The Difficulty, Security, and Mission of All Believers.
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Introduction
Introduction
Good Evening everyone, I am so glad to see you all back here ready to worship the Lord. I am blessed beyond measure to have the privilege of getting to sand before you all. Thank you Jamie for leading us in worship this morning and this evening, and Jimmie thank you for your powerful message this morning. Tonight we will be in .
I must admit this sermon has been a struggle. I wrestled with the Lord on what to preach, changing from one passage to another, to another. Until finally the Lord gave me direction into this passage. Prayer is powerful and God is faithful to give us what we need.
I will admit this sermon has been a struggle. I wrestled with the Lord on what to preach, changing from one passage to another, to another.
Interesting enough, we will be looking at three assurances all Christians have this evening. If you are taking notes the title of the sermon is The Difficulty, Security, and Mission of All Believers.
1. Christians will suffer persecution from the World.
1. Christians will suffer persecution from the World.
Matthew
9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name.
Support Verses:
Paul is writing to Timothy encouraging him in the faith and concerning the persecution he has faced and writes:
12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
It was not a question of if followers of Christ were going to face opposition, it is promised. Christ tells us in
18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.
The result of the hatred for is not for who we are but because of what we are in Christ. Peter writes concerning persecution in this way,
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.
13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.
14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
True followers of Christ must understand persecution, alienation, and suffering are promised in the Christian’s life.
Connecting to today:
When we look in our society, we can see the world infiltrating our churches, do we not? Furthermore, do we not see a higher hostility towards conservative Bible teachers and followers of Christ in America? Recent events have had everything from banishing prayer from schools while allowing special rooms for muslim students to pray to mayors trying to subpoena sermons in search of hate crimes against the LGBTQ community.
Why is this taking place? We are entering a post Christian age in America where godlessness is clear. Sexual immorality is prevalent inside and outside the church. Greed consumes the minds of individuals. Worship has become an entertainment process instead of genuine hunger for the Word of the Lord.
We are a people who desire to have our ears tickled and our heads patted so we feel better about who we are while losing sight of how great our God is so our worship has become a facade to cover the filth that remains in our hearts.
We do not need more programs or events to solve the issue; we need hearts that are surrendered and hearts full of repentance for our flirtation with the world. Only then can we have true revival in our churches and awakenings amongst the lost.
Illustration:
A drunkard can wish himself sober but until he is willing to admit his issue and get as far away from alcohol as possible he will never be clean from his alcoholism. Likewise, until Christian’s admit their complacency with Christ and confess it as sin. We will not have revival nor the persecution promised for genuine faith.
Not only will Christians suffer persecution from the World.
2. Christians will persevere over the World.
2. Christians will persevere over the World.
Matthew 24:10-13
10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another.
11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.
13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Scripture Support:
In Ephesians, Paul tells us the beauty of the security for the believer when he writes,
13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.
14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
Also, Romans tells us
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He did not even spare his own Son but offered him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?
33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.
34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God graciously holds us in his grasp clinging to us as his beloved children. We who have been called unto Christ and have believed get to celebrate that we belong to the King of kings, Jesus. John even expands on this thought more when he writes,
27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”
He protects us as the good shepherd. Therefore, we do not persevere on our own merit or strength but through the strength of God!
What cause for celebration!
Ultimately, we see three ways in this passage we are to persevere.
A. True Christians remain faithful to the Lord.
A. True Christians remain faithful to the Lord.
10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another.
Matthew 2:10
10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.
10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.
When persecution comes, true followers of Christ will be seen. Persecution is an interesting facet in Christian history. It was under persecution that the disciples message spread throughout the land, persecution in the church and government led to the great pilgrimage to America. God has used on many occasions persecution to further His kingdom work. Today, in a climate that is becoming more hostile towards Jesus and the Bible. We will begin to see who sticks to the faith and who caves. these who remain faithful are the ones that will persevere.
Scripture Support:
5 Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine,
Scripture Support:
We have a responsibility to obey the Lord, to respect his Word, and to live out the faith.
Second aspect we need to note is that true
B. True Christians resist false doctrine.
B. True Christians resist false doctrine.
11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
We see that false prophets will deceive many in Revelation. Also, Jesus warns of the falling away of the faith in the parable of the sower,. Jesus says of one of the seeds,
14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.
They aren’t truly followers of Christ, they only liked what they heard for a short time but fell away from God all together. In other words, they are not truly children of God then he says in verse 15
15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.
It is a scary thought to think that we could have so many people deceived that they are saved because we have told them all they need is hell insurance instead of a faithful genuine relationship with God.
Third, true
C. True Christians radiate God’s love.
C. True Christians radiate God’s love.
12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.
The lack of love in a church is the first sign God is not present in a church. I thank God this is not true of this loving church. I am so humbled to be part of the family of God here. I want to challenge all of you to never lose sight of loving God and others. Here this passage tells us those who have gone astray have had their love run cold do not ever allow that to happen.
Yet, we must remember we are not instructed merely to love one another, we all need to do a better job of loving our enemies, neighbors, classmates, and other races.
Scripture support:
35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.
And Paul reminds us that love is the greatest attribute in
13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.
Not only do Christians suffer persecution and persevere over the world,
3. Christians will proclaim the Gospel to all the World.
3. Christians will proclaim the Gospel to all the World.
14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
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Have you ever wondered why so many pastors preach sharing the Gospel?
Of course the easy answer is because of the great commission and you would be correct. But, there is even more behind it than even that. The Lord has said here that this good news, talking about salvation, is proclaimed to all the world, I will return.
The the work of the Gospel message must first be completed before Christ’s return. We must take this good news to the ends of the earth. If we are not actively pursing God through the proclamation of the Word of God then we are in fact failing. We are not executing the will of God but instead are found to be fearful and ashamed of the Gospel. Does God need us? No. But has he commanded and chosen to use us? Absolutely.
Scripture Support:
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and a wise person captivates people.
Are you winning souls to the Lord?
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
We have seen that Christians will suffer persecution, that w will persevere over the world, and that we will proclaim the gospel to the entire world. As a result, God is asking us like the prophet Isaiah,
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who should I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.
Are we willing to answer the call of God? I am Lord Send Me is my prayer. Tonight I want to challenge you if you are willing to answer the call to come down to the front and stand. Are you willing to go and do whatever the cost?
Right now stand from your seat and make your way down and stand. If you are willing to go come and proclaim it and we will pray from you and help keep you accountable to go and be the church beyond these walls.