Sermon Tone Analysis

24-33

Today we return to this passage that we started to look a month ago where Jesus called The Twelve and sent them out as sheep among wolves and in that way indicated that the world would be hostile to them and verse 24f carries on the theme.

If they curse, ridicule, think that you are mad, verbally and physically abuse you then this is no different to what Jesus, our teacher, experienced; and we, as His servants, cannot expect to receive better treatment.

Last time we were in the Gospels we saw that we were to be as wise as snakes and innocent as doves.

But even so, our message given, even with caution and cleverness will result in opposition.

In the first two paragraphs of this passage we are told not to fear.

Do not fear persecutors in verse 26.

Do not fear those who can kill the body in verse 28 and do not fear for God cares in verse 31.

We are blessed in this Country that we value human life so much.

Questions arise, of course, in relation to Alfie or to abortion, but on the whole we try to save life here and this is because of our Christian roots I think.

In many Countries life doesn’t seem to matter a great deal.

Those in authority think nothing at all about the poor and when they die it is no skin of their nose.

Life is so cheap.

I have just seen that film ‘Schindler’s List’ again where the commandant of the camp shoots Jews at will.

As if they are worth nothing at all, no more than we would kill a cockroach.

It made me think about the value of life and how easily it can be extinguished.

Thank God this life is not all there is but for those who have not put God first the next life will be more terrible.

When the media speak of some famed person and say ‘they died peacefully in their sleep’ then I wonder if they are really in peace now.

Fear Him who is able to throw body and soul into hell.

The place hereafter for the majority will not be a peace haven.

However, Jesus assures His people that they are valuable to Him both in this life and the next.

Someone asked Cromwell why he was such a brave man.

Cromwell replied, “I’ve learned that when you fear God, you do not have any man to fear.”

The power people have is limited to this life so we have nothing to fear but they have something to fear for God’s power extends into the next.

People can send us out of this world but, then, we go to be with Jesus for nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus.

It is a privilege to be persecuted for Jesus.

The believer is just like his Master and Lord for God has accepted them as equal to His Son.

And because Jesus was persecuted we can expect that it is also true of us.

It is the highest call to be persecuted for Jesus.

Be ready for persecution.

In a bulletin last month I put an article by an activist who thinks that we should be extinguished if we hold a view other than hers.

They want us to not only accept their point of view but also to approve of transsexualism and not say that the sex is decided at birth and is in the DNA.

Just because you think you are a boy when you are a girl or otherwise does not make it so anymore than saying a tree is a fish.

Biology has rules too!

I have said for a long time now that it is through sexual deviancy that persecution will come to the Church here in the West through what is now called an aggressive tolerance.

This is not tolerance of accepting that someone has a different view to you but to force you to accept a view that is entirely liberal.

If you don’t agree with us then you do not deserve even to live.

Plainly this is not really tolerance which Baptists were at the forefront of pushing for in British society over 400 years ago that resulted in and started with the Tolerance Act of 1689 that gave freedom of religion to non-conformists and the Bill or Rights Acts 1689 that gave the right of conscience to the others.

It is these rights we are now so willing to give up and go back to a new dark ages.

We should not expect anything better from the world but from the Church we should.

Many of the Churches have already capitulated to the spirit of the age even allowing for perversion to happen within their churches.

But the true Church has a contrariness to it when we are compared to the people of the world when we say that Jesus is the only way.

In fact, we are called upon to say exactly that.

We are to confess Jesus before others without fear or shame.

If we are willing to do this then Jesus will openly accept us too.

In this there will be many who reject the Gospel and could become our persecutors but in the Day of Judgement the truth of the evil of the persecutors will become evident and God’s people will be vindicated.

And among those whom we share the Gospel there will be those who want to be saved.

34-

We are called to an uncompromising discipleship.

Jesus has not come to bring peace but a sword.

This seems to be the opposite of what Jesus says elsewhere but it is not.

His peace is with those who follow Him but His peace is not with a world that is in rebellion against Him.

Peace is the eternal lot of a Christian but judgement is the eternal lot of one who is not.

I really hate this thought but Jesus brings division and the sword of His Word brings reconciliation by conviction or results in continual rebellion against God.

In our readings this month we read:

The Christian wants to put the cross first and the world behind, to satisfy God’s will and for Jesus to be the centre of the universe.

We are to love God more than our families.

For the sake of the name of Jesus and His Kingdom, God comes first.

When Abraham was told to sacrifice his son it was a test of his heart.

Does his son come first or does God?

How tough this must have been.

However, Abraham knew it would turn out right for he had the promise of God of a progeny through this very son.

We know, though, don’t we, that Abraham’s willingness to give up his son as a sacrifice is a type of what God has done for us; the willingness of God to give up His own son for us as a sacrifice.

His love knows no bounds for us.

Who is there like God?

He does not ask of us anything more than He would be willing to do Himself.

We are not worthy of Jesus if we put other things, other people, our family, our friends, our hobbies, our lives instead of Him who is our Creator, Saviour and Friend.

If we are willing to put other things before Him then we have not understood the Gospel and we are still caught up too much in this life, in this world.

Jesus made it clear that being called as one of His disciples has a price.

He said, “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross every day and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

To the original disciples, crosses represented torture, physical abuse, and death.

Jesus’ reference to “take up the cross” must have sent waves of fear through the ordinary people whom Jesus had called into extraordinary lives.

The conversation that followed could have gone something like this: “First you asked me to leave my business and my family to follow and learn from you, and now you’re telling me that you’re going to die and that I have to deny myself and follow in your steps!

Don’t you think that’s asking a bit much?”

But Jesus responds: “The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life because of me will find it” (Matt 10:39).

Some might think that this is too radical but it is to this that Jesus calls us.

If we really know Him then can there really be no argument.

This fellowship is to be full of people wholly committed to Jesus with no compromise.

To do His will is what we live for.

We have been redeemed, bought, by the blood of Jesus on the cross:

Our rewards are not so much in this life but in the next.

This is where we need to build our treasure.

There are rewards in this life, too, but, like everything else in this universe, it is transitory.

But here, we learn, in this passage from verse 40 that we receive rewards simply by receiving people are called of God.

Incredibly!

I think God just wants to bless us when we do even the smallest thing, something that seems so simple to us such as giving a glass of water.

You shall by no means lose your reward.

We, who might not be called to upfront ministry will receive a reward the same as one who is, simply by being a help to them.

And if we receive those who are righteous we shall receive the same reward as them.

It is truly wondrous for God has made it so that everyone of His children will receive not only Heaven as a gift but also receive rewards for the smallest to the largest things done simply because we are now His.

God just loves to give and give and give.

All these things Jesus taught the twelve; just Him and His apprentices.

That’s why Jesus said, what you hear between us, preach and declare to others.

And that is why Matthew records this for us as he was one of the twelve.

Why is it here - because we are His disciples, too.

We are promised persecution for being a follower of Jesus and doing good in His name and we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, the symbol of death and suffering, counting the cost of what it is to be an uncompromising disciple and in the end there shall be a reward for those who persevered.

Why would we do this?

We love Him because He first loved us, because of His superabundant care God has for each of His children.

Whatever the stress of life He is watching over you and me.

There is nothing that He does not notice and He loves you.

It is time to put away your worries for He, the Almighty God, is with you to help you.

He gave you His own Son, He is willing to give you what you need at the right time.