The World Hates the Disciples

HOOK

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATE NENENG NAVARRO

Yesterday right here at “The Message”, we finished one of the Lord’s parables— in that parable He used the metaphor of a tree— that he is the vine and we are his branches

From that parable, we learned the following:

I RECEIVED SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST, AND SANCTIFICATION THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT

I CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT JESUS

I WILL REMAIN IN HIM AND HIS WORDS

MY FRUITS IS PROOF OF BEING THE LORD’S DISCIPLE

IT IS MY JOY TO KEEP THE LORD’S COMMANDS

I AM CHOSEN TO GO AND BEAR FRUIT

Keep in mind that these teachings for the Lord are still part of his farewell discourse— today we will look at how Jesus went on with his discourse— before we proceed, I’d like to begin with a question:

DID SOME PEOPLE HATED OR ALIENATED YOU WHEN YOU BECAME A CHRISTIAN?

Open your Bible to JOHN 15:18-25— once you get there, type Amen!

CHARACTER, COMMAND, PROMISES, CONVICTIONS, EXAMPLES, CHALLENGES AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Read JOHN 15:18-25 — read Ilocano Translation too

BOOK

John 15:18–25 NIV

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

Prior to this discourse, Jesus talked about “bearing fruit”— and here he talked about the world hating them for doing the works of the Lord— here in the US we are called many names, hypocrites, bigots [panatiko, bulag na alagad], judgmental— a person who has strong, unreasonable beliefs and who does not like other people who have different beliefs or a different way of life— with hatred and intolerance

Today you will better understand why from the very words of no less than our Lord Jesus

DID SOME PEOPLE HATED OR ALIENATED YOU WHEN YOU BECAME A CHRISTIAN?

I have 7 important points for everyone today..

LOOK

IF THE WORLD HATES YOU, KEEP IN MIND IT HATED ME FIRST

I previously told you to slow down and think harder when you encounter “conjunction words” such as “IF’s” and “BUT’s, “THEREFORE”, “SO THAT”

In this passage alone, the conjunction word “If” was used by the Lord 6 times— pay extra careful attention whenever you encounter those conjunction words

The word “world” used in the Bible to have several meanings— it could mean the planet earth itself or the people in it— in this case, it means the people in it

Not all the people of the world hates us— that’s why Jesus said “IF”— [MATTHEW 10:22]

I HAVE CHOSEN YOU OUT OF THE WORLD

We are not of this world— we are chosen remember? We are Sojourners— Sojourn meaning “temporary stay”— that’s why assurance of salvation is crucial to understand

The promise of the future helps you understand the circumstances of the present— you should know your ultimate and final destination— and there’s a way to know

IF THEY PERSECUTED ME, THEY WILL PERSECUTE YOU ALSO

Persecute meaning— to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict specifically : to cause to suffer because of belief

Which they did to Jesus, and now they are doing it to us

THEY WILL TREAT YOU THIS WAY BECAUSE OF MY NAME

The disciples are warned of how the world will treat them simply because they proclaim his name

IF I HAD NOT COME AND SPOKEN TO THEM

IF I HAD NOT DONE AMONG THEM THE WORKS

Here are the Lord’s statements combining the “Word and the Works” that results to the conviction of the world

When we preach His Word and do His Works— people feels the guilt from their deeds

My brother won’t come visit me because he said I will prevent him from drinking beer!

When some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus to ask why his disciples break their tradition of eating without first washing their hands, this is how the Lord answered— [MATTHEW 15:11]

And finally today..

THIS IS TO FULFILL WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW: THEY HATED ME WITHOUT REASON

Jesus referred to the Old Testament that is fulfilled in his life and ours— [PSALM 69:4]

TOOK

PREACHING THE LORD’S WORD AND DOING HIS WORKS BRINGS GUILT TO PEOPLE

I UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE HATES OR ALIENATES ME

I WILL NOT HATE THEM BACK