It Comes With The Territory

2 Tim 3:12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus we are living in some tough times. As we approach the climactic end of the church age, Paul has revealed unto us the perilous times shall come. I do believe that if we take a closer look, we must declare that these times are truly upon us.

Lawlessness is running rampant in every sector of our society. It moves without fear of reprisal as if it has a friend in high places. The things around us which we depended upon for our safety are revealing their inability or lack of ability to protect us from the evil which surrounds us.

Down through the years false prophets and teachers have given false hope and painted a picture that does not reflect the reality of the Scriptures. They have inferred that when you become a Christian that all of your troubles will be over. They have made people feel as if of this walk with Christ is a bed of roses. Let's be real but this morning, there are some thorns on those roses.

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. And the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Tribulation means a cause of great trouble or suffering. In Christ we have peace and joy, therefore in him we can rejoice and be of good cheer. However, we are still in this world, a world of turmoil and great unrest. Persecutions, trials, and tribulations goes with the territory of being a Christian.

John 15:19 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

There are some blessings that comes with this walk of Christ. He has declared for us that no good thing will he withhold from them that walk upright before him. We know that all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and for them that are called according to his purpose. We know that the God whom we serve shall supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory. We know that when we are going through the Valley of the shadows of death that the Lord is with us, his rod and his staff they do comfort us. These are just a few things, good things that goes along with the territory.

This comes with the territory of being a Christian, living a godly life.

Before I go to my text, this also comes with the territory, Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Paul begins to characterize the end of the church age as a time of great apostasy, perilous times. In keeping things in their proper perspective this evil work was already present during the time that Paul was speaking to Timothy. We who are yet alive must bear witness that these days are upon us.

The sad truth is the Christian church has in all ages shown a condition of things only to closely represented by the moral picture that is displayed in the text.

We are called to live a godly life in the face of great persecution. Truly, if we are going to live the life that glorifies the true and living God through Christ Jesus our Lord, we must expect persecution from the world.

From verse 10 Paul reminds Timothy of the facts concerning his own checkered life, partly to mark the contrast between his life and that of the false teachers. He did it in order to stimulate Timothy to faithfulness and endurance.

Acts 9:13-16 "Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer from my name's sake."

Suffering reveals new features of character and awakened powers within us that were dormant. We glory in tribulation also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience. Paul reminds us of his life of suffering and how he endured.

Paul speaks of his trials and persecutions in 2 Corinthians the 11th chapter, he says that he has been in stripes above measure, in prison more frequent, in death often.

Paul said of the Jews five times he received 40 stripes save one. He says he was beaten with rods once he was stoned and three times he suffered shipwreck Paul stated night and death he had been in the deep in the perils of waters and in perils of robbers in perils by his own countrymen and by the heathen. Paul was letting Timothy know that he has been a new wariness and in pain that he has been hungry and thirsty, he had to fast often that he has been cold and naked.

Paul speaks of his persecutions and afflictions which came to him at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, and how the Lord delivered him.

1 John 3:13 "Marvel not, my brother and, if the world hate you."

Let me encourage someone in the Lord this morning, you may be going through a difficult time. There may be persecutions own every hand, it may appear as if you have more problems than you can bear, please know it comes with the territory.

Psalms 34:19 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."

If you just hold on a little while longer your deliverance is on the way. If we are going to live godly in this sinful world gird up your mind and your heart persecutions are part of the territory.

Please know and understand that the world hated and crucified Jesus is the same world that hates those that love him. Any of us who truly live for the gospel will be opposed and misunderstood by the world. Why? Because we do not live like the world; we do not live sensual, immoral, ungodly, and worldly lives. We do not follow after the things of the world. Therefore, our righteous and godly lives convict the world of its ungodly deeds. Therefore, the world ridicules and persecutes us. However, we are not to let this stop us: we're not to shrink nor backup or shy away from living for the Lord our God Almighty.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. If we look around right here in our own country I believe we could come to the conclusion that there is not much godly living. People are suffering not because they are standing for the word of God, suffering because of sin and folly.

As I prepare to take my seat, I find that I must adjust my attitude. To live godly in this sinful world suffering comes with the territory. To walk in God's path of righteousness, I must expect the enemy to lay traps for me.

If I keep my hand in the Masters hand, and stay in his path of righteousness my deliverance will surely come. There is a real devil, not a make-believe one, he is as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:9-10 "Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brother and that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablished, strengthen, settled you."

I heard Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane as he was looking towards the cross of Calvary, Father if it be that we let this cup pass from me, then he prayed, nevertheless not as I will, but as that will. In other words Jesus was saying this comes with the territory for man's salvation.

He was arrested and tried like a common criminal. He was beaten as if he was a threat to all mankind. He was judged and found guilty yet he was innocent of the crimes for which he was accused. His persecution was more than any man could stand, yet he carried his old rugged cross up to a Hill called Calvary.

While on that hill, his hands and feet were nailed to that cross, he was lifted up between heaven and earth. This, our suffering Savior had already spoken, that if he be lifted up from the earth, that he would draw all men unto himself.

Jesus died on that cross for debt that was not his to pay. He was buried in another man's tomb because he didn't need one of his own. He only needed this one for three days and three nights, because early on the first day of the week he got up with all power in his hand.

If you love the Lord and belong to him please know that resurrection comes with the territory!