of Israel\u2019s most wicked kings who ruled the northern kingdom?\u00a0 Scripture describes him as a man that did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him.\u00a0 1 Kings 16:30, [\u201cAhab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.\u201d]\u00a0 And his wife, Jezebel, Ahab was carried over to the worship of Baal and of course we know the story of the great prophet, Elijah, being their number one target.\r\n\r\nEarthly governments, Mark 13:9 towards the end of Christ\u2019s ministry Jesus began telling His disciples of things to come concerning their future.\u00a0 Mark 13:9 says, \u201cBut be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to the courts, [and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.\u201d]\u00a0 That word \u201ccourts\u201d is the Greek term sunedria<\/em> from where we get the term Sanhedrin.\u00a0 He was referring to the local courts; these are the people who had supreme executive and legislative and judicial powers over the Jews within the boundaries of Roman rule.\u00a0 And the funny thing is, that the whole governing body of the Sanhedrin was composed of both Pharisees and Sadducees, religious authorities, with the high priest serving as its president; how convenient for them.\u00a0 That\u2019s how it was made up in Christ\u2019s time.\r\n\r\nActs 23:1-5 reveals this.\u00a0 [Acts 23:1-5, \u201cPaul, looking intently at the Council, said, \u2018Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.\u2019 [2] The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. [3] Then Paul said to him, \u2018God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?\u2019 \u00a0[<\/strong>4] But the bystanders said, \u2018Do you revile God\u2019s high priest?\u2019 [5] And Paul said, \u2018I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, \u2018YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.\u2019\u201d]\r\n\r\nReligious authorities, if we look at Mark 13:9, it continues on and it says, \u201c\u2026and you will be flogged in the<\/em> synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.\u201d\r\n\r\nActs 5:17-18 says this: \u201cBut the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. [18]They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.\u201d A \u201cpublic jail.\r\n\r\nActs chapters 3 and 4 also tell of the account when Peter and John were arrested and persecuted by the religious leaders after they healed the lame beggar.\u00a0 These verses clearly teach that religious authorities can turn on Christians at the drop of a dime because of who\u2019s in us.\u00a0 And given the fact that 2 Timothy teaches that the church will drift away from truth, Andy just covered that, the apostasy of the church, God help us when the day comes and we are reviled, or perhaps even afflicted to some degree from our own numbers.\r\n\r\nDoes not apostasy have no limits?\u00a0 Remember that. Is not apostasy satanically energized?\u00a0 Will\u00a0 it not impact every major doctrine that we hold dear to?\r\n\r\nWe can also add to religious authorities other religions, like radical Islam.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 They are persecuting our fellow brethren, brothers AND sisters as we speak, killing and raping them systematically in a horrific and sometimes creative manner.\u00a0 The latest video I\u2019m aware of is the 21 Egyptian Christians beheaded on a beach in Libya, I don\u2019t know if you guys heard about that.\u00a0 The video is entitled A Message Signed with Blood to the Nation of the Cross<\/em>.\r\n\r\nne last thing about government, if you\u2019re wondering where government is headed look no further than the Bible.\u00a0 Daniel 7:23 says this? \u201cThus he said: \u2018As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and tread it down, and crush it.\u201d\u00a0 This verse is talking about a one-world government; it\u2019s on the horizon, ruled by one man, the antichrist, who is controlled by Satan himself.\r\n\r\nAnd if you\u2019re wondering what the objectives are, will be for this one-world government it\u2019s the complete and utter domination of all facets of life, oh, and also to get rid of God\u2019s people.\r\n\r\nRevelation 13:7 says, \u201cIt was also given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them, an authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.\u201d\u00a0 One commentator said abut Revelation 13:7, he said, \u201cTo make war does not mean to wage a military campaign, but refers to hostility to and destruction of the people of God in whatever manner and through whatever means the beast may choose, to conquer them.\u00a0 If refers not to the submission of their faith but to the destruction of their physical lives.\u201d\u00a0 If you\u2019re interested in this subject on world government, Andy did an awesome sermon entitled The Coming World Government and you can find that on Spirit and Truth.\r\n\r\nBut we have briefly covered three agencies of persecution, the world, earthly government and religious authorities.\u00a0 Are we prepared, as the American church, for persecution?\r\n\r\nAnd the last agent of persecution, examples in the Bible, I\u2019m sorry to tell you that, is family and friends.\u00a0 This brings us back to one of our introductory passages in Matthew 10; can we turn there if you\u2019re not there already.\u00a0 Matthew 10:38-39, this is the section where Jesus defines a disciple.\u00a0 Remember when Jesus said in Matthew 10:38-39, he says this:\u00a0 \u201cAnd he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. \u201cHe who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.\u201d\r\n\r\nIf we go north, up a few verses, to 34, Jesus says, \u201cDo not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. [35] For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; [36] and A MAN\u2019S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.\u201d\u00a0 This is one of those hard sayings of Jesus.\u00a0 You mean to tell me the promised Messiah, the one called the Prince of Peace will divide and tear apart families?\u00a0 I thought the angels declared at His birth, \u201cPeace on earth among men.\u201d\u00a0 The short answer: yes!\u00a0 If Israel had accepted Him there would have been peace and since He was refused and rejected by Israel the result was a sword.\r\n\r\nNow there is only peace through what?\u00a0 The blood of the cross, Colossians 1:20.\u00a0 [\u201cand through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.\u201d]\r\n\r\nWith respect to family and friends Satan\u2019s influence will be so strong people will grow so cold, there will be so much hatred towards the one who follows Christ.\u00a0 Blood relations will not matter anymore; the closest relational bond, the familial bond between parent and child will be lost.\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s not forget that this section describes what a true disciple looks like.\u00a0 Verse 37, \u201cHe who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.\u201d\u00a0 The disciple here, Jesus is saying, must be willing\u2026 must be willing to face not only persecution to death but family hatred, betrayal and alienation as well.\u00a0 What is this verse teaching?\u00a0 Complete and utter allegiance and dependence on God, and trust that HE has a plan, a better plan than me.\u00a0 When Jesus repeated those statements, \u201cI came,\u201d \u201cI came,\u201d or \u201cI did not come\u201d it reveals His Christological and eschatological awareness.\u00a0 He\u2019s dialing back to the Old Testament; he references Micah 7:6, [Micah 7:6, \u201cFor son treats father contemptuously, Daughter rises up against her mother, Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; A man's enemies are the men of his own household.\u201d]\r\n
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  1. A. Carson said this: \u201cMicah describes the sinfulness and rebellion in the days of King Ahaz, but insofar as Jesus\u2019 disciples are following Him align themselves with the prophets. The situation in Micah\u2019s time points to the greater division at Messiah\u2019s coming. Many critics think these verses apply solely to Christians in Matthew\u2019s day and doubtless they call Matthew\u2019s readers to think of their own suffering.\u201d\u00a0 But some older commentators, like this man, [can't understand word, sounds like: Plumtree] wonder whether the twelve even during Jesus\u2019 early ministry did not face some opposition from family and friends, as did Jesus Himself.\u00a0 In any case, the context suggests Jesus is focusing on the future; even today the situation has not greatly eased.\u00a0 In the liberal West, people who become Christians have occasionally been disowned and disinherited by their families, or have lost their job.\u00a0 And under totalitarian regime there have been and still is untold sufferings for Christ.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nCan we turn to Luke 14:26, this is one of Jesus\u2019 sayings and He says it in a way that cuts to the heart.\u00a0 Luke 14:26, He says, \u201cIf anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.\u201d\u00a0 Man, that\u2019s tough!\u00a0 [Luke 14: 27] \u201cWhoever does not carry his own cross after Me cannot be My disciple.\u201d\r\n\r\nHe goes on, [28] \u201cFor which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?\u00a0 [29] Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, [30] saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish. [31] Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?\u00a0 [32] Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.\u00a0 [33] So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.\u201d\r\n\r\nI\u2019ve got to tell you, I was a mess studying for this sermon.\u00a0 I felt\u2026 I feel so inadequate teaching a sermon like this, as an American.\u00a0 I mean, are we ready for persecution as the American church.\u00a0 Will we count the cost of discipleship?\r\n\r\nSo far we looked at three characteristics of persecution, the world, earthly governments, religious authorities, family and friends, let\u2019s look at our final characteristic.\u00a0 Believers must expect persecution\u2026 believers must expect persecution!\u00a0 John 15:20 says this, \u201cRemember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you\u2026.\u201d\r\n\r\n1 Thessalonians 3: says this, \u201cFor indeed when we were with you,\u201d Paul is speaking, \u201cwe kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction;\u201d and by the way, suffering, affliction and persecution are interchangeable when I studied this, the topic of persecution, \u201cand so it came to pass, as you know.\u201d And then 2 Timothy 3:12, \u201cIndeed\u2026\u201d\u00a0 \u201cIndeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.\u201d\r\n\r\nAs we have learned in Andy\u2019s past sermons Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit promises the reality to believers, or should I say disciples, persecution; He promises persecution.\u00a0 Please notice in 2 Timothy he says, \u201cAll those who desire to live a godly life,\u201d right, not every Christian desires to live a godly life.\u00a0 Not every Christian counts the cost.\u00a0 Not every believer is a disciple.\u00a0 And the truth of the matter is that, you know, not every believer will be persecuted.\u00a0 And I say that because some of the greatest men and women of God that we know, some who are close to this body, never had a hair harmed on their head.\u00a0 And that was the grace of God, that was the mercy of God.\u00a0 We sang those hymns earlier, where \u201cGod shed His grace on thee.\u201d\r\n\r\nWe don\u2019t know when persecution will come; we know that it\u2019s on the rise, but it will come.\u00a0 If the Scriptures are true it will come, right?\u00a0 It\u2019s sort of like the rapture, if I could\u00a0 use that example; we don\u2019t know when the rapture will be here but it will be here.\u00a0 It could be years, months, or days before persecution comes knocking at our door.\u00a0 But when it does, are we ready; will we be ready?\r\n\r\nAnd now in the last days the believer will sooner or later come to a crossroads of decisions; we either count the cost or not.\u00a0 This slide, hopefully, should add more weight to it after today, it did for me.\u00a0 I have a lot to consider when I think about discipleship, when I think about persecution.\u00a0 Will it come to my door?\u00a0 My prized possessions are my beautiful wife and my five children.\u00a0 But then again, are they really mine?\u00a0 They\u2019re God\u2019s, right?\u00a0 I\u2019m just the steward.\u00a0 As I read those persecution passages, especially the one that Jesus warns us about, it had a bigger impact on me when I thought about this.\u00a0 I bet now when those Christian bakers who refused to bake that cake, that wedding cake for the homosexual couple, for the photographer that refused to take pictures at the homosexual wedding, I bet those Scriptures are alive to them now.\u00a0 Oh, that\u2019s what Christ meant by carrying the cross.\u00a0 Hallelujah!\r\n\r\nBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.\u201d [Matthew 5:10]\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Christ. [Matthew 5:11]\r\n\r\nAre we ready?\u00a0 How do we get ready?\u00a0 How do we get ready for this kind of thing?\u00a0 I\u2019m glad you asked.\u00a0 What should our posture be in light of persecution?\u00a0 What should my attitude be towards coming persecution?\u00a0 Should I flee from it or defend myself?\u00a0 What should my backup plan be if I am persecuted?\u00a0 Those questions will hopefully be answered in our next session together, God willing.\u00a0 Amen.\r\n\r\nFor now here is a teaser, I read some of the verses to you, at least portions of it.\u00a0 [Matthew 5:10]\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\u00a0 [11] \u201cBlessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.\u201d [12]\u00a0 \u201cRejoice, and be glad,\u201d for your reward in heaven is great, \u201cfor in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.\u201d\r\n\r\nJust a teaser, it gets better.\u00a0 God wins, Amen!\u00a0 He wins!\u00a0 Now those of you who perhaps are here for the first time, who are unsure about your salvation, don\u2019t let the idea of persecution cause you to walk away without believing first in Jesus.\u00a0 You know, the Apostle Paul said this in Philippians 3:8, \u2018I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.\u201d\r\n\r\nThat\u2019s another teaser.\u00a0 So Paul counted the cost as well.\u00a0 He counted all things, even his suffering, even his life, as a loss \u201cso that I may gain Christ,\u201d he said. \u00a0In other words, squaring away your salvation today with Jesus will be the most important decision you will ever make.\u00a0 The benefits of knowing Christ far exceed all [can't understand word], even [can't understand word].\r\n\r\nHow do you square away your salvation?\u00a0 You believe in the gospel message.\u00a0 The gospel is what Christ has done for you.\u00a0 He lived a perfect life in your place, He died a sinless life for you, God actually gave His Son, His only Son to die in your stead.\u00a0 He was resurrected on the third day and ascended into heaven.\u00a0 And now He sits at the right hand of the Father.\u00a0 We all know John 3:16, I love John 3:16, \u201cWhosoever believes in Him shall have eternal life.\u201d\u00a0 If you desire eternal life there\u2019s one thing to do, it\u2019s just believe\u2026 just believe!\u00a0 Trust, depend, rely are synonyms; if you have done that congratulations, you are a part of the family of God.\u00a0 And God awaits us, Amen.\u00a0 All your sins are forgiven, past, present and future.\u00a0 And if you are unsure about it we can talk afterwards.\u00a0 Can we pray.\u00a0 All right.\r\n\r\nFather, thank You for Your Word, and in these last days Lord, with your strength, wisdom, mercy and grace, and joyful praise as You prepare us for what Your Word has promised us in regard to persecution and suffering, may you calibrate our thinking in regard to persecution, may You give us wisdom and courage to count the cost.\u00a0 And may You allow us to see our lives as Paul saw his, as one who was sold out for You.\u00a0 May we bless\u00a0 You as we go and we give You glory and praise, in Jesus name.\u00a0 And God\u2019s people said\u2026 Amen!","series_sermon_number":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t