Hated Like the Father

As we watch that video, I trust that two things come to the surface.

! One is persecution of Christians around the world is a reality.

! It is overwhelming almost to consider how many of our brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing suffering and persecution

! at the hands of those who hate and hate the world.

Hate God and hate the Father. Hate Jesus.

It's estimated that as many as 75% of the world's population are experiencing deliberate and hostile persecution day by day.

So we are, as Americans, in the minority really, as it relates to kind of being removed a bit from the persecution that the rest of the world seems to face.

Secondly, what I trust and hope is that what we're seeing in the world will help to spur us on to be praying for our brothers and sisters wherever they might be.

That God would continue to encourage and comfort and strengthen them to help them to have endurance, to help them to suffer well for the sake of Christ.

And then for us, as we consider as a nation, the coming persecution that is inevitable at some point down the road.

We are experiencing some latent forms of persecution, perhaps in your workplace or in the community.

It certainly has begun to come to the forefront, even in the church and the opposition that churches face.

But more is coming, and we can certainly expect to see more of it as the time continues.

I want to draw our attention this morning to this theme.

I'm sure this is a theme that we all are just really looking forward to studying today.

Hated like the Father.

Now, over the past couple of weeks, we've dealt with something that is something that we want to hear.

We like to hear.

We like to hear about being loved by the Father.

We like to hear about being friends of the Father.

We don't particularly like to hear about the fact that we're also going to be hated.

Like the Father.

But in this expression, in our study this morning,

there is nothing that will reinforce God's love for you,

and nothing that will reinforce God's love for the world through you,

like the opposition that you're going to face from the people who are adamant and hostile towards the gospel.

The hatred that you will experience as a believer,

the hostility and the suffering and persecution that you may experience as a believer,

will magnify the testimony of Christ more in this world than anything else that you could possibly experience.

The suffering that you will endure, perhaps, as a believer,

will propel the gospel and will fill your life with the strength of the Spirit

like nothing else that you will experience as a believer.

So perhaps, for all that we enjoy talking about the love of Christ

and being friends of Christ,

for as wonderful as that may be,

perhaps for us,

as those who desire to have a radiant testimony in the world,

maybe there's no better truth for us

than to know that we will be hated just like our Father.

There is a sense of identity.

There is a sense of likeness.

There is a sense of oneness that can only come

as we are willing to walk in the footsteps of Christ.

And as we are willing to walk in the footsteps of Christ,

we can expect that we will experience the journey of Christ,

who, having encouraged His followers, His disciples in particular,

what does He say?

He encourages them to be willing to take up their cross daily and follow Him.

There is a privilege, I might say,

of being so unified with the Father

that we experience the things that the Father experiences,

that Jesus experienced on behalf of the Father,

the antagonism, the opposition that comes to those

who follow after the Father's pattern

and similarly follow after the words and the works of Christ.

What will be the stabilizing force for us as believers?

Well, it will be the truths that have gone before.

The truths that have been filling our discussion the last several weeks

as Jesus, in these final hours,

these final moments with His disciples

before the inevitability of the cross,

wants to help them be anchored

in the stability of knowing that Christ loves them.

That will be the stabilizing force.

That will be the thing that will move them

through the suffering that they will certainly experience in the future.

And those who are satisfied with God,

those who drink Him in through genuine and sustained fellowship,

it will lead to a worthy life

that sets you apart from your peers,

from your co-workers,

from your classmates,

and from your community.

It will put God on display.

Isn't that what you want this morning?

To make much of God,

to put Him on display,

to make His love look so satisfying

that nothing else can shake you,

that nothing else can break you,

that nothing else can shatter this relationship with Him.

That's when the gospel becomes compelling,

is when the love of Christ is so satisfying

that it carries us through whatever we may face.

There is a sweetness

and a gentleness

and a joy about the believer's life

that is not only unmistakable,

it's unexplainable.

And that's what makes your life look remarkably familiar.

You begin to look like Jesus.

And that's the desire of our life.

Love for Christ will guide your affection

and your loyalty.

Love for Christ will show what really matters.

And it will carry you through difficult times

when you're hated like the Father.

So turn with me, if you would,

to John chapter 15.

John 15 · chapter mention

We're going to be taking up

a significant portion of Scripture this morning

from John chapter 15

John 15 · chapter mention

to chapter 16, verse 4.

We're going to begin in 15, verse 18

and moving through this portion of Scripture

that deals with this theme

of being hated like the Father.

There are a couple of truths,

or there are four truths

I want us to be reminded of this morning.

Two that relate to the world

and two that relate to the believer.

There are things that you can expect.

There are things that Jesus promises

in these final moments with His disciples.

Things that they will see

and that will happen for them.

Things that they will experience.

Let me read for us verses 18 to 21,

and we'll begin with this point,

the certainty of the world's disdain.

The certainty of the world's disdain.

Let me read these verses for us.

Beginning in verse 18.

It says,

If the world hates you,

know that it has hated me

before it hated you.

If you were of the world,

the world would love you as its own.

But because you are not of the world,

but I chose you out of the world,

therefore, the world hates you.

Remember the word that I said to you,

a servant is not greater than his master.

If they persecuted me,

they will also persecute you.

If they kept my word,

they will also keep yours.

But these things they will do to you

on account of my name,

because they do not know Him who sent me.

You can expect as a believer,

you can expect as one

who is a follower of Christ,

the world will not appreciate your life.

There will be a disdain.

There will be opposition.

There will be a sense of hatred towards you

because you have a life that emulates Jesus.

A life that emulates the Father.

But it seems a little strange, doesn't it?

Doesn't it seem a little strange

that the person who would be

the conduit of love,

the person who would emulate

the compassion of Christ,

a person who would seek to meet needs

and to address issues around you

with sensitivity and kindness

and compassion,

be the recipient of hostility?

Seems a little strange, does it not?

From the life source of Jesus

comes compassion that flows from Christ

and reaps a harvest of love in us.

We saw that last week.

And it's almost unimaginable

that the world,

being recipients of such magnanimous love,

would turn on the hand

that essentially feeds them

and seek to consume them instead.

But that's how it was with Christ.

That's how it was with Christ's followers.

That's how it's been through history.

We've seen the accounts of believers

throughout history

who have suffered injustice.

And it seems inconceivable

that the one who came to Galilee

and Judea

and virtually rid the entire land of disease,

demonstrating compassion indiscriminately

to Jewish leaders,

to Samaritans,

to those living in Galilee,

to those who were Gentiles in Perea,

even to officials in Rome.

That Jesus,

in demonstrating this kind of compassion,

would be the recipient of hatred

and ultimately be killed on the cross.

Initially,

the ministry of Jesus

was met with overwhelming positive favor.

We see that in John chapter 2

John 2 · chapter mention

where it says that the ministry of Christ,

it says,

many believed in his name

and saw the signs that he was doing.

But it says,

Jesus on his part

did not entrust himself to them

because he knew all people.

He needed no one to bear witness about man

for he himself knew what was in man.

Jesus knew where this was headed.

Jesus knew this was moving to the cross.

Jesus knew the fickle hearts of the people

that he was ministering to.

He knew that ultimately

the kindness and compassion of the Father

would be met by hostility.

It would be met with hatred

and they would put him on the cross.

And yet,

he continued to love them to the end.

The antagonism that Jesus experienced

throughout his ministry

was relentless.

The Jewish leaders in particular

hated his message.

They hated his miracles.

They hated his audacity

to forgive sin.

They hated that he exerted authority

by cleansing the temple.

They hated that he didn't keep their traditions.

They hated that he confronted

their hypocrisy.

He hated that he hung out with sinners.

They hated that he kept referring to God

as his Father.

They hated that the crowd

was so enamored with him

as a religious figure.

But the biggest reason they hated him

was because Jesus exposed

the wickedness of their heart.

In John chapter 7, verse 7,

John 7:7

Jesus says this,

The world hates me

because I testify about it

that its works are evil.

And for all the kindness and compassion

of our Savior,

and all the grace of God

to identify the biggest hurdle

in their life

that was keeping them

from experiencing the favor of God,

their sin,

even though he was kind,

even though he leaned in,

as we've been talking about

in Sunday school,

he leaned into their mess,

was willing to love them

in the midst of the difficulties

and the sin of their life,

and to lead them to deliverance,

they didn't want to hear it.

And being confronted with their sin,

being exposed in the sight of God,

they resented him

and hated him

and pushed him away.

The same will be true of believers.

Those of us who seek to echo

and mirror the kind love

of Christ for the world.

Don't be surprised

if the world hates you.

It hated Christ as well.

But as we look at this truth,

we see the opposite truth

taking shape in verse 19.

Not only will the world hate you,

but be warned

if the world loves you.

It says in verse 19,

If you were of the world,

the world would love you

as its own.

But because you are not of the world,

but I chose you out of the world,

therefore the world hates you.

So don't seek

the affection of the world.

Don't look for their acceptance.

Don't modify your language.

Don't soften your convictions.

Don't conceal your light.

You have been called to be a light.

Ephesians 5, 7-14.

I would just encourage you,

keep your finger in John chapter 15.

John 15 · chapter mention

Turn with me for this pertinent passage

in Ephesians chapter 5,

Ephesians 5 · chapter mention

where Jesus begins to,

or excuse me,

God through the apostle Paul

to the church of Ephesus,

begins to describe

what you as lights look like.

Jesus says in his great sermon on the mount,

You are the light of the world,

a city set on the hill

that cannot be hidden.

Well, what does light do?

We find what light does

in Ephesians chapter 5.

Ephesians 5 · chapter mention

Beginning in verse 7,

it says this,

Therefore, do not become partakers with them,

for at one time you were darkness,

but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of the light,

for the fruit of light is found

in all that is good and right and true.

And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness,

but instead expose them.

For it is shameful even to speak of the things

that they do in secret.

But when anything is exposed by the light,

it becomes visible.

For anything that becomes visible is light.

Therefore, it says,

Awake, O sleeper,

and to rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.

But so often,

I think we find ourselves,

instead of shining the light of Christ

in the world,

we find ourselves

looking for ways to conceal that light.

Looking for ways

to accommodate ourselves to the world

by embracing their ideals

in terms of the workplace

and how to get ahead

and the cutthroat culture

that is so easy for us to adopt

in order for us to get to the places

we think we need to be

in terms of promotion

and advancement

and income.

We also find ourselves

reinforcing their priorities

when it comes to education

and athletics

and attractiveness

and pursuit of the good life.

We find ourselves

bending to their pressure,

silent about our testimony,

a little afraid

about the awkwardness

of a situation

when we let anyone know

that we are Christians.

we accommodate

their preferences.

Churches that take pride

in certain musical forms

that I've heard of even

a church or two

who have pretty much

all secular music

and very little

that actually calls people

to worship God

for the sake of drawing the crowd

so they can hear the gospel.

Of course,

there is acceptance

of blatant sin in the church.

There is an unwillingness

for churches

to deal with sin

and confront sin head on

and to lovingly address it

for the sake

of the soul

of the individual

who is involved

in that lifestyle.

We emulate their tactics.

It relates to dealing

with authority.

We find ourselves,

especially as a parent

of children in school,

I find myself at times

resisting the urge

of having that conversation

with the teacher

or taking it

to the next level

and talking to the principal

because that teacher

just couldn't get

what I was trying

to tell them.

One thing I appreciated

about my upbringing

was I would come home

with a complaint

and my dad always

took the teacher's side.

It drove me bananas.

But one thing it did

was it reinforced

the authority structures

that God had put

in my way

to help me understand

the significance

of respecting

the authority

that God has for us.

But we find ourselves

emulating their tactics.

We're going to take it

to Capitol Hill.

We find ourselves,

instead of praying

about issues,

that we complain

about issues.

we make it public.

We put it all over

social media,

whatever it takes

to get the word out

and get people on board

instead of turning it over

to God to deal with.

And we are captured

by their philosophies,

philosophies of parenting,

philosophies of family.

We find ourselves

not showing the light

of Christ in that way.

And we're made numb

by the way

they try to inculcate culture.

The slow descent

into tolerating

and supporting

their agenda

as it relates

to the movies we watch

or the music

that we listen to,

the sporting events

that we participate in.

There is very little

distinctiveness in us

that would call people

to the distinctiveness

of our great God.

No wonder why

we aren't experiencing

the pushback from culture

because we look

so much like the world.

Jesus moves on

in verse 20.

Remember the word

that I said to you.

A servant is not greater

than his master.

If they persecuted me,

they will persecute you.

Does your life show

the sweetness

and the wonder

of Jesus?

Does it point

to your master?

Does it show

his greatness?

Does it put him

on display?

Not only his love

for sinners,

but the way

to deal with sin.

The answer

for sin

that comes

through faith in Christ.

Removing guilt

and removing sin.

Being cleansed

by his life.

Love for Christ

will guide

your affection

and your loyalty.

Love for Christ

will show

what really matters.

Especially

when the world

disdains you.

Jesus moves on.

He moves on

to helping

his disciples

understand

that

although the world

may disdain them

and hate them,

there is

an inevitable

consequence.

There will be

judgment for them.

The certainty,

the second point,

the certainty

of the world's

demise.

The certainty

of the world's

demise.

We see that here

in verses 22

to 25.

Let me read this

for us.

If I had not

come and spoken

to them,

they would not

have been guilty

of sin.

But now they

have no excuse

for their sin.

Whoever hates

me hates

my father also.

If I had not

done among them

the works

that no one

else did,

they would not

be guilty

of sin.

But now they

have seen

and hated

both me

and my father.

But the word

that is written

in their law

must be fulfilled.

They hated

me without

a cause.

There will

be judgment

on the world.

And one

question that

might come

to the surface

as you're

considering

why are

there people

who are

in the camp

of belief

and individuals

who are in

the camp

of those

who do not

believe,

especially

during Christ's

day.

Was something

concealed from

them?

Was there

a truth

that they

missed

somehow?

Did Jesus

leave this

crowd by the

side and

failed to

address them

and to deal

with them

appropriately?

And we

find that

here in

this group

of verses

that Jesus'

ministry to

them was

just the same

as his

ministry to

the disciples.

They heard

the same

word.

There was

gracious

revelation to

them.

The same

revelation that

the disciples

received we

saw as an

expression of

Christ's love

for them.

At the

latter part

of John

John 15 · chapter mention

chapter 15

and here in

verse it

says in

verse 15,

he has

given them,

I made

known to

you what

was given

to me by

the Father.

Revelation

went to

the disciples

but revelation

also went

to those who

refused to

believe.

The world

is without

excuse.

And we

have addressed

this on

numerous

occasions.

that the

word that

was communicated

by Christ

was word

that was

first directed

by the

Father.

Perhaps

standing at

the forefront

if we just

turn back a

couple of

pages to

John chapter

John 12 · chapter mention

12, we

see this

in verse

49.

John

John 12:49

chapter 12

verse 49

says,

For I

have not

spoken on

my own

authority,

but the

Father who

has sent

me has

himself

given me

a commandment,

what to

say and

what to

speak.

And some

translations

have what

to say and

how to

say it.

Jesus'

life in

ministry was

so guided

by the

Father that

not only the

words that

he spoke but

the way in

which he

spoke those

words were

influenced by

the Father's

direction.

And so to

reject the

message of

Christ is

to reject the

message from

the Father.

Jesus says,

Whoever hates

me hates

my Father

as well.

This is the

epitome of

rebellion.

Hatred of

God the

Father.

The God of

the Jews

was not the

God of the

Bible.

Their God

was a figure

of their

tradition.

Their God

was an image

of their own

making.

And when

they had

their God

right in

front of

them in

full view

speaking the

words of

the Father,

they called

him an

imposter and

they put him

on the cross.

The danger

for us as

we consider

the words of

Christ,

will we

accept the

truths that

Jesus has

so clearly

communicated to

us in the

word?

Jesus was

clear about

his identity.

Seven times

in the

Gospel of

John he

says,

I am,

and we

have looked

at them

throughout the

course of

our study.

I am the

door.

I am the

good shepherd.

I am the

light of the

world.

I am the

bread of

life.

I am the

vine.

I am the

resurrection

and the

life.

Jesus was

the way to

God.

Jesus was

God in

the flesh.

And if you

don't have

Christ,

you don't

have God.

That was

the message

that came

through loud

and clear

through the

testimony of

Jesus'

words.

Not only

did Jesus

say the

words of

the Father,

but his

words were

confirmed through

his works.

And that

comes next.

We see that

here in

verse 24.

If I had

not done

among them

the works

that no one

else did,

they would

not be

guilty.

So not

only are

they condemned

by rejecting

the words

of Christ,

but they

are rejecting

him even

in light of

the works

that he

did,

that authenticated

him,

that validated

his ministry,

that proved

that he was

the person

he claimed

to be.

Jesus,

in a

confrontation

with the

Pharisees,

back in

John chapter

John 10 · chapter mention

10,

alludes to

this,

speaks of

this.

He says

in

John

John 10:25

chapter

10,

verse 25,

they ask

him the

question,

Jesus,

okay now,

tell us

plainly,

are you

the Christ?

And Jesus

says,

in verse

25,

he says,

I told

you,

and you

do not

believe.

The works

that I do

in my

Father's name

bear testimony

about me,

but you

do not

believe

because you

are not

part of

my flock.

Dropping

down to

verse 37,

if I

am not

doing the

works of

my Father,

then do

not believe

me.

But if I

do them,

even though

you do

not believe

me,

believe the

works,

that you

may know

and understand

that the

Father is

in me,

and I

am in

the Father.

The

miracles

of

Jesus

confirmed

his

identity.

Jesus

faithfully

brought

this

truth

to the

forefront.

And if

you remember

the story

of the

paralytic,

the standing

room only

in this

house that

Jesus was

ministering

to,

and then

all of a

sudden

they see

the rafters

beginning to

be removed

from the

ceiling,

and now

this figure

of an

individual

being lowered

down in

front of

Christ.

And Jesus

looks at

this man

on this

little

stretcher

and says,

your sins

are forgiven.

And the

Pharisees,

it says,

they grumbled

in their

heart,

who is

this person

who can

forgive sins?

Only God

can forgive

sins.

To which

Jesus says,

you're right.

So,

what's easier

to say?

your sins

are forgiven

or rise

and take

up your

bed and

walk.

And Jesus,

turning to

the man,

tells him,

rise,

take up

your bed

and walk.

The paralytic

gets up,

walks right

out of the

house,

and gives

testimony to

the fact

that Jesus

not only has

the words

of God,

Jesus shows

the work

of God

and confirms

that he

was God

himself.

And in

spite of

the great

show of

Jesus'

identity,

the clear

and unmistakable

fact that he

was God,

they still

refused

to acknowledge

him.

And as a

result,

Jesus talks

about,

in Matthew

Matthew 11 · chapter mention

chapter 11,

his condemnation

on those

cities who

were so

faithfully

heard the

word and

yet still

rejected.

When the

world sees

confirmation

of Christ

in you,

through your

steadfast faith

and unwavering

joy,

it will

either lead

them to

Christ,

or will

lead them

to rebellion.

Do the

people in

this world

see the

testimony of

Christ playing

out in your

life?

Are you

an individual

who is so

full of

Christ that

it shows up

in the world?

Not only

through your

words,

but through

your works

that confirm

there's been

a transformation

in your

life.

That's what

will be the

mark of

helping them

to come to

terms with

the reality

of the

gospel.

Now we

move to

this next

promise.

It moves

from the

world and

now moves

to believers.

We see

in verses

26 to 27

the certainty

of the

believer's

divine help.

The

certainty

of the

believer's

divine help.

Let me

read verses

26 and

27.

It says,

but when

the helper

comes,

whom I

will send

you from

the

father,

the spirit

of truth

who proceeds

from the

father,

he will

bear witness

about me.

And you

also will

bear witness

because you

have been

with me

from the

beginning.

This is the

third statement

in these

short few

moments of

time that

Jesus has

with his

disciples in

these final

hours of

drawing their

attention to

the promise

of the

spirit's

coming.

We see it

in John

John 14:16

chapter 14

verse 16.

John 14

John 14:26

verse 26.

We see it

here in this

verse in

chapter 15

26 and

we'll see it

two more

times in

chapter 16.

Jesus is

interested and

wants to

encourage his

disciples with

the fact the

Holy Spirit is

coming.

Times may be

tough.

Suffering may

come.

Hardship may

confront you

but you

will have

help.

Help from

the Holy Spirit.

One commentator

puts it this

way.

The Holy Spirit's

primary ministry

to the lost

world is to

testify about

Jesus.

Let me say

that again.

The Holy Spirit's

primary ministry

to the lost

world is to

testify about

Jesus.

If your

words and

your life is

not dominated

by testimony

about Jesus

and what Jesus

has done for

you,

I would say

that we need

to take

caution.

we need to

ask God to

do that work

in our life

because if the

Spirit is

indwelling you,

it will show

up in giving

testimony about

Christ.

One of the

clear evidences

of the Spirit

in your life

is that you

will have a

message of

Christ.

It will not

only fuel

your passion

but it will

dominate your

speech or

your words

saturated in

the words of

Christ.

and do

your words

reflect the

expression or

the quality of

Christ's words.

We could go to

a number of

passages and

look at the

quality of

Christ's words

but I think

there are,

I wish we had

time to look at

three verses this

morning but I

want to just

call your

attention to

three qualities

and write this

down, you can

look at it on

your own.

Luke chapter 4

Luke 4:22

verse 22

says this,

all spoke

well of him

and marveled

at the

gracious words

that were

coming from

his mouth.

So what

quality would

you look at

did they

recognize?

They recognized

gracious words.

Do you have

speech that is

dominated by

grace?

Do you have

speech that is

dominated by

appreciation?

Not complaining?

Not criticism?

But thankfulness?

Mark chapter 1

Mark 1:27

verse 27 is

another quality

of Jesus'

words.

It says,

And all

marveled so

that they

questioned among

themselves saying,

What is this?

A new teaching

with authority.

He commands

even the

unclean spirits

and they obey

him.

Not only did

Jesus have

gracious words

but Jesus

had authoritative

words.

You can

exercise

the authority

of Christ

not because

you are an

authoritative

person but

because you

have authoritative

words.

And I'm not

talking about

casting out

demons so

please don't

misunderstand.

What I'm

talking about

is the

conviction that

comes because

you hold to

one truth.

You're anchored

in the singularity

of the message

of the Bible.

That's what

gives you

confidence.

Not your

experience.

Not your

past

successes.

But what

gives you

the ability

to speak

authoritatively

in a situation

is that the

Bible has

spoken

authoritatively.

And as a

pastor I may

not understand

your specific

situation but

I can give

you authoritative

words based

upon the

scripture because

God has

the news.

He has the

answer that we

can give to a

world that is

so desperate

for answers.

The third

quality and

there are many

others.

The third

quality is found

in Mark

Mark 6:2

chapter 6

verse 2.

It says

on the

Sabbath he

began to

teach the

synagogue and

many who

heard him

were astonished

saying where

did this man

get these

things?

What is the

wisdom given

to him?

How are such

mighty works

done by his

hand?

We see that

Jesus also had

wise words.

wise words.

You have the

wisdom of

God.

You have the

truth of God

at your

disposal.

You have the

ability to speak

words of life

into people.

Wisdom for

their future.

Wisdom for

relationships.

Wisdom for

their workplace.

Wisdom for

family.

Not because

you are this

well of wisdom

but because you

have tapped

in to the

source of

wisdom as

Jesus did.

I think one

of the

clearest

evidences

in our

speech that

God has

transformed

us has to

do in

our response

to suffering

when it

comes.

Our

thankfulness

and gratitude

in spite of

hardship.

We see

verses like

rejoice evermore

in everything

give thanks.

Count it all

joy when you

fall into

various trials.

Bless those

who curse

you.

Bless and

curse not.

How can

anyone do

such things?

Well, it

can only be

done through

the power of

the Spirit

working in

your life.

And finally

to close,

we'll get to

point number

four next

week.

I've got one

more week to

go.

We'll just

combine it with

the next few

verses of

chapter 16.

Okay?

I want to

give this

appropriate

time.

Not only

does the

Spirit testify

of Christ,

and this

may be

one of the

neater truths

for us

today.

One commentator

says,

the work of

the Spirit

in the

church is

done in

the context

of persecution.

The Spirit

is not a

guide and

helper for

those on

a straight

way,

perfectly able

to manage

on their

own.

He comes

to assist

men caught

up in the

thick of

battle,

and tried

beyond their

strength.

Jesus makes

it quite

plain that

the way

before his

followers is

hard and

difficult way.

You want

the Spirit

to show up

in your

life?

You will

be strong

in the face

of hardship.

You will

not buckle.

You will

not resist

it.

You will

not push

it away

because you

will welcome

the power

of the

Spirit in

your life.

As Peter

later says

in 1 Peter

1 Peter 4:12

chapter 4

verse 12,

he says

this and

I'll close

with this

verse.

He says,

don't be

surprised at

the fiery

trial when

it comes

upon you

to test

you as

though

something

strange

were

happening

to you,

but rejoice

in so far

as you

share in

Christ's

afflictions

so that

you also

may rejoice

and be

glad when

his glory

is revealed.

If you

are insulted

for the

name of

Christ,

you are

blessed

because

the Spirit

of glory

and of

God

rests on

you.

You want

the Spirit

to show up

in your

life?

be willing

to embrace

his strength

in the midst

of considerable

weakness.

That's when

he'll show up.

And you

want to

magnify

the wonder

and sufficiency

of Christ

in this world?

Rejoice

that you

get to

emulate

and mirror

the life

of Christ

in facing

persecution

just like

Jesus did.

Well,

love for

God

will show

up in

our life

through a

love for

the world

in spite

of the

persecution

that you

face.

May God

help us

to love

him that

way and

to show

his

sweetness

to the

world

in the

face of

hardship.

Let's pray.

Lord,

we thank

you.

this morning

for the

love of

Christ

that anchors

us in

the storm.

Thank you,

Lord,

for the

assurance

of love

from Christ

that helps

us to

understand

that nothing

we face

in this

life is

an accident.

Nothing

that we

face in

this life

is in

vain.

It's all

meant to

push us

and to

draw us

into

closer

relationship

with you

and to

make

the

sweetness

of

Christ,

the

testimony

of

God

attractive

in this

world.

So,

Lord,

I pray

that you

would

continue

to do

a work

in our

hearts.

Help us

to be so

caught up

with the

love of

Christ

that it

stabilizes

us when

hardship

comes.

and may

we show

how wonderful

you are

through our

steadfastness

in our

faith

and looking

forward to

the hope

of your

return.

We praise

you,

Lord,

for all

that you

have

accomplished

for us

and particularly

for the

helper that

you have

given to

us through

the Holy

Spirit

to come

and indwell

us and

to strengthen

us in

life's

endeavors.

We praise

you in

Jesus'

name.

Amen.