Unmet expectation breeds conflict.
This is one of the things I always talk to.
I talk to couples that are about to get married.
I always try to get them to talk about many things.
You know, have you spoken about how many kids that you want to have?
Whether you're going to have kids at all?
Because if you both have expectations and they're not met, it will breed conflict.
John Piper, in his book, The Roots of Endurance, says that here in the Western civilization,
there is a mindset that we deserve trouble-free, pain-free existence.
So we expect to be able to go to the school that we want to.
We expect to have all the creature comforts of life.
We expect that life will be comfortable.
Maybe if you've moved to Australia, you came here for those reasons.
A better life, a better job, a place to raise your kids, to avoid pain and conflict.
What is the expectation of our lives?
Is it the avoidance of pain and suffering and the pursuit of comfort and pleasures?
Is it possible that we bring in this Western mindset of having a safe, risk-averse, pain-free life into the life of Christianity?
What are the expectations of the Christian life?
If you're a Christian, what are the expectations that you have of Christianity?
Is it a settled, comfortable life?
What does it cost to be a Christian?
How much does being a Christian impact your job, where you live, the people that you welcome into your own home?
Does being a committed Christian just look like coming to church on a Sunday?
What is the expectation of how much our entire life will be shaped and impacted by Jesus?
Is Christianity just like supporting a sporting team, where we just have our life and the sporting team sits on top,
and sometimes we're really serious about the sport, and sometimes it's the off-season, and we don't even think about it at all?
Jesus is going to set some clear expectations about what the Christian life looks like.
We're in John chapter 15, and Jesus is just about to die, and to be raised to the throne above all thrones.
Raised in glory, as we see God's kingdom breaking in.
Dead people are raised to life.
The Holy Spirit starts dwelling within people.
It's a new world.
But what is it going to look like for the Christians in this stage between Jesus' death and resurrection, and Jesus' return?
Where Jesus is the King of the cosmos, but the whole world isn't yet following Him.
What's going to happen when there's conflict on the earth between those who follow Jesus and those who don't?
What can we expect this life to look like while we wait?
Let me pray as we jump into chapter 15 and 16.
Heavenly Father, be with us tonight.
Help us to hear what you have to say to us individually,
so that we would depend upon you and to be shaped to be more like your Son.
Amen.
And so Jesus has spent time over the last couple of chapters, the last couple of weeks that we've been looking at this book,
explaining the positives of what it means to be a Christian.
Those who follow Jesus have life.
Jesus is going to prepare a house.
Christians will have the Holy Spirit.
Christians are invited into the awesome love of the Trinity.
He calls on us to abide in His love, shaped by the Father, and to love other people.
And now He has some very sobering words.
Chapter 15, verse 18.
What...
Have a look with me.
Chapter 15, verse 18.
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
If you belong to the world, it would love you as its own.
As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
That is why the world hates you.
Hatred.
It's a pretty sharp turn for Jesus.
If the disciples were hoping that everything was going to be smooth sailing, following Jesus,
Jesus makes their expectations really clear.
Christians have been taken out of the world.
We are owned by Jesus.
And so if Jesus was hated by the world, well, so will those who are owned by Him.
Jesus is saying, don't be surprised if the world's hatred goes from being on me to now being on you.
Jesus had been the focus of the hate.
And now it's going to turn to His followers.
There's going to be conflict between Christians and the world,
because Christians don't belong to the world anymore.
We are taken as His.
We are owned by Him.
And Jesus' followers slowly start to look like Jesus,
in their love and obedience and fruitfulness being connected to the vine.
Jesus stood out.
And people didn't like that.
And Jesus' followers are going to stand out as well.
Increasingly so, in our culture,
those who joyfully follow Jesus and obey Him,
just don't make sense to the rest of the world.
People love to rebel, particularly against God.
And so when Christians joyfully obey God,
at the least people are surprised,
and at the worst, people hate.
I remember many, many years ago,
people saying to me,
what do you mean you've chosen not to have sex before marriage?
How can you be happy in that situation?
You're limiting your rights.
How are you going to know that she's the right person to marry?
It's like when someone changes a team that they support.
Can somebody offer me a team sport?
Curling?
I don't know.
Something far more mainstream than that.
AFL.
Thank you, Liv.
And give me an AFL team, Liv.
GWS.
Yes.
The greater Western Sydney Giants.
When GWS started, I was living in Parramatta,
so I have an affinity for GWS.
Their arch rival is, of course, the Swans.
That's right.
Now imagine that, you know, every weekend,
there's Liv and Darcy.
They're out there supporting GWS,
loving it, having a great time.
But then, for some reason,
Darcy changed teams.
He's gone to the Swans.
Can you imagine their relationship?
All of a sudden,
we used to go to this game together,
and now you're on the other side.
You're not only going for another team,
you're going for our arch rival.
You're going for our nemesis.
How are you going to go for them?
Christians are people who have been literally plucked
from being on the wrong team
against God,
and now we are placed on God's team.
Jesus has come as the captain of the new team
and plucked us out.
And so Christians are going to be treated
the same way that Jesus was treated.
I'm trying to click.
There we go.
Oh, too far.
There we go.
Go back one.
And so there's a positive and negative
to the way that Jesus was treated
and the way we're going to be treated too.
Have a look with me at verse 20.
Jesus said,
if they persecute me,
and some of them did persecute Jesus,
they will persecute you also.
Some of them certainly did get jealous
and angry and kill Jesus.
So expect the same thing.
But some people didn't.
Some people, like the disciples
and those people that he healed in particular,
some of them didn't persecute Jesus.
Some of them followed him.
And so Jesus was persecuted by some
and others followed.
And so for those who follow Jesus,
the same thing is going to happen.
Some will persecute
and some will not persecute and listen.
Jesus said,
if they obeyed my teaching,
they will obey yours also.
So how is Jesus treated?
Well, some of them obeyed Jesus' teaching,
like the disciples,
Mary, Martha, Lazarus,
again, those who were healed.
Some will obey Jesus,
but not all will listen.
People were divided around Jesus.
Much like the Pharisees,
they seemed to be like a whole group
who didn't like Jesus,
and yet even they are divided.
And you get someone like Nicodemus
who stands out from the crowd.
But Jesus is like a knife
that cuts through a crowd.
Some fall this way,
some fall that way.
People are divided around Jesus,
and it's going to be the same
with the disciples.
We're going to divide people.
So expect some people
to listen to you
when you talk about
what you were doing
on Sunday afternoon at church.
expect some people
to ridicule you
and persecute you
just for coming to church.
It leads to the question,
why all the hate?
Why are people so divided
around Jesus?
Why are people then
and even now
divided around Jesus' followers?
Verse 22,
If I had not come
and spoken to them,
they would not be guilty of sin.
But now,
they have no excuse
for their sin.
By coming,
Jesus has brought
before people's eyes
the most central
and controlling of sins.
The rejection
and rebellion of God.
Jesus has come,
God in the flesh,
and people refuse
to listen to God,
and it's damning.
The Pharisees
didn't like it
when they were told
that they were worshipping God
in the wrong way.
They were offering praise
and service
which was actually
just all about themselves.
And even now,
when we hold out
the good news
about Jesus
being the only way
to God,
it causes
a rejection
of not just us
but a rejection
of Jesus
and a hatred
towards those
who follow him.
Why all the hate?
Because just like Jesus,
Christians are called
to stand up
and reveal sin.
Our lives
will reveal sin
in other people's lives.
This paints
a dark
and difficult picture
of the future
for the disciples.
And anyone else,
including ourselves,
that follows Jesus,
what is the point
of Jesus
telling the disciples
all of this?
Have a look at
verse 1
of chapter 16
with me.
All this
I have told you
so you will
not fall away.
Jesus is telling
the disciples this
so that they have
clear expectations.
They know what to expect.
It's a big purpose
statement
for this segment.
Jesus has so much
concern
for this little flock.
He has so much
love for them.
He doesn't want
them to fall away.
He's already
lost Judas
who he sent
out
to go and
betray him.
He is preparing
them
so that they
won't fall away.
So they're not
surprised
and they won't
stumble.
The Greek word
for fall away
is
skandalizo.
It's one of my
favorite Greek words.
That's why I still
remember it.
And it's the word
that we get
scandalized from.
Jesus doesn't
want these disciples
to be scandalized
by falling away
and ruining
their lives.
And so Jesus
gets them ready
to know what
to expect
in a Christian
walk.
He doesn't want
to lose his
disciples
and so he's
preparing them.
And Jesus
in his final
moments
gives them
such an
awesome view
of God
he's making
sure that they
get to God
and don't
fall away
like Judas.
He's not
pretending that
everything's fine
don't worry
follow me
after I die
it's all
going to be
hunky-dory
you know
there's not
going to be
any problems
at all.
It's not that.
Far better
for Jesus
to prepare
his disciples.
I'm going
to go
and the same
way that they
treat me
they're going
to treat you.
Make sure
that they
didn't go
into Christianity
with rose
tinted glasses.
I remember
reading a book
a couple of
years ago
about how to
preach an
evangelistic sermon
how to preach
in a way
so that at
the end
you can call
people to
follow Jesus
you know
come down
the front
put your
hand up
whatever way
you like
doing
but the
author made
a note
that when
people do
come down
the front
let's say
I'll take
Lachlan as
an example
let's say
you know
Lachlan wanted
to commit
his life
to Jesus
the author
encouraged
people to
push
and say
you know
Lachlan
why do you
want to be
a Christian?
It's not
going to be
easy
are you sure
you want to
be a Christian?
and at
first I
thought this
was a little
crazy
it's a bit
counterintuitive
you know
if Lachlan
wants to be
a Christian
quick
sign on
the dotted
line
we'll get
the tank
in
we'll get
him dunked
we'll get
him baptized
we're not
going to tell
him about
persecution
we're not
going to warn
him that
it's going
to be hard
that there
will be
consequences
with family
and friends
just push
him over the
line
but if we
forget in
our zeal
and desire
a good
desire to
see people
follow Jesus
if we
forget that
Christianity
is not
easy
it's possible
to go into
Christianity
with unfair
expectations
that God
will do
everything I
want
a Christianity
where yes
Jesus died
for me
but a
Christianity
that says
Jesus I
want you
to do
what I
want
when I
want
you keep
providing
for me
and I'll
keep
following
you
and then
what happens
when life
is tough
when their
expectations
of
Christianity
are dashed
by persecution
or hate
because they're
trying hard
to obey
Jesus
will they
crumble
when the
first roadblock
hits
will they
crumble
when God
doesn't
actually
take the
roadblock
away
but it's
there so
that they're
encouraged
to trust
in God
more
Jesus
sets
clear
expectations
of what's
going to
happen
he is
real
with the
disciples
he doesn't
sugarcoat
it
he tells
them the
painful
truth
chapter 16
verse 2
then they
will put
you out
of the
synagogue
in fact
the time
is coming
when anyone
who kills
you will
think they
are offering
a service
to God
they will
do such
things
because they
have not
known the
father
or me
Jesus
is predicting
what is
going to
happen to
him
that he
would be
killed
and people
would think
that they
were doing
the right
thing
they were
serving
God
it reminds
us of
the apostle
Paul
who was
totally
convinced
he was
doing
the right
thing
persecuting
Christians
putting
Christians
to death
heading to
Damascus
to put
more
Christians
in jail
full of
misguided
zeal
until he
was confronted
by Jesus
himself
Jesus said
I have
told you
this
so that
when your
time comes
you will
remember
that I
warned you
about them
Jesus
is warning
them so it
drives people
back to him
in trust
and dependence
because even
though
Christianity
will not be
easy it will
not be a
comfortable
life
Jesus has
done enough
for us
to trust
and depend
upon him
Jesus
has told
us
what's
going
to
happen
to
Christians
in the
world
waiting
on his
return
and now
he tells
us about
what the
Holy Spirit
will be
doing
in the
world
he tells
us what
the Spirit
will be
doing
have a look
at verse
8
when he
comes
he will
prove the
world to
be in
the wrong
about sin
and righteousness
and judgment
the believers
might be left
in a world
of hate
directed to
them
causing them
to depend
upon Jesus
but the Spirit
is going to be
working in
that same
world
convicting
people about
sin
and righteousness
and judgment
verse 9
about sin
because people
do not
believe in
me
about
righteousness
because I'm
going to the
Father where
you can see
me no
longer
and judgment
because the
prince of
this world
now stands
condemned
just as
Jesus
caused a
division
between
people
the Holy
Spirit is
going to
come and
confront
people in
the same
way
it does
it in
our lives
in the
lives of
believers
causing us
to confront
our own
sin
and he'll
keep doing
it in
the world
the Spirit
convicts the
world of its
sin
because the
world hasn't
believed that
Jesus is
from God
it's convicted
in righteousness
because Jesus
is the only
one who is
right before
God
the only
one who
is good
and judgment
because the
devil has
been condemned
and this is a
promise about
God's
continued
graciousness
to us
Christians
are to
continue
Jesus's
ministry
and people
are going
to respond
and be
divided
some will
hate
and some
the Spirit
will work
in their
hearts to
follow the
Lord
making them
realize their
need for
Jesus and
to turn to
him
to be on
his team
and to stop
being on
the world's
team
the Holy
Spirit does
it out in
the world
and he does
it often
through the
witness of
his disciples
verse 26
and 27
of chapter
15
explain that
the Holy
Spirit will
testify to
the truth
and so
are Christians
who follow
the Lord
Christians aren't
just to hide
away and stay
safe and think
okay I'm now
following Jesus
and there's lots
of temptations
out there
so I'm going to
hide from them
I'm going to go
into this little
bubble
I'm only going to
hang out with
Christians
I'm going to
hide in my
little cave
and I'll
be safe
Christians
don't just
hide away
and stay
safe
try and have
a risk
averse life
to try and
protect themselves
part of the
Christian walk
in the world
is to testify
about Jesus
we can do this
in two ways
we can do it
passively
which is
just following
Jesus
and people
will see
him in our
lives
or we can
do it
actively
where we
verbally testify
and we go
on the front
foot
sharing Jesus
message and
mission
the testimony
of a life
the passive
way goes
something like
this
where I'm
just going
to work
really hard
through the
power of the
Holy Spirit
to follow
Jesus in my
life
I'm going
to be
praying
reading God's
word
shaped more
like him
and asking
the Holy
Spirit
to be
convicting
me about
my sin
and as
Steve was
talking about
last week
cutting
things out
of my
life
idols
out of
my
life
and a
consequence
of that
is people
notice
I know
of people
who've
said
this
Christian
they don't
swear
they don't
gamble
they don't
drink too
much
they are
generous
and loving
why are
they so
different
they're
joyful
and they
seem to
cope
when life
gets tough
how can
this be
we had
someone
contact the
church
just recently
and say
there's
these people
that I
work with
who are
Christians
and they're
different
and I
want to
know
what's
so unique
about them
I have
problems
I can't
cope
I want
what they
have
and so
confronting
sin
in the
world
with our
friends and
family
starts by
confronting it
in our
own
lives
seeing
God
cut us
draw
from the
vine
and
shapes
more
like
Jesus
but this
is not
where it
stops
we're also
called to
confront
sin
and unbelief
in the
world
now there
are good
ways to
do this
and there
are bad
ways
I'm going
to share
two ways
that you
shouldn't
do it
two bad
ways to
confront
sin in
the world
before two
good ways
the first
bad way
to confront
sin
is something
my four
year old
daughter
recently
did
daughters
are wonderful
gifts from
God
if you
hadn't
noticed
so
Tamara
was at
preschool
last week
and she's
a wonderful
evangelist
and she was
going around
asking the
kids if they
believed Jesus
in Jesus
and if they
didn't
she said
well you're
going to
hell
and it's
fiery
and it's
hot
and it's
spiky
and that's
true
not so sure
about the
spiky part
but it
made kids
cry
I don't
know why
you're laughing
but that was
my response
too
it's probably
not the
best way
to evangelize
to encourage
people that
Jesus is
better than
the way
they are
living
but
she was
confronting
unbelief
and so I
encouraged her
show the
love of
Jesus to
them instead
show them
why Jesus
is so
great
but imagine
if half
of us
had her
courage
maybe we
all need
to be led
by the
sprouts team
on a
Sunday
morning
the second
bad way
to confront
sin in the
world is
anything on
social media
particularly
Facebook I
see many
posts lots
of inflammatory
posts about
Christianity and
religion in
general and I'm
always tempted
to engage
and try and
point out in a
helpful way why
they're wrong
about Jesus but
it never works
it never goes
well it just
devolves into
argument upon
argument and
so these are
these are two
ways not to
confront sin I
don't think there's
anything helpful on
Facebook when it
comes to arguing
about Christianity
but let me
encourage you to
testify to
Jesus' identity
and to
confront the
sin in the
world in two
ways quietly
and loudly
quietly first
of all by
personally mentioning
it to someone
maybe a friend
maybe you see a
friend making
some poor
decisions about
their life
some decisions
that you know
will have
consequences
you know that
Jesus said if
you go down
this path it
will not go
well for you
and so speak
quietly to them
whether it's a
Christian or a
non-Christian
friend maybe
you don't want
to do this this
is going to go
poorly for you
people might be
able to hear this
if it's done
well people might
get defensive
but this is a
way to speak to
people in a
loving way to
confront their sin
it probably won't
destroy friendships
the second way
is loudly
sometimes we
need to speak
loudly
for those who
don't have a
voice
for the life
of the unborn
for the rights
of refugees
even if it
makes our life
uncomfortable
in China
there is a
pastor of a
Chinese church
called early
rain in
Chengdu
province
his name is
pastor Wang
Yi
and he has
been doing
exactly this
he has been
preaching the
gospel faithfully
in spite of
pressure to be
silent
he was arrested
on December
9th
with over 100
members of the
church in
Chengdu
including his
wife
and as of
two days ago
they're still
in prison
and no one
knows where
they are
knowing that
it was likely
to happen
that he'd
likely be
arrested at
some point
he wrote a
declaration to
be published
if he was
detained by
the government
for more
than 48
hours
and so he
wrote this
declaration
I'm going to
read part of
it which
came out in
December last
year
on the basis
of the teachings
of the Bible
and the mission
of the gospel
I respect the
authorities God
has established
in China
for God
deposes kings
and raises up
kings
this is why I
submit to the
historical and
institutional
arrangements of
God in China
as a pastor
of a Christian
church I
have my own
understanding and
views based on
the Bible about
what righteous
order and good
government is
at the same
time I am
filled with
anger and
disgust at the
persecution of
the church by
this communist
regime at the
wickedness of
their depriving
people of the
freedoms of
religion and
of conscience
but changing
social and
political institutions
is not the
mission I have
been called
to and it
is not the
goal for which
God has given
his people the
gospel for all
hideous realities
unrighteous politics
and arbitrary laws
manifest the cross
of Jesus Christ
the only means by
which every Chinese
person must be
saved they also
manifest the fact
that true hope
and a perfect
society will never
be found in the
transformation of
any earthly
institution or
culture but only
in our sins
being freely
forgiven by
Christ and in
the hope of
eternal life
Pastor Wang Yi
is standing firm
against the
Chinese government
looking to
clamp down on
him it is
totally risky
he hasn't been
satisfied with
having an easy
comfortable version
of Christianity
and he's been
detained for three
months with no
end in sight as
a consequence
following Jesus
Jesus has
meant he has
taken risks
but he was
prepared for an
uncomfortable life
he knew that he
would be arrested
one day which is
why he had that
declaration published
beforehand
Jesus prepares his
disciples to have
an uncomfortable
life in the
light of our
hope of eternal
glory with Jesus
calling out people's
sin either of a
friend or the
government's will
make life
uncomfortable but
it will see lives
changed it will
call Sydney and
the world to be
convicted of their
sin and the
righteousness of
Jesus and to
follow him so
let me encourage
you be praying for
Gladys
Berger clean and
the liberal party at
a state level who
have come into
another term who
were elected
yesterday today
whenever the
election is
finalized be
praying for the
federal government
with elections
coming up
it's it's easy to
come up with
excuses to be
comfortable with
Christianity and to
not speak out it
might cost me a
friend it might make
them uncomfortable
I don't want to be the
fun police it might
get me locked up
but what do we
expect our lives to
look like
do we trust God
that he will
provide what we
need even if we
are persecuted
do we trust God
to proclaim the
gospel even when
it is unattractive
and hated
let me pray for us
heavenly father
we thank you that
your son
obeyed you fully
in life and in
death that he
endured much
persecution and
hatred so that we
could know you
Lord father
prepare us to
have an
uncomfortable life
Lord help when we
are persecuted when
we are hated to
depend upon you
knowing that you
are enough because
you have provided
eternal life and
relationship
with you Lord
father help us to
draw on you
when we are
struggling and
when we are
attacked and
persecuted Lord
we ask all this in
your son's name and
your for your glory
amen