Introduction

·        Our message of good news and our distinctive of love would seem to evoke love by the world.

·        We might expect that if we obey these simple commands, then everything will go well. The church will enjoy peace and prosperity, and will be looked upon by the world with a sense of admiration. But such is not the case. Jesus says his disciples will be hated, persecuted, cast out, and killed.

·        THREE TRUTHS ABOUT PERSECUTION:

The Promise of Persecution

·        Rd. vv. 18-21

·        Two entities – hostility bt God and world - sinful moral order; ruled by Satan, 1 John says characterized by lust of flesh, lust of eyes, boastful pride of life. War bt kingdom of darkness vs. light.

·        This hatred led to Christ’s atoning death; Calvary is the climax of all persecution.

·        Disciples too can expect to suffer b/c we are His disciples (Jn 13:16). Like an earthquake, Calvary is the "main shock." All subsequent persecution of believers are "aftershocks" that continue to remind us of Calvar and prepare us for glory.

·        By the time John wrote these words and preserved them in his gospel, Peter had already been crucified upside-down, John's own brother James beheaded by King Herod Agrippa (grandson of Herod the Great), tradition says Matthew burned at stake, tradition says Thomas run through with a spear. Paul, who was told at his commission that he ‘must suffer for My name’s sake’ (Ac 9:16), had been beheaded by Nero.

·        This pattern continues. One of the most significant books on Christian persecution today is written by Paul Marshall, entitled, Their Blood Cries Out: The Worldwide Tragedy of Modern Christians who are Dying for their Faith. In it, Marshall says, “In general we can say that, currently, two hundred to two hundred fifty million Christians are persecuted for their faith, and a further four hundred million live under [significant] restrictions on religious liberty.” This is growing, not shrinking.

·        When looking at Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists, I find many precious promises to the believer: abundant life, heavenly home, cleansing, comfort, fruitfulness, strength. But there are some other promises we need to add: hatred, suffering, trials, or persecution.

·        Not all persecution looks the same. Perhaps for you, this means being ridiculed at school for standing up for your beliefs; isolated or overlooked for a promotion at work; pressure to compromise your religious and ethical convictions; disowned by friends or family; guilt trip every time you come to church.

·        1 Jn 3:13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.

·        Christ’s promise is both a caution and a comfort

The Pretense of persecution

·        The question is: why would our persecutors do this? Our persecutors actually think they’re honoring God and doing right. But in reality, they don’t know God or His Son.

·        Rd 15:21-16:4

·        They hate Christ b/c He exposes sin (22, 24).

& John 3:19-21 “…the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

·        A gospel without sin or the cross will not offend. But it also will not save. If you have not experienced any degree of suffering, could it be you are not really a witness of Christ? We cannot talk about Jesus in general terms. He must be Savior, Lord, Judge.

·        Do not know God; hate Christ for no reason. Quote from David in Ps. 69:4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies…

·        When you suffer, make sure it’s for His Name’s sake! Make sure it’s the message and not the messenger. We are often accused as being self-righteous, judgmental, hypocritical, and sadly, sometimes these labels are true. Don’t be harsh, or arrogant, or argumentative. Let the cross alone be the stumbling block.

The Paraclete of Persecution

· This is very encouraging. We will look at this further next week as we consider Christ's help in our suffering.

Conclusion

·        Such a message could stir up fear. But let us pray for courage: Cf. John 16:33 and Mt. 10:28 Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

·        Let us pray also for those who are persecuted. Hebrews 13:3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

·        Remember the result of our suffering, whether small or great, will be the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ’s persecution achieved our salvation. Our persecution announces that salvation to the world.

·        Years ago, Michael Card told the story of Joseph, a warrior of the Masai tribe in Africa:

·        One day Joseph, who was walking along one of these hot, dirty African roads, met someone who shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with him. Then and there he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. The power of the Spirit began transforming his life; he was filled with such excitement and joy that the first thing he wanted to do was return to his own village and share that same Good News with the members of his local tribe.
Joseph began going from door-to-door, telling everyone he met about the Cross of Jesus and the salvation it offered, expecting to see their faces light up the way his had. To his amazement the villagers not only didn’t care, they became violent. The men of the village seized him and held him to the ground while the women beat him with strands of barbed wire. He was dragged from the village and left to die alone in the bush.
Joseph somehow managed to crawl to a waterhole, and there, after days of passing in and out of consciousness, found the strength to get up. He wondered about the hostile reception he had received from people he had known all his life. He decided he must have left something out or told the story of Jesus incorrectly. After rehearsing the message he had first heard, he decided to go back and share his faith once more.
Joseph limped into the circle of huts and began to proclaim Jesus. 'He died for you, so that you might find forgiveness and come to know the living God,' he pleaded. Again he was grabbed by the men of the village and held while the women beat him reopening wounds that had just begun to heal. Once more they dragged him unconscious from the village and left him to die.
To have survived the first beating was truly remarkable. To live through the second was a miracle. Again, days later, Joseph awoke in the wilderness, bruised, scarred—and determined to go back.
He returned to the small village and this time, they attacked him before he had a chance to open his mouth. As they flogged him for the third and probably the last time, he again spoke to them of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Before he passed out, the last thing he saw was that the women who were beating him began to weep.
This time he awoke in his own bed. The ones who had so severely beaten him were now trying to save his life and nurse him back to health. The entire village had come to Christ!

· Let us always remember that Christ has a kingdom purpose for our persecution, and that any hardship in this world is only preparing us for glory.