What to Expect
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
28 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.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come 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 person’s enemies will be those of his own household.
37 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.
38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
41 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.
42 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.”
Pray
1. The Skill We Need for the Mission (v.16)
1. The Skill We Need for the Mission (v.16)
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Wise as serpents - the serpent was always known for his shrewdness
Harmless as doves - doves are a symbol of peace
We need skill to handle those of our generation in the world, but we need to also remember that it is our love that leads them to see Christ.
2. The Persecution We Must Endure (vv. 17-19, 21-22)
2. The Persecution We Must Endure (vv. 17-19, 21-22)
Persecution before the world
17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
-will be delivered over to courts
-flogged - cat of nine tails
-dragged before governors and rulers
Persecution from family
21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Allegiance to Christ will even divide families. In many places in the world, allegiance to Christ will get you disowned or even killed by your own family members.
3. The Guidance of the Holy Spirit (v.19-20)
3. The Guidance of the Holy Spirit (v.19-20)
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
We are told not to worry. The same language is used in Matthew 6 to refer to God’s care for our physical needs.
We will be given what to speak in that moment by the Holy Spirit.
This does not mean we are not to prepare, but God will bring our preparation to remembrance.
We are before these people for the purpose of evangelizing them.
4. The Response We Must Give (vv. 22-25)
4. The Response We Must Give (vv. 22-25)
Shake it Off (v.19)
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
If you expect persecution, you will not see persecution as an attack against you. It is really against your Father, but you are His representative.
Endure (v.21-22)
21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Don’t give up because it gets hard
Move on to the next town (v.23)
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Sometimes we spend too long trying to win the same hard hearts that do not wish to change. Jesus tells us not to keep wasting time. In this particular case, this mission is time sensitive because Christ is coming.
It is time sensitive for us to get the gospel out as well.
Rejoice that you are being treated like Christ (vv. 24-25)
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Conclusion: