Being Kingdom Minded - Withstanding the Persecution

I'm so glad to be a part of the kingdom of God.

Can you say that this morning?

I'm so glad to be a part of the kingdom of God.

There's a song that goes, I'm so glad to be a part of the family of God.

And we love that song.

But I'm so glad to be a part of the kingdom of God.

We've been given in the kingdom of God, we've been given the mind of Christ.

The mind of Christ.

And in the mind of Christ is such wisdom, such knowledge, the ability to navigate through all of life's obstacles, being in the kingdom of God, the wonderful things that we have been given access to through the mind of Christ.

We know that Christ was kingdom-minded.

Christ was all about the kingdom of God.

And when we choose to have the mind of Christ, we are choosing to be kingdom-minded.

So we know that we are called to be kingdom-minded.

Kingdom-minded having the mind of Christ.

What is being kingdom-minded?

What is being kingdom-minded?

We know that kingdom-minded requires us to do things out of the ordinary.

Do I have any peculiar people here this morning?

Going against the grain of the world.

We're reaching for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

And you'll find that doing things out of the ordinary can actually be fun.

Doing things out of the ordinary can be fun.

Why?

Because you are expecting out of the ordinary results.

Out of the ordinary, things that you've never seen before.

We say, praise the Lord, because the things that are out of the ordinary are things that you've never seen, the things that the world has never seen, the things that you have never heard or thought of.

1 Corinthians 2 9 says, But as it is written, can you read this with me this morning?

I has not seen, nor ear has heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

That's exciting.

You don't know what God has in store for you.

Sometimes we try to make plans in our own minds, but God's got something way bigger than you could ever think or imagine.

See, when you choose to have the mind of Christ and you put that mind into action, you can't help but reflect the supernatural.

And that's when people start to ask you, why do you have so much peace when the world is as it is?

The stock market, is it going up?

Is it going down?

Is it gonna crash?

I don't know, but I have the peace that passes all understanding.

And that's reflecting the supernatural.

People may ask, why are you so calm?

People may ask, how can you forgive them so many times when they continue to wrong you?

Reflecting to the supernatural, some people might say, you're just too nice.

Hey, it's the supernatural.

God's too nice sometimes.

You're reflecting the supernatural power of God, the power that is able to calm the storm even with words, the power that is able to speak life where death is trying to take the victory, the power that is able to bring families back together in Jesus' name.

The power that is able to break down strongholds, drawing people to experience the supernatural for themselves, the power that is able to do more abundantly than we could ever think or ask, the supernatural power of God.

And I love the kingdom of God and being kingdom-minded because it requires us and causes us to look towards the future and take hold of the things that God has in store for his children.

The things that God has in store not only for us today, but in eternity.

We talked about that.

Your story is just beginning.

Your story is just beginning.

Do you believe that this morning?

It doesn't matter how old you look.

It doesn't matter how young you think you look.

It doesn't matter how many wrinkles are forming on your face, how many gray hairs are coming out, it's okay.

Your story is just beginning, and God has so much more for you.

You might have been in this game for a long time, but God still has new things to show you.

Do you believe that this morning?

Amen.

I hope you do.

Because Christ came so we could have life more abundantly, and that's exactly what he provided: life upon life upon life upon life.

In Christ, there is no death.

Through Christ, even in death, there is life.

Through Christ, there is peace, there is a future, there is a hope, and you have that to look forward to.

So I'm gonna tell you today, you need to shake off the sadness.

Shake off the sadness.

You need to shake off the regret.

You need to shake off the things that are holding you back from looking towards the future and getting excited about what God has for his people.

Because even today, God is still revealing things that are come in his kingdom.

In having the mind of Christ, we need to have what?

The fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

The fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

See, being gingham-minded is allowing the Spirit of God to transform you with fellowship of the Holy Spirit, allowing the word of God to be revealed to you through the Spirit, allowing the Spirit to speak to you and through you.

And you're gonna find that as you find your fellowship with the Holy Spirit, you're gonna find that it's so much easier to deny the flesh.

Because we know that being kingdom-minded is in fact denying the flesh.

And when you have your fellowship with the Holy Spirit, it becomes so much easier.

As we said last week, denying the flesh and walking in the spirit, that's the kingdom of God.

And as you chase after the things of God, guess what?

The flesh is going to try to pull you in the opposite direction that the spirit is trying to lead you.

Why?

Because the flesh and the spirit, they're contrary to each other.

The flesh is constantly trying to pull you back to the old man that you once were.

We've already said goodbye to the old man.

Do you remember saying that?

We said, goodbye, old man.

Goodbye.

Now walk in the spirit.

The flesh finds its comfort in sin.

The flesh finds its comfort in things that are not beneficial to you or to anybody around you.

Unfortunately, there are so many people who are more comfortable operating in the flesh than in the spirit.

They find comfort, familiar, familiarity, there we go, in operating in the flesh, and the flesh can be very comfortable.

Did you know that?

Because why?

The flesh is selfish.

The flesh is all about me.

It's selfish, it's comfortable.

We read the definition of the acts of the flesh: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

And you'll find that many of these acts might feel comfortable for a time.

They might feel very comfortable for a time, but in time, if you notice, they'll cause a lot of confusion.

They'll cause a lot of confusion, a lot of hurt, a lot of baggage, a lot of long-lasting scars, not only on you, but on your family.

So the Spirit tells you to stay away from these things.

Why?

Because the Spirit of God has better things for you.

The better things that this baggage ain't gonna get you anywhere.

And you can choose to stay trapped and to stay heavy laden.

And the flesh is trying to pile burden upon burden upon burden while the spirit wants to offer you freedom.

What does it say in 2 Corinthians 3 17?

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord, there is what freedom.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is what?

Freedom.

Freedom from the burdens of the flesh.

That's where the spirit is trying to lead you.

Freedom from the burdens that the flesh wants to keep piling on you and piling on you.

God just doesn't want to give you a bunch of rules, He wants to free you up.

So you can enjoy the blessings that God has for you.

And in being kingdom-minded and having the mind of Christ, we're called to deny that nasty old flesh.

I think of Christ at the beginning of his ministry, and we see when Satan's trying to tempt Christ, what is Satan trying to tempt Jesus with?

The desires of the flesh.

Selfish ambition, power, pride.

Jesus was en route to fulfilling the mission that was assigned to him by the Father.

And Satan is trying to tempt Jesus to act outside of his assignment.

You and I are on an assignment as well.

And the enemy's trying to tempt you to act outside of your assignment and your purpose here.

Satan was trying to distract the Savior of the world, but he could not.

What did Jesus do to shut down Satan?

The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, Jesus says.

Jesus says, You shall not tempt the Lord thy God.

Jesus says, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve.

Jesus was quoting scripture to Satan.

Because he knew that there was power in the Word of God.

See, Christ was kingdom-minded, Paul was kingdom-minded, Peter was kingdom-minded, you are kingdom-minded.

And if you'll notice that kingdom-minded people, they open themselves up to persecution.

In being kingdom-minded, you open yourselves up to persecution, but by the Spirit of God, we are able to withstand even the persecution.

Do you believe that this morning?

If you look up the word persecute in the Webster's Dictionary or in Scripture, you'll find that it shares its definition with harass, trouble, mistreat, injure, grieve, and afflict.

If you look at the journey of Jesus Christ as he's spreading the gospel message and walking towards the cross, as you look at the journey of the followers of Christ, you'll see that whether they are fulfilling the gospel or spreading the gospel or living out the gospel message, them along with so many others are described as facing trials and persecution.

It comes with being kingdom-minded.

We looked at Paul's story not too long ago when we talked about Paul's walk of contentment.

Do you remember that sermon series?

Paul walked through so many trials, all while keeping a cool head.

Mr.

Content, we called him.

But in Paul's second letter to the Church of Corinth, he recounts his persecutions.

Watch what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11.

He says, Are they servants of Christ?

I am speaking as if insane.

I more so in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

Five times I received from the Jews 39 lashes.

Could you imagine?

Three times I was beaten with rods.

Once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked.

A night and a day I spent adrift at sea.

I have been on frequent journeys in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers amongst false brothers.

I have been in labor and hardship through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

That's Paul.

All for what?

The sake of the gospel.

The sake of the gospel message.

Paul would have to walk through all of these circumstances.

Have you ever faced such trial?

Have you ever walked through such trial?

Maybe some of you.

Have you faced such persecution?

The question we ask is, Paul, why did you do it?

Why wouldn't you stop after the first time you're beaten?

After the first time you get those lashes, wouldn't you have given up, Paul?

Paul answered this in his first letter to the Church of Corinth in chapter 9, verse 23.

He says, I do all things for the sake of the gospel.

Why?

So that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?

Run in such a way that you may win.

Run in such a way that you may win.

Paul knew that doing things out of the ordinary, when you are being kingdom-minded, that guess what?

He was going to face persecution.

He was going to face trial.

Things weren't always going to be easy.

What happens when you choose to do right in a world that's all wrong?

What happens when you choose to do right in the world that is all wrong?

What happens when you choose to opt out of this spiraling of sin, this downward spiral of sin?

And when you choose to jump on the path of righteousness, will you be ridiculed?

Probably.

Are you gonna lose friends?

Most definitely.

Will people try to pull you off of your spirit walk?

Will people try to pull you off of your love walk and your walk of contentment and your kingdom-minded walk?

Definitely, yes.

Will the enemy try to trip you up, make you question your good choices?

Will the enemy try to tempt you and make you throw in the towel?

Of course.

And then he'll do it again and again and again.

Some of you know what I'm talking about.

Persecution for the gospel's sake is very much prevalent today as it was 2,000 years ago.

It might look different geographically.

We're blessed here in the United States.

But even so, persecution might look different here.

Depending on the generation.

It might come out of nowhere and surprise you when everything is going strong.

Persecution for the kingdom-minded is very much a given.

And guess what?

It's gonna try to wear you down, it's gonna try to wear you out.

And Paul says this to the church of Ephesus, chapter 6, verse 10.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

What does he tell us to do?

Put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

And I love this watch.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm.

Even with the full armor of God, it's gonna beat and beat and beat at you.

Paul says, Yes, persecution is a given.

That's why it's so important to put on the full armor of God.

And when you've done everything, when you've given everything, when you've reached the very end of your rope and you can't even stand anymore, Paul says, just stand.

Just stand.

And stand what?

Firm.

Because God's word is true.

Because God's word is true, and they belong to you.

So you continue to stand firm.

Knowing that your relief is coming.

Knowing that you're not alone in this battle.

You're not alone against the powers and the principalities of this world.

There are generations before you.

There are generations that will come after you, that will continue to put their lives on the line for the gospel's sake.

There are generations that have been persecuted because they chose to further the gospel message of Jesus Christ, not only through words, but through action.

Choosing not to conform to this world, choosing not to water down the gospel message of Jesus Christ, but to live out their lives boldly as examples of the living God.

Is that you this morning?

See, Jesus knew that persecution would take place as he set us out on assignment.

He knew that trials would come your way.

For those who choose the path of righteousness.

That's why Jesus makes this promise in Matthew chapter 5.

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

What does he say in verse 10?

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness.

For what?

Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

See, being kingdom-minded might not always be easy.

Sometimes you might have to break through that embarrassment.

It might not get you the accolades that everybody is searching here for on earth.

For some reason, we're all going for these high prizes that the world pretends are really exciting.

We're all chasing these accolades.

And we're willing to deny the things that are right in order to accomplish them.

Being kingdom-minded might not get you the accolades that everyone searches for, but I'm telling you the benefits of being kingdom-minded are waiting in eternity for you.

For those who continue to run the race.

Paul says this in Galatians 6 9 let us not become discouraged in doing well.

Let us not be weary in well-doing.

For in due time we will reap if we do not become weary.

Paul says to the church keep doing good, keep living the life the way that Christ instructs you to.

Keep pointing people to Christ through your words and examples.

And guess what?

Endure the persecution when it comes.

Endure the trial.

Be joyful because better days are ahead.

Do you believe that this morning?

James 1, 2 through 4 says this consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces what?

Endurance.

And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I was at a funeral yesterday for a pastor that passed away.

He was young, he was in his 60s, passed away from pancreatic cancer.

He fought the battle with cancer and went home to eternity.

At the funeral, they said he preached until he couldn't preach no more.

Amen.

When you're called of God, you just keep doing what God called you to do.

It doesn't matter if you're sick.

You know where I learned that from?

I think of my father who preached until he couldn't preach anymore.

He tried to get out of the hospital.

He told them, I gotta get out of here.

I gotta go preach.

Tom, you're not going.

You're not going to church.

I have to go preach.

They're waiting for me to preach.

He ended up getting out that day.

And then that's when he popped over into that door, if you remember.

It's online if you want to watch.

He came in there and then gave a wave.

He had to get to church.

Why did they do that?

Why did that pass?

Why did my dad do that?

Because they made the Joshua 2415 commitment and decided that as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

I hope that you've made that.

Amen.

Did we as a family, did we face trials?

Yep.

Too many to count.

We as a family, after my mom and dad made that commitment to serve the Lord, did we face persecution?

Yep.

Check.

Did the enemy try to pull the carpet out from under us countless times?

Yes, yes, and yes again.

The enemy will use people.

The enemy will use situations, emotions, and just like Job, trying to get you to give up, to wear you down, and to get you to quit altogether.

But kingdom-minded people are not quitters.

I'm going to say it again.

Kingdom-minded people are not quitters.

Kingdom-minded people are clothed in the armor of God.

They got that helmet of salvation.

They know they're saved.

They know what Christ did for them.

They got that sword of the Spirit, that breastplate of righteousness.

When it starts to get tough, that just means it's time to tighten up the armor.

I'm going to say that again.

When it starts to get tough, do you know what that means?

You might already have the full armor of God on, and when it starts to get tough, that means you need to tighten up the armor.

That means you better sharpen that sword of the spirit by getting your scripture memorized.

Because you got to be ready.

That means you got to tighten up that helmet and know who you are and whose you are.

Right?

Who you are and who you are.

Who you are and whose you are.

You gotta tighten up the armor of God.

Kingdom-minded people realize that there's a world that is lost and that is in desperate need to be introduced to Jesus Christ.

Kingdom-minded people have been called and they've been equipped by the Spirit of God to withstand persecution, to withstand the trial, knowing that we're just passing through.

And great is our reward in heaven if we do not become weary.

Perplexed but not despairing, persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed.

That is the children of God.

As you choose to be kingdom-minded, guess what?

You might face trial.

You might face persecution.

You might have to step out of your comfort zone.

You might have to rejoice even when the world seems like it's crumbling around you.

But know this.

You will not be crushed.

You will not be abandoned.

And you will not be destroyed.

You will not be destroyed.

You will not be destroyed.

Why?

Because God is with you.

God is with you.

His spirit is within you.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word that strengthens us.

Lord, we thank you for your word that strengthens us.

God, we know just like when Paul made that commitment to serve the Lord and every other follower of Christ, when you put your life on the line for the gospel's sake, we get it.

You're opening yourself up to being mistreated, to face trial upon trial.

But God, I thank you so much that you've provided the armor to be able to march through it victoriously.

So God, I pray if there's anyone here this morning, God, that they're going through a trial, that they're going through a circumstance.

God, I pray that they would have the strength right now, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to tighten that armor.

And although they've given everything, they've given everything upon everything upon.

God, I pray that you would give them the strength to just stand.

Stand knowing that all the promises of God are yea and amen.

God, that we might go through different circumstances, but we are not going to be crushed.

We are not going to be destroyed.

Because we are on the winning side.

Lord, strengthen us in your word.

Strengthen us in your spirit.

Remind us who you've called us and created us to be.

Let us be equipped.

God, let not the persecution take us by surprise.

Let not the trial take us by surprise.

But God, we'll be ready for it.

We'll be dressed and ready for it.

God, knowing that you have so much in store for your children.

God, and if we don't grow weary, if we don't give up, we're not quitters.

God, that we will receive and enjoy those eternal benefits that you have in store.

God, let that joy rise up within us.

All the things that you have.

We thank you and we praise you.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.