What Will They Say When The Time Comes

Intro:

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Black Bart

Black Bart

Black Bart was a professional thief whose very name struck fear as he terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line. From San Francisco to new York, his name became synonymous with the danger of the frontier. Between 1875 and 1883 he robbed 29 different stagecoach crews. Amazingly, Bart did it all without firing a shot. Because a hood hid his face, no victim ever saw his face. He never took a hostage and was never trailed by a sheriff. Instead, Black Bart used fear to paralyze his victims. His sinister presence was enough to overwhelm the toughest stagecoach guard.

Like the story of Black bart, the Jews used intimidation to strick fear in the hearts of the believers in Christ. Let’s look at just haow easy it was for them to have their way.

Seeking For The Wrong Reason

John 7:10–11 NKJV

10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?”

Jesus makes his way to the feast in secret. His time was not yet ready for him to be crucified. It's here, that we see Jesus moving under the radar as a way of observing what was taking place at the feast.

It should be noted that tensions were high at this time. The religious Jew were mad at Jesus that he was undermining there system of religion and causing the bottom line to be effected.

Religion when done wrong can cause a distortion of truth.

The Jew wanted to stop the madness

It common for religious people to fight against real truth.

Failure to see the real Jesus removes the focal point of why we serve in the first place.

That can cause people to become mad at the process of sanctification.

Sanctification is the result of devotion to Jesus, not to a system.

Its about relationship, not religion.

Mixed Opinions Foster An Unstable View Of Christ

John 7:12 NKJV

12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.”

It should be noted here that the opinion of the Jews were intermingled with the opinion of those who were in favor of Christ. Anytime there is poison in the pot it destroys the entire meal.

The question is, do we have enough fortitude about ourselves to walk away from, and disregard anything that is contrary to the teachings of God's word and the relationship that we have with him.

What should we do when people complain about the things of God

Pray that God will keep your mind strong.

Address the issue that is causing division with truth. (In Love)

Know when to walk away.

Walking away from doesn’t demonstrates weakness.

There is strength is knowing what will cause division and fleeing from it.

Psalm 1:1–6 NKJV

1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

No Fear Is Greater Than Truth

John 7:13 NKJV

13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

As a result of not understanding in power of Christ, those who were in favor of him failed to stand as they should out of fear.

When people do not understand the power of Christ, it makes it easier to cower away.

The power of Christ will help you to stand in difficult times.

Psalm 9:9–10 NKJV

9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Fear is a way for Satan to challenge our commitment to Christ.

If we fall subject to fear, Satan has a foothold to plant doubt.

Remember the words of Jesus when he taught on doubt in the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 21:18–22 NKJV

18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

It’s always right to stand for Christ, even it it mean persecution for others.

Pastor James Coates of Canada is in jail today for allowing his church to stay open when the Canadian government said shut down due to covid.

Pastor Wang Yi of China was sentence to 9 years in prison for preaching the Gospel.

North Korean Pastor Soo Lim was sentence to life in prison for preaching Jesus in North Korea.

The South American country of Bolivia in 2018 has made it a crime to promote religion or worship services in their country.

What will you do when the time comes that America goes dark on Jesus?

Will you stand? Will you be ready to when that time comes?

Conclusion:

There will come a time when you will be required to make a choice. keep in mind that the right choice is not made in the moment. Making the right choice and standing for Jesus is made long before the challenge ever arrives.

Prepare yourself now!