As we watch that video, I trust that two things come to the surface.
! One is persecution of Christians around the world is a reality.
! It is overwhelming almost to consider how many of our brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing suffering and persecution
! at the hands of those who hate and hate the world.
Hate God and hate the Father. Hate Jesus.
It's estimated that as many as 75% of the world's population are experiencing deliberate and hostile persecution day by day.
So we are, as Americans, in the minority really, as it relates to kind of being removed a bit from the persecution that the rest of the world seems to face.
Secondly, what I trust and hope is that what we're seeing in the world will help to spur us on to be praying for our brothers and sisters wherever they might be.
That God would continue to encourage and comfort and strengthen them to help them to have endurance, to help them to suffer well for the sake of Christ.
And then for us, as we consider as a nation, the coming persecution that is inevitable at some point down the road.
We are experiencing some latent forms of persecution, perhaps in your workplace or in the community.
It certainly has begun to come to the forefront, even in the church and the opposition that churches face.
But more is coming, and we can certainly expect to see more of it as the time continues.
I want to draw our attention this morning to this theme.
I'm sure this is a theme that we all are just really looking forward to studying today.
Hated like the Father.
Now, over the past couple of weeks, we've dealt with something that is something that we want to hear.
We like to hear.
We like to hear about being loved by the Father.
We like to hear about being friends of the Father.
We don't particularly like to hear about the fact that we're also going to be hated.
Like the Father.
But in this expression, in our study this morning,
there is nothing that will reinforce God's love for you,
and nothing that will reinforce God's love for the world through you,
like the opposition that you're going to face from the people who are adamant and hostile towards the gospel.
The hatred that you will experience as a believer,
the hostility and the suffering and persecution that you may experience as a believer,
will magnify the testimony of Christ more in this world than anything else that you could possibly experience.
The suffering that you will endure, perhaps, as a believer,
will propel the gospel and will fill your life with the strength of the Spirit
like nothing else that you will experience as a believer.
So perhaps, for all that we enjoy talking about the love of Christ
and being friends of Christ,
for as wonderful as that may be,
perhaps for us,
as those who desire to have a radiant testimony in the world,
maybe there's no better truth for us
than to know that we will be hated just like our Father.
There is a sense of identity.
There is a sense of likeness.
There is a sense of oneness that can only come
as we are willing to walk in the footsteps of Christ.
And as we are willing to walk in the footsteps of Christ,
we can expect that we will experience the journey of Christ,
who, having encouraged His followers, His disciples in particular,
what does He say?
He encourages them to be willing to take up their cross daily and follow Him.
There is a privilege, I might say,
of being so unified with the Father
that we experience the things that the Father experiences,
that Jesus experienced on behalf of the Father,
the antagonism, the opposition that comes to those
who follow after the Father's pattern
and similarly follow after the words and the works of Christ.
What will be the stabilizing force for us as believers?
Well, it will be the truths that have gone before.
The truths that have been filling our discussion the last several weeks
as Jesus, in these final hours,
these final moments with His disciples
before the inevitability of the cross,
wants to help them be anchored
in the stability of knowing that Christ loves them.
That will be the stabilizing force.
That will be the thing that will move them
through the suffering that they will certainly experience in the future.
And those who are satisfied with God,
those who drink Him in through genuine and sustained fellowship,
it will lead to a worthy life
that sets you apart from your peers,
from your co-workers,
from your classmates,
and from your community.
It will put God on display.
Isn't that what you want this morning?
To make much of God,
to put Him on display,
to make His love look so satisfying
that nothing else can shake you,
that nothing else can break you,
that nothing else can shatter this relationship with Him.
That's when the gospel becomes compelling,
is when the love of Christ is so satisfying
that it carries us through whatever we may face.
There is a sweetness
and a gentleness
and a joy about the believer's life
that is not only unmistakable,
it's unexplainable.
And that's what makes your life look remarkably familiar.
You begin to look like Jesus.
And that's the desire of our life.
Love for Christ will guide your affection
and your loyalty.
Love for Christ will show what really matters.
And it will carry you through difficult times
when you're hated like the Father.
So turn with me, if you would,
to John chapter 15.
We're going to be taking up
a significant portion of Scripture this morning
from John chapter 15
to chapter 16, verse 4.
We're going to begin in 15, verse 18
and moving through this portion of Scripture
that deals with this theme
of being hated like the Father.
There are a couple of truths,
or there are four truths
I want us to be reminded of this morning.
Two that relate to the world
and two that relate to the believer.
There are things that you can expect.
There are things that Jesus promises
in these final moments with His disciples.
Things that they will see
and that will happen for them.
Things that they will experience.
Let me read for us verses 18 to 21,
and we'll begin with this point,
the certainty of the world's disdain.
The certainty of the world's disdain.
Let me read these verses for us.
Beginning in verse 18.
It says,
If the world hates you,
know that it has hated me
before it hated you.
If you were of the world,
the world would love you as its own.
But because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world,
therefore, the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you,
a servant is not greater than his master.
If they persecuted me,
they will also persecute you.
If they kept my word,
they will also keep yours.
But these things they will do to you
on account of my name,
because they do not know Him who sent me.
You can expect as a believer,
you can expect as one
who is a follower of Christ,
the world will not appreciate your life.
There will be a disdain.
There will be opposition.
There will be a sense of hatred towards you
because you have a life that emulates Jesus.
A life that emulates the Father.
But it seems a little strange, doesn't it?
Doesn't it seem a little strange
that the person who would be
the conduit of love,
the person who would emulate
the compassion of Christ,
a person who would seek to meet needs
and to address issues around you
with sensitivity and kindness
and compassion,
be the recipient of hostility?
Seems a little strange, does it not?
From the life source of Jesus
comes compassion that flows from Christ
and reaps a harvest of love in us.
We saw that last week.
And it's almost unimaginable
that the world,
being recipients of such magnanimous love,
would turn on the hand
that essentially feeds them
and seek to consume them instead.
But that's how it was with Christ.
That's how it was with Christ's followers.
That's how it's been through history.
We've seen the accounts of believers
throughout history
who have suffered injustice.
And it seems inconceivable
that the one who came to Galilee
and Judea
and virtually rid the entire land of disease,
demonstrating compassion indiscriminately
to Jewish leaders,
to Samaritans,
to those living in Galilee,
to those who were Gentiles in Perea,
even to officials in Rome.
That Jesus,
in demonstrating this kind of compassion,
would be the recipient of hatred
and ultimately be killed on the cross.
Initially,
the ministry of Jesus
was met with overwhelming positive favor.
We see that in John chapter 2
where it says that the ministry of Christ,
it says,
many believed in his name
and saw the signs that he was doing.
But it says,
Jesus on his part
did not entrust himself to them
because he knew all people.
He needed no one to bear witness about man
for he himself knew what was in man.
Jesus knew where this was headed.
Jesus knew this was moving to the cross.
Jesus knew the fickle hearts of the people
that he was ministering to.
He knew that ultimately
the kindness and compassion of the Father
would be met by hostility.
It would be met with hatred
and they would put him on the cross.
And yet,
he continued to love them to the end.
The antagonism that Jesus experienced
throughout his ministry
was relentless.
The Jewish leaders in particular
hated his message.
They hated his miracles.
They hated his audacity
to forgive sin.
They hated that he exerted authority
by cleansing the temple.
They hated that he didn't keep their traditions.
They hated that he confronted
their hypocrisy.
He hated that he hung out with sinners.
They hated that he kept referring to God
as his Father.
They hated that the crowd
was so enamored with him
as a religious figure.
But the biggest reason they hated him
was because Jesus exposed
the wickedness of their heart.
In John chapter 7, verse 7,
Jesus says this,
The world hates me
because I testify about it
that its works are evil.
And for all the kindness and compassion
of our Savior,
and all the grace of God
to identify the biggest hurdle
in their life
that was keeping them
from experiencing the favor of God,
their sin,
even though he was kind,
even though he leaned in,
as we've been talking about
in Sunday school,
he leaned into their mess,
was willing to love them
in the midst of the difficulties
and the sin of their life,
and to lead them to deliverance,
they didn't want to hear it.
And being confronted with their sin,
being exposed in the sight of God,
they resented him
and hated him
and pushed him away.
The same will be true of believers.
Those of us who seek to echo
and mirror the kind love
of Christ for the world.
Don't be surprised
if the world hates you.
It hated Christ as well.
But as we look at this truth,
we see the opposite truth
taking shape in verse 19.
Not only will the world hate you,
but be warned
if the world loves you.
It says in verse 19,
If you were of the world,
the world would love you
as its own.
But because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world,
therefore the world hates you.
So don't seek
the affection of the world.
Don't look for their acceptance.
Don't modify your language.
Don't soften your convictions.
Don't conceal your light.
You have been called to be a light.
Ephesians 5, 7-14.
I would just encourage you,
keep your finger in John chapter 15.
Turn with me for this pertinent passage
in Ephesians chapter 5,
where Jesus begins to,
or excuse me,
God through the apostle Paul
to the church of Ephesus,
begins to describe
what you as lights look like.
Jesus says in his great sermon on the mount,
You are the light of the world,
a city set on the hill
that cannot be hidden.
Well, what does light do?
We find what light does
in Ephesians chapter 5.
Beginning in verse 7,
it says this,
Therefore, do not become partakers with them,
for at one time you were darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk as children of the light,
for the fruit of light is found
in all that is good and right and true.
And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness,
but instead expose them.
For it is shameful even to speak of the things
that they do in secret.
But when anything is exposed by the light,
it becomes visible.
For anything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says,
Awake, O sleeper,
and to rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.
But so often,
I think we find ourselves,
instead of shining the light of Christ
in the world,
we find ourselves
looking for ways to conceal that light.
Looking for ways
to accommodate ourselves to the world
by embracing their ideals
in terms of the workplace
and how to get ahead
and the cutthroat culture
that is so easy for us to adopt
in order for us to get to the places
we think we need to be
in terms of promotion
and advancement
and income.
We also find ourselves
reinforcing their priorities
when it comes to education
and athletics
and attractiveness
and pursuit of the good life.
We find ourselves
bending to their pressure,
silent about our testimony,
a little afraid
about the awkwardness
of a situation
when we let anyone know
that we are Christians.
we accommodate
their preferences.
Churches that take pride
in certain musical forms
that I've heard of even
a church or two
who have pretty much
all secular music
and very little
that actually calls people
to worship God
for the sake of drawing the crowd
so they can hear the gospel.
Of course,
there is acceptance
of blatant sin in the church.
There is an unwillingness
for churches
to deal with sin
and confront sin head on
and to lovingly address it
for the sake
of the soul
of the individual
who is involved
in that lifestyle.
We emulate their tactics.
It relates to dealing
with authority.
We find ourselves,
especially as a parent
of children in school,
I find myself at times
resisting the urge
of having that conversation
with the teacher
or taking it
to the next level
and talking to the principal
because that teacher
just couldn't get
what I was trying
to tell them.
One thing I appreciated
about my upbringing
was I would come home
with a complaint
and my dad always
took the teacher's side.
It drove me bananas.
But one thing it did
was it reinforced
the authority structures
that God had put
in my way
to help me understand
the significance
of respecting
the authority
that God has for us.
But we find ourselves
emulating their tactics.
We're going to take it
to Capitol Hill.
We find ourselves,
instead of praying
about issues,
that we complain
about issues.
we make it public.
We put it all over
social media,
whatever it takes
to get the word out
and get people on board
instead of turning it over
to God to deal with.
And we are captured
by their philosophies,
philosophies of parenting,
philosophies of family.
We find ourselves
not showing the light
of Christ in that way.
And we're made numb
by the way
they try to inculcate culture.
The slow descent
into tolerating
and supporting
their agenda
as it relates
to the movies we watch
or the music
that we listen to,
the sporting events
that we participate in.
There is very little
distinctiveness in us
that would call people
to the distinctiveness
of our great God.
No wonder why
we aren't experiencing
the pushback from culture
because we look
so much like the world.
Jesus moves on
in verse 20.
Remember the word
that I said to you.
A servant is not greater
than his master.
If they persecuted me,
they will persecute you.
Does your life show
the sweetness
and the wonder
of Jesus?
Does it point
to your master?
Does it show
his greatness?
Does it put him
on display?
Not only his love
for sinners,
but the way
to deal with sin.
The answer
for sin
that comes
through faith in Christ.
Removing guilt
and removing sin.
Being cleansed
by his life.
Love for Christ
will guide
your affection
and your loyalty.
Love for Christ
will show
what really matters.
Especially
when the world
disdains you.
Jesus moves on.
He moves on
to helping
his disciples
understand
that
although the world
may disdain them
and hate them,
there is
an inevitable
consequence.
There will be
judgment for them.
The certainty,
the second point,
the certainty
of the world's
demise.
The certainty
of the world's
demise.
We see that here
in verses 22
to 25.
Let me read this
for us.
If I had not
come and spoken
to them,
they would not
have been guilty
of sin.
But now they
have no excuse
for their sin.
Whoever hates
me hates
my father also.
If I had not
done among them
the works
that no one
else did,
they would not
be guilty
of sin.
But now they
have seen
and hated
both me
and my father.
But the word
that is written
in their law
must be fulfilled.
They hated
me without
a cause.
There will
be judgment
on the world.
And one
question that
might come
to the surface
as you're
considering
why are
there people
who are
in the camp
of belief
and individuals
who are in
the camp
of those
who do not
believe,
especially
during Christ's
day.
Was something
concealed from
them?
Was there
a truth
that they
missed
somehow?
Did Jesus
leave this
crowd by the
side and
failed to
address them
and to deal
with them
appropriately?
And we
find that
here in
this group
of verses
that Jesus'
ministry to
them was
just the same
as his
ministry to
the disciples.
They heard
the same
word.
There was
gracious
revelation to
them.
The same
revelation that
the disciples
received we
saw as an
expression of
Christ's love
for them.
At the
latter part
of John
chapter 15
and here in
verse it
says in
verse 15,
he has
given them,
I made
known to
you what
was given
to me by
the Father.
Revelation
went to
the disciples
but revelation
also went
to those who
refused to
believe.
The world
is without
excuse.
And we
have addressed
this on
numerous
occasions.
that the
word that
was communicated
by Christ
was word
that was
first directed
by the
Father.
Perhaps
standing at
the forefront
if we just
turn back a
couple of
pages to
John chapter
12, we
see this
in verse
49.
John
chapter 12
verse 49
says,
For I
have not
spoken on
my own
authority,
but the
Father who
has sent
me has
himself
given me
a commandment,
what to
say and
what to
speak.
And some
translations
have what
to say and
how to
say it.
Jesus'
life in
ministry was
so guided
by the
Father that
not only the
words that
he spoke but
the way in
which he
spoke those
words were
influenced by
the Father's
direction.
And so to
reject the
message of
Christ is
to reject the
message from
the Father.
Jesus says,
Whoever hates
me hates
my Father
as well.
This is the
epitome of
rebellion.
Hatred of
God the
Father.
The God of
the Jews
was not the
God of the
Bible.
Their God
was a figure
of their
tradition.
Their God
was an image
of their own
making.
And when
they had
their God
right in
front of
them in
full view
speaking the
words of
the Father,
they called
him an
imposter and
they put him
on the cross.
The danger
for us as
we consider
the words of
Christ,
will we
accept the
truths that
Jesus has
so clearly
communicated to
us in the
word?
Jesus was
clear about
his identity.
Seven times
in the
Gospel of
John he
says,
I am,
and we
have looked
at them
throughout the
course of
our study.
I am the
door.
I am the
good shepherd.
I am the
light of the
world.
I am the
bread of
life.
I am the
vine.
I am the
resurrection
and the
life.
Jesus was
the way to
God.
Jesus was
God in
the flesh.
And if you
don't have
Christ,
you don't
have God.
That was
the message
that came
through loud
and clear
through the
testimony of
Jesus'
words.
Not only
did Jesus
say the
words of
the Father,
but his
words were
confirmed through
his works.
And that
comes next.
We see that
here in
verse 24.
If I had
not done
among them
the works
that no one
else did,
they would
not be
guilty.
So not
only are
they condemned
by rejecting
the words
of Christ,
but they
are rejecting
him even
in light of
the works
that he
did,
that authenticated
him,
that validated
his ministry,
that proved
that he was
the person
he claimed
to be.
Jesus,
in a
confrontation
with the
Pharisees,
back in
John chapter
10,
alludes to
this,
speaks of
this.
He says
in
John
chapter
10,
verse 25,
they ask
him the
question,
Jesus,
okay now,
tell us
plainly,
are you
the Christ?
And Jesus
says,
in verse
25,
he says,
I told
you,
and you
do not
believe.
The works
that I do
in my
Father's name
bear testimony
about me,
but you
do not
believe
because you
are not
part of
my flock.
Dropping
down to
verse 37,
if I
am not
doing the
works of
my Father,
then do
not believe
me.
But if I
do them,
even though
you do
not believe
me,
believe the
works,
that you
may know
and understand
that the
Father is
in me,
and I
am in
the Father.
The
miracles
of
Jesus
confirmed
his
identity.
Jesus
faithfully
brought
this
truth
to the
forefront.
And if
you remember
the story
of the
paralytic,
the standing
room only
in this
house that
Jesus was
ministering
to,
and then
all of a
sudden
they see
the rafters
beginning to
be removed
from the
ceiling,
and now
this figure
of an
individual
being lowered
down in
front of
Christ.
And Jesus
looks at
this man
on this
little
stretcher
and says,
your sins
are forgiven.
And the
Pharisees,
it says,
they grumbled
in their
heart,
who is
this person
who can
forgive sins?
Only God
can forgive
sins.
To which
Jesus says,
you're right.
So,
what's easier
to say?
your sins
are forgiven
or rise
and take
up your
bed and
walk.
And Jesus,
turning to
the man,
tells him,
rise,
take up
your bed
and walk.
The paralytic
gets up,
walks right
out of the
house,
and gives
testimony to
the fact
that Jesus
not only has
the words
of God,
Jesus shows
the work
of God
and confirms
that he
was God
himself.
And in
spite of
the great
show of
Jesus'
identity,
the clear
and unmistakable
fact that he
was God,
they still
refused
to acknowledge
him.
And as a
result,
Jesus talks
about,
in Matthew
chapter 11,
his condemnation
on those
cities who
were so
faithfully
heard the
word and
yet still
rejected.
When the
world sees
confirmation
of Christ
in you,
through your
steadfast faith
and unwavering
joy,
it will
either lead
them to
Christ,
or will
lead them
to rebellion.
Do the
people in
this world
see the
testimony of
Christ playing
out in your
life?
Are you
an individual
who is so
full of
Christ that
it shows up
in the world?
Not only
through your
words,
but through
your works
that confirm
there's been
a transformation
in your
life.
That's what
will be the
mark of
helping them
to come to
terms with
the reality
of the
gospel.
Now we
move to
this next
promise.
It moves
from the
world and
now moves
to believers.
We see
in verses
26 to 27
the certainty
of the
believer's
divine help.
The
certainty
of the
believer's
divine help.
Let me
read verses
26 and
27.
It says,
but when
the helper
comes,
whom I
will send
you from
the
father,
the spirit
of truth
who proceeds
from the
father,
he will
bear witness
about me.
And you
also will
bear witness
because you
have been
with me
from the
beginning.
This is the
third statement
in these
short few
moments of
time that
Jesus has
with his
disciples in
these final
hours of
drawing their
attention to
the promise
of the
spirit's
coming.
We see it
in John
chapter 14
verse 16.
John 14
verse 26.
We see it
here in this
verse in
chapter 15
26 and
we'll see it
two more
times in
chapter 16.
Jesus is
interested and
wants to
encourage his
disciples with
the fact the
Holy Spirit is
coming.
Times may be
tough.
Suffering may
come.
Hardship may
confront you
but you
will have
help.
Help from
the Holy Spirit.
One commentator
puts it this
way.
The Holy Spirit's
primary ministry
to the lost
world is to
testify about
Jesus.
Let me say
that again.
The Holy Spirit's
primary ministry
to the lost
world is to
testify about
Jesus.
If your
words and
your life is
not dominated
by testimony
about Jesus
and what Jesus
has done for
you,
I would say
that we need
to take
caution.
we need to
ask God to
do that work
in our life
because if the
Spirit is
indwelling you,
it will show
up in giving
testimony about
Christ.
One of the
clear evidences
of the Spirit
in your life
is that you
will have a
message of
Christ.
It will not
only fuel
your passion
but it will
dominate your
speech or
your words
saturated in
the words of
Christ.
and do
your words
reflect the
expression or
the quality of
Christ's words.
We could go to
a number of
passages and
look at the
quality of
Christ's words
but I think
there are,
I wish we had
time to look at
three verses this
morning but I
want to just
call your
attention to
three qualities
and write this
down, you can
look at it on
your own.
Luke chapter 4
verse 22
says this,
all spoke
well of him
and marveled
at the
gracious words
that were
coming from
his mouth.
So what
quality would
you look at
did they
recognize?
They recognized
gracious words.
Do you have
speech that is
dominated by
grace?
Do you have
speech that is
dominated by
appreciation?
Not complaining?
Not criticism?
But thankfulness?
Mark chapter 1
verse 27 is
another quality
of Jesus'
words.
It says,
And all
marveled so
that they
questioned among
themselves saying,
What is this?
A new teaching
with authority.
He commands
even the
unclean spirits
and they obey
him.
Not only did
Jesus have
gracious words
but Jesus
had authoritative
words.
You can
exercise
the authority
of Christ
not because
you are an
authoritative
person but
because you
have authoritative
words.
And I'm not
talking about
casting out
demons so
please don't
misunderstand.
What I'm
talking about
is the
conviction that
comes because
you hold to
one truth.
You're anchored
in the singularity
of the message
of the Bible.
That's what
gives you
confidence.
Not your
experience.
Not your
past
successes.
But what
gives you
the ability
to speak
authoritatively
in a situation
is that the
Bible has
spoken
authoritatively.
And as a
pastor I may
not understand
your specific
situation but
I can give
you authoritative
words based
upon the
scripture because
God has
the news.
He has the
answer that we
can give to a
world that is
so desperate
for answers.
The third
quality and
there are many
others.
The third
quality is found
in Mark
chapter 6
verse 2.
It says
on the
Sabbath he
began to
teach the
synagogue and
many who
heard him
were astonished
saying where
did this man
get these
things?
What is the
wisdom given
to him?
How are such
mighty works
done by his
hand?
We see that
Jesus also had
wise words.
You have the
wisdom of
God.
You have the
truth of God
at your
disposal.
You have the
ability to speak
words of life
into people.
Wisdom for
their future.
Wisdom for
relationships.
Wisdom for
their workplace.
Wisdom for
family.
Not because
you are this
well of wisdom
but because you
have tapped
in to the
source of
wisdom as
Jesus did.
I think one
of the
clearest
evidences
in our
speech that
God has
transformed
us has to
do in
our response
to suffering
when it
comes.
Our
thankfulness
and gratitude
in spite of
hardship.
We see
verses like
rejoice evermore
in everything
give thanks.
Count it all
joy when you
fall into
various trials.
Bless those
who curse
you.
Bless and
curse not.
How can
anyone do
such things?
Well, it
can only be
done through
the power of
the Spirit
working in
your life.
And finally
to close,
we'll get to
point number
four next
week.
I've got one
more week to
go.
We'll just
combine it with
the next few
verses of
chapter 16.
Okay?
I want to
give this
appropriate
time.
Not only
does the
Spirit testify
of Christ,
and this
may be
one of the
neater truths
for us
today.
One commentator
says,
the work of
the Spirit
in the
church is
done in
the context
of persecution.
The Spirit
is not a
guide and
helper for
those on
a straight
way,
perfectly able
to manage
on their
own.
He comes
to assist
men caught
up in the
thick of
battle,
and tried
beyond their
strength.
Jesus makes
it quite
plain that
the way
before his
followers is
hard and
difficult way.
You want
the Spirit
to show up
in your
life?
You will
be strong
in the face
of hardship.
You will
not buckle.
You will
not resist
it.
You will
not push
it away
because you
will welcome
the power
of the
Spirit in
your life.
As Peter
later says
in 1 Peter
chapter 4
verse 12,
he says
this and
I'll close
with this
verse.
He says,
don't be
surprised at
the fiery
trial when
it comes
upon you
to test
you as
though
something
strange
were
happening
to you,
but rejoice
in so far
as you
share in
Christ's
afflictions
so that
you also
may rejoice
and be
glad when
his glory
is revealed.
If you
are insulted
for the
name of
Christ,
you are
blessed
because
the Spirit
of glory
and of
God
rests on
you.
You want
the Spirit
to show up
in your
life?
be willing
to embrace
his strength
in the midst
of considerable
weakness.
That's when
he'll show up.
And you
want to
magnify
the wonder
and sufficiency
of Christ
in this world?
Rejoice
that you
get to
emulate
and mirror
the life
of Christ
in facing
persecution
just like
Jesus did.
Well,
love for
God
will show
up in
our life
through a
love for
the world
in spite
of the
persecution
that you
face.
May God
help us
to love
him that
way and
to show
his
sweetness
to the
world
in the
face of
hardship.
Let's pray.
Lord,
we thank
you.
this morning
for the
love of
Christ
that anchors
us in
the storm.
Thank you,
Lord,
for the
assurance
of love
from Christ
that helps
us to
understand
that nothing
we face
in this
life is
an accident.
Nothing
that we
face in
this life
is in
vain.
It's all
meant to
push us
and to
draw us
into
closer
relationship
with you
and to
make
the
sweetness
of
Christ,
the
testimony
of
God
attractive
in this
world.
So,
Lord,
I pray
that you
would
continue
to do
a work
in our
hearts.
Help us
to be so
caught up
with the
love of
Christ
that it
stabilizes
us when
hardship
comes.
and may
we show
how wonderful
you are
through our
steadfastness
in our
faith
and looking
forward to
the hope
of your
return.
We praise
you,
Lord,
for all
that you
have
accomplished
for us
and particularly
for the
helper that
you have
given to
us through
the Holy
Spirit
to come
and indwell
us and
to strengthen
us in
life's
endeavors.
We praise
you in
Jesus'
name.
Amen.