1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,120 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 2 00:00:07,120 –> 00:00:14,820 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN365 or visit our website, 3 00:00:14,820 –> 00:00:16,600 openthebible.org. 4 00:00:16,600 –> 00:00:17,600 Let’s get to the message. 5 00:00:17,600 –> 00:00:21,059 Here is Pastor Colin… 6 00:00:21,059 –> 00:00:29,459 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 7 00:00:29,459 –> 00:00:36,340 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil 8 00:00:36,340 –> 00:00:39,880 against you falsely on my account. 9 00:00:39,880 –> 00:00:48,700 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets 10 00:00:48,700 –> 00:00:51,939 who were before you. 11 00:00:51,939 –> 00:00:56,599 And we looked this morning at the pattern of persecution, that this is the normal experience 12 00:00:56,599 –> 00:00:58,000 of a Christian life. 13 00:00:58,500 –> 00:01:02,880 Our Lord Jesus said, if they persecuted me, and they certainly did, they will persecute 14 00:01:02,880 –> 00:01:04,459 you also. 15 00:01:04,459 –> 00:01:11,019 If the world hates you, keep in mind, Jesus says, that it hated me first. 16 00:01:11,019 –> 00:01:16,180 Then we saw that persecution takes two forms, there is the persecution of the hand. 17 00:01:16,180 –> 00:01:21,300 I’m still trying to take in this statistic that’s settling for me, one person laying 18 00:01:21,300 –> 00:01:25,019 down their life, every five minutes. 19 00:01:25,360 –> 00:01:28,459 This is astonishing, isn’t it, for the sake of Christ? 20 00:01:28,459 –> 00:01:29,900 Somewhere in the world. 21 00:01:29,900 –> 00:01:33,220 That’s been going on all day today. 22 00:01:33,220 –> 00:01:35,680 Persecution of the hand, and then persecution of the tongue. 23 00:01:35,680 –> 00:01:42,300 We saw that even in this, the Lord Jesus has a sanctifying work that goes on. 24 00:01:42,300 –> 00:01:45,239 That persecution is actually sanctifying for the church. 25 00:01:45,239 –> 00:01:51,000 It may shrink the church before it increases it, but it purifies and distills spiritual 26 00:01:51,000 –> 00:01:53,820 life, it raises the spiritual temperature. 27 00:01:54,059 –> 00:01:58,860 We saw that comfort indeed does tend to make us very soft, but trouble tends to make us 28 00:01:58,860 –> 00:02:00,540 strong. 29 00:02:00,540 –> 00:02:05,620 And then we just began to look at the outcome, two outcomes that Jesus speaks of. 30 00:02:05,620 –> 00:02:13,419 First, this whole matter of blessing and then this wonderful, wonderful gift of reward. 31 00:02:13,419 –> 00:02:19,279 We ended just looking at that picture of Shadrach and Meshach and Abed Nego, these three people 32 00:02:19,300 –> 00:02:24,360 in this terrible persecution thrown into the fire, and then the king sees a fourth one 33 00:02:24,360 –> 00:02:31,059 walking with them, fellowship with Christ, the Son of God there in the furnace. 34 00:02:31,059 –> 00:02:35,139 And I give just the first, because we were running out of time this morning, just the 35 00:02:35,139 –> 00:02:41,399 first of a couple of testimonies with regards to the blessing of Christ in suffering. 36 00:02:41,399 –> 00:02:47,500 Samuel Rutherford said, “‘I never knew in nine years of preaching so much of Christ’s 37 00:02:47,740 –> 00:02:53,660 love as he taught me in Aberdeen by six months of imprisonment.’” 38 00:02:53,660 –> 00:02:58,380 And a slightly longer quote comes from John Bunyan, who I’ll quote a number of times this 39 00:02:58,380 –> 00:02:59,380 evening. 40 00:02:59,380 –> 00:03:00,380 You know the story, Bunyan. 41 00:03:00,380 –> 00:03:04,820 If you’ve never read Bunyan’s, Grace Abounding, it’s a little book and it’s well, well worth 42 00:03:04,820 –> 00:03:07,160 reading, his testimony. 43 00:03:07,160 –> 00:03:15,520 He was imprisoned for 12 years in Bedford Gaol in England because of his preaching, 44 00:03:15,520 –> 00:03:19,619 which was not allowed by the government at the time in England. 45 00:03:19,619 –> 00:03:26,339 This took him away not only from his wife but from his nine children, one of whom was 46 00:03:26,339 –> 00:03:29,759 blind and he was always most concerned about his blind daughter. 47 00:03:29,759 –> 00:03:34,119 He kept referring to his blind daughter. 48 00:03:34,119 –> 00:03:36,679 And this is what he says writing from Gaol. 49 00:03:36,679 –> 00:03:42,759 Quote, “‘After I had been a Christian for a long time and had been preaching for about 50 00:03:43,059 –> 00:03:48,360 five years, I was arrested at a meeting of victorious people in the country.” 51 00:03:48,360 –> 00:03:54,300 So, this is an open-air meeting in that part of England and it’s after 1662, the act of 52 00:03:54,300 –> 00:03:58,880 uniformity in which, if you weren’t an Anglican minister you weren’t allowed to preach, and 53 00:03:58,880 –> 00:04:02,740 so people like pre-church preachers, Baptist preachers, Congregationalists, they just weren’t 54 00:04:02,740 –> 00:04:06,119 allowed to and Bunyan said, well, we’re not going to stand for that, we’re going to preach 55 00:04:06,119 –> 00:04:10,639 anyway, and so he goes out and he holds these open-air meetings and sure enough up-turn 56 00:04:10,639 –> 00:04:17,140 the authorities and off he’s taken. He then says, I have never in all of my life 57 00:04:17,140 –> 00:04:23,440 had so much of the Word of God opened up so plainly to me before. Those scriptures that 58 00:04:23,440 –> 00:04:29,940 I saw nothing particular in before have been made to me in this place, that is Bedford 59 00:04:29,940 –> 00:04:35,679 Gaol to shine upon me. Also, Jesus Christ was never more real to me 60 00:04:35,679 –> 00:04:41,440 than now. Here, that’s Bedford Gaol, I have seen and felt him indeed and you know 61 00:04:41,440 –> 00:04:45,839 that’s where he wrote the book Pilgrim’s Progress. I never knew before what it 62 00:04:45,839 –> 00:04:50,700 really was for God to stand beside me at all times. As soon as fears have 63 00:04:50,700 –> 00:04:56,700 presented themselves so have supports and encouragements. So I’m trying to 64 00:04:56,700 –> 00:05:02,239 press home that this really is a reality of Christian experience that’s repeated 65 00:05:02,940 –> 00:05:08,399 and again, past and present from real testimony, that the promise of Jesus 66 00:05:08,399 –> 00:05:12,480 of course is true. That where there is persecution there is blessing that comes 67 00:05:12,480 –> 00:05:17,920 and there is a spirit of God and of glory as Peter puts it in 1 Peter in 68 00:05:17,920 –> 00:05:23,559 chapter 4 that descends on a person in this situation. and I’m wanting to say to 69 00:05:23,559 –> 00:05:27,559 high school students when someone ridicules you verse 11 when someone 70 00:05:27,600 –> 00:05:32,119 mocks you. You look expectantly you will know the help of the Lord Jesus Christ 71 00:05:32,119 –> 00:05:36,500 and you can count on the help of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will not leave you 72 00:05:36,500 –> 00:05:42,679 and he will not forsake you. Now notice that our Lord here speaks not only about 73 00:05:42,679 –> 00:05:49,359 great blessing but also great reward verse twelve. Rejoice and be glad for 74 00:05:49,359 –> 00:05:57,519 your reward in heaven is great. Now the emphasis seems to be that the reward of 75 00:05:57,519 –> 00:06:02,820 the Lord in heaven is somehow increased on account of the suffering. 76 00:06:02,820 –> 00:06:08,299 That seems to be the point of this and therefore this verse goes alongside a 77 00:06:08,299 –> 00:06:13,359 number of other verses that I want just to commend to you for your thinking. 78 00:06:13,359 –> 00:06:17,760 For example Matthew chapter 10 and verse 42, Do you remember that Jesus said 79 00:06:17,760 –> 00:06:22,899 Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a 80 00:06:23,239 –> 00:06:31,140 truly I say to you he will by no means lose his reward. Now what does that mean? 81 00:06:31,140 –> 00:06:38,739 If there is a reward for this act of giving a cup of cold water to one of 82 00:06:38,739 –> 00:06:44,579 these little ones it must mean that there is something gained for doing that 83 00:06:44,839 –> 00:06:52,119 that would not have been gained if that act were not done. It has to mean that. 84 00:06:52,119 –> 00:06:57,679 Then remember that Jesus told the parable in Luke chapter 19 about 85 00:06:57,679 –> 00:07:02,140 servants who are trusted with responsibility and according to their 86 00:07:02,140 –> 00:07:07,100 stewardship of the responsibility when the master comes back he gives to one 87 00:07:07,100 –> 00:07:15,140 authority over 10 cities and to another he gives authority over five cities 88 00:07:15,140 –> 00:07:19,880 Now this is a parable but the question of course is what is the parable 89 00:07:19,880 –> 00:07:24,980 teaching and it seems indeed to be teaching that rewards are graciously 90 00:07:24,980 –> 00:07:29,820 offered by God to his redeemed people and that these rewards are different 91 00:07:29,859 –> 00:07:39,399 not in kind but in degree. Ten cities. Five cities. What does this mean then? It 92 00:07:39,399 –> 00:07:46,579 raises the question do some have a greater reward in heaven? Think with me 93 00:07:46,579 –> 00:07:49,140 about some more scriptures. I’m going to give you a number because it’s 94 00:07:49,140 –> 00:07:53,140 cumulative when you begin to think about it. What did Jesus mean in Matthew in 95 00:07:53,140 –> 00:08:00,579 chapter 6 and verse 20 when he says lay up treasure in heaven. What does that 96 00:08:00,579 –> 00:08:08,820 mean? Does it make a difference? He seems to be saying that it is possible to have 97 00:08:08,820 –> 00:08:15,140 more rather than less in heaven. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. In 98 00:08:15,140 –> 00:08:18,700 other words I could choose to have more here and 99 00:08:18,700 –> 00:08:27,459 less there or I could choose to have less here and more there. I could lay up 100 00:08:27,459 –> 00:08:36,700 treasures in heaven. Either way, whether it be more here and less there or less 101 00:08:36,700 –> 00:08:41,099 here and more there. Either way what Jesus seems very clearly to be saying is 102 00:08:41,099 –> 00:08:48,599 that what I do here makes a difference to what I have there. It’s very plain 103 00:08:48,599 –> 00:08:54,059 from the words of Jesus. And this its be attitude fits right into this very 104 00:08:54,059 –> 00:08:59,900 important and significant strain of Scripture. Rejoice and be glad for your 105 00:08:59,900 –> 00:09:04,799 reward, your suffering persecution but here’s why you as the suffering person 106 00:09:04,799 –> 00:09:10,859 can be happy because your reward in heaven will be great and there is a 107 00:09:10,859 –> 00:09:17,080 correspondence between this reward and the endurance of the suffering on the 108 00:09:17,500 –> 00:09:23,820 faithful person. Something will be yours on account of this suffering Jesus seems 109 00:09:23,820 –> 00:09:29,219 to be saying that would not have been yours otherwise. 110 00:09:29,219 –> 00:09:36,099 Now I was greatly helped a number of years ago now to discover in Jonathan 111 00:09:36,099 –> 00:09:40,679 Edwards, hope you know that name, the greatest I think American theologian and 112 00:09:40,679 –> 00:09:46,820 writer of all time Christian writer of all time Edwards speaks about this more 113 00:09:46,820 –> 00:09:50,280 clearly than anyone else I have ever read and I’ll give you what he says 114 00:09:50,280 –> 00:09:56,119 here and says quite clearly that the scriptures indicate that there are 115 00:09:56,119 –> 00:10:01,640 degrees of reward in heaven listen to our Edwards puts it is beautifully 116 00:10:01,640 –> 00:10:08,479 expressed he says quote there are different degrees of happiness and of 117 00:10:08,479 –> 00:10:17,260 glory in heaven the glory of the Saints above will be in some proportion to 118 00:10:17,260 –> 00:10:24,099 their eminence in holiness and good works here Christ will reward all 119 00:10:24,099 –> 00:10:30,239 according to their works talking about believers here he then cites the 120 00:10:30,239 –> 00:10:34,419 authority over ten cities and the authority over five cities and the cup 121 00:10:35,099 –> 00:10:38,359 waters Scriptures that we’ve already referred to and he says quote 122 00:10:38,359 –> 00:10:43,919 Christ tells us that he who gives a cup of cold water to a disciple shall in no 123 00:10:43,919 –> 00:10:48,619 way lose his reward but this could not be true if a person should have no 124 00:10:48,619 –> 00:10:55,400 greater reward for doing many great or good works than if he did but few he 125 00:10:55,400 –> 00:10:59,820 then adds more Scriptures consider this 2nd corinthians chapter 9 in 126 00:10:59,859 –> 00:11:09,159 verse six he who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly 1 Corinthians chapter 15 127 00:11:09,159 –> 00:11:16,320 in verse 41 as one star differs from another star in glory so also it will be 128 00:11:16,320 –> 00:11:25,640 in the resurrection of the dead and then this Edwards quote all shall be 129 00:11:25,880 –> 00:11:35,760 perfectly happy everyone shall be perfectly satisfied every vessel that 130 00:11:35,760 –> 00:11:44,880 is cast into this ocean of happiness is full though there are some vessels far 131 00:11:44,880 –> 00:11:53,039 larger than others so you see what he’s saying think of all of us as little 132 00:11:53,080 –> 00:12:02,159 pots okay a little pot and in heaven every pot will be cast into the sea of 133 00:12:02,159 –> 00:12:07,479 happiness and every part will be full so there’ll be no one who’s kind of 134 00:12:07,479 –> 00:12:13,919 pouting in heaven that you know but he says not all the vessels not all the 135 00:12:13,919 –> 00:12:19,000 pots are of the same size I have found that to be a profoundly 136 00:12:19,960 –> 00:12:25,179 helpful pictures to be clear Edwards is not suggesting that we earn rewards in 137 00:12:25,179 –> 00:12:28,940 heaven like you pick up air miles on a credit card he’s not saying that 138 00:12:28,940 –> 00:12:33,780 anything that is received is given by God’s freedom and kindness and even the 139 00:12:33,780 –> 00:12:37,979 best works of a suffering Christian are shot through with our own fallenness and 140 00:12:37,979 –> 00:12:42,659 are only of eternal value because they are sanctified in Jesus Christ but the 141 00:12:42,659 –> 00:12:47,500 Scriptures give to us this wonderful encouragement that we need to hold on to 142 00:12:47,640 –> 00:12:52,799 especially in the most difficult times blessed are you when others revile you 143 00:12:52,799 –> 00:12:59,799 and persecute you rejoice in be glad because your reward is great in heaven 144 00:12:59,799 –> 00:13:06,020 or to take another scripture that uses the same argument at the end of 2nd 145 00:13:06,020 –> 00:13:09,760 Corinthians in chapter 4 and verse 17 remember Paul puts it this way he says 146 00:13:09,760 –> 00:13:14,679 our light and momentary afflictions don’t know how he managed to describe 147 00:13:14,679 –> 00:13:17,419 his suffering as light and momentary but that’s how he described his 148 00:13:17,460 –> 00:13:22,940 suffering he says our light and momentary afflictions they’re doing what 149 00:13:22,940 –> 00:13:32,080 they’re preparing for us working for us an eternal weight of glory that far out 150 00:13:32,080 –> 00:13:39,039 weighs them all so this is not simply something to be endured something is 151 00:13:39,039 –> 00:13:44,559 coming off this that is greater than what would have come without it that’s 152 00:13:45,280 –> 00:13:49,539 that’s the point rejoice and be glad when it’s really tough for you in high 153 00:13:49,539 –> 00:13:57,960 school because great is your reward in heaven 154 00:13:57,960 –> 00:14:03,299 now that takes us to this very important question especially in the culture in 155 00:14:03,299 –> 00:14:08,539 which we live and the question is okay it’s great blessing is tied to this 156 00:14:08,559 –> 00:14:16,919 persecution what then if I am not being persecuted the reward of those who are 157 00:14:16,919 –> 00:14:24,840 insulted those are persecuted reviled is great where does that leave us who are 158 00:14:24,840 –> 00:14:31,679 so blessed with the gifts of freedom and the privileges that we enjoy I mean I’m 159 00:14:31,679 –> 00:14:40,599 thinking about this I think about how extraordinary this is there are brothers 160 00:14:40,599 –> 00:14:49,200 who are preachers of the gospel fellow pastors and when they stand and speak if 161 00:14:49,200 –> 00:14:54,200 a policeman shows up he’s there to arrest them and probably other members 162 00:14:54,200 –> 00:14:59,559 of the church board I get to stand here on a pulpit and there’s a policeman out 163 00:14:59,580 –> 00:15:03,219 there and he’s why is he here he’s here to protect me and he’s here to protect 164 00:15:03,219 –> 00:15:12,119 you unbelievable blessing amazing and for all the changes that are happening 165 00:15:12,119 –> 00:15:16,659 that we spoke about this morning it remains the fact that we are blessed in 166 00:15:16,659 –> 00:15:24,020 an unprecedented way in this country that most believers in history could 167 00:15:24,080 –> 00:15:31,020 only have dreamed about and so how are we to think about that how are we to 168 00:15:31,020 –> 00:15:37,580 relate with our small stories of difficulty relative to the suffering 169 00:15:37,580 –> 00:15:41,900 that is going on right now in other parts of the world what to do when 170 00:15:41,900 –> 00:15:49,820 you’re not persecuted me offer to you five answers number one be thankful for 171 00:15:50,020 –> 00:15:55,780 the blessings of peace and freedom remember this Friends we are not to wish 172 00:15:55,780 –> 00:16:00,179 for persecution we’re not to seek it we’re to be thankful for the gift of 173 00:16:00,179 –> 00:16:05,780 freedom and we are to do all in our power to protect it Paul says to 174 00:16:05,780 –> 00:16:09,219 Timothy here just that there should be prayer made for Kings and all who are in 175 00:16:09,219 –> 00:16:15,400 high position that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life a peaceful and 176 00:16:15,960 –> 00:16:20,239 life is an end for which we should pray and a gift for which we should be 177 00:16:20,239 –> 00:16:26,359 thankful so in planning the series I said this morning there is not a sermon 178 00:16:26,359 –> 00:16:29,840 to be preached on cultivating persecution we’re not to go out looking 179 00:16:29,840 –> 00:16:33,599 for it we’re not to make ourselves obnoxious in order to attract it the 180 00:16:33,599 –> 00:16:38,280 Bible speaks in the opposite direction in every way in as much as we have peace 181 00:16:38,280 –> 00:16:43,679 in as much as we have freedom it is a cherished gift from God and we are to be 182 00:16:43,880 –> 00:16:49,760 thankful so very thankful for it and you’re thankful for it very thankful for 183 00:16:49,760 –> 00:16:53,640 it this thinking about that the policeman thing really got to me this 184 00:16:53,640 –> 00:17:00,460 week so it’s amazing it’s absolutely amazing number two remember those who 185 00:17:00,460 –> 00:17:04,640 are persecuted this is a clear command of scripture Hebrews chapter 13 in verse 186 00:17:04,640 –> 00:17:10,140 3 remember those who are in prison as though you were in prison with them 187 00:17:10,339 –> 00:17:17,540 that’s a strong statement and those who are mistreated since you are in also in 188 00:17:17,540 –> 00:17:21,780 the body and of course this comes out the book of Hebrews where you have the 189 00:17:21,780 –> 00:17:26,400 role of honor of suffering heroes throughout the Old Testament and the 190 00:17:26,400 –> 00:17:31,140 Christians the Hebrew Christians who had were receiving this letter it says in 191 00:17:31,140 –> 00:17:36,920 the letter that their goods had been confiscated so authorities come and 192 00:17:36,920 –> 00:17:44,439 knocking on the door taking stuff out the house and livelihoods gone so when 193 00:17:44,439 –> 00:17:50,880 Paul says don’t stop meeting together he’s not referring to the fact that a 194 00:17:50,880 –> 00:17:55,500 lot of families have kids in sports programs on Sunday morning right he’s 195 00:17:55,500 –> 00:18:01,500 referring to the fact that having had stuff confiscated and knowing that there 196 00:18:01,500 –> 00:18:05,540 was hostility towards the church it’s very understandable that there were 197 00:18:05,579 –> 00:18:11,599 believers saying you think the police will show up this week maybe we’ll just 198 00:18:11,599 –> 00:18:17,319 not go to church this week we’ll go next week and you can understand that we’d go 199 00:18:17,319 –> 00:18:20,839 through all of our minds wouldn’t it and therefore the writer to the Hebrews says 200 00:18:20,839 –> 00:18:26,540 well don’t stop meeting together as some are in the habit of doing and and then 201 00:18:26,540 –> 00:18:30,680 you see some in the congregation in the circumstance were already in prison you 202 00:18:30,680 –> 00:18:35,599 try and picture this so here’s the pastor and a couple of board members and 203 00:18:35,599 –> 00:18:41,800 they’re all taken off to Cook County Jail and on the next Sunday the 204 00:18:41,800 –> 00:18:46,939 congregation prays fervently for them and then a month goes past and a year 205 00:18:46,939 –> 00:18:50,239 goes past and after a year it’s bless the pastor and the board members in 206 00:18:50,239 –> 00:18:54,599 prison dear Lord amen and life goes on and you know how it is suffering 207 00:18:54,599 –> 00:18:59,180 believers get forgotten and Paul says don’t let that happen whatever you do 208 00:18:59,239 –> 00:19:03,739 those who are in prison and those who are in Mr. mistreated your members of 209 00:19:03,739 –> 00:19:07,939 the same body try and think of their position as if you were in prison with 210 00:19:07,939 –> 00:19:13,660 them and remember them in that degree at the Arlington Heights campus year we 211 00:19:13,660 –> 00:19:19,500 have a ministry called Christian advocacy and it’s a group that meets 212 00:19:19,500 –> 00:19:26,199 every month in this building to write letters to persecuted believers they get 213 00:19:27,000 –> 00:19:31,319 and addresses and write to them, bringing exhortation, writing scripture, 214 00:19:31,319 –> 00:19:36,280 encouragement personal letters and then write advocacy letters on behalf of 215 00:19:36,280 –> 00:19:40,020 those who are being mistreated and those who are imprisoned on account of their 216 00:19:40,020 –> 00:19:46,000 faith. Commend that ministry to you, I’d like to join that. What are we to do when 217 00:19:46,000 –> 00:19:50,400 we’re not persecuted? Be thankful for the blessings of peace and freedom, remember 218 00:19:50,400 –> 00:19:55,000 those who are persecuted. Number three, make sure that you really are doing what 219 00:19:55,060 –> 00:20:01,260 is right. See, Jesus says here, blessed are those who are persecuted for 220 00:20:01,260 –> 00:20:09,119 righteousness’ sake. Well, you see if there is not much persecution, at least a 221 00:20:09,119 –> 00:20:12,819 question that is worth asking is, could a reason for that be that there’s not 222 00:20:12,819 –> 00:20:18,959 much righteousness? Jesus speaks later about hiding your light under a basket. 223 00:20:18,959 –> 00:20:23,800 Okay, here’s this light of Christ in a person but now it’s being covered up so 224 00:20:23,880 –> 00:20:28,839 that nobody can see it. And he says, this, you are a light, the light of the world. A 225 00:20:28,839 –> 00:20:32,979 city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people hide a lamp and put it under a 226 00:20:32,979 –> 00:20:37,439 basket but on a stand, and then it gives light to all who are in the house. In the 227 00:20:37,439 –> 00:20:41,000 same way, let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works 228 00:20:41,000 –> 00:20:45,619 and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven. If nobody knows in your school 229 00:20:45,619 –> 00:20:49,560 that you’re a Christian, if nobody knows in your workplace that you’re a 230 00:20:49,579 –> 00:20:56,479 Christian, then you will avoid a great deal of trouble, but at what cost? You’re 231 00:20:56,479 –> 00:21:02,959 not doing what’s right. That’s why you’re avoiding the trouble. And we can always 232 00:21:02,959 –> 00:21:08,619 reduce pain by withdrawing from the world but Jesus says we must let our 233 00:21:08,619 –> 00:21:16,079 light shine. Some of you may remember this is, oh, it must be 25 years ago, 234 00:21:16,280 –> 00:21:21,359 Rebecca Manly Pepert. Do you know that name? In fact, she lives in the greater 235 00:21:21,359 –> 00:21:25,040 Chicago area. Wrote a book with a marvelous title, it’s a great book 236 00:21:25,040 –> 00:21:30,839 It’s called Out of the Salt Shaker. That’s a great title and you see she 237 00:21:30,839 –> 00:21:35,020 was picking up on, Jesus says, well your salt and your light and what use, she 238 00:21:35,020 –> 00:21:38,780 says, is the salt if it’s all in the salt shaker. You’ve got to get it out the 239 00:21:38,780 –> 00:21:44,119 salt shaker and into the meat. And if Christians simply remain sharing their 240 00:21:44,199 –> 00:21:48,660 lives huddled together then they may manage to avoid a great deal of pain. But 241 00:21:48,660 –> 00:21:53,939 then they also end up avoiding a great deal of influence. 242 00:21:53,939 –> 00:22:00,079 So the challenge for all of us is living an authentic Christian life before an 243 00:22:00,079 –> 00:22:04,420 unbelieving and sometimes hostile world. 244 00:22:04,500 –> 00:22:13,880 Number four, persevere in the face of difficulty and opposition. This is answer 245 00:22:13,880 –> 00:22:17,839 number four to the question, what should I do if I’m not persecuted? I’m not 246 00:22:17,839 –> 00:22:23,199 persecuted. Answer number four, persevere in the 247 00:22:23,199 –> 00:22:31,959 face of difficulty and opposition. Now, this speaks hugely into our culture. One 248 00:22:31,959 –> 00:22:36,560 of the easiest ways to avoid pain, difficulty, and opposition in life is 249 00:22:36,560 –> 00:22:42,319 simply to move on whenever it appears. And our culture makes it very easy for 250 00:22:42,319 –> 00:22:48,619 us to do that. Some Christians remain spiritual infants because they have 251 00:22:48,619 –> 00:22:55,660 formed a habit of always taking the easier path. One thing that our culture 252 00:22:55,920 –> 00:23:02,819 more than any other culture in the world is choice. Just look at the 253 00:23:02,819 –> 00:23:07,000 number of choices, a toothpaste you’ve got in the grocery store, how’d you get 254 00:23:07,000 –> 00:23:11,719 round the grocery store with these endless choices, you know. Choice of 255 00:23:11,719 –> 00:23:17,839 everything, choice of doctors, choice of churches, and so it 256 00:23:17,839 –> 00:23:21,599 goes on. Now of course this is a great blessing 257 00:23:21,660 –> 00:23:26,540 but here’s the problem that comes with it. Living in a choice culture, if I 258 00:23:26,540 –> 00:23:30,640 experience difficulty in one place it becomes very easy for me to move to 259 00:23:30,640 –> 00:23:36,099 another. That is true with regards to our work. I can quit my work. I can go and 260 00:23:36,099 –> 00:23:40,699 find another place to work. In a culture that’s geared to comfort and to 261 00:23:40,699 –> 00:23:47,180 convenience, it’s easy to form the habit of always choosing the easiest path. And 262 00:23:47,359 –> 00:23:53,859 friends, let me use a phrase that is often heard in these wonderful suburbs 263 00:23:53,859 –> 00:24:02,819 where we live. I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my family. Now the problem 264 00:24:02,819 –> 00:24:06,079 with that is, because it’s a very understandable phrase, I’ve certainly said 265 00:24:06,079 –> 00:24:13,199 it and I’m sure every parent has, what’s best for me and my family often turns 266 00:24:13,400 –> 00:24:21,800 out actually to mean what’s easiest for me and my family. And the problem is that 267 00:24:21,800 –> 00:24:27,060 what’s easiest for me and my family is not always what’s best for me and for my 268 00:24:27,060 –> 00:24:35,280 family. I will tell you that the deepest impressions that have ever been made in 269 00:24:35,380 –> 00:24:47,599 my life by my own father were his tenacity in sticking at it through a 270 00:24:47,599 –> 00:25:01,380 period of unbearable difficulty in his work as a policeman shaped me. 271 00:25:01,380 –> 00:25:09,500 I’ll tell you the deepest impressions that I believe have been made in the 272 00:25:09,500 –> 00:25:16,339 lives of my own sons have come through the toughest things we have faced and 273 00:25:16,339 –> 00:25:21,859 most of them are things that we could have avoided if we chose to and were 274 00:25:21,859 –> 00:25:24,500 tempted to do so 275 00:25:25,260 –> 00:25:32,000 Ajith Fernando commenting on our culture says this is a very powerful quote 276 00:25:32,000 –> 00:25:38,479 Somehow there seems to be this idea and he’s referring to the Western world that 277 00:25:38,479 –> 00:25:44,500 if you are suffering you must be doing something wrong. The problem is 278 00:25:44,500 –> 00:25:50,839 compounded he says by the mobility of affluent people today. As people keep 279 00:25:50,839 –> 00:25:54,300 changing from job to job from neighborhood to neighborhood from church 280 00:25:54,300 –> 00:26:02,140 to church long-term commitments are becoming a culturally rare phenomenal. It 281 00:26:02,140 –> 00:26:11,300 is when you stick to your call, however hard it is, that you encounter the type 282 00:26:11,300 –> 00:26:19,880 of suffering that contributes to great mission. Ajith Fernando. See what he’s 283 00:26:19,880 –> 00:26:30,160 saying, there’s a character that is formed by sticking at it, and one reason 284 00:26:30,160 –> 00:26:37,219 why so often trouble is minimized in many lives is is simply this, let’s find 285 00:26:37,219 –> 00:26:44,099 a way out, let’s find a way out, let’s move on, let’s avoid. Now that raises 286 00:26:44,099 –> 00:26:47,959 another question, and here I want to share what I’ve learned from John Bunyan 287 00:26:48,359 –> 00:26:55,719 with you. Are there ever times when we should try to escape persecution? Is it 288 00:26:55,719 –> 00:27:04,060 sometimes the right thing to take the easier path? And if so, how would you know 289 00:27:04,060 –> 00:27:07,560 when it is the right time to do this? Now these are the really really practical 290 00:27:07,560 –> 00:27:12,439 questions. Going back to the personal example that I used this morning, when 291 00:27:12,439 –> 00:27:17,280 your kids experience opposition at school because they aren’t Christians, 292 00:27:18,260 –> 00:27:23,119 should we have taken our son out of the program? That’s the question and that’s a 293 00:27:23,119 –> 00:27:29,199 real real question for many of you. Here you are. You may be in a situation where 294 00:27:29,199 –> 00:27:33,640 you are working in an environment that becomes very dark, very hostile, very 295 00:27:33,640 –> 00:27:39,119 hard. It’s a grinding thing for you to go to work these days and and you find it 296 00:27:39,119 –> 00:27:42,719 extremely difficult and that the question is when now there is an easier route and 297 00:27:42,719 –> 00:27:45,479 you could take it you could do something. That’s not going to be as hard as this. 298 00:27:45,660 –> 00:27:49,760 At what point should you make that choice? Should I stay or should I go? This 299 00:27:49,760 –> 00:27:58,920 applies in a thousand examples of real choices that all of us are faced with 300 00:27:58,920 –> 00:28:05,079 often, and this is where I found such great help from John Bunyan. He wrote a 301 00:28:05,079 –> 00:28:11,359 book. It’s quite long. It’s called Seasonable counsels or advice for 302 00:28:11,680 –> 00:28:18,939 Sufferers. So here is the man who has gone to prison for 12 years and he’s 303 00:28:18,939 –> 00:28:24,660 done it because he’s been preaching and he refuses not to preach at a time where 304 00:28:24,660 –> 00:28:28,560 it was against the law for him to do this. He didn’t have to do that. He 305 00:28:28,560 –> 00:28:31,119 didn’t have to be out in the open air. He could still have been a faithful 306 00:28:31,119 –> 00:28:37,439 Christian, but he insisted on preaching and so he was arrested, and let me just 307 00:28:37,439 –> 00:28:41,040 read you a couple of quotes here that you might enjoy. Try and picture this 308 00:28:41,040 –> 00:28:44,660 Bunyan arrives and he’s been preaching the open air meeting. Out he goes. He 309 00:28:44,660 –> 00:28:50,099 arrives at the at the court. He’s brought out before the judge and he says, I 310 00:28:50,099 –> 00:28:51,979 quote, 311 00:29:08,160 –> 00:29:13,839 be bound that I would preach No more to the people. You see? Imagine it. 312 00:29:13,839 –> 00:29:17,500 John Bunyan’s your pastor and you say, well, let’s have a whip-around. We’ll get 313 00:29:17,500 –> 00:29:22,140 bailed for him and then the judge says to you, now you realize that if he 314 00:29:22,140 –> 00:29:27,719 preaches you’ll lose your bail money. He’s gonna preach. Forget it. We’re not 315 00:29:27,719 –> 00:29:32,400 doing bail for him. So, they knew him well and they were absolutely right. So, off 316 00:29:32,400 –> 00:29:35,959 he goes to the jail. And when the time comes for his trial, you know, the judge 317 00:29:36,180 –> 00:29:40,000 asked Bunyan, if I let you go will you commit not to preach? And Bunyan said to 318 00:29:40,000 –> 00:29:43,520 him, I mean how is this for character, he said if you let me go today I’ll be 319 00:29:43,520 –> 00:29:47,640 preaching tomorrow. So, he went to prison for 12 years. 320 00:29:47,640 –> 00:29:54,819 Now, you might expect that a man with that kind of courage writing from his 321 00:29:54,819 –> 00:30:00,160 cell would call others always to take the hardest path. I mean I’m trying 322 00:30:00,160 –> 00:30:04,819 to imagine myself in that situation. I’m in jail. You should all be in jail. 323 00:30:04,900 –> 00:30:08,540 I think the whole congregation should be in jail, actually. I mean why should it just be me? 324 00:30:08,560 –> 00:30:11,520 You know, I think that that’s a confession. Sorry, it’s Sunday evening 325 00:30:11,520 –> 00:30:23,239 but… When Bunyan writes his counsel is wonderfully tender and spiritually wise 326 00:30:23,239 –> 00:30:29,959 and I will go on using this. He notes what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 10 327 00:30:29,959 –> 00:30:36,160 verse 16. Behold I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, but you 328 00:30:36,160 –> 00:30:43,339 remember what he says next? So be as wise as serpents and as harmless as 329 00:30:43,339 –> 00:30:48,920 doves. So Christ does not say look the world’s going to tear you apart. That 330 00:30:48,920 –> 00:30:52,040 what’s meant by you’re going out as sheep among wolves, that’s what wolves 331 00:30:52,040 –> 00:30:56,579 do, they tear you apart. Jesus does not say the world is going to tear you apart 332 00:30:56,800 –> 00:31:03,500 so go out and let them do it. Jesus says the wolves want to tear you apart so you 333 00:31:03,500 –> 00:31:12,819 had better be as wise as serpents. From this Bunyan concludes and I quote, 334 00:31:12,819 –> 00:31:19,920 A man is not bound by the law of the Lord to put himself into the mouth of 335 00:31:19,920 –> 00:31:28,459 his enemy. Christ withdrew himself Paul escaped the governor’s hands by being 336 00:31:28,459 –> 00:31:36,260 let down in a basket over the wall of the city and Christ has said if they 337 00:31:36,260 –> 00:31:43,020 persecute you in one city flee to another. That’s Matthew chapter 10 and 338 00:31:43,020 –> 00:31:49,140 verse 23 so what are you saying is that there is actually biblical warrant for 339 00:31:49,500 –> 00:31:54,319 an easier path, Paul came out of a city in which there was great violence being led 340 00:31:54,319 –> 00:31:58,560 out of the city by a basket he did that. It was not a time for him to to lay down 341 00:31:58,560 –> 00:32:07,459 his life. The question then is how do you know when you should stand and how do 342 00:32:07,459 –> 00:32:11,099 you know when to use Bunyan’s word you should fly in other words move to 343 00:32:11,099 –> 00:32:17,400 another situation make a change it’s a very practical and this is what he says 344 00:32:17,699 –> 00:32:27,719 quote you may do in this even as it is in your heart. If it is in your heart to 345 00:32:27,719 –> 00:32:39,160 fly fly. If it is in your heart to stand stand. Anything but a denial of the truth. 346 00:32:39,160 –> 00:32:44,119 He that flies has warrant to do so in other words the Bible gives you a basis 347 00:32:44,819 –> 00:32:50,599 for doing that. Matthew Chapter 10 and verse Twenty-three 348 00:32:50,599 –> 00:32:57,079 has warranted to do so and he that stands has warrants to do so in fact he 349 00:32:57,079 –> 00:33:03,599 says the same man may at different times fly and stand as the call and working 350 00:33:03,599 –> 00:33:07,540 of God in his heart maybe and he gives examples with scriptures that go with 351 00:33:07,540 –> 00:33:14,859 fled Moses stood David fled David stood Jeremiah 352 00:33:14,859 –> 00:33:25,079 fled Jeremiah stood Christ withdrew himself Christ stood Paul fled Paul 353 00:33:25,079 –> 00:33:35,160 stood he concludes there are therefore few rules in this case the man himself 354 00:33:35,619 –> 00:33:44,219 is best able to judge and here’s now the two criteria his present strength the 355 00:33:44,219 –> 00:33:50,619 man himself is best able to judge his present strength and what weight this or 356 00:33:50,619 –> 00:33:58,819 that argument has upon his heart to stand or to fly so here’s our son in 357 00:33:58,819 –> 00:34:03,239 high school and he’s getting a rough time and we’re gonna have to make a 358 00:34:03,239 –> 00:34:09,659 decision stand or fly make a change allow the situation for him to stand and 359 00:34:09,659 –> 00:34:13,659 support him in that which should we do and Bunyan says there isn’t a rule on 360 00:34:13,659 –> 00:34:17,939 that each person knows best in regards to their own heart in other words he 361 00:34:17,939 –> 00:34:22,840 says this is a matter of Christian liberty that’s huge in and of itself 362 00:34:22,840 –> 00:34:27,860 but here’s what you should look for each man knows in his own heart regarding his 363 00:34:27,860 –> 00:34:32,479 present strength so in other words you would look at what effect is this having 364 00:34:32,540 –> 00:34:39,159 on your son is it causing him to rise is it tending to overwhelm him and you 365 00:34:39,159 –> 00:34:42,439 make a decision in the light of that and then the second criteria what does 366 00:34:42,439 –> 00:34:47,639 he say what weight this or that argument has upon his hearts to stand or to fly 367 00:34:47,639 –> 00:34:53,959 because you have biblical warn for either in the situation and what would 368 00:34:53,959 –> 00:34:59,320 that mean and it would mean what does he really want to do what does he really 369 00:34:59,20 –> 00:35:05,320 want to do now isn’t that just freeing biblical common sense wisdom and to see 370 00:35:05,320 –> 00:35:10,060 that rooted in the Scriptures has been immensely helpful here you are in the 371 00:35:10,060 –> 00:35:13,239 toughest job in all of the world and you could go and take an easier one and you 372 00:35:13,239 –> 00:35:18,120 think there how do I know is it right ever to take these ear path here’s 373 00:35:18,120 –> 00:35:21,820 Bunyan’s answer to you there are few rules in this case you yourself will be 374 00:35:21,820 –> 00:35:28,399 the best judge concerning your present strength and what weights this or that 375 00:35:28,419 –> 00:35:35,280 argument has upon your heart to stand or to fly and he ends by saying this only 376 00:35:35,280 –> 00:35:40,379 if you choose to fly never fly out of slavish fear but because of the 377 00:35:40,379 –> 00:35:45,239 ordinance of God in other words that God has given you a warned to do this and to 378 00:35:45,239 –> 00:35:53,879 make a change and to do so thankfully and to do so with peace and that takes 379 00:35:53,879 –> 00:35:57,959 me to the last of these five briefly here and it’s perhaps the most practical 380 00:35:58,199 –> 00:36:04,199 application of all what to do if you are are not persecuted we want to be so 381 00:36:04,199 –> 00:36:07,719 thankful for the gifts of God that have been trusted to our hands do all that we 382 00:36:07,719 –> 00:36:16,159 can to protect them and indeed to defend them we want to remember those who are 383 00:36:16,159 –> 00:36:19,560 persecuted and imprisoned we want to make very sure that we are doing right 384 00:36:19,560 –> 00:36:22,840 and that the reason we’re not experiencing difficulties isn’t simply 385 00:36:22,840 –> 00:36:27,360 that we’ve hidden our light under a basket as it were we want to make sure 386 00:36:27,439 –> 00:36:31,320 that we are persevering and not simply always taking the easier route of 387 00:36:31,320 –> 00:36:40,780 avoidance and here’s the last stretch yourself in costly obedience in other 388 00:36:40,780 –> 00:36:50,479 words friends that is more than one way to live a costly life persecution 389 00:36:50,479 –> 00:36:59,159 imposes cost from the outside but if God allows me the blessing of living with 390 00:36:59,159 –> 00:37:08,800 unusual peace and freedom which he is giving us that blessing right now then 391 00:37:08,800 –> 00:37:17,239 we can use that freedom to choose to live a costly life right there’s more 392 00:37:17,340 –> 00:37:24,479 than one way of living a costly life persecution imposes it from the outside 393 00:37:24,479 –> 00:37:31,120 but if Jesus Christ should give to us today in America the blessing of peace 394 00:37:31,120 –> 00:37:35,159 and of freedom that has been given to such a small percentage of our brothers 395 00:37:35,159 –> 00:37:41,959 and sisters in the entire history of the Christian faith we could choose to use 396 00:37:41,979 –> 00:37:48,560 that freedom for the purpose of living a costly life for the sake of Christ that 397 00:37:48,560 –> 00:37:56,820 is what Jesus himself did remember how he says it nobody takes my life from me 398 00:37:56,820 –> 00:38:02,600 I choose to lay it down in other words whatever happened with the guards and 399 00:38:02,600 –> 00:38:05,800 the folks who thought that they had power over him they did not have power 400 00:38:05,800 –> 00:38:10,379 over him except that he gave himself into their hands could have called ten 401 00:38:10,439 –> 00:38:16,199 thousand angels no I choose to lay it down it comes from within I’m the one 402 00:38:16,199 –> 00:38:23,580 who is laying down my life in this costly sacrifice out of love for the 403 00:38:23,580 –> 00:38:29,020 Father and for the gospel for there to be a gospel that then can be taken to 404 00:38:29,020 –> 00:38:37,239 the world now if no one takes my life from me I want at least in 405 00:38:37,399 –> 00:38:41,360 the presence of Jesus to be able to say that I chose to lay it down at the feet 406 00:38:41,360 –> 00:38:47,959 of Jesus as a living sacrifice that the life that was not taken the life that 407 00:38:47,959 –> 00:38:52,300 has been given right now is a life that is laid at the feet of 408 00:38:52,300 –> 00:38:59,919 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I don’t want to be meeting the Savior do you on 409 00:38:59,919 –> 00:39:04,239 the last day knowing that he gave everything for me and feeling that I 410 00:39:04,399 –> 00:39:11,639 actually gave relatively little for him so in the light of this theme I want to 411 00:39:11,639 –> 00:39:16,199 respond to the blessings and the freedoms that I have by stretching 412 00:39:16,199 –> 00:39:24,080 myself in every way possible in costly obedience and friends I want us to be 413 00:39:24,199 –> 00:39:35,520 that kind of church right what a travesty for those who are most blessed 414 00:39:35,520 –> 00:39:43,879 to end up doing least what a tragedy that would be and this is why I said 415 00:39:43,879 –> 00:39:50,959 this morning that fasting and giving and serving and risking are so important for 416 00:39:51,159 –> 00:40:02,219 spiritual health if others who are my brothers and sisters in Christ have 417 00:40:02,219 –> 00:40:11,919 their goods taken their livelihoods removed then I who have a salary can 418 00:40:11,919 –> 00:40:20,899 release a generous proportion of mine freely and laid at the feet of Jesus 419 00:40:21,360 –> 00:40:29,959 if others who are my brothers and sisters in Christ are in prison tomorrow 420 00:40:29,959 –> 00:40:38,219 and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday Friday and I am free for these five days 421 00:40:38,219 –> 00:40:43,360 I can offer every one of these five days and the freedom that I have in them with 422 00:40:43,360 –> 00:40:51,159 all the strength that God gives me to extend myself without complaint for the 423 00:40:51,159 –> 00:40:55,280 sake of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has given me so much more than I 424 00:40:55,280 –> 00:41:02,600 deserve and if brothers and sisters in Christ my brothers and sisters some of 425 00:41:02,760 –> 00:41:14,679 them this week are exhausted with beatings and with torture, I can press 426 00:41:14,679 –> 00:41:18,320 through the tiredness and the discouragement that I often feel and 427 00:41:18,320 –> 00:41:27,500 find the strength to go on in what God has called me to do and so can you. 428 00:41:27,840 –> 00:41:35,340 That’s what I got to do when I’m not being persecuted. I end with this and then 429 00:41:35,340 –> 00:41:38,580 we’ll sing a song and we’ll be gone. 430 00:41:38,659 –> 00:41:45,959 Joseph Parker, preacher in London over a hundred years ago, spoke about the 431 00:41:45,959 –> 00:41:55,040 occasion when Thomas was doubting the reality of the risen Lord Jesus. And 432 00:41:55,040 –> 00:42:06,699 remember what he said, Unless I see the marks of the nails in his hand I will 433 00:42:06,699 –> 00:42:14,139 not believe. And Joseph Parker said this, 434 00:42:14,239 –> 00:42:24,060 what Thomas said of Christ the unbelieving world today is saying of 435 00:42:24,060 –> 00:42:36,419 the Church, unless we see the marks of the nail prints in your hands we will 436 00:42:36,419 –> 00:42:49,340 not believe. Paul says I always bear in my body the marks of Jesus. 437 00:42:50,159 –> 00:43:03,120 Let’s pray. Father, please please make me a pastor 438 00:43:03,120 –> 00:43:15,139 more ready to be extended in the cause of Christ. Make me a Christian. Make this 439 00:43:16,139 –> 00:43:23,399 more ready to be extended in the cause of Christ. Make us a church that expects 440 00:43:23,399 –> 00:43:33,060 to be challenged, ready for sacrifice, ready to risk. Help us, Oh God, to use the 441 00:43:33,060 –> 00:43:38,800 priceless gifts of freedom and of opportunity and of blessing that are all 442 00:43:38,959 –> 00:43:47,760 around us and deliver us from the lethargy that comes from a comfortable life. 443 00:43:47,760 –> 00:43:52,979 And in the light of all that you have said to us by the Holy Spirit from your 444 00:43:52,979 –> 00:44:00,260 Word in this day, let us individually and together live for Christ and for His 445 00:44:00,260 –> 00:44:07,300 glory and for the advance of His gospel as never before and increasingly so 446 00:44:07,340 –> 00:44:14,719 until the Lord Jesus Christ shall come or call. And all who at the end of this 447 00:44:14,719 –> 00:44:19,479 day may test their prayer together in Jesus name. 448 00:44:23,080 –> 00:44:26,820 You’ve been listening to a sermon with Pastor Collin Smith of Open the Bible. 449 00:44:26,820 –> 00:44:33,040 To contact us, call us at 1-877-Open-365 or visit our website 450 00:44:33,040 –> 00:44:37,120 OpenTheBible.org