WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.000 or in Acts Chapter 14 this evening. 00:05.500 --> 00:08.600 Acts chapter 14 and the Bible reads 00:09.400 --> 00:14.460 And it came to pass an iconium that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews and so spake 00:14.660 --> 00:18.360 That a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed 00:18.800 --> 00:23.620 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil affected against the brethren 00:24.180 --> 00:31.240 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord which gave testimony unto the word of his grace and granted signs and wonders 00:31.240 --> 00:32.700 to be done by their hands 00:32.900 --> 00:37.460 But the multitude of the city was divided, in part held with the Jews, in part with the apostles. 00:38.420 --> 00:42.660 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles and also of the Jews with their rulers, 00:42.660 --> 00:47.540 to use them despitefully and to stone them, they were aware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derby, 00:47.540 --> 00:52.820 cities of Lyconia, and unto the region that lieth round about. And there they preached the gospel. 00:53.380 --> 00:58.260 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, 00:58.260 --> 00:59.700 who never had walked. 00:59.800 --> 01:04.920 The same heard Paul speak, who steadfastly beholding him and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 01:04.920 --> 01:09.160 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 01:09.720 --> 01:14.760 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of 01:14.760 --> 01:20.440 Lyconia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas Jupiter 01:20.440 --> 01:22.760 and Paul Mercurius because he was the chief speaker. 01:23.400 --> 01:28.040 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, 01:28.040 --> 01:33.000 and would have done sacrifice with the people, which when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of, 01:33.000 --> 01:36.520 they rent their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out and saying, 01:36.520 --> 01:42.280 Sirs, why do you these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, 01:42.280 --> 01:46.760 that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth 01:46.760 --> 01:49.160 and the sea and all things that are therein. 01:50.000 --> 01:53.280 who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 01:53.280 --> 01:57.520 Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness, and that he did good, 01:57.520 --> 02:01.680 and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 02:02.320 --> 02:07.120 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, but they had not done sacrifice unto them. 02:07.840 --> 02:12.480 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, 02:12.480 --> 02:16.320 and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 02:17.000 --> 02:23.880 Howbeit as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and came into the city, and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 02:24.680 --> 02:30.920 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and it taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch, 02:31.400 --> 02:39.240 confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 02:40.000 --> 02:44.000 And when they had ordained them elders in every church and had prayed with fasting, 02:44.000 --> 02:46.400 they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed. 02:47.280 --> 02:50.720 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 02:51.280 --> 02:54.960 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia, 02:55.600 --> 02:58.880 and thence sailed to Antioch from whence they had been recommended 02:58.880 --> 03:01.360 to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 03:02.200 --> 03:06.920 And when they were come and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them. 03:07.240 --> 03:13.240 And now he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. And there they abode long time with the disciples. Let's pray. 03:13.560 --> 03:16.920 Lord, thank you so much for this day. Thank you for the souls that were saved today. 03:17.800 --> 03:21.560 Out soul winning Lord, we pray that you would please bless Pastor Mahia with your spirit Lord. 03:21.720 --> 03:26.520 Please fill him with boldness as he preaches unto us. Help us in the congregation to apply these truths to our lives Lord. 03:26.520 --> 03:28.520 We love you in Jesus name we pray. Amen. 03:30.400 --> 03:37.440 Okay, we're in Acts chapter 14 this evening and tonight I want to preach on the subject of persecution in the New Testament 03:38.120 --> 03:40.120 persecution in the New Testament and 03:40.480 --> 03:46.920 Basically go over the various instances and passages in the New Testament that highlight this particular subject some of the stories that we see 03:47.680 --> 03:49.680 persecution in the Bible is 03:49.800 --> 03:51.720 synonymous with tribulation 03:51.720 --> 03:57.840 It's synonymous with affliction and it's synonymous with suffering and persecution by definition is 03:58.400 --> 04:02.560 referring to suffering reproach for righteousness sake. 04:02.560 --> 04:04.420 Suffering reproach for righteousness sake. 04:04.420 --> 04:07.780 Reproach is basically disapproval, criticisms, right? 04:07.780 --> 04:11.900 We're suffering criticisms, we're suffering persecution, 04:11.900 --> 04:14.980 we're suffering hardships and afflictions 04:14.980 --> 04:15.980 because we're Christians, 04:15.980 --> 04:18.380 because of the things that we believe. 04:18.380 --> 04:22.360 It's basically when we receive pushback from others 04:22.360 --> 04:24.540 for the things that we believe and promote. 04:24.540 --> 04:26.400 And this evening I wanna cover some of the new. 04:26.400 --> 04:31.080 Testament passages where we find this concept and give some commentary on it. 04:31.080 --> 04:34.640 Let me first talk about the various forms of persecution. 04:34.640 --> 04:36.560 How do we know we're being persecuted? 04:36.560 --> 04:37.760 What does that look like specifically? 04:37.760 --> 04:44.640 We already mentioned it, but the first thing is being reproached, slandered, or hated. 04:44.640 --> 04:50.040 And so if you are a Christian, if you are espousing Christian beliefs, you're talking 04:50.040 --> 04:52.640 to your family, to complete strangers, 04:52.640 --> 04:54.400 to the public just in general. 04:54.400 --> 05:04.200 If you are living a godly life according to the Bible, you will receive hatred, reproach, and you will be slandered for the things that you believe. 05:04.200 --> 05:06.400 And this is something that we commonly see in the Word of God. 05:06.400 --> 05:10.800 And this is important to note because of the fact that sometimes Christians have this attitude of, 05:10.800 --> 05:17.700 well, if we please God at all times, if we're serving God, you know, we're not going to suffer any type of persecution. 05:17.700 --> 05:19.100 God's going to be pleased with us. 05:19.100 --> 05:22.400 It should be that we are able to please all people in God's hand. 05:22.400 --> 05:27.520 is going to be honest and there is a level of truth to that because the Bible does say when a man's waist please the Lord 05:27.800 --> 05:30.600 He make it even as enemies to be at peace with them 05:30.760 --> 05:37.480 However, this is not at the exclusion of receiving some form of persecution or another because you're gonna have people in this world 05:37.520 --> 05:43.780 They don't agree with what you believe. Okay, not only do they not agree with it. They actually don't like when you talk about it 05:43.780 --> 05:45.680 They don't want you to have these opinions 05:45.680 --> 05:50.360 They don't want you to talk about the specifics and explicit scriptures of the word 05:50.400 --> 05:54.960 of God, it's going to bother them and it's going to cause them to hate you, to criticize 05:54.960 --> 05:58.160 you, to slander and lie about you. 05:58.160 --> 06:00.060 This is what persecution looks like. 06:00.060 --> 06:04.060 It also comes in the form of threats and intimidation. 06:04.060 --> 06:08.200 Now the first part, hatred, reproach and slander, I think every Christian should experience 06:08.200 --> 06:09.540 that at one time or another. 06:09.540 --> 06:14.520 Even if like you're just like a basic Christian who believes the basics of the Bible, you're 06:14.520 --> 06:18.120 spells into the basics of the Bible, you're going to receive that at one time or another. 06:18.400 --> 06:24.160 You're just a compromiser and you need to be a little more open and vocal about the things that you believe, okay? 06:24.720 --> 06:29.040 Now obviously the second level here though threats and intimidation 06:30.100 --> 06:33.380 something that also is a part of persecution and you may have already 06:33.380 --> 06:37.140 received that our church has received that for sure but we also see that 06:37.140 --> 06:42.160 taking place we see this in Acts chapter 4 for example where they the leaders the 06:42.160 --> 06:45.780 religious leaders straightly threatened them not to preach in the name of Christ 06:45.780 --> 06:52.180 okay and so this can come through messages emails DMs social media you 06:52.180 --> 06:56.740 know people just sending you letters or threats trying to intimidate you because 06:56.740 --> 06:58.060 This is the fact that what you believe... 06:58.100 --> 07:26.100 bothers them. And so in order for them to kind of to cause you to stop preaching those things or stop talking about or stop being open about what you believe, they will try to threaten you in order to intimidate you to cease being an open Christian. So it comes through hatred, reproach, criticism, slander, it comes through threats and intimidation. And then the next level would be beatings and physical injury, okay, where they're actually trying to physically harm you. 07:26.100 --> 07:31.860 you because they hate you that much and this is a legitimate thing in the Bible but even 07:31.860 --> 07:35.520 today we've seen things like this over the last couple of years. 07:35.520 --> 07:39.560 You know the Bible talks about this in Acts chapter 5 that they were beating the apostles 07:39.560 --> 07:41.160 for preaching the word of God. 07:41.160 --> 07:43.420 They're physically harming them. 07:43.420 --> 07:45.200 Then the next level would be prison. 07:45.200 --> 07:46.200 Okay. 07:46.200 --> 07:51.740 There's instances where you know being a Christian in a particular nation can get you thrown 07:51.740 --> 07:53.900 into prison, they can get you thrown into jail. 07:54.100 --> 07:59.780 because what you believe would be considered illegal to them or you know you can do some 07:59.780 --> 08:04.460 prison time and I'm sure that you know it's going to come in our nation one day right 08:04.460 --> 08:10.200 we're believing the Bible and talking about the Bible will become illegal you can't say 08:10.200 --> 08:15.220 this and you can't preach the word of God you can't say Christ is king you can't say 08:15.220 --> 08:20.460 that the Jews killed Jesus or you can't say you know this that and the other you can't 08:20.460 --> 08:22.060 I preach against homos. 08:22.100 --> 08:23.660 And you think of yourself like, is that really a thing? 08:23.660 --> 08:28.780 I mean, it is in Canada, where pastors are not allowed to preach against homosexuals 08:28.780 --> 08:32.320 for fear of imprisonment. 08:32.320 --> 08:35.620 And then lastly, one of the various forms of persecution would be martyrdom. 08:36.000 --> 08:38.500 where people are literally killing you 08:38.500 --> 08:40.460 because of the fact that they hate you, 08:40.460 --> 08:41.800 they hate what you believe, 08:41.800 --> 08:43.500 they hate what you stand for. 08:43.500 --> 08:46.200 And so these are the various forms of persecution. 08:46.200 --> 08:49.300 Now this is not to say that you, as an individual, 08:49.300 --> 08:51.500 will experience all of these, 08:51.500 --> 08:53.800 but I would say that you should at one time or another 08:53.800 --> 08:55.800 experience at least one, okay? 08:55.800 --> 08:58.200 And I think all across the board, all of us, 08:58.200 --> 09:02.000 to a certain degree, have experienced hatred from others. 09:02.000 --> 09:04.000 Maybe from family members, friends. 09:04.000 --> 09:09.360 Right? Uh, reproaching people, criticizing us online or in your immediate, 09:09.360 --> 09:12.840 close, immediate close relationships that you have, maybe even at your job, 09:13.080 --> 09:17.320 you've experienced some form of reproach and slander because of the fact that 09:17.320 --> 09:20.960 they know that you're a Christian, they don't like what you stand for and so 09:20.960 --> 09:23.360 forth. And this should come as a surprise to you. Okay. 09:23.600 --> 09:27.120 We need to make sure that as Christians, we expect persecution. 09:27.200 --> 09:31.760 The Bible tells us, yay, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer. 09:32.000 --> 09:37.720 The Bible also says in Philippians chapter 1 and verse 29, for unto you it is given on 09:37.720 --> 09:42.200 the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but I want you to notice this, but to 09:42.200 --> 09:43.960 also suffer for his sake. 09:44.500 --> 09:48.380 So, it's God's will for you to believe on Him, it's God's will for you to have faith 09:48.380 --> 09:54.140 in Him, but in like manner, it's God's will for you to suffer persecution for His name's 09:54.140 --> 09:55.140 sake. 09:55.140 --> 09:59.960 And so, it's very important for us to understand the importance or the role that persecution 09:59.960 --> 10:01.980 plays in our personal lives. 10:01.980 --> 10:05.900 Go to, you're in Acts chapter 14, I actually say that we're going to go over these verses 10:05.900 --> 10:07.080 here. 10:07.080 --> 10:11.000 The first point that I want to go over this evening is the promise of persecution. 10:11.000 --> 10:13.440 Now you say, Pastor, why are you preaching this? 10:13.440 --> 10:15.600 What's the point of talking about persecution? 10:15.600 --> 10:17.140 Well, it's important for us because we 10:17.140 --> 10:21.040 don't want new Christians to stumble when persecution comes. 10:21.040 --> 10:25.120 And sometimes what happens is a person gets newly saved. 10:25.120 --> 10:27.760 They're really excited about the things of God. 10:27.760 --> 10:28.840 They're gung-ho. 10:28.840 --> 10:30.600 But they don't necessarily prepare themselves 10:30.600 --> 10:33.720 spiritually, mentally, and to a certain degree, 10:33.720 --> 10:36.000 emotionally for persecution. 10:36.500 --> 10:42.900 And when they get it, it causes them to stumble, it causes them to fall, it causes them to get out of church, 10:42.900 --> 10:46.660 it causes them to take a weak stance for Christ and to compromise. 10:46.660 --> 10:50.100 And that's not God's will. God wants us to prepare mentally, spiritually, 10:50.660 --> 10:53.860 emotionally for persecution when it comes our way. 10:53.860 --> 10:59.700 So the way we do that is we need to go over the promises in the Bible that says we're going to be persecuted. 10:59.700 --> 11:03.780 Okay? That way it doesn't blindside you. It's like, man, I didn't know this was going to happen to me. 11:03.780 --> 11:04.420 Well, if you... 11:04.500 --> 11:06.620 didn't know is because you weren't reading the Bible. 11:06.620 --> 11:08.500 Because the Bible consistently tells us 11:08.500 --> 11:12.460 that we need to prepare for persecution, for afflictions, 11:12.460 --> 11:13.300 for sufferings. 11:13.300 --> 11:15.500 It's part of the Christian life. 11:15.500 --> 11:18.540 Now here in Acts chapter 14, we have the Apostle Paul. 11:18.540 --> 11:21.700 And obviously, the Apostle Paul is no stranger to persecution. 11:22.000 --> 11:26.560 This is his first missionary journey and he's out preaching the gospel. 11:26.560 --> 11:31.200 At this point he's already left Cyprus. He's received some persecution there 11:31.200 --> 11:36.400 by Elimus the sorcerer and then he goes to Asia Minor. He ends up going to 11:36.400 --> 11:44.960 Lystra and Derby in Antioch. They're in in uh uh uh what's the I just said the name of it um Asia. 11:44.960 --> 11:45.680 What was the word? 11:47.300 --> 11:53.540 Asia Minor, yeah, there you go. It's slipping. So he's in Asia Minor. He's preaching in Lyshtra. He's preaching in Derbe 11:53.540 --> 11:57.500 He's preaching in Antioch not the same Antioch that's by Jerusalem north of Jerusalem 11:57.500 --> 12:01.180 It's a different Antioch and of course, he's getting a lot of people saved 12:01.180 --> 12:06.700 So he's doing a great work for God, but you know, you have a group of people known as the Jews there 12:07.300 --> 12:11.620 And they're not happy with the fact that he is producing results. 12:11.620 --> 12:14.340 They're not happy with the fact that he's making converts. 12:14.340 --> 12:17.700 They're not happy with the fact that he's obviously making a huge impact. 12:17.700 --> 12:21.300 He's turning the world upside down through his preaching. 12:21.300 --> 12:22.100 So what do they do? 12:22.100 --> 12:24.420 Well, they basically persecute him. 12:24.420 --> 12:25.460 They criticize him. 12:25.460 --> 12:27.700 But then ultimately, they try to kill him. 12:28.100 --> 12:31.660 So they end up stoning him and dragging his body outside of the city. 12:31.660 --> 12:34.340 Look at verse number 19, if you would. 12:34.340 --> 12:34.840 It says, 12:34.840 --> 12:37.940 There came thither certain Jews from Antioch, Antichonium, 12:37.940 --> 12:39.940 who persuaded the people, 12:39.940 --> 12:42.540 and having stoned Paul, 12:42.540 --> 12:45.740 drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 12:45.740 --> 12:49.140 So Paul isn't preaching anything controversial. 12:49.140 --> 12:50.780 He's not preaching anything crazy. 12:50.780 --> 12:52.980 He's literally preaching Christ and Him crucified. 12:53.200 --> 12:58.700 The Jews get upset, they make the minds of the people there evil-affected against the apostle Paul, 12:58.700 --> 13:01.700 and then they end up stoning him to death, okay? 13:01.700 --> 13:05.700 And I personally do believe that it's possible that he did die, okay? 13:05.700 --> 13:11.200 I do think that he possibly did die for a little bit, and then, you know, this is where you have the vision in 2 Corinthians. 13:11.200 --> 13:16.200 But they stone him, and then they drag his carcass out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 13:16.200 --> 13:20.700 So they didn't give him, like, a nice little funeral or nothing, they just dragged his body out onto the field. 13:21.700 --> 13:22.700 Verse 20 says, 13:22.700 --> 13:26.700 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up. 13:26.700 --> 13:28.300 Now, I always thought that was kind of weird. 13:28.300 --> 13:30.100 So the disciples are just like, they're not checking on him. 13:30.100 --> 13:31.940 They're just kind of looking at him. 13:31.940 --> 13:34.180 They're just surrounding his body. 13:34.180 --> 13:36.720 And once they do that, the Bible says here that he gets up. 13:36.720 --> 13:41.260 So he just wakes up, he comes to, and came into the city. 13:41.260 --> 13:43.420 And the next day departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 13:43.700 --> 13:46.180 And when they had preached the gospel to that city 13:46.180 --> 13:49.180 and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra 13:49.180 --> 13:51.660 and to Iconium and Antioch. 13:51.660 --> 13:53.180 So this guy's crazy. 13:53.180 --> 13:56.260 He gets stoned, he basically is left for dead. 13:56.260 --> 13:58.460 He gets up, goes into the next city 13:58.460 --> 13:59.620 to preach the word of God. 13:59.620 --> 14:02.800 And then he comes back to the city where he was stoned. 14:03.000 --> 14:08.000 Where the people who hated him are located and it says here that he goes there verse 22 14:08.840 --> 14:14.300 confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and 14:14.800 --> 14:17.440 That we must do much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God 14:18.060 --> 14:22.480 Okay, so what is he doing? So he's going back to Iconium and Lystra and there's believers there 14:22.480 --> 14:29.900 There's converts and what is he doing? You know, obviously he's beat up. He's bloodied. He's bruised. He just got stoned 14:30.600 --> 14:32.720 And he goes to the disciples and he's just like, 14:32.720 --> 14:34.120 I'm going to confirm you. 14:34.120 --> 14:36.280 I'm going to make you firm in the faith. 14:36.280 --> 14:39.280 And he's going to exhort them to continue in the faith. 14:39.280 --> 14:41.600 And he's like, this is how life is. 14:41.600 --> 14:44.100 We must do much tribulation entering to the kingdom of God. 14:44.300 --> 14:48.300 And obviously, you know, it's one thing to actually say that, 14:48.300 --> 14:51.800 but to visibly see someone who just experienced tribulation 14:51.800 --> 14:55.300 and say that lends a little more veracity to the message. 14:55.300 --> 14:57.000 So these converts are looking at him and just like, 14:57.000 --> 14:58.600 yeah, we can see that, you know? 14:58.600 --> 15:00.600 We definitely need to go through tribulation. 15:00.600 --> 15:02.600 This guy obviously knows what he's talking about. 15:02.600 --> 15:04.600 He's experienced persecution. 15:04.600 --> 15:07.300 He basically almost died for the cause of Christ, 15:07.300 --> 15:10.100 and yet he's confirming us in the faith, telling us, 15:10.100 --> 15:12.300 hey, you need to be ready for persecution. 15:12.300 --> 15:14.660 is what he's saying. 15:14.660 --> 15:15.660 Now why is Paul doing this? 15:15.660 --> 15:18.500 Because of the fact that he doesn't want his converts 15:18.500 --> 15:21.540 to fall by the wayside when persecution comes upon them. 15:21.540 --> 15:23.860 So it's important for us to talk about persecution, 15:23.860 --> 15:26.340 to prep you for the criticisms you're going to receive, 15:26.340 --> 15:30.020 to prep you for the reproaches, for the possible imprisonment 15:30.020 --> 15:32.460 in the future, or even martyrdom, 15:32.460 --> 15:34.940 so that when it actually comes upon you, 15:34.940 --> 15:37.600 you don't run with your tail tucked between your legs. 15:37.800 --> 15:40.360 and deny Christ or something like that. 15:40.360 --> 15:43.800 And you know, just be hush hush about your faith. 15:43.800 --> 15:47.160 You're actually confirmed, you're firm in the faith, 15:47.160 --> 15:49.480 and you stand on business, right? 15:49.480 --> 15:50.640 You're preaching the word of God, 15:50.640 --> 15:52.080 and you're like, you know what? 15:52.080 --> 15:55.280 The Apostle Paul said, we must do much tribulation, 15:55.280 --> 15:56.640 enter into the kingdom of God. 15:56.640 --> 15:59.440 This is part of the Christian life. 15:59.440 --> 16:00.280 So what do we have here? 16:00.280 --> 16:04.360 We have the Apostle Paul giving the promise of persecution. 16:04.500 --> 16:10.300 Okay, and obviously again, he's kind of doing it with an actual visible illustration 16:10.300 --> 16:13.480 Go to 1st Thessalonians chapter 3. We'll come back to Acts in just a bit 16:13.480 --> 16:19.360 So hold your put a piece of paper there or pen in the book of Acts go to 1st Thessalonians chapter 3 16:20.200 --> 16:25.640 1st Thessalonians chapter 3. I'm going to read you from John chapter 16 and verse 33 it says, 16:25.640 --> 16:32.680 These things, this is Jesus speaking, I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. 16:32.680 --> 16:34.200 Oh that's what we want right? 16:34.400 --> 16:39.960 We want the peace of God, we want tranquility, you know, this is a good little sign to put 16:39.960 --> 16:43.740 on your door, in me ye might have peace, right? 16:43.740 --> 16:45.600 That's what everyone is looking for in this world. 16:45.600 --> 16:48.260 Oh, hold on, it's not done yet. 16:48.260 --> 16:50.760 In the world ye shall have tribulation. 16:50.760 --> 16:54.080 But be of good cheer, I've overcome the world. 16:54.080 --> 16:55.520 So what is the peace that we should have? 16:55.520 --> 16:59.300 The fact that whatever suffering, persecution or afflictions that we experience this out 16:59.300 --> 16:59.860 of eternity. 17:00.400 --> 17:03.800 Jesus Christ overcame that and we are more than conquerors through him that loved us 17:04.600 --> 17:07.840 So we have to have the peace that no matter what we go through in this world 17:07.960 --> 17:12.200 There is no temptation taking you but such as is common to man. Okay? 17:13.120 --> 17:16.200 Jesus has experienced that he was tempted in all points like as we are 17:16.640 --> 17:22.480 Yet without sin and so we have to have that same peace and he's specifically promising us 17:22.480 --> 17:26.320 Hey in the world, you're gonna experience some form of tribulation 17:26.800 --> 17:28.120 And if you're sitting there thinking, 17:28.120 --> 17:30.280 you know, I haven't really experienced any tribulation, 17:30.280 --> 17:32.920 any persecution, then I would encourage you 17:32.920 --> 17:36.040 to evaluate your Christian life, okay? 17:36.040 --> 17:38.720 Because quite frankly, you don't need to be 17:38.720 --> 17:41.680 a super zealous, on fire Christian 17:41.680 --> 17:43.800 to experience some persecution. 17:44.100 --> 17:47.380 You can literally just believe the basics of the Bible, 17:47.380 --> 17:51.940 you know, talk about the basics of the Bible, and you will experience some form of affliction 17:51.940 --> 17:56.180 from others who do not like what you are saying. Look at 1 Thessalonians 3 verse 1. 17:57.000 --> 17:58.880 We're looking at the promises of persecution. 17:58.880 --> 18:03.600 It says in verse 1, wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, 18:03.600 --> 18:06.400 we thought it good to be left at Athens alone. 18:06.400 --> 18:08.480 And since Amotheus, our brother and minister of God, 18:08.480 --> 18:10.440 and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, 18:10.440 --> 18:14.160 to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith, 18:14.160 --> 18:18.400 that no man should be moved by these afflictions. 18:18.500 --> 18:22.660 for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 18:22.660 --> 18:23.740 What does that sound like? 18:23.740 --> 18:25.460 It sounds like God is saying to us 18:25.460 --> 18:28.340 that we have an appointment with affliction. 18:28.340 --> 18:30.860 Now obviously there's instances where we're suffering 18:30.860 --> 18:33.980 affliction and persecution because of our beliefs, 18:33.980 --> 18:36.180 but this could also be applied to just tribulations 18:36.180 --> 18:37.700 in general, right? 18:37.700 --> 18:40.700 When you're experiencing hardships in this life. 18:40.700 --> 18:42.180 Because it's not just persecution 18:42.180 --> 18:43.180 that can get you out of church. 18:43.180 --> 18:44.180 It could be a trial. 18:45.300 --> 18:47.740 just of any sort, that can get you out of church, right? 18:47.740 --> 18:51.900 It could be just a hardship, some sort of tribulation, 18:51.900 --> 18:54.600 some relationship problem that you're experiencing, 18:54.600 --> 18:57.100 some health problem that you're going through, 18:57.100 --> 18:59.780 some financial woe that you're experiencing. 18:59.780 --> 19:02.780 All of these elements are constantly pulling at you 19:02.780 --> 19:04.940 to get you out of church, okay? 19:04.940 --> 19:07.180 You know, oh man, or how about this? 19:07.180 --> 19:10.100 It may not even be a form of tribulation, 19:10.100 --> 19:12.300 it might be a little too much success for you. 19:12.600 --> 19:15.480 And that can often pull you out of church. 19:15.480 --> 19:18.540 Making too much money can pull you out of church sometimes. 19:18.540 --> 19:22.080 Having too much success can pull you out of church sometimes. 19:22.080 --> 19:24.240 Hey, getting a girlfriend out of church 19:24.240 --> 19:25.680 can get you out of church. 19:25.680 --> 19:27.060 Getting a boyfriend out of church 19:27.060 --> 19:28.260 can get you out of church. 19:28.260 --> 19:30.120 That's a common thing. 19:30.120 --> 19:32.860 So Satan is kind of working overtime 19:32.860 --> 19:35.280 to try to put things in your life to take you out. 19:35.280 --> 19:35.780 OK? 19:36.200 --> 19:41.480 And, you know, it's saying here that we should not be moved by these afflictions, meaning 19:41.480 --> 19:47.960 that God wants us to be established and stable, that we would be like a redwood tree, not 19:47.960 --> 19:53.080 like a mushroom that is just kicked over at the first sign of persecution or affliction. 19:53.400 --> 19:58.680 You know, we need to make sure we dig down our roots deep into Christ, deep into the 19:58.680 --> 19:59.920 Word of God. 19:59.920 --> 20:04.880 So when the waves of tribulation come, the storms come, you know, it beats upon that 20:04.880 --> 20:09.920 house but it doesn't fall because you're built upon the foundation of the Word of God. 20:09.920 --> 20:10.920 You're built upon Christ. 20:10.920 --> 20:11.920 That's important. 20:11.920 --> 20:14.400 And, you know, you think to yourself, well, I don't think anything can really take me 20:14.400 --> 20:15.400 out of church. 20:15.400 --> 20:16.880 You know, I'm so consistent. 20:16.880 --> 20:17.880 I'm so faithful. 20:17.880 --> 20:20.920 But let me just remind you that this requires maintenance. 20:21.500 --> 20:26.980 Okay, you may be really strong in the Lord now and the power of his might you may be really stable 20:26.980 --> 20:28.980 You can say I shall not be moved 20:29.220 --> 20:34.900 But you know, this is something that needs to be it requires a lot of maintenance weekly daily maintenance 20:35.420 --> 20:41.340 To essentially walk in the spirit not fulfill the lust of the flesh to you know embed 20:41.860 --> 20:48.020 Biblical convictions within yourself so that when the time comes afflictions come you don't quit. Okay 20:48.600 --> 20:53.020 It tells us here that we're appointed to it. So you have an appointment with affliction 20:53.100 --> 20:59.960 You have an appointment with tribulation with persecution and the Bible's telling us here that we should not be moved by these things 21:00.100 --> 21:03.840 Yeah, we can be kind of tossed a little bit bruised a little bit 21:03.840 --> 21:05.120 It can crash upon us a little bit 21:05.120 --> 21:11.640 But God wants us to stay put in the Christian life look at verse number four says for verily when we were with you 21:12.260 --> 21:14.700 We told you before that we should suffer tribulation 21:15.500 --> 21:17.060 Even as it came to pass, he knows. 21:17.060 --> 21:19.420 So that's a good verse for the pre-tribulationist 21:19.420 --> 21:21.260 to memorize there, thinking that they're 21:21.260 --> 21:24.340 going to avoid the tribulation, whereas the Bible's telling us 21:24.340 --> 21:26.580 here that we should suffer tribulation. 21:26.580 --> 21:29.380 It's not something that God is going to remove us from. 21:29.380 --> 21:31.620 He's going to walk us through tribulation. 21:31.620 --> 21:34.220 Just as he walked Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego 21:34.220 --> 21:37.500 in the fiery furnace, he didn't take them out of the furnace. 21:37.500 --> 21:39.120 He allowed them to go through the furnace, 21:39.120 --> 21:40.820 but he walked in the furnace with them. 21:40.820 --> 21:41.320 OK? 21:42.800 --> 21:48.080 He says, even as it came to pass, as you know, for this cause when I can no longer forbear, 21:48.080 --> 21:52.240 I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter, referring to Satan, 21:52.800 --> 21:59.120 have tempted you and our labor be in vain. And so what is he saying? He's like, man, I want you to 21:59.120 --> 22:03.920 push through when you're going through trials, when you're experiencing persecution, you need 22:03.920 --> 22:06.120 We need to make sure that you stay put. 22:06.600 --> 22:08.080 Keep serving God. 22:08.080 --> 22:09.480 Keep reading the Bible. 22:09.480 --> 22:11.200 Keep winning souls to Christ. 22:11.200 --> 22:13.960 Why? Because we don't want our labor to be in vain. 22:13.960 --> 22:15.400 There's people who have invested in you, 22:15.400 --> 22:16.440 people who have loved you, 22:16.440 --> 22:17.400 people who have cared for you, 22:17.400 --> 22:20.040 people who have given you the word of God, right? 22:20.040 --> 22:21.600 People who have exhorted you, 22:21.600 --> 22:23.040 people who have prayed for you 22:23.040 --> 22:25.120 that your faith failed not. 22:25.120 --> 22:26.680 And you know, make no mistake about it, 22:26.680 --> 22:28.760 there's been many Christians throughout the years 22:28.760 --> 22:31.320 that have fallen by the wayside, okay? 22:31.500 --> 22:34.500 So don't think you're just some exception to the rule. 22:34.500 --> 22:36.700 You can become a catastrophe. 22:36.700 --> 22:38.100 You can be a tragedy. 22:38.100 --> 22:41.200 You can be someone who falls by the wayside, gets out of church, 22:41.200 --> 22:44.000 and you know, the labor is in vain to a certain degree. 22:44.000 --> 22:44.800 Okay. 22:44.800 --> 22:48.000 Obviously, our labor is not in vain in the Lord, 22:48.000 --> 22:51.500 but you know, anybody can tell you it hurts to invest in someone 22:51.500 --> 22:53.500 and then just get out of church or something, right? 22:53.500 --> 22:54.600 Stop reading the Bible. 22:54.600 --> 22:56.000 Stop putting souls to Christ. 22:56.400 --> 22:57.520 You say, what's the answer? 22:57.520 --> 22:58.520 Well, the answer is this. 22:58.520 --> 23:00.360 Prepare for affliction. 23:00.360 --> 23:04.760 Recognize that this is a promise from God that you will suffer tribulation. 23:04.760 --> 23:08.240 And it may not be tribulation from the sodomites, from atheists. 23:08.240 --> 23:11.400 It may even be just tribulation from your own family members. 23:11.400 --> 23:12.880 It may be tribulation by your job. 23:12.880 --> 23:15.040 It may be tribulation by your spouse. 23:15.500 --> 23:22.220 It may be just tribulation through different means. Satan is constantly walking about trying to trip 23:22.220 --> 23:27.100 people up, trying to get you out of serving the Lord. Go to Matthew chapter 10 if you would, 23:27.100 --> 23:33.020 Matthew chapter 10. We're looking at the promises of persecution. The apostle Paul said we must 23:33.020 --> 23:38.460 through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus Christ said in the world, 23:38.460 --> 23:40.700 ye shall have tribulation. 23:40.700 --> 23:43.500 The apostle Paul also said in 1 Thessalonians chapter three. 23:43.500 --> 23:45.900 that we are appointed unto affliction, 23:45.900 --> 23:48.060 that we should suffer tribulation. 23:48.060 --> 23:48.900 What does it say? 23:48.900 --> 23:51.580 It's the promises that this is gonna happen in our life. 23:51.580 --> 23:52.620 Okay? 23:52.620 --> 23:55.020 You shouldn't be surprised about it. 23:55.020 --> 23:57.300 And this is why, you know, the Bible also says 23:57.300 --> 24:00.540 that some people, because they're not rooted, 24:00.540 --> 24:02.020 once tribulation comes, you know, 24:02.020 --> 24:03.620 they fall by the wayside. 24:03.620 --> 24:04.460 Okay? 24:04.460 --> 24:06.100 Because of the fact that they weren't rooted 24:06.100 --> 24:06.940 in the things of God. 24:06.940 --> 24:08.700 Look at Matthew chapter 10, verse 16. 24:09.600 --> 24:14.960 This of course is directly addressing the apostles but can be applied to us as well. 24:14.960 --> 24:19.360 He says in verse 16, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. 24:20.080 --> 24:25.120 Be therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 24:25.680 --> 24:31.280 So the Lord is saying, you know, I'm throwing you in into a very dangerous area, right? 24:31.280 --> 24:34.560 And obviously the way we would apply it today is, you know, we're in this world. 24:35.200 --> 24:37.960 And this world is anti-Christ. 24:37.960 --> 24:40.240 This world is against the principles of God. 24:40.240 --> 24:41.960 This world is filled with wolves. 24:41.960 --> 24:44.200 And we are sheep amongst the wolves here. 24:44.200 --> 24:48.520 And so he's admonishing us to be cunning, to be wise, 24:48.520 --> 24:50.720 and to be harmless, meaning that we 24:50.720 --> 24:52.840 have to learn how to operate in this world 24:52.840 --> 24:56.640 without actually committing violence, so to speak. 24:56.640 --> 24:58.900 And you can see why he's saying this, because you know. 24:59.400 --> 25:04.400 My natural inclination, if I receive some form of physical persecution, is I want to fight back. 25:04.400 --> 25:12.400 Okay? Right? You want to fight back, you want to throw blows, you want to pull out the 9 milli or whatever. 25:12.800 --> 25:15.840 You know, and like fight back. I'll just be honest with you. 25:15.840 --> 25:17.240 And you know, there's people who message me all the time. 25:17.240 --> 25:18.740 They said the same thing. They're just like, 25:18.740 --> 25:20.340 I don't know if I can handle persecution. 25:20.340 --> 25:23.680 I feel like it'd be justified for me to actually fight back. 25:23.680 --> 25:26.320 But here's the thing, folks, is that the Bible tells us 25:26.320 --> 25:28.920 that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, 25:28.920 --> 25:30.620 but against principalities, against powers, 25:30.620 --> 25:32.580 against the rulers of the darkness of this world. 25:32.580 --> 25:35.620 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. 25:35.800 --> 25:38.600 but mighty through God through the pulling down of strongholds. 25:38.600 --> 25:45.160 And so, you know, obviously the biblical admonition in this regard is that we need to be as harmless 25:45.160 --> 25:46.540 as doves. 25:46.540 --> 25:52.640 And I think the best way to kind of illustrate this would be David being persecuted by Saul. 25:52.640 --> 25:54.800 David, that guy could have whooped Saul. 25:54.800 --> 25:58.800 I mean, he had multiple chances to just kill Saul, right? 25:59.200 --> 26:02.000 David was a mighty warrior. 26:02.000 --> 26:04.880 The guy collected how many foreskins? 26:04.880 --> 26:07.640 He killed a lot of Philistines. 26:07.640 --> 26:08.800 The guy did a great work. 26:08.800 --> 26:11.240 I mean, he was a mighty warrior for the Lord. 26:11.240 --> 26:13.560 And I think he could have just shellacked Saul 26:13.560 --> 26:15.680 if he wanted to at any given time. 26:15.680 --> 26:18.740 Even if they just were going one on one, 26:18.740 --> 26:21.640 I think David could have taken them. 26:21.640 --> 26:22.760 But instead, what does the Bible say? 26:22.760 --> 26:24.800 It says that he behaved himself wisely. 26:25.400 --> 26:31.160 So anytime Saul would throw a spear at him, he was persecuting him, sought to kill him, 26:31.160 --> 26:37.000 David did not respond with physical force, he just behaved himself wisely, the Bible says. 26:37.000 --> 26:41.640 And I think it's for that one of the reasons why God spared David so many times, 26:41.640 --> 26:43.720 gave him wisdom, he allowed him to escape. 26:44.200 --> 26:49.660 The Bible says there is no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man. 26:49.660 --> 26:54.440 But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but 26:54.440 --> 26:56.380 will make a way to escape. 26:56.380 --> 27:00.560 So obviously there's going to be opportunities for us when we're being persecuted to actually 27:00.560 --> 27:05.180 slip out of their hands like the Lord did multiple times throughout his ministry. 27:05.180 --> 27:08.380 Where they wanted to throw him off a cliff, they wanted to stone him, and he would just 27:08.380 --> 27:11.540 kind of slip out and slip into the crowd and they wouldn't capture him. 27:12.200 --> 27:15.880 That's kind of an example of that way to escape. 27:15.880 --> 27:16.880 Okay. 27:16.880 --> 27:21.120 And so when the Lord says here to be wise as serpents, harmless as doves, 27:21.120 --> 27:25.120 I believe what the Bible is saying here is that we shouldn't use physical force to defend ourselves. 27:25.120 --> 27:29.440 We need to commend ourselves unto the Lord and ask for deliverance. 27:29.440 --> 27:31.040 But again, he's promising us this. 27:31.040 --> 27:32.600 Look at verse 17. 27:32.600 --> 27:37.200 But beware of men, for they would deliver you up to the councils. 27:37.500 --> 27:40.060 and they will scourge you in their synagogue. 27:40.060 --> 27:44.500 So, you know, this isn't referring to Muslims, 27:44.500 --> 27:46.100 it's not referring to Catholics, 27:46.100 --> 27:48.580 although they are definitely guilty of doing stuff like this. 27:48.580 --> 27:50.180 It's talking about Jews, right? 27:51.020 --> 27:52.740 And he's saying, hey, you gotta be careful with men 27:52.740 --> 27:54.740 because they're gonna do these things to you. 27:54.740 --> 27:55.580 He says in verse 18, 27:55.580 --> 27:57.880 and ye shall be brought before governors and kings 27:57.880 --> 28:02.880 for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 28:02.880 --> 28:03.300 going to be in the coming days. 28:04.500 --> 28:03.300 It's like the 28:09.640 --> 28:03.300 inton is 28:11.560 --> 28:03.300 about to 28:12.340 --> 28:03.300 start. 28:12.940 --> 28:03.300 It's all about the 28:13.700 --> 28:03.300 inton to start. 28:14.380 --> 28:03.300 It's all about the 28:14.920 --> 28:03.300 inton to start. 28:15.480 --> 28:03.300 It's all about the 28:15.880 --> 28:03.300 especially 28:16.200 --> 28:03.300 especially 28:16.680 --> 28:03.300 because 28:16.920 --> 28:03.300 because 28:17.320 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:17.660 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:18.000 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:18.240 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:18.500 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:18.740 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:19.020 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:19.320 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:19.660 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:19.960 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:20.220 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:20.540 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:20.820 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:21.140 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:21.460 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:21.680 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:21.920 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:22.180 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:22.420 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:22.680 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:22.920 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:23.260 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:23.600 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:23.880 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:24.140 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:24.500 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:24.780 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:25.100 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:25.380 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:25.620 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:25.880 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:26.220 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:26.620 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:27.020 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:27.400 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:27.760 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:28.180 --> 28:03.300 we're 28:03.600 --> 28:07.520 What's interesting is that the Lord is constantly 28:07.520 --> 28:11.560 warning his disciples about persecution, prepping them. 28:11.560 --> 28:14.360 Yet at the end of his ministry, it's like they weren't ready. 28:14.360 --> 28:15.800 A lot of them scattered. 28:15.800 --> 28:17.080 They left the Lord. 28:17.080 --> 28:20.440 So this is kind of showing you we need to take this stuff serious 28:20.440 --> 28:22.480 and not have this presumptuous attitude. 28:22.480 --> 28:25.720 Well, if it comes to my lifetime, I'm going to die for the Lord. 28:25.720 --> 28:28.320 Oh, you know, Peter said the same thing. 28:28.320 --> 28:29.960 And he denied the Lord thrice. 28:29.960 --> 28:30.200 you 28:30.300 --> 28:37.180 So you've got to be humble about it. Ask the Lord to give you boldness. Ask the Lord to give you courage 28:37.180 --> 28:41.020 and to be strong in the Lord to have faith, to have the courage to be able to withstand. 28:41.500 --> 28:45.260 And obviously after that in the book of Acts they are bold, they are suffering for his 28:45.260 --> 28:47.100 namesake and so forth. 28:47.100 --> 28:52.140 But the point that I'm making here, go to John chapter 15, is that the Bible is saturated 28:52.140 --> 28:56.980 with promises that you will suffer some form of persecution. 28:56.980 --> 28:59.100 And parents, you know, we need to prepare our children for that too. 28:59.600 --> 29:04.680 Just say, hey, you know, we're Christians and Christians in general are just hated in 29:04.680 --> 29:05.760 this world. 29:05.760 --> 29:10.120 Jesus said that, you know, we're going to suffer tribulation in this world and you need 29:10.120 --> 29:16.140 to be ready to suffer that and to not be moved and to build in these convictions yourself, 29:16.140 --> 29:18.000 you know, because mom and dad are not always going to be here. 29:18.000 --> 29:21.680 You're going to grow up, you're going to have your own family and you're going to get married, 29:21.680 --> 29:25.200 have children and you need to take a stand for the Lord as well. 29:25.200 --> 29:26.520 You're in John chapter 15. 29:26.520 --> 29:27.600 Let me just read you from Matthew. 29:27.600 --> 29:33.060 24 and verse 9 it says then this is the Lord speaking again shall they deliver 29:33.060 --> 29:37.620 you up to be afflicted and shall kill you and you shall be hated of all 29:37.620 --> 29:44.380 nations for my name's sake and then shall many be offended and shall betray 29:44.380 --> 29:50.060 one another and shall hate one another look at John 15 and verse 18 it says if 29:50.060 --> 29:55.000 the world hate you ye know that it hated me before hated you 29:55.300 --> 29:56.500 Why is the Lord saying this? 29:56.500 --> 30:00.380 Well, it kind of helps to know that other people are hated 30:00.380 --> 30:02.300 like we're hated, right? 30:02.300 --> 30:05.420 And so when we know that, sometimes when you're being 30:05.420 --> 30:08.540 hated for your beliefs, for your faith, you kind of feel 30:08.540 --> 30:09.740 alone a little bit. 30:09.740 --> 30:11.780 You're just like, man, I feel like I'm on 30:11.780 --> 30:13.000 an island by myself. 30:13.200 --> 30:19.780 But hold on a second, if you realize that the promise here is given to us that the world hated Christ before it ever hated us, 30:19.780 --> 30:21.980 we know that we're in good company, okay? 30:21.980 --> 30:26.020 He says if the world, if you were of the world, the world would love his own, 30:26.020 --> 30:30.980 but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 30:31.200 --> 30:48.500 Now I think about this verse, especially within the last couple of weeks, I've been given some great opportunities to go on different podcasts and to preach the Word of God and talk about my favorite subject, the Bible, and to reach a wider audience. 30:48.500 --> 30:50.200 And I'm really thankful for that opportunity. 30:50.700 --> 30:54.700 And you know, when you read the comments section of a lot of these videos, it's very positive. 30:54.700 --> 30:57.700 You know, people just love it. They're just like, man, this is great. 30:57.700 --> 30:59.700 And I've learned so much. 30:59.700 --> 31:02.700 And, but when I hear that, when I see that, 31:02.700 --> 31:06.700 and I see the overwhelming positivity in those comments sections, 31:06.700 --> 31:08.700 you know, my first thought is like, man, that's awesome. 31:08.700 --> 31:11.700 But then my second thought is like, hmm, I don't know, you know. 31:11.700 --> 31:13.700 Because they spoke well of the Lord for a little bit, 31:13.700 --> 31:16.700 but then the next, you know, couple days afterwards, they wanted to crucify him. 31:17.600 --> 31:19.100 So I never let it get to my head. 31:19.100 --> 31:22.260 I'm never like, oh, OK, this is great. 31:22.260 --> 31:23.740 Everyone loves me. 31:23.740 --> 31:25.860 Yeah, it could be that way now. 31:25.860 --> 31:28.140 But by the end of the year, they might want to crucify me, 31:28.140 --> 31:28.740 though. 31:28.740 --> 31:30.500 It's always the way it works. 31:30.700 --> 31:39.000 So I just view it as a wave that I need to ride and to pick up some of the stragglers of those who are actually seeking the truth. 31:39.000 --> 31:49.700 They may be saved, get into church, because six months from now those same people who were singing my praises six months back are going to be saying, crucify him, so to speak. 31:49.700 --> 31:55.500 Why? Because at the end of the day the world is just fickle. They're disloyal. 31:55.700 --> 31:59.100 And they may like you for one particular thing that you say, 31:59.100 --> 32:03.340 but once you actually address the actual issues of salvation, 32:03.340 --> 32:05.220 the deity of Jesus Christ, I guarantee you 32:05.220 --> 32:07.180 there's Muslims on there who like what I was saying. 32:07.180 --> 32:08.940 What Muslim does not like? 32:08.940 --> 32:12.700 A Christian pastor talking crap about Jews, right? 32:12.700 --> 32:14.740 They're going to love that. 32:14.740 --> 32:17.700 You know, what Catholic wouldn't like something like that? 32:18.200 --> 32:22.760 And so it's important for us to realize that we are not going to be loved of this world. 32:22.760 --> 32:24.880 The world does hate us. 32:24.880 --> 32:26.120 He hates it hates the Lord. 32:26.120 --> 32:29.880 It says in verse 20, remember the word that I said into you. 32:29.880 --> 32:33.120 The servant is not greater than his Lord. 32:33.120 --> 32:35.880 If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. 32:35.880 --> 32:39.360 If they have kept my saying, they will also keep yours also. 32:39.360 --> 32:41.000 So what is he saying here? 32:41.000 --> 32:44.520 He's saying, you know, if the world likes you, you're not greater than your master. 32:45.700 --> 32:46.580 OK? 32:46.580 --> 32:49.020 They're going to treat you the way they treated me, 32:49.020 --> 32:52.260 is basically what he's stating there. 32:52.260 --> 32:56.400 So it doesn't exist that, well, I just think that. 32:56.600 --> 33:03.200 If we just exercise biblical principles, we can get people to just like us, and we can appease a lot of people. 33:03.200 --> 33:06.900 No, because if you're actually a Christian, you'll be treated as Christ. 33:06.900 --> 33:07.500 Okay? 33:07.500 --> 33:11.700 If they call the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call they of his household? 33:11.700 --> 33:12.500 Okay? 33:12.500 --> 33:16.000 And if they hated Jesus Christ, they crucified him, they called him a devil. 33:16.000 --> 33:20.700 How much more are they going to do to you, who is a follower of Jesus Christ? 33:20.700 --> 33:23.200 Now, here's the thing is that there's Christians out there... 33:23.600 --> 33:26.500 than stand in judgment of pastors like myself 33:26.500 --> 33:29.000 and churches like ours for being persecuted. 33:29.000 --> 33:31.040 And I've heard this time and time again 33:31.040 --> 33:33.120 over the last couple of years, 33:33.120 --> 33:34.240 since we started our church, it's like, 33:34.240 --> 33:36.080 yeah, you guys get persecution, 33:36.080 --> 33:37.080 but it's only because you guys 33:37.080 --> 33:39.160 only talk about controversial things. 33:39.400 --> 33:42.240 Okay, it's only because you guys talk about 33:42.760 --> 33:44.760 Jews and you talk about 33:44.960 --> 33:51.060 Homo's and you just say just some out-of-pocket stuff and so you kind of bring it upon yourself 33:51.800 --> 33:54.440 Why don't you just preach Christ preach the gospel? 33:55.040 --> 33:59.720 Well number one, I don't preach the gospel at my church because pretty much everyone is saved. Okay 34:00.520 --> 34:03.880 And I do you know talk about salvation in my sermons 34:04.400 --> 34:08.160 But I'm not going to talk about the gospel every single sermon 34:08.160 --> 34:12.320 because we need to grow in our knowledge of the Word of God, right? 34:12.320 --> 34:17.040 But they have this idea that we should only be persecuted for the gospel. 34:17.040 --> 34:21.360 And the question I have for them is like, so then why are you not being persecuted? 34:21.360 --> 34:24.240 Because they're trying to make it seem as though, well, they preach the gospel, 34:24.240 --> 34:26.960 they preach the Word of God, they preach salvation, 34:26.960 --> 34:30.560 then why don't you get persecuted then? Number one, okay? 34:31.800 --> 34:35.880 But number two, when you look at the standard of persecution 34:35.880 --> 34:39.840 in the Bible, from Old Testament to New Testament, 34:39.840 --> 34:42.780 you see various examples of men of God who are persecuted, 34:42.780 --> 34:44.680 not even for the gospel. 34:44.680 --> 34:47.240 Now, there are many examples in the New Testament 34:47.240 --> 34:49.360 where they are being persecuted for the gospel, 34:49.360 --> 34:51.720 but the vast majority of persecutions 34:51.720 --> 34:53.320 actually come from various subjects. 34:55.200 --> 35:00.800 You know, John the Baptist was persecuted for preaching against the adultery of Herod. 35:00.800 --> 35:03.760 Why aren't you preaching Christ in him crucified, John? 35:03.760 --> 35:05.640 You're sent to be the forerunner. 35:05.640 --> 35:07.320 Do your job. 35:07.320 --> 35:10.680 Because this is his job to just preach the word of God in general. 35:10.680 --> 35:12.320 And he's preaching against the adultery. 35:12.320 --> 35:14.440 He's preaching against the king. 35:14.440 --> 35:18.440 He's preaching against the magistrates and the authorities. 35:18.440 --> 35:21.280 And so therefore, that's why his head was cut off. 35:21.280 --> 35:21.780 OK? 35:22.100 --> 35:28.380 You know, you have Jeremiah who was persecuted for preaching against his nation. 35:28.380 --> 35:33.980 He was accused of treason, being a traitor because he was preaching against, you know, 35:33.980 --> 35:34.980 Judah. 35:34.980 --> 35:39.420 He was preaching against the leaders and they're like, oh, you're not loyal to your country. 35:39.420 --> 35:42.820 Obviously, Jeremiah is loyal to the Lord. 35:42.820 --> 35:46.500 And if the Lord is condemning his nation, then he needs to join the Lord in the condemnation 35:46.500 --> 35:47.020 as well. 35:48.800 --> 35:55.500 So oh no Jeremiah you should have just preached be a light unto the Gentiles and only preach salvation wrong 35:56.480 --> 36:00.280 People get persecuted throughout the Bible for various reasons not just the gospel 36:01.000 --> 36:03.520 Elijah was persecuted for 36:04.400 --> 36:10.600 Preaching against idolatry and the false prophets of his name all you guys do is just call people out 36:10.600 --> 36:12.680 Yeah, that's what the prophets of the Old Testament did, too 36:13.700 --> 36:20.900 They called out the false prophets, those who were misleading God's people, preaching heresy. 36:20.900 --> 36:25.700 There were idolaters, there were wicked individuals, and he preached against them. 36:25.700 --> 36:29.700 Or how about this, you know, Abel was persecuted for just being righteous. 36:31.940 --> 36:39.460 He didn't even preach anything. How about that? Right? Killed by his brother because he was more 36:39.460 --> 36:40.660 righteous than his brother. 36:41.300 --> 36:45.660 I mean that basically brings some clarity to ye all that will live godly in Christ Jesus 36:45.660 --> 36:46.960 shouts out for persecution 36:46.960 --> 36:49.060 it doesn't say ye all that will preach godly 36:49.060 --> 36:50.400 it says all that will live godly 36:50.400 --> 36:51.560 he lived godly 36:51.560 --> 36:52.960 he was a righteous person 36:52.960 --> 36:55.360 and he was persecuted in fact he was killed 36:55.360 --> 36:56.300 because of it 36:56.300 --> 36:57.100 okay 36:58.300 --> 37:00.300 Joseph was persecuted 37:00.300 --> 37:01.400 for envy 37:02.600 --> 37:05.200 his brothers envied him and so they persecuted him 37:05.600 --> 37:12.760 Moses was persecuted for choosing to suffer the afflictions with the people of God that to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season 37:13.440 --> 37:16.080 You know and you may think to yourself like oh man that sounds kind of familiar 37:16.080 --> 37:18.840 You know like I feel like I've been persecuted for coming to this church 37:19.560 --> 37:23.160 You know for choosing to congregate with First Works Baptist Church 37:23.440 --> 37:28.540 Because you're my pastor because I'm associated with this movement. I've received some flack for that 37:28.540 --> 37:32.320 Well, you know you're in good company because Moses also suffered the same thing okay 37:33.800 --> 37:34.640 How about David? 37:34.640 --> 37:36.880 And I mentioned it already, but David was persecuted by Saul 37:36.880 --> 37:38.760 out of envy. 37:38.760 --> 37:41.720 Micaiah was persecuted for preaching 37:41.720 --> 37:43.280 the truth and judgment. 37:43.280 --> 37:45.240 And he said, like, these are going to be scattered. 37:45.240 --> 37:46.040 You're going to die. 37:46.040 --> 37:47.480 He was thrown into prison for that. 37:47.480 --> 37:48.680 OK? 37:48.680 --> 37:53.200 Daniel, I mean Daniel here, was persecuted for praying. 37:55.700 --> 38:03.700 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were persecuted for refusing to bow down to the image of Nebuchadnezzar. 38:03.700 --> 38:07.700 It's because something that they didn't want to do and they were persecuted for it. 38:07.700 --> 38:11.700 Nehemiah was persecuted for rebuilding the walls. 38:11.700 --> 38:18.700 So it kind of shows us that no matter what you do as a Christian, you probably will receive some affliction, some persecution, and some pushback. 38:19.000 --> 38:20.280 So you know what this is telling me? 38:20.280 --> 38:21.600 It's telling me that we don't just 38:21.600 --> 38:23.180 get persecuted for the gospel's sake. 38:23.180 --> 38:25.520 We get persecuted for everything else as well, 38:25.520 --> 38:27.920 for just righteousness in general. 38:27.920 --> 38:28.680 But it's funny. 38:28.680 --> 38:31.760 It's like, oh, man, you guys should just preach the gospel. 38:31.760 --> 38:34.320 You only get persecuted because you say controversial things. 38:34.320 --> 38:36.200 Well, we just got back from Belize. 38:36.700 --> 38:40.460 And in Belize, we were persecuted not for preaching against homos, 38:40.460 --> 38:44.780 not for preaching against Jews, not for preaching any controversial thing. 38:44.780 --> 38:49.260 We got persecuted because we were preaching one saved, always saved. 38:49.260 --> 38:51.140 How about that? 38:51.140 --> 38:55.980 I mean, literally, they're writing articles. 38:55.980 --> 38:58.500 They wanted to interview me on the news. 38:58.700 --> 39:01.260 We got booted out of a convention, 39:01.260 --> 39:03.780 wanting to preach to these kids at a convention, 39:03.780 --> 39:05.940 because of One Saved, Always Saved. 39:07.460 --> 39:08.940 You know, you had this coalition of pastors 39:08.940 --> 39:11.980 just getting together, talking all kinds of trash. 39:11.980 --> 39:13.140 We actually got persecuted for that. 39:13.140 --> 39:15.060 So we get persecuted for preaching against the homos 39:15.060 --> 39:17.420 and just preaching the gospel. 39:17.420 --> 39:18.260 What about you? 39:19.980 --> 39:22.420 Oh, you know, you should just preach Christ. 39:22.420 --> 39:24.220 Well, it looks like you've been doing that 39:24.220 --> 39:25.800 and you just don't get any persecution. 39:25.900 --> 39:29.580 Why is that? Because you're not even living up to your own standard. 39:29.580 --> 39:33.580 Because according to them, you should be persecuted if you're preaching one saved, always saved. 39:33.580 --> 39:37.180 You're preaching the gospel. Well, I don't see a lot of people getting persecuted for that. 39:39.180 --> 39:45.180 You know, the point here is that the Bible specifically tells us, go to 2 Timothy, if you would, chapter 3. 39:45.180 --> 39:49.180 2 Timothy chapter 3. Actually, go to 1 Peter chapter 4. 39:49.180 --> 39:50.800 1 Peter chapter 4. 39:52.700 --> 39:56.780 The promise of persecution is found throughout the Bible, 39:56.780 --> 39:59.660 and the Bible tells us in 1st John chapter 3, 39:59.660 --> 40:03.820 Marvel not my brethren, if the world hate you. 40:03.820 --> 40:04.780 Marvel means like. 40:07.600 --> 40:12.600 You shouldn't be shocked when people hate you for being a Christian. 40:12.600 --> 40:21.600 And I'll get into this later, but I think the thing that shocks us the most when we are persecuted is when it comes from people that we love. 40:21.600 --> 40:27.600 That's where people like, you know, you get persecuted by the world, it's just like, 40:27.600 --> 40:33.600 persecuted by Assad, it's just like, persecuted by Jews, Muslims, persecuted by your family, it's just like, 40:35.000 --> 40:36.320 Because in your mind, you're like, 40:36.320 --> 40:37.880 we have such an emotional tie. 40:37.880 --> 40:40.320 We've got history. 40:40.320 --> 40:41.260 We're family. 40:41.260 --> 40:43.560 How can you hold that against me? 40:43.560 --> 40:44.280 Well, guess what? 40:44.280 --> 40:46.720 Marvel not. 40:46.720 --> 40:49.460 You shouldn't be surprised when even those 40:49.460 --> 40:54.640 who you're closest to, your best friend, your cousin, 40:54.640 --> 40:57.960 your uncle, people you grew up with, if they don't like you, 40:57.960 --> 41:00.200 if they separate you from their company, 41:00.200 --> 41:01.240 don't marvel at that. 41:01.240 --> 41:01.400 you 41:01.900 --> 41:04.700 That is a common result of just being a Christian. 41:04.700 --> 41:05.540 Okay. 41:05.540 --> 41:07.340 Look at 1 Peter chapter four, verse 12. 41:07.340 --> 41:08.180 It says here, 41:08.180 --> 41:12.520 beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, 41:12.520 --> 41:13.540 which shall try, 41:13.540 --> 41:16.140 which is, excuse me, which is to try you, 41:16.140 --> 41:18.780 as though some strange thing happened unto you. 41:18.780 --> 41:19.860 He said, don't be worried about it. 41:19.860 --> 41:21.420 Don't look at your trial and be like, 41:21.420 --> 41:23.620 I can't believe this is happening. 41:23.620 --> 41:25.100 Like, is this just strange? 41:25.100 --> 41:27.100 How can this happen to me? 41:27.100 --> 41:28.980 He says in verse 13, but rejoice. 41:28.980 --> 41:29.100 you 41:29.300 --> 41:35.020 It is much as ye are partakers of Christ's suffering, that when his glory shall be revealed, 41:35.020 --> 41:37.900 ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 41:37.900 --> 41:42.840 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye. 41:42.840 --> 41:47.260 For the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. 41:47.260 --> 41:52.820 On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." 41:52.820 --> 41:53.820 Go with me if you would. 41:53.820 --> 41:56.020 Turn to, go to Acts chapter four. 41:56.020 --> 41:57.020 Acts chapter number four. 41:57.020 --> 41:57.100 you 41:58.400 --> 42:03.280 What is the point? The point is this is that we need to recognize that the promise of persecution 42:03.280 --> 42:08.400 is saturated throughout the Bible. If it's not in an explicit verse, it's found in the life of a 42:08.400 --> 42:14.720 godly believer. It's found through the testimony of people who even though they just prayed, 42:14.720 --> 42:19.600 even though they just lived a righteous life, they just offered a righteous sacrifice, 42:19.600 --> 42:21.200 someone was always there to hate them. 42:21.800 --> 42:28.040 Okay, so don't think you can escape persecution or bypass tribulation. 42:28.040 --> 42:31.840 If you're just living out any part of the precepts of the word of God, you're going 42:31.840 --> 42:33.480 to get some pushback. 42:33.480 --> 42:37.080 And you need to expect it because it's promised of God within his word. 42:37.080 --> 42:40.080 Point number two, let's talk about the source of persecution. 42:40.080 --> 42:41.900 So this is the promise of persecution. 42:41.900 --> 42:43.000 Let's talk about the source. 42:43.000 --> 42:45.000 The number one source, of course, is Satan. 42:45.000 --> 42:46.000 Okay. 42:46.000 --> 42:48.440 off the bat you should expect to be attacked by Satan. 42:49.400 --> 42:53.320 If you're having a tough year, it's probably because Satan's out to get you. 42:53.320 --> 42:57.720 If you're having a tough month, Satan. If you're having a tough week, probably Satan. 42:58.600 --> 43:03.320 Why? Because Satan is always out to destroy Christians. Revelation chapter 2, you don't 43:03.320 --> 43:07.080 have to turn to verse 10 says, fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. 43:07.080 --> 43:10.680 Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison. 43:11.400 --> 43:14.360 That ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days. 43:14.360 --> 43:17.480 But be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." 43:17.480 --> 43:22.120 Now just to give you some context here, when he says the devil shall cast some of you into prison, 43:22.120 --> 43:25.240 it doesn't mean Satan literally comes out and throws you into prison. 43:25.240 --> 43:26.920 In the context, he's actually talking about Jews. 43:27.560 --> 43:31.240 I just want to throw that in there, okay, because it comes after verse 9 of Revelation 2. 43:31.400 --> 43:35.400 So basically saying that Satan is using the Jews to do stuff like this. 43:35.400 --> 43:40.900 So you'll get, the source of persecution comes from Satan, it comes from the world, we obviously saw that. 43:40.900 --> 43:45.400 The world, you're never going to be popular with the world, the world's never going to like the things that you say. 43:45.400 --> 43:52.400 And even if they like, even if they act like they like you, eventually you're going to rub them the wrong way and they're going to want you dead. 43:54.400 --> 43:57.900 But here's a major source of persecution, okay? 43:57.900 --> 44:01.300 At least in my experience, this is a major source, 44:01.300 --> 44:04.640 and that is from other religious leaders. 44:05.600 --> 44:09.200 One of the biggest forms or sources of persecution 44:09.200 --> 44:12.280 doesn't necessarily come from the atheist. 44:12.280 --> 44:14.940 It doesn't come from, you know, 44:14.940 --> 44:16.440 the people who don't believe in God, 44:16.440 --> 44:18.380 they don't want nothing to do with religion, 44:18.380 --> 44:19.580 they're not in church. 44:19.580 --> 44:21.360 It actually comes from people who go to church, 44:21.360 --> 44:22.100 believe it or not. 44:22.700 --> 44:28.700 The people who actually persecute you and afflict you the most are people who act like Christians. 44:28.700 --> 44:31.700 And it could be saved or unsaved by the way. 44:31.700 --> 44:34.700 Okay? It's sad that it comes from saved people though. 44:34.700 --> 44:36.700 But it does come from saved people too. 44:36.700 --> 44:41.700 Saved people who are just carnal, fleshly, ignorant of the Bible. 44:41.700 --> 44:45.700 And you know what? They're just persecuting their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. 44:45.700 --> 44:48.700 Number one, possibly because you're doing more than them. 44:49.100 --> 44:52.380 and you're being a light and you're being salt to them, 44:52.380 --> 44:54.140 and salt irritates a wound. 44:55.180 --> 44:56.340 See what salt does? 44:56.340 --> 45:00.020 When poured in an open wound, it irritates and it hurts. 45:00.020 --> 45:01.300 You know what the open wound is? 45:01.300 --> 45:05.100 Their apathetic attitude towards the service of God. 45:05.100 --> 45:08.940 Their wound is their doctrinal errors that they have, 45:08.940 --> 45:10.460 the sin that they're involved in, 45:10.460 --> 45:12.900 and so when you, as salt, are poured into that wound, 45:12.900 --> 45:14.700 they hate you for that. 45:14.700 --> 45:16.100 Religious leaders don't like 45:16.600 --> 45:20.280 you know, zealous Christians. Okay. Look at Acts chapter four, verse one. 45:20.280 --> 45:25.000 And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple 45:25.000 --> 45:32.040 and the Sadducees, these are all religious leaders, came upon them being grieved 45:32.040 --> 45:36.520 that they taught the people. Why are you grieved? These people are preaching the word of God. 45:37.480 --> 45:41.640 They're preaching Christ. They're preaching Moses and the law. 45:42.800 --> 45:49.040 He says, being grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 45:49.040 --> 45:57.200 And what did they do? They laid hands on them and put them in hold until the next day, for it was now even-tied. 45:57.200 --> 46:01.440 Now, one thing you'll notice is the majority of the people who were persecuted to the Christians were not Romans. 46:01.440 --> 46:09.840 They weren't the Romans, you know. They were involved in the crucifixion of Christ to a certain degree, obviously, Pontius Pilate. 46:10.400 --> 46:15.240 But the people who are constantly persecuting Christians are religious leaders. 46:15.240 --> 46:21.080 Sadducees, I'm sure the captain of the temple was a Jew, of course, if he's a captain of the temple. 46:21.080 --> 46:26.760 The priests, these are all religious individuals who are hating on the disciples. 46:26.760 --> 46:29.560 Okay, go to chapter five. Chapter five. 46:31.700 --> 46:36.740 Chapter 5 verse 16 says there came also a multitude out of the cities roundabout unto Jerusalem 46:37.580 --> 46:39.580 bringing sick folks and 46:39.820 --> 46:44.200 Them which were vexed with unclean spirits and they were healed everyone great work 46:44.740 --> 46:46.660 Before sick they come to get healed 46:46.660 --> 46:52.940 I mean you would think that this is a great thing right verse 17 then the high priest rose up and all they there were with 46:52.940 --> 46:57.260 Him which is the sect of the Sadducees and were filled with indignation. Why? 46:58.400 --> 47:00.400 Why are you mad? 47:00.400 --> 47:01.540 Bro had a disease. 47:01.540 --> 47:02.400 Bro was impaired. 47:02.400 --> 47:03.840 Bro was handicapped. 47:03.840 --> 47:06.240 These guys came and healed them. 47:06.240 --> 47:10.280 You should rejoice that a marvelous work was accomplished. 47:10.280 --> 47:11.540 But they're mad. 47:11.540 --> 47:12.980 They were filled with indignation. 47:12.980 --> 47:13.680 They're angry. 47:13.680 --> 47:14.840 They're wrathful. 47:14.840 --> 47:18.580 It says in verse 18, and laid their hands on the apostles 47:18.580 --> 47:20.580 and put them in the common prison. 47:20.580 --> 47:23.960 You're in violation of what? 47:23.960 --> 47:25.460 You're healing people on the Sabbath. 47:27.100 --> 47:32.340 Making people whole we're filled with indignation. These are religious leaders who are simply persecuting 47:33.100 --> 47:37.640 Righteous men for doing the work of God look at Acts chapter 13 go to Acts 13 if you would 47:38.700 --> 47:40.700 Act chapter 13 47:40.980 --> 47:43.860 Let me tell you who has the biggest mouth on social media 47:44.740 --> 47:47.780 criticizing men of God its so-called other Christians 47:48.900 --> 47:52.100 They're the ones who are constantly attacking the men of God. 47:52.100 --> 47:55.100 They're the ones that are constantly posting about them. 47:55.100 --> 47:58.600 They're the ones who just can't sleep 47:58.600 --> 48:02.800 until they have somehow exposed this church 48:02.800 --> 48:05.100 for their righteous works. 48:05.100 --> 48:07.000 But you know what? Here's the thing, folks, is that 48:07.000 --> 48:11.300 if my church is not of God, it would come to naught. 48:11.300 --> 48:12.500 It would come to naught. 48:13.600 --> 48:18.480 So, you know, what these people are doing who claim to be Christians is that they are 48:18.480 --> 48:20.400 fighting against the hand of God. 48:20.400 --> 48:22.560 And you know what? 48:22.560 --> 48:24.840 If God wants this church to close, He will make it close. 48:24.840 --> 48:26.880 I can't stop that. 48:26.880 --> 48:31.080 If He wanted this church to just close, for you to be dispersed, and for this church to 48:31.080 --> 48:35.000 no longer exist, it would happen overnight. 48:35.500 --> 48:36.980 You know why it hasn't closed? 48:36.980 --> 48:38.780 Because he doesn't want it to close. 48:38.780 --> 48:40.340 Because people are getting saved. 48:40.340 --> 48:42.060 People are being fed in church. 48:42.060 --> 48:44.180 Righteousness is being proclaimed. 48:44.180 --> 48:47.220 And therefore, you can't close it. 48:47.220 --> 48:48.620 You can bomb it. 48:48.620 --> 48:51.340 You can criticize the pastor. 48:51.340 --> 48:52.980 You can try to infiltrate. 48:52.980 --> 48:55.980 You can make articles, make documentaries. 48:55.980 --> 48:57.800 It's just not going to happen. 48:58.500 --> 49:01.000 Why? Because it's of God. If it wasn't, it would come to not. 49:01.000 --> 49:04.400 And let me tell you something. There's been churches who were not of God, 49:04.400 --> 49:08.800 who criticize, you know, righteous churches, and they are closed. 49:08.800 --> 49:12.300 Multiple example of that. 49:12.300 --> 49:17.200 Where these guys were attacking the men of God, these religious leaders, 49:17.200 --> 49:21.700 they're just doing right by attacking all these pastors and the men of God. 49:21.700 --> 49:24.300 The churches don't exist anymore. 49:24.300 --> 49:26.300 God destroyed those congregations. 49:27.400 --> 49:33.080 And yet here we are still standing, not because of my righteousness, not because I'm upright or I'm 49:33.080 --> 49:38.760 perfect or I'm a great speaker or whatever it may be, it's because the work is of the Lord, that's why. 49:38.760 --> 49:40.280 This is God's church. 49:42.100 --> 49:48.260 And so, you know, if you think our church is just so godless and wicked and God's going to judge it, 49:48.260 --> 49:52.100 then you know, then why is it still operating, still getting people saved, reaching many for 49:52.100 --> 49:56.420 Christ? Why is the church still growing? Why are people making great decisions at our church? 49:56.420 --> 49:59.940 Why are they growing in their knowledge of the Bible, becoming better Christians, 49:59.940 --> 50:04.020 better wives, better husbands? Why has God blessed our church with so many babies? 50:06.020 --> 50:07.860 Our babies are being born in church. Amen. 50:09.000 --> 50:13.200 Why are people getting married and dating, amen? 50:13.200 --> 50:16.600 Fighting the will of the Lord? 50:16.600 --> 50:17.100 Why? 50:17.100 --> 50:18.900 I'll tell you why, because this is God's church, 50:18.900 --> 50:21.300 and that's what happens in God's church. 50:21.300 --> 50:24.000 Whereas you look at other churches that 50:24.000 --> 50:25.900 have been attacking churches like mine, 50:25.900 --> 50:29.300 those become cesspools of sin and wickedness. 50:29.300 --> 50:32.900 Verity Baptist Church is a perfect example of that. 50:32.900 --> 50:35.300 And Verity Baptist Church was a godly church at one point. 50:36.100 --> 50:39.500 It was a righteous church at one point. 50:39.500 --> 50:44.140 But it became a den of iniquity because the leader was wicked. 50:44.140 --> 50:48.620 The leader got involved in sin, moral sin, or whatever. 50:48.620 --> 50:50.300 He became a gooner. 50:50.300 --> 50:53.740 And then the church ended up collapsing. 50:53.740 --> 50:57.540 And he ended up destroying his congregation. 50:57.540 --> 50:58.400 That's what happened. 50:58.600 --> 51:00.240 You're like, well, I thought it still exists. 51:00.240 --> 51:01.600 Yeah, but hold on a second. 51:01.600 --> 51:05.160 It pales in comparison to what it used to be for a fact. 51:05.160 --> 51:06.680 Number one. 51:06.680 --> 51:07.440 OK. 51:07.440 --> 51:12.200 It has not returned to its former glory and never will. 51:12.200 --> 51:12.800 OK. 51:12.800 --> 51:15.720 Because the guy who took over is also godless. 51:15.720 --> 51:17.000 He's also attacking men of God. 51:17.000 --> 51:20.000 He's attacking missionaries and men of God. 51:20.000 --> 51:21.000 What's the point here? 51:21.000 --> 51:24.800 Point is that often persecution comes from other so-called 51:24.800 --> 51:25.440 church leaders. 51:27.100 --> 51:29.700 Because they want to hate on the work of God. 51:29.700 --> 51:34.180 And I proudly proclaim that I'm part of the new IFB. 51:34.180 --> 51:36.260 This is a new IFB church. 51:36.260 --> 51:39.420 And even if you don't want to adopt that phrase, which I 51:39.420 --> 51:42.300 don't really know anybody in here who wouldn't, but even if 51:42.300 --> 51:44.540 you didn't, this is basically a new IFB church. 51:44.540 --> 51:45.380 That's what it is. 51:45.380 --> 51:48.300 These are the doctrines we hold to. 51:48.300 --> 51:51.300 And about maybe two years ago or something, everyone was 51:51.300 --> 51:52.860 saying all these churches are just going to come 51:52.860 --> 51:53.900 crashing down. 51:54.000 --> 51:55.840 They're all just going to be destroyed. 51:55.840 --> 51:56.760 They're going to come crashing. 51:56.760 --> 51:59.380 But they end up being the churches that thrive the most. 51:59.380 --> 52:02.480 They end up growing and being blessed of God, 52:02.480 --> 52:07.280 seeing thousands and thousands and thousands of people saved. 52:07.280 --> 52:10.560 And it's basically confirming, whereas the other churches, 52:10.560 --> 52:13.800 those churches actually did fall flat on their face. 52:13.800 --> 52:15.860 Many of them closed down. 52:15.860 --> 52:17.840 They lost their pastors. 52:17.840 --> 52:21.160 And so when you look at the diagram here, 52:21.160 --> 52:21.800 You're like. 52:22.200 --> 52:24.200 Actually, these churches are really good. 52:24.200 --> 52:27.700 Everyone's saying these churches are really bad, but they seem to be doing really well. 52:30.300 --> 52:35.660 Again, you know, I'm not gonna stand up here and take credit for all the great works that God did in this church 52:35.660 --> 52:39.600 Obviously, I'm the leader here on the pastor here. I cast the vision here. But at the end of the day 52:39.600 --> 52:41.600 It's obviously God's hand is on the church 52:41.780 --> 52:45.620 Okay, you know, I'm thankful for these opportunities to be able to go on these podcasts 52:45.620 --> 52:50.100 It's obviously God allowing me to have a platform to be able to preach the Word of God 52:50.260 --> 52:52.980 We had visitors this morning from the podcast 52:53.820 --> 52:56.060 Okay, not my podcast the podcast that I did 52:56.700 --> 52:59.400 They came, they got saved, they heard about it. 52:59.400 --> 53:03.560 So God wants to use our church and churches like ours 53:04.660 --> 53:05.940 to reach more people. 53:05.940 --> 53:07.460 And you know what's funny? 53:07.460 --> 53:09.780 Is that you go in the comments section 53:09.780 --> 53:11.260 of these podcast episodes, 53:11.260 --> 53:12.540 and who do you find on there? 53:12.540 --> 53:13.880 All the haters. 53:13.880 --> 53:15.300 You know why? 53:15.300 --> 53:18.340 Because God doesn't give them a platform. 53:18.340 --> 53:22.160 So they have to grab onto this right here. 53:22.160 --> 53:22.800 Okay? 53:23.400 --> 53:26.000 You know, they have to, my pocket's dirty, 53:26.000 --> 53:27.080 I'm not gonna show you, nevermind. 53:27.080 --> 53:28.220 You know how I was gonna pull out my pocket. 53:28.220 --> 53:31.780 You know, they gotta grab onto the little coat tail here 53:31.780 --> 53:36.780 and use my influence, use how God is magnifying our church 53:38.920 --> 53:41.880 in order for them to have a platform to criticize us. 53:41.880 --> 53:44.320 Isn't that interesting how that works? 53:44.320 --> 53:46.920 You know, why don't, how come your documentary 53:46.920 --> 53:48.900 isn't exposing and destroying our church? 53:51.100 --> 53:56.100 Why do you have to use your enemies to be able to get a voice? 53:56.100 --> 54:02.100 And you know, when I see those comments, I'm like, you know, these people are dumb because no one's going to read these comments. 54:02.100 --> 54:04.100 It's all buried. 54:04.100 --> 54:12.100 And at the end of the day, the comments are overwhelmingly positive towards us, positive towards the message. 54:12.100 --> 54:16.100 And why is that? It's because God obviously wants the message to come out through this church. 54:16.600 --> 54:19.800 And look, I'm not going to stand up here and say, yeah, it's always going to be this way. 54:19.800 --> 54:22.040 We're always going to have a platform out there. 54:22.040 --> 54:25.480 This is just a season where maybe I'm allowed to do so. 54:25.480 --> 54:27.640 And I'm going to take advantage of it, of course. 54:27.640 --> 54:29.400 I'm going to give it the best that I got. 54:29.400 --> 54:32.040 You know, I've been preparing for this for years on end, 54:32.040 --> 54:35.000 memorizing scripture, internalizing the truth, 54:35.000 --> 54:38.680 so that when the time comes, I could just spit facts all day long. 54:38.680 --> 54:39.640 Amen. 54:39.640 --> 54:40.140 You know? 54:42.300 --> 54:46.900 And so, but it's funny how the haters have to still use us 54:46.900 --> 54:50.900 in order to kind of get their voice out about us. 54:50.900 --> 54:52.580 You know, to expose us. 54:52.580 --> 54:55.780 Oh, you should watch Man of God. 54:55.780 --> 54:57.700 People are just like scrolling, like, 54:57.700 --> 54:59.060 this woman sounds drunk. 54:59.060 --> 55:01.900 No one even cares. 55:01.900 --> 55:04.020 And you know, to a certain degree, 55:04.020 --> 55:05.660 I don't care regarding these comments, 55:05.660 --> 55:07.460 because at the end of the day, you 55:07.460 --> 55:09.500 can't bring it to naught if it is of God. 55:10.900 --> 55:15.780 So, the point that I'm making here is that often persecution comes from other Christians, 55:15.780 --> 55:16.780 believe it or not. 55:16.780 --> 55:17.780 Christians so-called, obviously. 55:17.780 --> 55:24.060 I think a lot of these people are just evil, wicked, you know, seducers, and you know, 55:24.060 --> 55:25.740 the reprobate in a lot of instances. 55:25.740 --> 55:30.420 But I'm sure there's honest Christians or sincere Christians who are just being cared 55:30.420 --> 55:33.980 about with their influence or whatever it may be, you know, who are just, you know, 55:33.980 --> 55:34.980 just gullible. 55:35.800 --> 55:38.840 And unfortunately, the simple passed on it and are punished. 55:38.840 --> 55:42.560 And so if that's the route that they choose. 55:42.560 --> 55:45.520 But at the end of the day, the fact that we have haters 55:45.520 --> 55:48.120 just confirms that what we're doing is right. 55:48.120 --> 55:48.900 OK? 55:49.400 --> 55:54.360 So what do we have here? We have the source of persecution. Yeah, of course it comes from Satan 55:54.440 --> 55:59.600 Yes, it comes from the world. But believe it or not. It does come from other Christians and other church leaders 55:59.640 --> 56:04.620 That's the way it works a hundred percent of the time. It's often those who hate the message 56:04.620 --> 56:07.840 Where do I have you turn? Acts chapter 13 look at verse 48 56:11.000 --> 56:17.560 glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed and the word of the Lord was published throughout all the 56:17.560 --> 56:23.920 region but the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city and 56:24.160 --> 56:28.880 Raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their coasts 56:29.120 --> 56:34.880 So what goes around comes around amen because they're expelling them out of the coast and now they're the ones who are being expelled 56:35.600 --> 56:38.640 Go to chapter 14 if you would act chapter 14 56:40.100 --> 56:47.700 Acts chapter 14. Look at verse 1, it came to pass in iconium that they went both together into the 56:47.700 --> 56:53.060 synagogue of the Jews and so spake that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks 56:53.060 --> 56:59.620 believed but the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil affected against 56:59.620 --> 57:01.200 the brethren. 57:01.200 --> 57:02.620 Go to chapter 17. 57:02.620 --> 57:03.380 Chapter 17. 57:04.800 --> 57:11.300 Showing you the different instances where they're being persecuted by religious leaders. 57:11.300 --> 57:15.020 And let me just say this, I don't lose sleep over that stuff, you know what I mean? 57:15.020 --> 57:19.680 Because at the end of the day, the proof is in the pudding. 57:19.680 --> 57:22.700 The results speak for themselves. 57:22.700 --> 57:27.160 And let's just say I'm never given a public platform like that ever again, we can still 57:27.160 --> 57:29.980 do great works here. 57:29.980 --> 57:31.800 We can still get a bunch of people saved here. 57:32.500 --> 57:37.460 You know, I'm just utilizing everything else because it's just doubly rewards, right? 57:37.460 --> 57:42.660 And I want us to be like the ready scribe just at any given time whenever an opportunity presents 57:42.660 --> 57:44.020 themselves, I'm there. 57:44.600 --> 57:46.800 You know, do you want to speak here? I'll do it. 57:46.800 --> 57:49.000 Why? Because it's just another opportunity to preach the gospel. 57:49.000 --> 57:51.700 But if those opportunities never came about again, it's okay. 57:51.700 --> 57:54.500 We're still doing great works for God here, okay? 57:54.500 --> 57:58.600 Getting a lot of people saved here, preaching the gospel in the regions beyond, 57:58.600 --> 58:01.600 like in Belize and so forth. Look at Acts 17, verse 4. 58:01.600 --> 58:01.900 It says, 58:01.900 --> 58:05.000 And some of them believed and consorted with Paul and Silas, 58:05.000 --> 58:08.900 and of the devout Greeks, a great multitude, and of the chief women, not a few. 58:09.200 --> 58:15.200 But the Jews, which believe not, moved with envy, took into them certain lewd fellows 58:15.200 --> 58:16.300 of the baser sort. 58:16.600 --> 58:22.280 gathered a company and set all the city on an uproar and assaulted the house of 58:22.280 --> 58:26.120 Jason and sought to bring them out to the people and so forth. What do we see? 58:26.120 --> 58:30.800 We see that often one of the biggest sources of persecution is other 58:30.800 --> 58:38.200 Christians and other religious leaders. Turn with me if you would to go to 58:38.200 --> 58:41.500 Matthew chapter 10 again. Matthew chapter 10. 58:44.400 --> 58:48.880 I'm gonna skip some things here. Of course we know that persecution can come from civil authorities. 58:50.320 --> 58:56.800 We see this in Acts chapter 12 where Herod kills James and imprisons Peter and obviously there's 58:56.800 --> 59:02.000 going to come a time when the Antichrist makes war with the saints to overcome them and he's 59:02.000 --> 59:07.760 obviously using civil authorities to carry that out. I can't say that we've experienced that 59:07.760 --> 59:12.000 per se because even during COVID the authorities were on our side believe it or not. 59:12.300 --> 59:18.540 They were kind of defending us, but I'm sure it's going to come about one day. 59:18.540 --> 59:23.460 But here's also one of the biggest sources of persecution, and I mentioned this already, 59:23.460 --> 59:25.780 from family. 59:25.780 --> 59:29.980 So you may not get it from other Christians, you may not get it from leaders, but let me 59:29.980 --> 59:34.540 tell you something, you will get it from family members. 59:34.540 --> 59:37.340 You're gonna get it from your husband? 59:37.600 --> 59:45.600 You'll get it from your wife, you'll get it from your adult kids, you'll get it from your cousins, your brothers, your sisters, your immediate family. 59:45.600 --> 59:49.600 You will get some form of persecution for being a Christian. 59:49.600 --> 59:52.600 That is 100% fact. 59:52.600 --> 59:55.600 It's going to happen and you need to be prepared for that. 59:55.600 --> 59:57.600 Because that's really where it hurts. 59:57.600 --> 01:00:03.500 When I get persecuted by these lame Christians, in the comments section, it just fuels me. 01:00:04.400 --> 01:00:07.680 It's just like, yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:00:07.680 --> 01:00:10.180 That's why I suck that you can't do anything about it either. 01:00:13.480 --> 01:00:15.040 That really doesn't bother me. 01:00:15.040 --> 01:00:16.320 I don't lose sleep over it. 01:00:16.320 --> 01:00:18.340 It confirms what I'm doing is right. 01:00:18.340 --> 01:00:21.160 And I'm happy about that. 01:00:21.160 --> 01:00:23.560 But it does hit different, though, 01:00:23.560 --> 01:00:24.500 when it's your own family. 01:00:25.200 --> 01:00:28.600 It's different when it's your closest friend or whatever. 01:00:28.600 --> 01:00:32.600 It's your sister, your brother, it's your relatives. 01:00:32.600 --> 01:00:34.800 That does hurt a little bit. 01:00:34.800 --> 01:00:37.400 And I think that more than anything, 01:00:37.400 --> 01:00:42.000 can slow down Christians to a certain degree. 01:00:42.000 --> 01:00:44.600 And of course, the closer they are to you, 01:00:44.600 --> 01:00:48.000 the more likely it is for them to kind of hinder you and slow you down. 01:00:48.400 --> 01:00:51.700 If it's your spouse, for sure, that can slow you down. 01:00:51.700 --> 01:00:54.280 If you get persecution from your spouse, that's hard. 01:00:54.280 --> 01:00:58.200 It's hard to serve God and to live a godly life 01:00:58.200 --> 01:01:01.280 and to want to give God your all, all the while 01:01:01.280 --> 01:01:03.920 your spouse is just holding you back from doing so. 01:01:03.920 --> 01:01:04.940 So let me just say this. 01:01:04.940 --> 01:01:07.000 If your spouse is with you in church today 01:01:07.000 --> 01:01:08.560 and you guys are on the same page, 01:01:08.560 --> 01:01:12.120 do a backflip after church. 01:01:12.120 --> 01:01:13.400 You should do a backflip. 01:01:14.000 --> 01:01:17.800 You should rejoice and be exceeding glad. 01:01:17.800 --> 01:01:22.200 You should celebrate because of the fact that that is an awesome thing. 01:01:22.200 --> 01:01:23.880 Not many people can say that. 01:01:23.880 --> 01:01:27.160 Like, well, my spouse is in church, but we struggle sometimes. 01:01:27.160 --> 01:01:30.000 Well, you know what? There's people who don't have their spouses in church, 01:01:30.000 --> 01:01:31.520 and that's worse. 01:01:31.520 --> 01:01:33.600 That's a lot worse. 01:01:33.800 --> 01:01:35.080 And you know what? 01:01:35.080 --> 01:01:37.080 You may have some problems in your marriage 01:01:37.080 --> 01:01:38.440 every once in a while. 01:01:38.440 --> 01:01:39.300 But you know what? 01:01:39.300 --> 01:01:39.840 You're in church. 01:01:39.840 --> 01:01:42.560 Whereas there's some people in our church that, you know, 01:01:42.560 --> 01:01:45.400 this is, in their minds, this is as good as this is going to get. 01:01:45.400 --> 01:01:49.040 And then they've got to go back home and deal with persecution. 01:01:49.040 --> 01:01:53.040 So you know, it's all about perspective, is it not? 01:01:53.040 --> 01:01:54.560 You're like, oh man, it's just so hard. 01:01:54.560 --> 01:01:56.200 No. 01:01:56.200 --> 01:01:58.040 People have it a lot worse, man. 01:01:58.040 --> 01:01:59.360 People have it a lot worse. 01:01:59.700 --> 01:02:04.900 Because let me tell you something, one of the worst types of persecution is when we get it from our own family members. 01:02:04.900 --> 01:02:07.700 Look at Matthew chapter 10 and verse 19. 01:02:07.700 --> 01:02:16.200 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 01:02:16.200 --> 01:02:19.800 For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you. 01:02:19.800 --> 01:02:23.300 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death. 01:02:23.300 --> 01:02:25.700 Well, that escalated quickly. 01:02:27.700 --> 01:02:30.100 It's just like the spirit of God is going to speak through you. 01:02:30.100 --> 01:02:32.260 Your brother's going to kill you. 01:02:32.260 --> 01:02:33.860 It's like, what? 01:02:33.860 --> 01:02:37.860 This is how the persecution works, though. 01:02:37.860 --> 01:02:41.020 He says, and the father of the child, 01:02:41.020 --> 01:02:43.740 and the children shall rise up against their parents 01:02:43.740 --> 01:02:46.300 and cause them to be put to death. 01:02:46.300 --> 01:02:48.500 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 01:02:48.500 --> 01:02:50.820 But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. 01:02:50.820 --> 01:02:52.620 Now, this is in its context. 01:02:52.620 --> 01:02:54.300 It's referring to the tribulation. 01:02:54.500 --> 01:02:55.580 But you know what? 01:02:55.580 --> 01:02:58.460 It can be applied to today as well. 01:02:58.460 --> 01:03:01.380 Because at the end of the day, you have experienced this. 01:03:01.380 --> 01:03:02.660 I've experienced this. 01:03:02.660 --> 01:03:06.740 Where our own family members criticize us, they reproach 01:03:06.740 --> 01:03:09.660 us, they fight with us, they try to hinder us. 01:03:09.660 --> 01:03:13.540 And it's just like, man, this is hard. 01:03:13.540 --> 01:03:16.540 Go to verse 34. 01:03:16.540 --> 01:03:18.980 You're like, man, why can't they just get saved? 01:03:19.900 --> 01:03:23.020 Just get into church and we can be like a happy family 01:03:23.020 --> 01:03:27.540 Yeah, obviously that's ideal and maybe some of you in here don't know what I'm talking about because you've never 01:03:27.780 --> 01:03:30.520 Experienced that because maybe your whole family's in church. Praise God 01:03:31.300 --> 01:03:33.040 That's an awesome thing 01:03:33.040 --> 01:03:38.080 You know, I personally don't know what that's like with my wife my children because they're in church 01:03:38.460 --> 01:03:44.180 We're all on the same page. Even my parents now are in church. You know, I mean, I don't really know what that's like 01:03:44.180 --> 01:03:46.580 But you know what when I first got saved, I definitely knew what it was like 01:03:47.500 --> 01:03:53.260 Okay? And I remember when I first got saved, none of my family members agreed with me. 01:03:53.260 --> 01:03:57.500 They did separate me from their company. My friends separated me from their company. 01:03:57.500 --> 01:04:03.260 You know, it was a little hurtful. It hurt my feelings a little bit. It was hard. And you know 01:04:03.260 --> 01:04:07.420 what? I commend people who come to our church when they have no family members to go with them. 01:04:08.620 --> 01:04:09.740 Because that could be hard. 01:04:09.900 --> 01:04:12.900 I remember going to church as a 21 year old. 01:04:12.900 --> 01:04:15.700 I got saved and I had no one there in church. 01:04:15.700 --> 01:04:17.500 I didn't have any family members. 01:04:17.500 --> 01:04:20.700 I was there under my own volition just seeking out the Lord 01:04:20.700 --> 01:04:23.100 and trying to do that which is right. 01:04:23.100 --> 01:04:23.900 And you know what? 01:04:23.900 --> 01:04:25.300 I didn't go home. 01:04:25.300 --> 01:04:28.900 I was envious of people who went home with a family. 01:04:29.500 --> 01:04:32.700 I was envious of people who had their brothers with them, 01:04:32.700 --> 01:04:36.700 who had their siblings, they had sisters and family members, 01:04:36.700 --> 01:04:40.060 they're on the same page. You know, I envied that a little bit because it's 01:04:40.060 --> 01:04:41.580 just like I wonder what that's like. 01:04:42.000 --> 01:04:45.600 It was hard, you know, going from a Christian environment, 01:04:45.600 --> 01:04:48.400 a Christian atmosphere, and then just going 01:04:48.400 --> 01:04:50.400 to an unsaved home where everyone was against you 01:04:50.400 --> 01:04:51.880 and they mocked the things of God. 01:04:51.880 --> 01:04:53.840 That's a little hard, OK? 01:04:53.840 --> 01:04:55.440 And it could be hard for you too. 01:04:55.440 --> 01:04:58.720 But here's the thing is that reading Matthew, 01:04:58.720 --> 01:05:00.600 seeing these things, I'm like, OK, I 01:05:00.600 --> 01:05:02.520 guess I should just expect this. 01:05:02.520 --> 01:05:04.000 This is how it is sometimes. 01:05:04.000 --> 01:05:04.720 Look at verse 34. 01:05:04.720 --> 01:05:07.260 Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth. 01:05:07.260 --> 01:05:09.480 I came not to send peace, but a sword. 01:05:10.200 --> 01:05:12.800 If you're a good Christian, everything's going to go well with you at home. 01:05:12.800 --> 01:05:14.500 Not necessarily. 01:05:14.500 --> 01:05:16.700 Sometimes, you know, Jesus divides. 01:05:18.660 --> 01:05:22.500 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father 01:05:22.740 --> 01:05:26.760 and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 01:05:26.760 --> 01:05:28.260 You don't need Jesus for that. 01:05:28.260 --> 01:05:29.440 Verse thirty six. 01:05:29.440 --> 01:05:32.140 Sometimes that just happens naturally. Amen. 01:05:32.140 --> 01:05:35.260 Verse thirty six. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 01:05:36.600 --> 01:05:38.840 Sounds like a sounds like God wants us to realize 01:05:39.760 --> 01:05:40.840 persecution 01:05:40.840 --> 01:05:46.200 Comes from family members and our enemies can be that of our own household. Okay 01:05:47.160 --> 01:05:49.840 And look folks you need to make peace with this 01:05:51.560 --> 01:05:56.160 You need to make peace with the potential of having your family members hate you and 01:05:56.480 --> 01:06:02.240 Persecute you for your beliefs because at the end of the day Jesus Christ requires a hundred percent loyalty 01:06:03.080 --> 01:06:04.000 Okay 01:06:04.200 --> 01:06:10.200 And I remember, you know, I remember my brother telling me, you know, because he was just not happy about me being a Christian. 01:06:10.200 --> 01:06:16.200 Me and my brother were extremely close, you know. He basically, he practically raised me. 01:06:16.200 --> 01:06:24.200 And we were extremely close and, you know, experienced hardships together, went through a lot together, 01:06:24.200 --> 01:06:27.800 have a lot of memories together. But when I got saved, a lot of stuff changed. 01:06:28.300 --> 01:06:33.220 We weren't necessarily as close anymore and he was extremely bitter at Christianity for that 01:06:33.220 --> 01:06:38.140 And I remember him telling me like you know why I hate Christianity. This is what he said 01:06:38.140 --> 01:06:41.760 I hate Christianity because it took my brother from me. That's what he said 01:06:42.200 --> 01:06:46.200 And you know that hurts because I love my brother, you know, and he didn't want to get saved. 01:06:46.200 --> 01:06:52.000 He rejected the gospel, but he held this resentment towards Christianity and church. 01:06:52.000 --> 01:06:56.600 And he's just like, it's because of this church, because of Christianity that I don't have my brother anymore. 01:06:56.600 --> 01:06:58.600 That's what he said. And you know what? 01:06:58.600 --> 01:07:03.400 It hurt inside because I actually I love my brother, you know, and I looked up to him. 01:07:03.400 --> 01:07:05.600 He was a major influence in my life. 01:07:06.000 --> 01:07:10.600 You know, like we shared some of the most traumatic experiences together. 01:07:10.600 --> 01:07:13.900 But, you know, Jesus just got in the way, you know. 01:07:13.900 --> 01:07:18.200 He got in the way. He got in the way. He was just like, I gotta choose the Lord. 01:07:18.200 --> 01:07:23.500 And so, you know, he became somewhat blasphemous towards the things of God, 01:07:23.500 --> 01:07:27.500 you know, to try to make me mad because he just didn't like what Christianity did. 01:07:27.500 --> 01:07:31.700 And so, you know, you may have experienced something like that, maybe to a degree. 01:07:32.800 --> 01:07:38.400 And you know, I remember when that happened, thinking to myself like, man, I lost my brother. 01:07:38.400 --> 01:07:41.840 I don't have that relationship with my brother anymore. 01:07:41.840 --> 01:07:44.040 You know, I don't have that relationship with my sister anymore. 01:07:44.040 --> 01:07:46.080 I don't have that relationship with my family. 01:07:46.080 --> 01:07:49.660 And you know, for sure I lost all my friends, okay? 01:07:49.660 --> 01:07:53.360 And there's some friends that came to church with me and some of them got saved, but in 01:07:53.360 --> 01:07:56.920 general, you know, I pretty much lost them all. 01:07:57.700 --> 01:08:02.180 Because my thing was if you're gonna be my friend if we're gonna be like 01:08:02.980 --> 01:08:04.600 homies still 01:08:04.600 --> 01:08:08.120 You have to come to church with me because this is what I do now 01:08:08.860 --> 01:08:11.140 You know what I mean? Like church is my life now 01:08:11.140 --> 01:08:16.820 And so if you love me you're gonna have to come to church with me and that didn't last very long 01:08:17.060 --> 01:08:20.660 You know and after a couple of months they just all faded out 01:08:21.200 --> 01:08:25.440 And it was like a new life. It was just like a new set of people, new characters, right? 01:08:26.240 --> 01:08:31.680 New people, new chapter, like it was just went from like a group of people that I loved, 01:08:31.680 --> 01:08:34.240 cared for, and knew and it's just like completely different now. 01:08:34.240 --> 01:08:36.640 And I had to make new friends because I didn't have anybody else. 01:08:37.520 --> 01:08:40.800 I didn't have those, you know, that those types of relationships anymore. 01:08:40.800 --> 01:08:47.040 And it really showed me the amount of division that Christ can cause in a person's life. 01:08:47.700 --> 01:08:50.740 And I'm not blaming Christ. I'm not like, look what you did to me. 01:08:51.500 --> 01:08:53.540 You know, I'm just thinking to myself like, wow, you know, 01:08:53.980 --> 01:08:58.540 the Lord can cause me can cause others to separate from me for sure. 01:08:59.220 --> 01:09:03.300 Now, thankfully, you know, like my mom got saved, you know, and, and, you know, 01:09:03.300 --> 01:09:07.260 she got into church and now she's all about being in church and being with us. 01:09:07.260 --> 01:09:10.100 And now we get along great, but it wasn't like that in the beginning though. 01:09:10.660 --> 01:09:12.500 It definitely was not like that. 01:09:12.900 --> 01:09:20.420 Okay, and you know it took years, years for her to come around and actually like buy into 01:09:20.420 --> 01:09:24.900 everything and then she ended up getting saved and so forth. The point that I'm making here 01:09:24.900 --> 01:09:31.540 is that my family were my foes and so don't be surprised if that happens to you okay because 01:09:31.540 --> 01:09:36.260 it could and if it does you know you need to make sure you still stick it out and you need to make 01:09:36.260 --> 01:09:39.460 make sure you redirect your loyalty and say, Lord, like, this hurts me a lot. 01:09:39.800 --> 01:09:43.080 Like I'm hurt by this, like it just like it breaks my heart. 01:09:43.080 --> 01:09:46.760 Like you know, it just, it's kind of devastating to me. 01:09:46.760 --> 01:09:51.160 But I'm gonna keep serving you, I'm gonna keep, you know, winning souls and putting 01:09:51.160 --> 01:09:52.480 you first and seeking 01:09:52.480 --> 01:09:55.920 the kingdom of God and your righteousness because you deserve it. I'm just kinda letting 01:09:55.920 --> 01:09:57.320 you know that this hurts me a lot. 01:09:57.320 --> 01:10:00.600 Hurts my feelings a lot. You know, it's completely normal to feel that way. 01:10:00.600 --> 01:10:01.600 Okay? 01:10:02.100 --> 01:10:04.060 It's completely normal to feel that way about your parents. 01:10:04.060 --> 01:10:06.820 If your parents kind of disregard you, 01:10:06.820 --> 01:10:08.420 and they're mad at you for being a Christian, 01:10:08.420 --> 01:10:10.620 for your beliefs, you need to make sure 01:10:10.620 --> 01:10:13.060 you remain loyal to the things of God, 01:10:13.060 --> 01:10:15.660 because this is part of the package. 01:10:15.660 --> 01:10:17.380 It's part of the package. 01:10:17.380 --> 01:10:21.100 Being a Christian and serving God comes with this stuff. 01:10:21.100 --> 01:10:23.060 And you have to expect it. 01:10:23.060 --> 01:10:24.700 And you can't, you don't have to. 01:10:24.700 --> 01:10:26.500 You can be a compromiser if you want. 01:10:27.860 --> 01:10:29.300 You can be a little compromiser. 01:10:30.000 --> 01:10:33.160 Just be like well, you know I just won't go to church some days 01:10:33.160 --> 01:10:38.640 And I'll just be with you and you know and we'll do worldly things just to kind of appease the relationships 01:10:38.640 --> 01:10:40.640 Yeah, go ahead and be a bad testimony for sure 01:10:41.840 --> 01:10:47.260 But you know what you're gonna do you're gonna cause your family your friends or whoever to become 01:10:47.720 --> 01:10:49.720 desensitized to your form of Christianity 01:10:50.640 --> 01:10:52.880 What they actually need is for you to just be all in 01:10:53.640 --> 01:10:56.580 That's what they need they need you to be all in for like years, too 01:10:57.400 --> 01:11:00.480 And I know some of you are a burden for your family. 01:11:00.480 --> 01:11:01.480 I get it. 01:11:01.480 --> 01:11:02.480 I know what that's like. 01:11:02.480 --> 01:11:03.480 You're a burden. 01:11:03.480 --> 01:11:06.240 You're like, man, I just, I wonder if my dad's ever going to come to Christ. 01:11:06.240 --> 01:11:07.880 I wonder if my mom's ever going to get saved. 01:11:07.880 --> 01:11:11.160 I wonder if my brother or my sister is ever going to be like all in. 01:11:11.160 --> 01:11:12.160 Well you know what? 01:11:12.160 --> 01:11:15.720 You'll never know, but you'll definitely for sure never know if you decide to quit on this 01:11:16.900 --> 01:11:22.820 So you might as well just stick it out, serve the Lord, have faith in God, be a good testimony, 01:11:22.820 --> 01:11:26.180 be all in. And you know what? It may take a couple decades, yeah. 01:11:27.300 --> 01:11:30.420 But just know that persecution does come from your own family sometimes. 01:11:31.060 --> 01:11:34.820 Look at verse 37, he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. 01:11:37.900 --> 01:11:40.860 He that loveth his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 01:11:43.100 --> 01:11:47.500 He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of... 01:11:47.500 --> 01:11:53.420 Sounds like the Lord wants just loyalty. Just undying 100% loyalty. 01:11:53.420 --> 01:11:57.900 And look folks, once you cross that line, you just realize like all for Christ. 01:11:59.900 --> 01:12:02.300 I'm just going to do this no matter what happens. 01:12:02.300 --> 01:12:09.900 I'm loyal to the Lord Jesus Christ above my mom, my dad, my parents, my siblings, my kids. 01:12:09.900 --> 01:12:13.500 You know, that's where you want to be. 01:12:13.500 --> 01:12:16.460 And just kind of believe it in God's hands. 01:12:16.460 --> 01:12:18.580 Whatever happens, happens. 01:12:18.580 --> 01:12:22.500 You know, you end up finding out that in the years to come, things do kind of work out. 01:12:22.500 --> 01:12:23.500 Okay. 01:12:23.500 --> 01:12:24.700 And I can't promise you that. 01:12:25.100 --> 01:12:29.180 I just know that the Bible does say all things work together for good to them to love God 01:12:29.180 --> 01:12:32.160 and God does have your best interest in mind. 01:12:32.160 --> 01:12:38.220 But let me give you this caveat, if it doesn't, if your family never comes around, okay, if 01:12:38.220 --> 01:12:42.960 your wife never comes around, if your husband never comes around, your kids, and it just 01:12:42.960 --> 01:12:45.940 never works out, you should still do it because it's right to do. 01:12:45.940 --> 01:12:48.400 It's still right to do. 01:12:48.400 --> 01:12:50.620 If you die in that state, it's still right to do. 01:12:51.800 --> 01:12:57.880 If you go home to be with the Lord and your family never came around, it's still right to do. 01:13:00.200 --> 01:13:02.960 I know that sounds cold, but it's the truth, my friends. 01:13:02.960 --> 01:13:04.160 It's the right thing to do. 01:13:04.160 --> 01:13:05.280 Remember what I said this morning? 01:13:05.280 --> 01:13:07.760 You shouldn't just do things because of the results 01:13:07.760 --> 01:13:08.720 that it yields. 01:13:08.720 --> 01:13:11.000 You should do it because it's the right thing to do. 01:13:14.300 --> 01:13:18.300 Alright, let me just finish up here. The last point is the purpose of persecution. 01:13:18.300 --> 01:13:21.300 What is the purpose? Well, to test our faith, right? 01:13:21.300 --> 01:13:23.300 God wants to test us. 01:13:23.300 --> 01:13:26.300 But also to increase our spiritual stamina. 01:13:26.300 --> 01:13:32.300 We go through persecution so we can withstand in the evil day having done all to stand. 01:13:32.300 --> 01:13:35.300 When you go through tribulation, you need to just stick it out. 01:13:35.300 --> 01:13:38.100 And look, if you're going through a hard time... 01:13:39.600 --> 01:13:43.600 You need to make sure you stick it out, kicking and screaming if you have to. 01:13:43.600 --> 01:13:44.600 Okay? 01:13:44.600 --> 01:13:46.600 Be emotional if you have to. 01:13:46.600 --> 01:13:48.600 Cry. 01:13:48.600 --> 01:13:50.600 Wine about it a little bit. 01:13:50.600 --> 01:13:52.600 Have someone you can confide in. 01:13:52.600 --> 01:13:53.600 But you know what? 01:13:53.600 --> 01:13:54.600 Don't quit! 01:13:54.600 --> 01:13:55.600 Stick it out. 01:13:55.600 --> 01:13:57.600 Increase your stamina. 01:13:57.600 --> 01:13:59.600 Grind that PR out. 01:13:59.600 --> 01:14:03.600 You know, if that squat is a little too heavy for you, just grind, just slip a disc. 01:14:03.600 --> 01:14:05.600 Slip a disc. 01:14:06.600 --> 01:14:08.600 But just get that thing up! 01:14:08.600 --> 01:14:09.600 Grind it out! 01:14:09.600 --> 01:14:11.600 Some of you are like, I don't know what you're talking about. 01:14:11.600 --> 01:14:13.600 I know you don't know what I'm talking about. 01:14:13.600 --> 01:14:16.600 You're not really familiar with that illustration now, huh? 01:14:16.600 --> 01:14:20.600 Increase your spiritual stamina by pushing through it. 01:14:20.600 --> 01:14:23.600 And look, it's at least, if you're going through a trial, 01:14:23.600 --> 01:14:25.600 at least you're here though. 01:14:25.600 --> 01:14:28.600 Like you have other people that can kind of like walk you through it. 01:14:29.000 --> 01:14:32.080 You have people that you can call, people that you can text, 01:14:32.080 --> 01:14:35.160 there's people that you can fellowship with and take your mind off of things. 01:14:35.160 --> 01:14:38.880 It's hard if you're just all by yourself. That's rough right there. 01:14:38.880 --> 01:14:42.720 But because you're in church with others who are stronger than you spiritually, 01:14:42.720 --> 01:14:45.880 they're stronger than you emotionally and mentally, 01:14:45.880 --> 01:14:50.240 they can kind of carry you a little bit and help you through this process 01:14:50.240 --> 01:14:51.240 until it's over. 01:14:52.600 --> 01:14:56.920 But persecution, tribulation is there to increase our stamina. 01:14:57.440 --> 01:14:59.480 It's there to streamline the gospel as well. 01:14:59.480 --> 01:15:01.200 I'm not going to get into the verses because I'm out of time. 01:15:01.200 --> 01:15:04.240 Philippians chapter one, you could reference that one twenty one. 01:15:04.700 --> 01:15:08.700 And then ultimately persecution comes in order to produce eternal rewards. 01:15:08.700 --> 01:15:13.500 Okay, here's the last passage. Matthew chapter five verse ten says, blessed are they 01:15:13.500 --> 01:15:18.700 which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you 01:15:18.700 --> 01:15:24.860 when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely 01:15:24.860 --> 01:15:31.580 for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven. 01:15:32.300 --> 01:15:34.500 For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 01:15:34.500 --> 01:15:35.500 What is God saying? 01:15:35.500 --> 01:15:38.100 Don't faint. 01:15:38.100 --> 01:15:41.740 Make sure that you don't faint, because in due season 01:15:41.740 --> 01:15:44.980 we shall reap if we faint not. 01:15:44.980 --> 01:15:46.300 And so stick it out. 01:15:46.300 --> 01:15:48.420 If you're experiencing some form of persecution 01:15:48.420 --> 01:15:51.860 from your family, from other sources, 01:15:51.860 --> 01:15:55.140 just stand firm in the faith. 01:15:55.140 --> 01:15:57.420 Stand fast in the faith. 01:15:57.420 --> 01:15:58.500 Pray through it. 01:15:58.500 --> 01:15:58.700 Thanks for watching! 01:15:58.900 --> 01:16:03.200 Get some help from your brothers and sisters in Christ to say you know what I'm going through a hard time 01:16:03.200 --> 01:16:08.040 I just need you to encourage me follow up with me if you can you know this is what I'm going through 01:16:08.300 --> 01:16:10.300 Do everything but quit 01:16:10.880 --> 01:16:14.200 Go eat a quarter panel with cheese if you have to but don't quit 01:16:14.360 --> 01:16:19.980 Get that dopamine spike with your brother and sister in Christ go get some fries go get in and out go get a meal 01:16:19.980 --> 01:16:25.360 And but don't quit go run a lap, but don't quit go lift, but don't quit 01:16:27.000 --> 01:16:29.160 Go cry about it, but don't quit. 01:16:29.160 --> 01:16:32.840 Why? Because it's necessary for you to go through this. 01:16:32.840 --> 01:16:38.600 To make you a stronger Christian and to earn that reward when it comes. 01:16:38.600 --> 01:16:40.280 Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for your word. 01:16:40.280 --> 01:16:43.960 And Lord, thank you for the admonitions and the instructions in the Bible 01:16:43.960 --> 01:16:47.640 that talk about persecution, Lord. And we know that it's going to come upon us. 01:16:47.640 --> 01:16:51.880 I just think about myself, Lord. Sometimes I feel like I'm not ready for persecution. 01:16:52.400 --> 01:16:57.720 And all I can do is just prepare as much as I can on my end for when it comes. 01:16:57.720 --> 01:17:03.960 I pray that when it does come that it would not blindside me or others, that we would 01:17:03.960 --> 01:17:06.840 not marvel when it comes upon us. 01:17:06.840 --> 01:17:11.120 Help us Lord to withstand in the evil day having done all to stand. 01:17:11.120 --> 01:17:16.820 And I do pray Lord that when persecution comes upon us, may you reaffirm in our hearts that 01:17:16.820 --> 01:17:18.040 what we're doing is right. 01:17:18.400 --> 01:17:24.600 Help us not to question it, help us not to doubt, and help us to be strong in the Lord and the power of his might when it does. 01:17:24.600 --> 01:17:27.000 We love you, we thank you, pray these things in Jesus' name, amen. 01:17:33.100 --> 01:17:36.300 Amen. Song number 216 in your hymnals. 01:17:36.300 --> 01:17:39.800 Surely Goodness and Mercy, song number 216. 01:17:42.900 --> 01:17:44.400 Song number 200.