1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,580 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith 2 00:00:05,580 –> 00:00:10,440 of Open The Bible to contact us call us at 1-877 3 00:00:10,440 –> 00:00:13,900 OPEN 365 or visit our website 4 00:00:13,900 –> 00:00:17,520 OpenTheBible.org Let’s get to the message 5 00:00:17,520 –> 00:00:21,379 Here is Pastor Colin We come to the 6 00:00:21,379 –> 00:00:24,760 last of these beatitudes many of You have 7 00:00:24,760 –> 00:00:28,660 spoken about how the Lord has been using these scriptures in 8 00:00:29,620 –> 00:00:32,419 Your life I also have been greatly stretched 9 00:00:32,419 –> 00:00:35,799 searched by these words of Jesus and 10 00:00:35,799 –> 00:00:39,380 never more so than in this last 11 00:00:39,380 –> 00:00:43,160 beatitude that we come to today 12 00:00:43,160 –> 00:00:45,580 In these beatitudes, we’ve seen that 13 00:00:45,580 –> 00:00:47,919 Jesus Christ gives us a sevenfold 14 00:00:47,919 –> 00:00:50,380 description of the character of a godly 15 00:00:50,380 –> 00:00:52,200 person What does a true Christian look 16 00:00:52,200 –> 00:00:55,060 like? Well you have it in this sevenfold 17 00:00:55,060 –> 00:00:57,419 description, a person who is poor in 18 00:00:58,419 –> 00:01:00,700 spirit, recognizing that before God I do 19 00:01:00,700 –> 00:01:02,820 not have what it takes and therefore I 20 00:01:02,820 –> 00:01:05,980 have to seek that good, not in myself but 21 00:01:05,980 –> 00:01:08,459 in another in Jesus Christ, my savior and 22 00:01:08,459 –> 00:01:11,000 my Lord. Does a true Christian look like 23 00:01:11,000 –> 00:01:15,220 one who mourns over his or her sins? 24 00:01:15,220 –> 00:01:16,879 That’s more than being sorry, that’s 25 00:01:16,879 –> 00:01:18,959 looking at the cost to me and to others 26 00:01:18,959 –> 00:01:21,779 and to Christ long enough and straight 27 00:01:21,779 –> 00:01:24,059 enough and hard enough until I come to 28 00:01:24,059 –> 00:01:26,900 the conclusion that I must actually 29 00:01:26,900 –> 00:01:30,379 change and therefore do so. What does it 30 00:01:30,379 –> 00:01:32,339 mean to be a true Christian? It is to 31 00:01:32,339 –> 00:01:36,220 meekly submit to the will of God, however 32 00:01:36,220 –> 00:01:39,919 difficult that may at times become and 33 00:01:39,919 –> 00:01:42,339 we saw that these three, the first three 34 00:01:42,339 –> 00:01:44,580 Beatitudes are indeed the roots of a 35 00:01:44,580 –> 00:01:47,699 godly life, there is no true Christianity 36 00:01:47,699 –> 00:01:50,320 without them but where these roots are 37 00:01:50,320 –> 00:01:52,839 established in the soil of a human life 38 00:01:52,839 –> 00:01:56,360 out of them comes a a life and what is 39 00:01:56,360 –> 00:01:58,639 that life? It is described by Jesus this 40 00:01:58,639 –> 00:02:00,400 way, hungering and thirsting after 41 00:02:00,400 –> 00:02:03,300 righteousness, that’s the soul of a 42 00:02:03,300 –> 00:02:06,720 godly life, a deep longing, that is the 43 00:02:06,720 –> 00:02:09,080 distinctive distinguishing unfakeable 44 00:02:09,080 –> 00:02:11,600 mark of a Christian believer that in in 45 00:02:11,600 –> 00:02:13,699 all circumstances I want to do what is 46 00:02:13,699 –> 00:02:16,500 right in order to honor my Lord and 47 00:02:16,500 –> 00:02:18,639 Savior Jesus Christ and we saw that out 48 00:02:18,639 –> 00:02:21,300 of that life that grows from their roots 49 00:02:21,339 –> 00:02:23,539 there is a threefold and very very 50 00:02:23,539 –> 00:02:26,580 wonderful fruit, beautiful fruit. Out of 51 00:02:26,580 –> 00:02:28,699 this life will come e tenderness of 52 00:02:28,699 –> 00:02:33,619 heart, compassion, mercy, patience, 53 00:02:33,619 –> 00:02:36,860 forgiveness. Out of this life will will 54 00:02:36,860 –> 00:02:38,960 come not only a tenderness of heart but 55 00:02:38,960 –> 00:02:42,979 a purity of heart, to will one thing to 56 00:02:42,979 –> 00:02:45,539 get beyond the spiritual stagnation that 57 00:02:45,539 –> 00:02:48,179 always comes with double-mindedness that 58 00:02:48,179 –> 00:02:50,259 half holds the world and half holds to 59 00:02:50,259 –> 00:02:52,720 Jesus Christ. Know to will one thing 60 00:02:52,720 –> 00:02:54,699 that’s what purity of heart is and it 61 00:02:54,699 –> 00:02:57,440 comes out off this life that is rooted 62 00:02:57,440 –> 00:02:59,699 in the first three beatitudes and then 63 00:02:59,699 –> 00:03:02,100 we saw last time out of this life will 64 00:03:02,100 –> 00:03:03,899 come a peaceable spirit 65 00:03:03,899 –> 00:03:08,160 beautiful fruit, mercy, purity, peace, peace 66 00:03:08,160 –> 00:03:10,979 in your own heart so that you are able 67 00:03:10,979 –> 00:03:13,300 to bring with you and in part even to 68 00:03:13,300 –> 00:03:16,520 others as a peacemaker something of what 69 00:03:16,520 –> 00:03:19,580 God is working and growing in you. Now 70 00:03:19,660 –> 00:03:21,839 here then is the sevenfold description 71 00:03:21,839 –> 00:03:25,559 of a true Christian. This is what a 72 00:03:25,559 –> 00:03:28,279 godly life looks like. This is the path 73 00:03:28,279 –> 00:03:31,119 of progress, of sanctification. If you 74 00:03:31,119 –> 00:03:32,820 like these are the things that I own to 75 00:03:32,820 –> 00:03:34,600 cultivate. These are the things that 76 00:03:34,600 –> 00:03:38,500 Jesus Christ says I’m to go after. Now 77 00:03:38,500 –> 00:03:40,139 that leads to an obvious question 78 00:03:40,139 –> 00:03:42,380 if I go after these things as in our 79 00:03:42,380 –> 00:03:44,740 hearts I think there has been stirred a 80 00:03:44,740 –> 00:03:46,740 sense that we must pursue these things 81 00:03:46,740 –> 00:03:48,940 with all that we have. What will be the 82 00:03:48,960 –> 00:03:52,880 outcome of pursuing such a life? If I go 83 00:03:52,880 –> 00:03:56,039 down this path where does it lead? And 84 00:03:56,039 –> 00:03:58,639 our Lord Jesus gives two very clear 85 00:03:58,639 –> 00:04:02,139 answers to that question. One is he says 86 00:04:02,139 –> 00:04:03,860 you will be blessed by God. 87 00:04:03,860 –> 00:04:06,779 Blessed blessed blessed, that runs all 88 00:04:06,779 –> 00:04:09,940 the way through the Beatitudes. The 89 00:04:09,940 –> 00:04:13,300 other is, he says, you will be persecuted 90 00:04:13,300 –> 00:04:17,440 by the world. Look at what he says verse 91 00:04:17,459 –> 00:04:21,480 10. Blessed are those who are repeated 92 00:04:21,480 –> 00:04:23,179 for righteousness sake, for theirs is 93 00:04:23,179 –> 00:04:26,260 the kingdom of heaven. He continues. He 94 00:04:26,260 –> 00:04:27,320 stays with it. 95 00:04:27,320 –> 00:04:30,140 Blessed are you when others revile you 96 00:04:30,140 –> 00:04:33,179 and persecute you, notice that word again, 97 00:04:33,179 –> 00:04:35,920 and utter all kinds of evil against 98 00:04:35,920 –> 00:04:39,100 you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be 99 00:04:39,100 –> 00:04:41,660 glad for your reward is great in heaven 100 00:04:41,660 –> 00:04:46,600 for so the persecuted the prophets who 101 00:04:46,700 –> 00:04:49,779 were before you. So three times in three 102 00:04:49,779 –> 00:04:51,940 verses at the climax of the Beatitudes 103 00:04:51,940 –> 00:04:53,619 our Lord Jesus uses this word 104 00:04:53,619 –> 00:04:55,859 persecuted. The word of course means 105 00:04:55,859 –> 00:05:01,359 harassed or opposed or ill-treated. And 106 00:05:01,359 –> 00:05:04,720 Our Lord Jesus says to us, this is what 107 00:05:04,720 –> 00:05:08,399 will happen to you and you should expect 108 00:05:08,399 –> 00:05:12,160 it. The world will not thank you for 109 00:05:12,160 –> 00:05:14,320 being a Christian. The world will not 110 00:05:14,320 –> 00:05:16,480 love the church. Don’t expect that. The 111 00:05:16,559 –> 00:05:18,200 world will tolerate the church with 112 00:05:18,200 –> 00:05:21,859 suspicion at best and will be openly 113 00:05:21,859 –> 00:05:24,440 hostile towards the church at worst. And 114 00:05:25,119 –> 00:05:27,519 Jesus explains this in another place in 115 00:05:27,519 –> 00:05:29,079 John 3 30. 116 00:05:29,079 –> 00:05:31,440 He says everyone who does wicked 117 00:05:31,640 –> 00:05:35,000 hates the light. If you want to do 118 00:05:35,000 –> 00:05:36,679 wicked things, what you have to do is 119 00:05:36,679 –> 00:05:39,339 you have to suppress the light that is 120 00:05:39,339 –> 00:05:41,239 in your own conscience that God has 121 00:05:41,239 –> 00:05:44,600 given you by nature. And when wicked 122 00:05:44,679 –> 00:05:47,279 are in nature, when people manage to 123 00:05:47,279 –> 00:05:49,239 suppress the light that is in their own 124 00:05:49,239 –> 00:05:51,760 conscience they do not like seeing that 125 00:05:51,760 –> 00:05:53,760 light which they have just suppressed in 126 00:05:53,760 –> 00:05:56,079 themselves shining into them because 127 00:05:56,079 –> 00:05:57,899 they see it in you. And you’re working 128 00:05:57,899 –> 00:06:00,720 next to that person, or you’re living 129 00:06:00,720 –> 00:06:02,480 close to that person, or that person is 130 00:06:02,480 –> 00:06:05,359 in your family. So you see if you pursue 131 00:06:05,359 –> 00:06:08,119 this life the Jesus is describing the 132 00:06:08,119 –> 00:06:09,859 light of Jesus Christ is going to be in 133 00:06:09,859 –> 00:06:12,019 you, it is going to shine from you, it’s 134 00:06:12,179 –> 00:06:16,260 in you. And those who pursue wickedness 135 00:06:16,260 –> 00:06:18,299 will not like it. They will hate you for 136 00:06:18,299 –> 00:06:20,880 it. They hate the light and so they’ll 137 00:06:20,880 –> 00:06:23,839 hate you as they hated Jesus. So 138 00:06:23,839 –> 00:06:28,079 don’t expect to be thanked for living a 139 00:06:28,079 –> 00:06:33,980 godly life in business, in industry, and 140 00:06:33,980 –> 00:06:38,380 school, and education. Sinners will be 141 00:06:38,380 –> 00:06:42,480 suspicious of you at best and they will 142 00:06:42,480 –> 00:06:44,799 be openly hostile towards you at worst. 143 00:06:44,799 –> 00:06:47,200 That is what Jesus says. Now today the 144 00:06:47,200 –> 00:06:49,239 pattern of persecution. I want you 145 00:06:49,239 –> 00:06:51,040 simply to see this from from the 146 00:06:51,040 –> 00:06:54,640 Scriptures that opposition is a normal 147 00:06:54,640 –> 00:06:57,299 experience of the Christian and I should 148 00:06:57,299 –> 00:06:59,380 expect it. Remember it runs all the way 149 00:06:59,380 –> 00:07:00,820 through the Bible. What was the first 150 00:07:00,820 –> 00:07:03,260 example of persecution? It happened in 151 00:07:03,260 –> 00:07:06,760 the first family. Remember Adam and Eve? 152 00:07:06,859 –> 00:07:09,320 They have this little boy. Okay what a 153 00:07:09,320 –> 00:07:11,579 lovely fellow. What a ray of sunshine 154 00:07:11,579 –> 00:07:14,160 he’s gonna be to us you know. Lovely 155 00:07:14,160 –> 00:07:16,959 little innocent fellow. They must have 156 00:07:16,959 –> 00:07:18,980 thought. And then he has a 157 00:07:18,980 –> 00:07:20,940 brother called Abel and what happens? 158 00:07:20,940 –> 00:07:25,220 Cain murders Abel. And why did Cain 159 00:07:25,220 –> 00:07:27,059 murder Abel? The Bible tells us quite 160 00:07:27,059 –> 00:07:29,220 clearly because Cain’s deeds were evil 161 00:07:29,220 –> 00:07:33,820 and his brothers were righteous. So 162 00:07:33,820 –> 00:07:36,140 right there the second person born into 163 00:07:36,140 –> 00:07:38,100 the world was the first martyr he was 164 00:07:38,100 –> 00:07:43,260 persecuted for righteousness’ sake. And 165 00:07:43,260 –> 00:07:46,260 the pattern of opposition, harassment, 166 00:07:46,260 –> 00:07:48,619 suffering runs throughout the 167 00:07:48,619 –> 00:07:50,179 history of the Bible and of course 168 00:07:50,179 –> 00:07:52,380 beyond. Think about it – Joseph was 169 00:07:52,380 –> 00:07:55,079 persecuted by his brothers in Egypt. He 170 00:07:55,079 –> 00:07:57,019 gets put into prison. Why for 171 00:07:57,019 –> 00:08:00,380 righteousness sake? Moses is reviled, to 172 00:08:00,380 –> 00:08:03,359 use Jesus word here, insulted again and 173 00:08:04,040 –> 00:08:07,260 again. Samuel is rejected. Elijah is 174 00:08:07,260 –> 00:08:09,679 despised and persecuted. Nehemiah is 175 00:08:09,679 –> 00:08:13,079 oppressed and he is defamed. Stephen in 176 00:08:13,079 –> 00:08:15,720 the New Testament is stoned. Peter and 177 00:08:15,720 –> 00:08:17,579 John are cast into prison. 178 00:08:17,579 –> 00:08:20,320 James is beheaded. The life of the 179 00:08:20,320 –> 00:08:24,220 Apostle Paul is one long saga of one 180 00:08:24,220 –> 00:08:27,260 persecution and event of suffering 181 00:08:27,260 –> 00:08:29,059 after another. 182 00:08:29,059 –> 00:08:30,660 Think not only of the people of the 183 00:08:30,660 –> 00:08:33,159 Bible. Think about the churches in the 184 00:08:33,159 –> 00:08:35,799 New Testament. Philippi, Philippians 185 00:08:35,799 –> 00:08:38,719 chapter 1 at Verse 29, Paul says to the 186 00:08:38,719 –> 00:08:41,219 church there, it has been granted to you 187 00:08:41,219 –> 00:08:42,880 for the sake of Christ that you should 188 00:08:42,880 –> 00:08:45,679 not only believe in him but also suffer. 189 00:08:45,679 –> 00:08:49,239 It’s been given to you to suffer. This new 190 00:08:49,239 –> 00:08:50,840 church in Philippi and of course, Paul 191 00:08:50,840 –> 00:08:52,500 was in prison when he wrote these words 192 00:08:52,500 –> 00:08:55,479 himself, in Thessalonica we ourselves 193 00:08:55,479 –> 00:08:59,000 boast about you in the churches for your 194 00:08:59,000 –> 00:09:00,979 steadfastness and faith in all your 195 00:09:01,020 –> 00:09:03,219 persecution. That church was birthed in 196 00:09:03,219 –> 00:09:06,739 persecution in the town of Thessalonica. 197 00:09:06,739 –> 00:09:10,140 Peter writes to dispersed believers over 198 00:09:10,140 –> 00:09:12,799 a wide area in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadogia, 199 00:09:12,799 –> 00:09:15,700 Asia and Bithynia and he says to them do 200 00:09:15,700 –> 00:09:18,979 not be surprised at the fiery trial when 201 00:09:18,979 –> 00:09:21,940 it comes on you to test you as though 202 00:09:21,940 –> 00:09:23,840 something strange were happening to you. 203 00:09:23,840 –> 00:09:25,359 He says, now it’s going to happen 204 00:09:25,359 –> 00:09:26,900 it’s going to be all over the place 205 00:09:26,900 –> 00:09:28,580 wherever you’ve been dispersed there’s 206 00:09:28,580 –> 00:09:30,700 going to be this persecution and don’t 207 00:09:30,780 –> 00:09:33,619 be surprised when it comes this fiery 208 00:09:33,619 –> 00:09:35,880 trial it is not a strange thing. 209 00:09:35,880 –> 00:09:37,859 You should not say, why is this happening 210 00:09:37,859 –> 00:09:41,419 to me? You should not say that because it’s 211 00:09:41,419 –> 00:09:42,659 happening to your brothers and to your 212 00:09:42,659 –> 00:09:44,739 sisters around the world. 213 00:09:45,940 –> 00:09:47,940 Indeed Paul says to Timothey putting it most 214 00:09:47,940 –> 00:09:49,539 succinctly from Timothy chapter 3 215 00:09:49,539 –> 00:09:53,020 in verse 12, all who desire to live a 216 00:09:53,020 –> 00:09:55,119 godly life in Christ Jesus will be 217 00:09:55,119 –> 00:10:00,200 persecuted period. A godly life in Christ 218 00:10:00,239 –> 00:10:04,119 Jesus? What’s that? The Beatitudes. You 219 00:10:04,119 –> 00:10:05,880 pursue the path of the Beatitude and 220 00:10:05,880 –> 00:10:07,559 Jesus is saying it right here, 221 00:10:07,559 –> 00:10:10,080 Here’s what to expect, blessed by God and 222 00:10:10,080 –> 00:10:16,000 at the same time, persecuted by the world. 223 00:10:16,000 –> 00:10:18,179 So this is what we could call the normal 224 00:10:18,179 –> 00:10:20,039 christian life. 225 00:10:20,039 –> 00:10:23,700 Why? Because the sinful nature is hostile 226 00:10:23,700 –> 00:10:26,000 to God and if it were not already clear 227 00:10:26,000 –> 00:10:27,679 to us, what are we doing at the climax of 228 00:10:27,679 –> 00:10:29,159 the service? We’re coming to the 229 00:10:29,159 –> 00:10:30,599 communion service and what does that 230 00:10:30,599 –> 00:10:33,280 point us to? It points us to this, that 231 00:10:33,280 –> 00:10:36,619 the one who was the Beatitudes incarnate, 232 00:10:36,619 –> 00:10:41,219 the one who was this life to the full, 233 00:10:41,219 –> 00:10:44,919 the one who knew the blessing of god as 234 00:10:44,919 –> 00:10:50,599 no one else, look what the world did to 235 00:10:50,599 –> 00:10:54,219 him. And he says to us John chapter 15 236 00:10:54,219 –> 00:10:57,359 and verse 20, a servant is not greater 237 00:10:57,380 –> 00:11:01,080 than his master. If they persecuted me 238 00:11:01,080 –> 00:11:08,039 and they did they will also persecute 239 00:11:08,039 –> 00:11:11,820 you. And so the eighth beatitude folks 240 00:11:11,820 –> 00:11:17,380 very simply leads us to an expectation 241 00:11:17,380 –> 00:11:21,260 of the normal Christian life which for 242 00:11:21,260 –> 00:11:23,000 all of us who have been blessed in so 243 00:11:23,000 –> 00:11:25,080 many ways in this wonderful country 244 00:11:25,200 –> 00:11:30,599 means a shifting of the default mindset 245 00:11:30,599 –> 00:11:34,419 about our expectations of what a 246 00:11:34,419 –> 00:11:39,619 Christian life should actually look like. 247 00:11:39,619 –> 00:11:44,119 Second the forms of persecution. Do you 248 00:11:44,119 –> 00:11:46,599 notice that in what Jesus says here he 249 00:11:46,599 –> 00:11:49,900 identifies quite clearly two forms of 250 00:11:49,900 –> 00:11:52,020 persecution? It comes in two different 251 00:11:52,020 –> 00:11:54,440 ways and Thomas Whatson who has helped us 252 00:11:54,539 –> 00:11:56,880 so often describes them well. He says the 253 00:11:56,880 –> 00:11:59,400 two forms of persecution are persecution 254 00:11:59,400 –> 00:12:03,500 of the hand and persecution of the tongue. 255 00:12:03,500 –> 00:12:06,799 Persecution of the hand of course. We 256 00:12:06,799 –> 00:12:09,479 understand what that is. Persecution of 257 00:12:09,479 –> 00:12:12,840 the hand is physical violence. It 258 00:12:12,840 –> 00:12:18,799 includes imprisonment, even martyrdom and 259 00:12:18,799 –> 00:12:20,359 this is not so far from us as we think. 260 00:12:20,359 –> 00:12:23,119 Just last week at the end of the 261 00:12:23,119 –> 00:12:26,080 Saturday night service, a student from 262 00:12:26,080 –> 00:12:28,960 Trinity, comes from India, visiting the 263 00:12:28,960 –> 00:12:30,840 Church for the first time, came chatted 264 00:12:30,840 –> 00:12:32,440 with him, got to know him a little bit. 265 00:12:32,440 –> 00:12:34,320 We exchanged stories about India, wanted 266 00:12:34,320 –> 00:12:36,440 to know what part of India he was fromanced 267 00:12:36,440 –> 00:12:38,099 and as we got into conversation, the 268 00:12:38,099 –> 00:12:40,640 student from Trinity he said to me, 269 00:12:40,640 –> 00:12:42,200 Colin said will you please pray for my 270 00:12:42,200 –> 00:12:45,159 home town. He said because last week a 271 00:12:45,159 –> 00:12:49,380 mob came and broke the arms and the legs 272 00:12:49,380 –> 00:12:51,320 of the missionaries who were preaching. 273 00:12:52,219 –> 00:12:55,799 Broke the arms and the legs of the 274 00:12:55,799 –> 00:13:00,000 missionaries who were preaching. It is 275 00:13:00,000 –> 00:13:02,460 very difficult to get accurate numbers 276 00:13:02,460 –> 00:13:05,000 of Christians who have been or are being 277 00:13:05,000 –> 00:13:09,280 killed for openly professing faith in 278 00:13:09,280 –> 00:13:11,320 the Lord Jesus Christ. I have looked at 279 00:13:11,320 –> 00:13:14,239 many numbers and they all fall within a 280 00:13:14,239 –> 00:13:17,200 range that gives us at least some sense 281 00:13:17,200 –> 00:13:19,239 of it and that range is between a 282 00:13:19,580 –> 00:13:21,020 hundred thousand 283 00:13:21,020 –> 00:13:23,599 at the low end of estimate and a 284 00:13:23,599 –> 00:13:25,679 hundred and fifty thousand at the higher 285 00:13:25,679 –> 00:13:30,280 end of Christians who are killed who lay 286 00:13:30,280 –> 00:13:32,020 down their lives for the sake of the 287 00:13:32,020 –> 00:13:33,880 Lord Jesus Christ because of their faith 288 00:13:33,880 –> 00:13:38,140 every year somewhere around the globe. 289 00:13:38,140 –> 00:13:39,979 Now let’s take the low end of that 290 00:13:39,979 –> 00:13:43,280 estimate. The low end is a hundred thousand. The 291 00:13:43,280 –> 00:13:45,640 Church of England newspaper estimated 292 00:13:45,840 –> 00:13:48,340 this is for two thousand and eleven. 293 00:13:48,340 –> 00:13:51,340 One hundred and five thousand believers 294 00:13:51,340 –> 00:13:53,559 killed for their faith somewhere in the 295 00:13:53,559 –> 00:13:57,219 world in 2011. That’s a low end of the 296 00:13:57,219 –> 00:13:59,979 estimates. What does that mean? That is 297 00:13:59,979 –> 00:14:06,460 288 believers killed every day. 298 00:14:06,460 –> 00:14:11,760 Friends, that is twelve an hour. That is one every 299 00:14:12,059 –> 00:14:15,780 Five minutes. One of your brothers and 300 00:14:15,780 –> 00:14:21,940 sisters in Christ. One of our family is 301 00:14:21,940 –> 00:14:25,919 laying down his or her life for Christ 302 00:14:25,919 –> 00:14:28,559 somewhere in the world. Every five 303 00:14:28,559 –> 00:14:34,500 minutes. Every five minutes. Today. 304 00:14:34,700 –> 00:14:43,500 Tomorrow. Day. Day. Night. 24 305 00:14:43,500 –> 00:14:48,039 hours. But I will say this to 306 00:14:48,039 –> 00:14:50,679 you. I do not think at least as 307 00:14:50,679 –> 00:14:54,080 far as I’m aware. I do not 308 00:14:54,080 –> 00:14:57,859 think that our church has yet 309 00:14:57,859 –> 00:15:02,820 had a missionary martyr. But if 310 00:15:03,780 –> 00:15:06,859 through the work of gospel 311 00:15:06,859 –> 00:15:10,780 proclamation around the world. 312 00:15:11,080 –> 00:15:13,960 We should not be surprised if 313 00:15:13,960 –> 00:15:17,659 that costly honor is given to 314 00:15:17,659 –> 00:15:21,739 one of us. We should not be 315 00:15:21,739 –> 00:15:24,960 surprised. Do not be surprised. 316 00:15:24,960 –> 00:15:28,580 If that costly honor is given 317 00:15:29,440 –> 00:15:33,419 to number one for the persecution 318 00:15:33,419 –> 00:15:35,380 of the hand. but then Jesus also 319 00:15:35,380 –> 00:15:36,820 speaks here in verse eleven. Do 320 00:15:36,820 –> 00:15:38,719 you see it there about 321 00:15:38,719 –> 00:15:39,919 persecution of the tongue? He 322 00:15:39,919 –> 00:15:42,500 said first, blessed are those 323 00:15:42,500 –> 00:15:43,119 who are persecuted for 324 00:15:43,119 –> 00:15:44,599 righteousness sake. Verse, 325 00:15:44,599 –> 00:15:46,099 verse ten, that’s physical 326 00:15:46,099 –> 00:15:47,260 violence that’s in view there 327 00:15:47,260 –> 00:15:49,739 But then verse eleven, he says 328 00:15:49,739 –> 00:15:53,000 something else blessed are you 329 00:15:53,000 –> 00:15:53,299 when others revile you and 330 00:15:53,299 –> 00:15:56,979 persecute you Now, what does 331 00:15:56,979 –> 00:15:58,340 it mean to revile to revile? 332 00:15:59,140 –> 00:16:03,580 It is to slander. It is to 333 00:16:03,580 –> 00:16:06,979 mock. It is to ridicule. It is 334 00:16:06,979 –> 00:16:09,219 to intimidate. It is to 335 00:16:09,219 –> 00:16:13,479 torment persecution with the 336 00:16:13,479 –> 00:16:15,559 tongue. and here’s what I want 337 00:16:15,559 –> 00:16:16,979 to speak especially to all of 338 00:16:16,979 –> 00:16:19,780 our high school students across 339 00:16:19,780 –> 00:16:22,559 the congregations this weekend 340 00:16:22,559 –> 00:16:27,559 and our middle school students 341 00:16:27,799 –> 00:16:33,960 with their parents and their 342 00:16:33,960 –> 00:16:35,299 grandparents. if you’re known 343 00:16:35,299 –> 00:16:37,640 to be a Christian in High 344 00:16:37,640 –> 00:16:41,000 School today. you are going to 345 00:16:41,000 –> 00:16:44,400 get some opposition. Apart from 346 00:16:44,400 –> 00:16:46,000 anything else Satan has his eye 347 00:16:46,000 –> 00:16:48,440 on you and there’s never a 348 00:16:48,440 –> 00:16:50,679 situation in which somehow he 349 00:16:50,679 –> 00:16:52,080 gives a break to you until 350 00:16:52,080 –> 00:16:53,380 you’re 21. You know no trouble 351 00:16:53,380 –> 00:16:55,460 until you’re old enough to 352 00:16:55,460 –> 00:16:56,559 drive a car or whatever it 353 00:16:57,119 –> 00:17:00,400 is that. different people, of 354 00:17:00,400 –> 00:17:01,320 course have different 355 00:17:01,320 –> 00:17:03,059 experiences, but here’s what 356 00:17:03,059 –> 00:17:04,719 you should expect. That’s what 357 00:17:04,719 –> 00:17:05,959 we’ve learned from the first 358 00:17:05,959 –> 00:17:07,560 point here, if people know that 359 00:17:07,560 –> 00:17:09,239 you are a Christian even though 360 00:17:09,239 –> 00:17:11,760 you are young expect to be 361 00:17:11,760 –> 00:17:13,040 mocked for believing in Christ. 362 00:17:13,040 –> 00:17:15,680 expect the people are going to 363 00:17:15,680 –> 00:17:16,839 say. You actually believe that 364 00:17:16,839 –> 00:17:18,479 god created the world. You must 365 00:17:18,479 –> 00:17:21,420 be a fool. how could you 366 00:17:21,420 –> 00:17:24,680 possibly think that. and 367 00:17:25,180 –> 00:17:29,000 expect to be mocked and 368 00:17:29,000 –> 00:17:32,599 perhaps ridiculed for obeying 369 00:17:32,599 –> 00:17:35,540 Christ. and particularly I’m 370 00:17:35,540 –> 00:17:37,400 thinking here that if you are 371 00:17:37,400 –> 00:17:39,680 committed to the path of sexual 372 00:17:39,680 –> 00:17:43,859 purity, and if you there for 373 00:17:43,859 –> 00:17:45,800 hold back from the 374 00:17:45,800 –> 00:17:49,119 increasingly relentless sexual 375 00:17:49,119 –> 00:17:50,300 experimentation, that’s 376 00:17:50,300 –> 00:17:52,699 becoming more and more part so 377 00:17:52,780 –> 00:17:55,900 sector of the culture. people 378 00:17:55,900 –> 00:17:59,859 are going to think you’re 379 00:17:59,859 –> 00:18:00,719 strange. They’re going to make 380 00:18:00,719 –> 00:18:02,640 fun of you because of it, 381 00:18:02,640 –> 00:18:04,040 You’re going to be some groups 382 00:18:04,040 –> 00:18:05,380 that you might like to belong 383 00:18:05,380 –> 00:18:06,500 to but because they’re acting 384 00:18:06,500 –> 00:18:08,599 in a certain way and you’re not 385 00:18:08,599 –> 00:18:10,400 you find yourself outside, you 386 00:18:10,400 –> 00:18:14,020 feel yourself to be out cast 387 00:18:14,020 –> 00:18:17,780 socially ostracized. And when 388 00:18:17,780 –> 00:18:19,979 other students know that you 389 00:18:19,979 –> 00:18:21,579 are a Christian and sometimes 390 00:18:22,119 –> 00:18:24,660 they may label you. They may 391 00:18:24,660 –> 00:18:25,819 make your life hard. This is 392 00:18:25,839 –> 00:18:27,060 what Jesus says. You see, 393 00:18:27,060 –> 00:18:28,699 verse eleven that Jesus knows 394 00:18:28,699 –> 00:18:30,099 about what you’re experiencing 395 00:18:30,180 –> 00:18:31,339 in high school. He’s speaking 396 00:18:31,339 –> 00:18:32,920 about it right here. They will 397 00:18:32,920 –> 00:18:36,380 alter all kinds of evil against 398 00:18:36,380 –> 00:18:38,839 you. So many of our students 399 00:18:38,859 –> 00:18:41,020 are actually experiencing in 400 00:18:41,079 –> 00:18:42,439 high school today. It’s exactly 401 00:18:42,439 –> 00:18:43,619 what Jesus says because the 402 00:18:43,619 –> 00:18:45,500 Bible is speaking to your life 403 00:18:45,500 –> 00:18:47,380 when Jesus knows what is going 404 00:18:47,380 –> 00:18:48,859 on and you need to understand 405 00:18:48,859 –> 00:18:50,400 why this is going on. It is 406 00:18:50,579 –> 00:18:52,400 We are behaving in a way that 407 00:18:52,400 –> 00:18:54,800 is displeasing to Christ and 408 00:18:54,800 –> 00:18:56,540 destructive to themselves. 409 00:18:56,800 –> 00:18:58,140 They’re already suppressing the 410 00:18:58,140 –> 00:18:59,479 light of their own conscience 411 00:18:59,479 –> 00:19:00,479 and now they’re seeing that 412 00:19:00,479 –> 00:19:01,400 light in you and they don’t 413 00:19:01,400 –> 00:19:08,199 like it. They hate it. My own 414 00:19:08,199 –> 00:19:10,640 experience on this score was 415 00:19:10,640 –> 00:19:13,920 really pretty tame. There was 416 00:19:13,920 –> 00:19:16,160 one teacher however who had it 417 00:19:16,180 –> 00:19:19,839 in for me and he was a good 418 00:19:20,839 –> 00:19:22,479 man. As far as teaching was 419 00:19:22,479 –> 00:19:23,780 concerned. I actually, a great 420 00:19:23,780 –> 00:19:26,760 deal to him. He was a 421 00:19:26,760 –> 00:19:31,040 vitriolic to committed atheist 422 00:19:31,040 –> 00:19:36,339 and he had a real to grind 423 00:19:36,339 –> 00:19:39,680 against Christians and because I 424 00:19:39,680 –> 00:19:41,199 was one of those that was part 425 00:19:41,199 –> 00:19:42,739 of the Christian Union. We had a 426 00:19:42,739 –> 00:19:44,439 group of about 20 of us just 20 427 00:19:44,439 –> 00:19:46,680 in the entire school and uh we 428 00:19:46,680 –> 00:19:48,439 were the Christian Union and I 429 00:19:49,000 –> 00:19:50,300 was part of that for my first 430 00:19:50,300 –> 00:19:51,939 year in the school and later on 431 00:19:51,939 –> 00:19:53,439 I grew up in the school as one 432 00:19:53,439 –> 00:19:54,420 of the leaders of the group. So, 433 00:19:54,420 –> 00:19:55,839 I guess we nailed our colors to 434 00:19:55,839 –> 00:19:57,579 the mast and we’re thought to be 435 00:19:57,579 –> 00:20:00,579 fair game. So, I regularly got 436 00:20:00,579 –> 00:20:02,959 on the wrong end of bar comments 437 00:20:02,959 –> 00:20:05,979 that were made in class. When I 438 00:20:05,979 –> 00:20:09,000 left school, I went to, to see 439 00:20:09,000 –> 00:20:10,199 this teacher, thanking for what 440 00:20:10,199 –> 00:20:12,199 he’d done for me which had, he’d 441 00:20:12,199 –> 00:20:13,640 helped me and mathematics which 442 00:20:13,640 –> 00:20:17,040 was his subject for sure. I 443 00:20:17,040 –> 00:20:18,300 never forget the very brief 444 00:20:18,540 –> 00:20:21,199 conversation. What are you gonna 445 00:20:21,199 –> 00:20:25,540 do with your life Smith? And I 446 00:20:25,540 –> 00:20:28,079 said to him, well, I wanna be a 447 00:20:28,079 –> 00:20:32,579 pastor. Absolute waste of a 448 00:20:32,579 –> 00:20:37,479 perfectly good brain. I found 449 00:20:37,479 –> 00:20:40,439 out years later that this man 450 00:20:40,439 –> 00:20:44,160 had a sister who was a missionary 451 00:20:44,160 –> 00:20:48,119 in China. You never know 452 00:20:48,560 –> 00:20:52,479 what’s behind the hostility. 453 00:20:52,479 –> 00:20:56,420 what God is actually doing. in 454 00:20:56,420 –> 00:20:59,459 a person who persists with 455 00:20:59,459 –> 00:21:01,180 twisted and barbed comments. 456 00:21:01,180 –> 00:21:03,079 What God is actually doing in 457 00:21:03,079 –> 00:21:04,619 their life and he may be doing 458 00:21:04,619 –> 00:21:06,680 more in the life of a person 459 00:21:06,680 –> 00:21:09,219 into whose life your light is 460 00:21:09,219 –> 00:21:13,520 shining then you will ever ever 461 00:21:13,520 –> 00:21:15,680 realize. and moving a 462 00:21:15,680 –> 00:21:17,079 generation forward, I have two 463 00:21:18,040 –> 00:21:20,800 friends who went through a high 464 00:21:20,800 –> 00:21:22,939 school here and one of them 465 00:21:22,939 –> 00:21:27,079 went through a in high school 466 00:21:27,079 –> 00:21:28,479 where a particular teacher went 467 00:21:28,479 –> 00:21:30,079 way overbounds. I mean way 468 00:21:30,079 –> 00:21:33,579 over bounds in making barbed 469 00:21:33,579 –> 00:21:35,140 comments about my son’s faith 470 00:21:35,140 –> 00:21:37,079 and about his commitment to 471 00:21:37,079 –> 00:21:38,540 sexual purity and I remember 472 00:21:38,540 –> 00:21:39,880 wondering as a father. What 473 00:21:39,880 –> 00:21:42,939 should I do about this should 474 00:21:42,939 –> 00:21:46,280 we complain. Should we make an 475 00:21:46,280 –> 00:21:47,000 adjustment to his schedules 476 00:21:47,800 –> 00:21:51,099 or whatever. or whatever. 477 00:21:51,099 –> 00:21:52,560 Here’s what we found and I give 478 00:21:52,560 –> 00:21:53,000 you this as my personal 479 00:21:53,000 –> 00:21:57,160 testimony no more. 480 00:21:57,160 –> 00:21:59,819 In the kindness of the lord. 481 00:21:59,819 –> 00:22:03,920 we saw our son grew in 482 00:22:03,920 –> 00:22:07,520 strength. spiritually over a 483 00:22:07,520 –> 00:22:09,859 period of about 6 months that 484 00:22:09,859 –> 00:22:11,859 was unmatched either before or 485 00:22:11,859 –> 00:22:14,020 even since something happened 486 00:22:14,739 –> 00:22:19,380 got worse in it was as if he 487 00:22:19,380 –> 00:22:23,040 rose to it. 1516 years old. it 488 00:22:23,040 –> 00:22:26,939 was as if some spine came into 489 00:22:26,939 –> 00:22:29,140 him. It was as if he was saying 490 00:22:29,140 –> 00:22:32,739 and that we heard him saying. 491 00:22:32,739 –> 00:22:34,420 I’m not going to be bowled over 492 00:22:34,420 –> 00:22:37,020 by this. and then I began to 493 00:22:37,020 –> 00:22:38,839 think, you know, this isn’t all 494 00:22:38,839 –> 00:22:40,739 so bad. I’d rather he’s pushing 495 00:22:40,739 –> 00:22:41,739 against that teacher than 496 00:22:41,800 –> 00:22:45,800 through his mouth anyway. 497 00:22:51,260 –> 00:22:54,939 God put strength into him by the 498 00:22:54,939 –> 00:22:58,500 opposition that he faced. god’s 499 00:22:58,500 –> 00:23:01,000 hand was in it. And it was not 500 00:23:01,000 –> 00:23:02,699 long before man and I said to 501 00:23:02,699 –> 00:23:08,599 each other, you know. God meant 502 00:23:08,599 –> 00:23:11,300 it for good. There’s a 503 00:23:11,300 –> 00:23:14,199 opposition helps you grow as a 504 00:23:14,199 –> 00:23:17,400 Christian. It is Paul says 505 00:23:17,400 –> 00:23:19,800 through many tribulations that 506 00:23:19,800 –> 00:23:21,739 we must enter into the kingdom 507 00:23:21,739 –> 00:23:24,800 of god. Encourage those of you 508 00:23:24,800 –> 00:23:27,160 who are younger. Ask any older 509 00:23:27,160 –> 00:23:29,000 Christian, how it was that you 510 00:23:29,000 –> 00:23:30,699 grew, what it was in your life 511 00:23:30,699 –> 00:23:32,199 that you grew most and you’ll 512 00:23:32,199 –> 00:23:33,839 get the same answer. And those 513 00:23:33,839 –> 00:23:35,300 of you who are older here in 514 00:23:35,300 –> 00:23:36,660 this congregation will testify 515 00:23:36,660 –> 00:23:37,939 to this. It was when you went 516 00:23:37,939 –> 00:23:38,939 through something really tough, 517 00:23:38,939 –> 00:23:40,839 was it not? That was when your 518 00:23:40,839 –> 00:23:43,239 faith was proved. That was when 519 00:23:43,239 –> 00:23:44,439 you found the nearness of 520 00:23:44,439 –> 00:23:47,140 Christ. That was when the deep 521 00:23:47,140 –> 00:23:49,099 roots were really put down. And 522 00:23:49,099 –> 00:23:50,000 what is true for us 523 00:23:50,000 –> 00:23:51,640 individually, you see, is also 524 00:23:51,640 –> 00:23:53,300 true for the church as a group. 525 00:23:53,300 –> 00:23:55,540 um it’s true for us together. 526 00:23:55,540 –> 00:23:57,900 That persecution has a 527 00:23:57,900 –> 00:24:00,660 sanctifying effect on the 528 00:24:00,660 –> 00:24:02,959 church. Just why it comes at 529 00:24:02,959 –> 00:24:06,239 the end of the beatitudes. Will 530 00:24:06,239 –> 00:24:07,540 never forget the immense 531 00:24:07,540 –> 00:24:08,939 privilege that we had. Some of 532 00:24:08,939 –> 00:24:10,000 you will remember this well, 533 00:24:10,599 –> 00:24:12,459 two years ago, we had the 534 00:24:12,459 –> 00:24:13,900 Fernando speaking from this 535 00:24:13,900 –> 00:24:15,459 very pulpit and in the course 536 00:24:15,459 –> 00:24:17,560 of his sermon, he told us about 537 00:24:17,560 –> 00:24:19,959 the history of the church in 538 00:24:19,959 –> 00:24:21,800 his home country of Sri Lanka 539 00:24:21,800 –> 00:24:23,959 and paraphrasing what he said. 540 00:24:23,959 –> 00:24:25,420 It was along these lines. He 541 00:24:25,420 –> 00:24:27,520 said, now, for the years of 542 00:24:27,520 –> 00:24:30,800 British rule in Sri Lanka, the 543 00:24:30,800 –> 00:24:32,459 church was very comfortably 544 00:24:32,459 –> 00:24:35,160 positioned. The British rule 545 00:24:35,160 –> 00:24:37,119 was kind of bani towards the 546 00:24:37,119 –> 00:24:38,619 church and in fact, bishops, 547 00:24:38,640 –> 00:24:41,239 with the table of power and 548 00:24:41,239 –> 00:24:43,040 influence in government house 549 00:24:43,040 –> 00:24:44,619 and all this kind of thing and 550 00:24:44,619 –> 00:24:46,319 he said throughout all of these 551 00:24:46,319 –> 00:24:48,020 years, there was very little 552 00:24:48,020 –> 00:24:50,540 persecution and very few 553 00:24:50,540 –> 00:24:54,420 conversions. Then, the British 554 00:24:54,420 –> 00:24:59,140 go. In comes a militant and 555 00:24:59,140 –> 00:25:01,719 aggressive Hindu government, 556 00:25:01,719 –> 00:25:06,979 persecution, youth workers in 557 00:25:07,979 –> 00:25:11,280 banking and conversions 558 00:25:11,280 –> 00:25:14,579 everywhere. Now, to be sure 559 00:25:14,579 –> 00:25:18,180 something else happens and this 560 00:25:18,180 –> 00:25:21,300 won’t surprise you When 561 00:25:21,300 –> 00:25:25,540 persecution comes. people who 562 00:25:25,540 –> 00:25:28,979 are Christians in name only 563 00:25:28,979 –> 00:25:32,680 leave the church in droves. So, 564 00:25:32,680 –> 00:25:36,140 here we are in America and all 565 00:25:36,780 –> 00:25:39,660 perceives. 80% of Americans 566 00:25:39,660 –> 00:25:41,699 profess to be Christian. As 567 00:25:41,699 –> 00:25:45,239 soon as there’s some 568 00:25:45,239 –> 00:25:46,339 persecution, How many are still 569 00:25:46,339 –> 00:25:49,000 going to be there? It’s going 570 00:25:49,000 –> 00:25:52,760 to be costly. I’m out of here. 571 00:25:52,760 –> 00:25:53,660 Is that what you would say? 572 00:25:53,660 –> 00:25:57,660 Yeah. the church actually ends 573 00:25:57,660 –> 00:25:59,239 up being shrunk very, very 574 00:25:59,239 –> 00:26:00,359 quickly. As soon as this 575 00:26:00,359 –> 00:26:02,959 happens, it gets smaller but 576 00:26:02,959 –> 00:26:03,959 those who remain find 577 00:26:04,780 –> 00:26:07,520 suffering as never before. The 578 00:26:07,520 –> 00:26:09,079 bonds of fellowship grow 579 00:26:09,079 –> 00:26:10,959 closer. They become more real 580 00:26:10,959 –> 00:26:12,959 than ever before. The spiritual 581 00:26:12,959 –> 00:26:15,380 temperature risesand 582 00:26:15,380 –> 00:26:16,119 unconverted people see 583 00:26:16,119 –> 00:26:19,979 something that is real and 584 00:26:19,979 –> 00:26:24,020 they are drawn to it. That’s 585 00:26:24,020 –> 00:26:26,459 how suffering has a sanctifying 586 00:26:26,459 –> 00:26:28,060 effect on the church and Jesus 587 00:26:28,060 –> 00:26:31,119 told us that happened across 588 00:26:31,119 –> 00:26:33,880 the whole nation. 589 00:26:33,900 –> 00:26:36,099 I have absolutely no doubt in 590 00:26:36,099 –> 00:26:37,939 my mind that the culture in 591 00:26:37,939 –> 00:26:40,900 which we live and serve is 592 00:26:40,900 –> 00:26:43,199 becoming more hostile towards 593 00:26:43,199 –> 00:26:44,739 Christians and churches. You 594 00:26:44,739 –> 00:26:47,099 can all see that. Anyone who’s 595 00:26:47,099 –> 00:26:48,500 observing our country and loves 596 00:26:48,500 –> 00:26:51,040 our country can see that. for 597 00:26:51,040 –> 00:26:54,000 200 years and more, the culture 598 00:26:54,000 –> 00:26:55,780 in which we live has been very 599 00:26:55,780 –> 00:26:59,400 kind, very supportive towards 600 00:26:59,400 –> 00:27:01,780 Christians, but any observant 601 00:27:01,780 –> 00:27:03,099 person can see that that is 602 00:27:03,119 –> 00:27:07,300 changing fast. No one should be 603 00:27:07,300 –> 00:27:12,819 wishing persecution but if God 604 00:27:12,819 –> 00:27:14,920 should allow us to suffer for 605 00:27:14,920 –> 00:27:16,920 our faith in ways that we have 606 00:27:16,920 –> 00:27:18,959 not before, we should be 607 00:27:18,959 –> 00:27:21,160 praying that he will use that 608 00:27:21,160 –> 00:27:23,699 for the reviving of his church 609 00:27:23,699 –> 00:27:26,099 here in this great country 610 00:27:26,099 –> 00:27:29,119 which is desperately needed. 611 00:27:29,119 –> 00:27:32,459 Desperately needed. The 612 00:27:33,180 –> 00:27:36,500 attitudes show how this works. 613 00:27:36,500 –> 00:27:39,020 See, here’s this area right at 614 00:27:39,020 –> 00:27:40,099 the end and it’s about 615 00:27:40,099 –> 00:27:41,400 persecution. What happens when 616 00:27:41,400 –> 00:27:43,719 persecution comes? Well, you 617 00:27:43,719 –> 00:27:45,760 realize immediately what I 618 00:27:45,760 –> 00:27:50,099 don’t have what it takes and so 619 00:27:50,099 –> 00:27:51,599 what you’re cast back upon the 620 00:27:51,599 –> 00:27:52,939 lord and suddenly where are you? 621 00:27:52,939 –> 00:27:55,959 You’re poor in spirit and then 622 00:27:55,959 –> 00:27:57,040 when it comes, what happens 623 00:27:57,040 –> 00:27:58,599 next? You begin to say, well, 624 00:27:58,599 –> 00:28:00,400 now, how could I possibly have 625 00:28:00,400 –> 00:28:04,099 done wrong? and you’re beginning 626 00:28:04,099 –> 00:28:05,540 to mourn your own sin. You’re 627 00:28:05,540 –> 00:28:06,640 going to see your life in an 628 00:28:06,640 –> 00:28:08,079 entirely different way. You 629 00:28:08,079 –> 00:28:08,780 thought you were doing great as 630 00:28:08,780 –> 00:28:10,439 a Christian. Now you say I had 631 00:28:10,439 –> 00:28:13,400 hardly begun Then you begin to 632 00:28:13,400 –> 00:28:15,140 say, well, I’ve got to make 633 00:28:15,140 –> 00:28:16,800 submit to the will of god even 634 00:28:16,800 –> 00:28:17,939 where it’s costly and 635 00:28:17,939 –> 00:28:19,180 especially where it’s costly 636 00:28:19,180 –> 00:28:20,439 and I’ve got to try to do what 637 00:28:20,439 –> 00:28:22,339 is right here in order to honor 638 00:28:22,339 –> 00:28:23,439 Christ and as you’re doing 639 00:28:23,439 –> 00:28:25,000 these things, what’s going to 640 00:28:25,000 –> 00:28:25,599 happen? you’re going to find 641 00:28:25,599 –> 00:28:26,880 compassion that’s growing in 642 00:28:26,880 –> 00:28:29,500 you and purity that’s growing 643 00:28:29,599 –> 00:28:30,300 in you. You’re going to find 644 00:28:30,300 –> 00:28:32,680 peace that is coming to you and 645 00:28:32,680 –> 00:28:33,839 the world will see more of 646 00:28:33,839 –> 00:28:35,140 that and because they see that 647 00:28:35,140 –> 00:28:36,380 light, they’ll hit you even 648 00:28:36,380 –> 00:28:37,579 more and the whole cycle 649 00:28:37,579 –> 00:28:42,739 begins all over again. 650 00:28:42,780 –> 00:28:46,839 Christian growth purity. Years 651 00:28:46,839 –> 00:28:48,880 ago, while I was serving as a 652 00:28:48,880 –> 00:28:50,239 pastor in England. Now, this 653 00:28:50,239 –> 00:28:52,699 must be more than 20 years ago, 654 00:28:52,699 –> 00:28:57,599 there was a relatively young 655 00:28:58,300 –> 00:28:59,540 national denomination, the 656 00:28:59,540 –> 00:29:00,979 free church denomination I was 657 00:29:00,979 –> 00:29:03,000 serving over there and his name 658 00:29:03,000 –> 00:29:05,640 was John Piper. Lot of years 659 00:29:05,640 –> 00:29:06,979 ago, a lot more people have 660 00:29:06,979 –> 00:29:08,680 heard of John Piper now than 661 00:29:08,680 –> 00:29:11,040 perhaps then but he made an 662 00:29:11,040 –> 00:29:12,380 extraordinary comment and I’m 663 00:29:12,380 –> 00:29:13,800 sitting as a pastor in England 664 00:29:13,800 –> 00:29:15,900 listening to this and I thought 665 00:29:15,900 –> 00:29:17,000 it extraordinary at the time 666 00:29:17,000 –> 00:29:18,500 but I feel I understand it much 667 00:29:18,500 –> 00:29:21,680 better now but he said to our 668 00:29:21,680 –> 00:29:23,339 denominational conference more 669 00:29:24,339 –> 00:29:25,819 Americ 670 00:29:26,819 –> 00:29:29,119 is one of the hardest places in 671 00:29:29,119 –> 00:29:30,520 the world to be a true 672 00:29:30,520 –> 00:29:32,439 Christian and I’m thinking to 673 00:29:32,439 –> 00:29:34,719 myself that cannot be possibly 674 00:29:34,719 –> 00:29:38,540 true and having been here for 675 00:29:38,540 –> 00:29:41,219 16 years and loving this 676 00:29:41,219 –> 00:29:45,020 country so much as we all do. I 677 00:29:45,020 –> 00:29:46,219 now understand what he was 678 00:29:46,219 –> 00:29:49,979 saying because the blessings of 679 00:29:49,979 –> 00:29:53,079 freedom produce an expectation 680 00:29:53,119 –> 00:29:56,439 of a comfortable life and a 681 00:29:56,439 –> 00:29:58,219 comfortable life produces a 682 00:29:58,219 –> 00:30:02,079 lethargy of spirit and friends I 683 00:30:02,079 –> 00:30:03,319 say from the depth of my being 684 00:30:03,319 –> 00:30:08,140 that is why fasting and giving 685 00:30:09,079 –> 00:30:12,540 and serving and risking are so 686 00:30:12,540 –> 00:30:14,439 important for our spiritual 687 00:30:14,439 –> 00:30:18,579 health because you cannot follow 688 00:30:18,579 –> 00:30:20,140 Christ far living within the 689 00:30:20,439 –> 00:30:26,979 comfort zone. Can’t. Some of you 690 00:30:26,979 –> 00:30:29,099 in the congregation and the last 691 00:30:29,099 –> 00:30:30,380 years it’s become a very, very 692 00:30:30,380 –> 00:30:33,140 fast growing number as the 693 00:30:33,140 –> 00:30:35,439 congregation has become more and 694 00:30:35,439 –> 00:30:37,380 more and more and wonderfully 695 00:30:37,380 –> 00:30:39,339 diverse people from all 696 00:30:39,339 –> 00:30:43,780 backgrounds. many of you now do 697 00:30:43,780 –> 00:30:45,800 have stories about how you have 698 00:30:45,800 –> 00:30:47,800 suffered some of you have been 699 00:30:48,060 –> 00:30:52,099 complacent. now here you are 700 00:30:52,099 –> 00:30:53,660 part of this congregation. I 701 00:30:53,660 –> 00:30:55,500 tell you we need you and we 702 00:30:55,500 –> 00:30:59,099 need your stories. They will 703 00:30:59,099 –> 00:31:00,500 strengthen the rest of us who 704 00:31:00,500 –> 00:31:02,400 have to overcome this lethargy 705 00:31:02,400 –> 00:31:04,599 that so easily comes with a 706 00:31:04,599 –> 00:31:06,060 comfortable life to which we 707 00:31:06,060 –> 00:31:08,959 have become to used so share 708 00:31:08,959 –> 00:31:10,699 your stories with a life group 709 00:31:10,699 –> 00:31:12,599 share them with one of the 710 00:31:12,599 –> 00:31:13,900 pastors share them with with 711 00:31:13,900 –> 00:31:15,719 me. Let us encourage one 712 00:31:15,880 –> 00:31:20,319 The up as the Church of Christ 713 00:31:20,319 –> 00:31:23,579 to attempt great things will 714 00:31:23,579 –> 00:31:24,979 will prevail among us. I want 715 00:31:24,979 –> 00:31:28,680 to say more about that tonight. 716 00:31:28,680 –> 00:31:29,920 and here’s the very last thing 717 00:31:29,920 –> 00:31:32,479 for now I want you to look at 718 00:31:32,479 –> 00:31:35,380 the outcome of persecution and 719 00:31:35,380 –> 00:31:38,119 notice that Jesus specifies two 720 00:31:38,119 –> 00:31:40,680 wonderful wonderful outcomes. 721 00:31:40,680 –> 00:31:42,819 The first is great blessing and 722 00:31:42,819 –> 00:31:44,520 the second is great reward. 723 00:31:44,520 –> 00:31:45,619 Let’s just look at great 724 00:31:45,619 –> 00:31:46,959 blessings right from 1 to ten 725 00:31:46,959 –> 00:31:50,180 and eleven blessed are those 726 00:31:50,180 –> 00:31:51,180 who are persecuted for 727 00:31:51,180 –> 00:31:54,280 righteousness sake blessed are 728 00:31:54,280 –> 00:31:58,680 you when others revile you now 729 00:31:58,680 –> 00:32:01,160 the reward comes later, but the 730 00:32:01,160 –> 00:32:03,060 blessing that Jesus speaks about 731 00:32:03,060 –> 00:32:04,359 to believers is something that 732 00:32:04,359 –> 00:32:06,520 believers experience now. How 733 00:32:06,520 –> 00:32:07,719 can believers be blessed if 734 00:32:07,719 –> 00:32:09,020 they’re persecuted? Well, Jesus 735 00:32:09,020 –> 00:32:10,680 says they are the two go 736 00:32:10,680 –> 00:32:12,119 together. it’s hard for us to 737 00:32:12,119 –> 00:32:13,959 understand that but he says as 738 00:32:13,959 –> 00:32:15,459 you experience this, you’re 739 00:32:15,819 –> 00:32:17,260 saved but there will be a 740 00:32:17,260 –> 00:32:18,359 blessing that will be greater 741 00:32:18,359 –> 00:32:21,319 than you have known before. and 742 00:32:21,319 –> 00:32:22,420 the Bible of course is full of 743 00:32:22,420 –> 00:32:24,560 this. There is a fellowship of 744 00:32:24,560 –> 00:32:26,219 Christ’s sufferings that Paul 745 00:32:26,219 –> 00:32:29,459 speaks about there is a 746 00:32:29,459 –> 00:32:31,859 communion with Jesus Christ, an 747 00:32:31,859 –> 00:32:33,959 anointing of the spirit that 748 00:32:33,959 –> 00:32:36,300 comes to a man or to a woman in 749 00:32:36,300 –> 00:32:38,079 facing opposition in regards to 750 00:32:38,079 –> 00:32:39,520 the advance of the gospel that 751 00:32:39,520 –> 00:32:41,079 is greater than anything you 752 00:32:41,079 –> 00:32:43,079 will experience at any other 753 00:32:43,079 –> 00:32:44,959 time or in any situation. Let 754 00:32:45,020 –> 00:32:47,719 me just quote a quote from 755 00:32:47,719 –> 00:32:50,319 Samuel Rutherford, a pastor who 756 00:32:50,319 –> 00:32:52,099 testifies in this way. very 757 00:32:52,099 –> 00:32:53,660 simply, he’s been a preacher for 758 00:32:53,660 –> 00:32:56,199 nine years and he said this, I 759 00:32:56,199 –> 00:33:00,900 never knew in my nine years of 760 00:33:00,900 –> 00:33:05,040 preaching so much of Christ’s 761 00:33:05,040 –> 00:33:10,579 love as he taught me in 762 00:33:10,579 –> 00:33:12,479 Aberdeen through six months 763 00:33:12,640 –> 00:33:16,020 preaching. Is that not 764 00:33:16,020 –> 00:33:17,680 striking to you? This is 765 00:33:17,680 –> 00:33:19,540 pastor mean, standing as I’m 766 00:33:19,540 –> 00:33:21,479 standing now preaching been 767 00:33:21,479 –> 00:33:24,160 doing it for nine years. and 768 00:33:24,160 –> 00:33:26,079 this was the experience of his 769 00:33:26,079 –> 00:33:30,060 own soul. I never knew as much 770 00:33:30,060 –> 00:33:32,219 of the love of Christ in 9 771 00:33:32,219 –> 00:33:34,099 years of preaching as I 772 00:33:34,099 –> 00:33:35,300 discovered in just six months 773 00:33:35,300 –> 00:33:37,400 when I was slung in prison in 774 00:33:37,400 –> 00:33:40,540 Aberdeen. Why? because what 775 00:33:40,540 –> 00:33:40,939 Jesus speaks of in this 776 00:33:41,579 –> 00:33:43,560 experience he was persecuted 777 00:33:43,560 –> 00:33:44,959 and and he enters into 778 00:33:44,959 –> 00:33:46,900 blessing in a whole new way 779 00:33:46,900 –> 00:33:49,739 and the Spirit of the Lord is 780 00:33:49,739 –> 00:33:51,300 upon him and the knowledge of 781 00:33:51,300 –> 00:33:52,880 the love of Christ is given to 782 00:33:52,880 –> 00:33:54,719 him. Peter puts it this way 1 783 00:33:54,719 –> 00:33:56,040 Peter chapter four and verse 784 00:33:56,040 –> 00:33:58,780 fourteen if you are insulted 785 00:33:58,780 –> 00:34:00,880 for the name of Christ that 786 00:34:00,880 –> 00:34:02,280 speaks directly to some in 787 00:34:02,280 –> 00:34:04,280 high school and certainly in 788 00:34:04,280 –> 00:34:05,479 all kinds of ways whatever 789 00:34:05,479 –> 00:34:07,719 your age even here if you are 790 00:34:07,719 –> 00:34:08,719 insulted for the name of 791 00:34:08,719 –> 00:34:10,919 Christ, you are blessed 792 00:34:11,479 –> 00:34:13,520 for the spirit of glory and of 793 00:34:13,520 –> 00:34:18,320 God rests on you. Oh how much I 794 00:34:18,320 –> 00:34:20,179 pray don’t you pray for the 795 00:34:20,179 –> 00:34:22,560 Spirit of God and glory to 796 00:34:22,560 –> 00:34:24,959 evidently rest upon my life 797 00:34:24,959 –> 00:34:26,879 Peter says, well, here’s what 798 00:34:26,879 –> 00:34:28,479 it’ll happen more than in any 799 00:34:28,479 –> 00:34:31,360 other way in it. any other 800 00:34:31,360 –> 00:34:33,719 time. You’ll enter into the 801 00:34:33,719 –> 00:34:34,919 fellowship of Christ’s 802 00:34:34,919 –> 00:34:35,959 sufferings one picture and 803 00:34:35,959 –> 00:34:39,699 then we’re through you 804 00:34:40,639 –> 00:34:44,000 The most wonderful truth of 805 00:34:44,000 –> 00:34:46,600 blessing in affliction is 806 00:34:46,600 –> 00:34:48,800 pictured for us in the story. 807 00:34:48,800 –> 00:34:50,840 It really happened in the book 808 00:34:50,840 –> 00:34:56,540 of Daniel. Three men. 809 00:34:56,939 –> 00:35:01,320 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed 810 00:35:01,320 –> 00:35:05,219 Neil. and there’s this. 811 00:35:05,219 –> 00:35:06,419 fearsome king and he’s 812 00:35:06,419 –> 00:35:08,620 command that everyone bows 813 00:35:09,540 –> 00:35:13,379 around. and so persecution 814 00:35:13,379 –> 00:35:15,419 comes and it’s an awful 815 00:35:15,419 –> 00:35:17,620 persecution. There is this 816 00:35:17,620 –> 00:35:20,219 fiery furnace. And the men are 817 00:35:20,219 –> 00:35:21,320 brought out. you can read it in 818 00:35:21,320 –> 00:35:23,399 Daniel in chapter three and 819 00:35:23,399 –> 00:35:25,000 their hands are bound and then 820 00:35:25,000 –> 00:35:26,399 bindings go around their 821 00:35:26,399 –> 00:35:29,260 tunics and so can you picture 822 00:35:29,260 –> 00:35:31,239 them and there’s this fiery 823 00:35:31,239 –> 00:35:32,899 furnace and and the three of 824 00:35:32,899 –> 00:35:36,639 them are thrown in there by the 825 00:35:36,639 –> 00:35:38,199 king And what a grizzly mind 826 00:35:38,560 –> 00:35:43,100 they look into the furnace. and 827 00:35:43,100 –> 00:35:45,639 there’s and he’s looking into 828 00:35:45,639 –> 00:35:50,659 the flames and that’ll fix him 829 00:35:50,659 –> 00:35:53,199 and I can’t believe what he 830 00:35:53,199 –> 00:35:55,040 sees. He says to one of his 831 00:35:55,040 –> 00:36:00,080 counselors, Was it not three 832 00:36:00,080 –> 00:36:03,320 men that we threw into that 833 00:36:03,320 –> 00:36:04,820 furnace? Yes. Okay. They say, I 834 00:36:04,820 –> 00:36:06,459 guess if you’re a counselor to 835 00:36:06,459 –> 00:36:08,020 you’re just going to say yes to 836 00:36:08,879 –> 00:36:15,280 that and say yes, yes, Then why 837 00:36:15,280 –> 00:36:19,560 do I see four men? and they are 838 00:36:19,560 –> 00:36:25,280 walking and they are not bound 839 00:36:25,280 –> 00:36:29,439 and the fourth one looks like 840 00:36:29,439 –> 00:36:35,300 the son of god. walking with 841 00:36:35,500 –> 00:36:43,179 children. of affliction. Great 842 00:36:43,639 –> 00:36:47,139 blessing. and with it, great 843 00:36:47,600 –> 00:36:49,620 reward your reward will be 844 00:36:49,620 –> 00:36:50,479 great in heaven. By the way, 845 00:36:50,479 –> 00:36:52,179 does that mean that the reward 846 00:36:52,179 –> 00:36:53,520 of some people in heaven will 847 00:36:53,520 –> 00:36:57,879 be greater than others? Well, 848 00:36:57,879 –> 00:37:00,060 shamelessly, I say for that you 849 00:37:00,060 –> 00:37:03,199 have to come back tonight. Let’s 850 00:37:03,199 –> 00:37:03,659 pray together. 851 00:37:06,239 –> 00:37:08,000 I feel as someone who has been 852 00:37:08,000 –> 00:37:09,959 blessed with such great freedom 853 00:37:09,959 –> 00:37:13,959 and so many privileges relative 854 00:37:13,959 –> 00:37:17,280 to my brothers who passed her 855 00:37:17,280 –> 00:37:19,840 around the world and I’m 856 00:37:19,840 –> 00:37:23,739 preaching here beyond myself. 857 00:37:23,739 –> 00:37:24,840 I think all of us have some 858 00:37:24,840 –> 00:37:26,879 sense right now of being called 859 00:37:26,879 –> 00:37:28,560 beyond ourselves but 860 00:37:28,560 –> 00:37:33,719 nonetheless being called by you 861 00:38:03,739 –> 00:38:06,840 through Jesus Christ in 862 00:38:06,840 –> 00:38:11,000 whose name I pray. 863 00:38:11,000 –> 00:38:13,860 Amen. 864 00:38:13,860 –> 00:38:15,040 You’ve been listening to a 865 00:38:15,040 –> 00:38:16,399 sermon with Pastor Colin 866 00:38:16,399 –> 00:38:17,959 Smith of Open The Bible 867 00:38:17,959 –> 00:38:19,580 to contact us call us at 868 00:38:19,580 –> 00:38:23,979 1-877-Open365 or visit our 869 00:38:23,979 –> 00:38:24,939 website 870 00:38:24,939 –> 00:38:30,179 www.openthebible.org