I
have heard it said that we live in a 9-11 world.
Since 9-11-01 we have entered into a new world.
The world of the terrorism has altered the cozy place we lived. We now live in a place where persecution has become worldwide
and the enemies of the one true living God believe they are doing God a favor
by killing as many Americans as possible.
It doesn’t matter if they kill men, women, boys, and girls.
They just want to kill us all. It
is their duty and privilege to enter into their heaven and enjoy many benefits
because of these murders. The
Lord in John 16 foretold this.
Not only have received persecution from terrorist but many times we
have persecution from within. Those
who don’t believe are blinded to the reality of the one true living God
serve their own selfish interests. We
have and will receive persecution from all sides when we choose to serve God.
The persecution was real in the life of the first disciples and it is
real to all those who now choose to claim the name of Christ.
Do you remember when the Lord told us that we would be persecuted?
We have received the means to shine the light.
Will we shine it even when we now that we will be persecuted?
Yes, but how?
Scripture
Text: John 16:1
"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They
will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who
kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such
things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this,
so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not
tell you this at first because I was with you. 5 "Now I am going to him
who sent me, yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' 6 Because I have
said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It
is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will
not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will
convict the world of guilt {[8] Or will expose the guilt of the world}in
regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men
do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the
Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because
the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He
will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell
you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is
mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine.
That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to
you.
What did He do?
He told us of the coming persecution.
It is here. Why?
Jesus said they didn’t know the Father and they didn’t know Him.
Therefore they would persecute Christians.
Persecution will come from outside and inside.
Since we live in free democratic country, much of the persecution we
face today comes from within our own churches.
People will think they are doing God a favor by persecuting the
believers. Why?
They don’t know the Father.
What will we do?
Heed the warning and prepare for the inevitable.
Are you willing to go the distance?
It won’t be easy. Pick up your cross and follow Him. It is a cross. Don’t
let grief overcome you. We must
stay the course the Lord has planned for us.
Jesus is going so that the
Counselor may come. The Paraclete
or the one who goes along side us will be there for us all.
Who is the counselor? He is our help, strength, companion, knowledge, courage, and
guide. He is the Holy Spirit.
He is our present help in the time of need.
He is our power. He is our
strength. He is God with us now.
What will he do?
He will bring glory through
Jesus. He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and
judgment.
Sin -
They do not believe in God.
Righteousness – What is the
right way to live?
Judgment – Condemnation
awaits the devil and all those who follow him.
How will he do this?
He will bring glory to Jesus
through we who believe.
What will we do?
Will we allow the Spirit to
lead us to glorify Christ? Will
we give ourselves to Christ knowing that we will be persecuted?
Will we still follow Him and pick up our cross?
Do you remember when the Lord told us the persecution would come?
Do you still want to be a Christian?
This is our opportunity to make a difference by glorifying the Lord in
our lives. This is our privilege
to show the world the righteousness of God.
This is our window of opportunity.
Will we step through it? Open
the door and go on with the Lord. Now
and in the future into His heaven.