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Okay, tonight, if you would, 1 Peter chapter

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number 4, and I don't want to distort

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the text by not reading the entirety of

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the context, and I think it's so essential

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tonight as we look at the subject of

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preparation for persecution.

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Now, I'm not here standing before you tonight

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to introduce in your hearing a conspiracy theory,

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okay?

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God knows we have enough of those today.

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But there are some things that are coming

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down the pike in this hour that I'm

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not even going to introduce tonight, because what

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it'll do is have a tendency to distract

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you from what is the most important thing,

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and that is to hear from God through

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his scriptures.

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And so I want to read the entire

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context and then share with you some thoughts

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under the title of preparation for persecution.

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Follow with me, if you would, in 1

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Peter chapter 4 and verse number 1.

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And I'm reading from the New King James

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tonight.

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Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the

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flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind,

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for he who has suffered in the flesh

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has ceased from sin, that he no longer

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should live the rest of his time in

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the flesh for the lust of men, but

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for the will of God.

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But we have spent enough of our past

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lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles

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when we walked, we practiced lewdness and lust,

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drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

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In regard to these, they think it strange

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that you do not run with them in

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the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of

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you.

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They will give an account to him who

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is ready to judge the living and the

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dead.

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For this reason the gospel was preached also

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to those who are dead, that they might

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be judged according to men in the flesh,

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but live according to God in the spirit.

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But the end of all things is at

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hand.

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Therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers,

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and above all things have fervent love for

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one another, for love will cover a multitude

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of sins.

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Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

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As each one has received a gift, ministry

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it to one another as good stewards of

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the manifold grace of God.

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If anyone speaks, let him speak as the

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oracles of God.

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If anyone ministers, let him do it as

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with the ability which God supplies, that in

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all things God may be glorified through Jesus

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Christ, to whom belong the glory and the

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dominion forever and ever.

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Amen.

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Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the

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fiery trial which is to try you, as

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though some strange thing happened to you.

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But rejoice to the extent that you partake

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of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is

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revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding

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joy.

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If you are reproached for the name of

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Christ, blessed are you, for the spirit of

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glory and of God rests upon you.

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On their part He is blasphemed, but on

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your part He is glorified.

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But let none of you suffer as a

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murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a

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busybody in other men's matters.

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Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let

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him not be ashamed, but let him glorify

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God in this matter.

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For the time has come for judgment to

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begin at the house of God.

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And the idea there is the righteous judgment

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of God falling upon the church.

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And if it begins with us first, what

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will be the end of those who do

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not obey the gospel of God?

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Now if the righteous one is scarcely saved,

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where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?

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Therefore let those who suffer according to the

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will of God commit their souls to Him

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in doing good as to a faithful Creator.

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It's a very interesting text.

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And certainly profoundly timely in the hour in

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which we live.

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You see brethren, what Peter is giving us,

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what he is setting forth are divine directives

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that you and I can take refuge in

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as we prepare ourselves for the upcoming persecution.

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When I was with my brother Paul Washer

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back years ago in Atlanta, we were on

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a panel discussion and people were asking questions

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from the floor.

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And I remember Paul taking the liberty during

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the course of that time to share how

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he believed that within ten years in North

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America we would be experiencing extreme persecution.

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That was seven years ago.

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With our coming election, you have no idea

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what potentially lies before you and before me.

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It is amazing.

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It is astounding.

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It is indescribable the things that we hear

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of behind the scenes.

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Or suddenly at times you catch glimpses of

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on certain television networks and they don't have

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the information at the moment to elaborate on

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some of these astounding events that await us.

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But as we look at this text tonight,

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we find sure hope.

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Sustained help during times of oppression and persecution.

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You see, friend, persecution is inevitable for the

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church of Jesus Christ.

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The church was born in fire.

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I believe it will be taken out in

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fire.

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And see, when I talk about the church

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these days, by and large the common church

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will not suffer.

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But that's not the true church.

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That's not the body of Christ.

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Those that have been redeemed by the blood

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through the love of the dying Lamb, they

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will suffer persecution.

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For all they that live godly in Christ

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Jesus shall experience severe persecution.

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Now listen carefully for a moment.

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Here is Peter consoling.

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And even we find in Acts 14 verse

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22 where Paul does the same when he

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says that we must through much tribulation enter

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the kingdom of God.

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What timely words for our generation, as the

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probability once again of persecution increases daily.

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Recently a man who is a real thinker,

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he's very full of the wisdom of the

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Lord, and he keeps abreast of a number

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of things and filters everything through the light

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of Scripture.

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But in his recent post he said, quote,

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Afghan troops missing from U.S. training centers.

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U.N. troops deployed to U.S. bases.

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U.N. saying it may need to protect

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the United States citizens from U.S. police

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forces.

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Continual new evidence of crimes by one of

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the candidates.

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Widespread voter registration fraud by one of the

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political parties.

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The Fed destabilizing one of the biggest banks

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in the European Union.

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The president talking about the possible need for

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martial law if the election gets, quote, unquote,

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unruly.

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Going to be an exciting 30 days.

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That was just two weeks ago.

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So we look at this for voting theme.

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And I want to stress how important it

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is for us to be prepared.

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For us to be on guard for what

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lies ahead.

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You know it says that in church history

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many men prepared themselves for persecution.

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One of those men was a man by

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the name of John Hus who was martyred

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for his faith.

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We are told that when John Hus was

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arrested and informed that he would be burned

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to death for his faith, he purposely practiced

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holding his hand over a fire to prepare

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for the final test.

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He wanted to feel the heat and experience

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the pain from the burning to ready him

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for persecution.

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Well, perhaps we will not go that far.

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But I think we need to be in

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a ready position, a posture, if we're going

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to be prepared for what God is going

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to allow to come down the pike.

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These in the text here tonight, these words

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that we've just read, the background is that

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Nero with his insatiable appetite for more, what

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he did is he himself set the city

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of Rome on fire.

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The only way that he could build more

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was to destroy what already existed.

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And so he is burning the city of

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Rome.

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And suddenly the rumor gets around that it

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was their emperor that had burned their homes

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and their idols and their icons.

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And they begin to rise up corporately, the

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citizens of Rome, and begin to criticize and

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were in a spirit of aggression to come

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against Nero.

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So Nero, his strategy to divert the attention

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of the people whose focus was upon him

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to take his life was to blame the

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Christians for it.

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And suddenly they begin to shift their hostility

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to Gentile and Jewish believers.

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It's with this backdrop that persecution is on

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the horizon.

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And so as we read further here in

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what we have looked at tonight so far,

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there are six key words, brethren, that afford

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us encouragement for persecution in our own hour.

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You'll note the words.

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They are arm, love, think, rejoice, glorify, and

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commit.

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First of all, we find the first divine

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directive in verse number one.

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Peter says, arm yourselves with the mind of

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Christ.

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Notice it says once again in verse one,

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For as much then as Christ has suffered

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for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise

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with the same mind.

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Now what does the phrase there, arm yourselves

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with this mind, mean?

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It means that we are enabled by contemplating

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those very sufferings, the passion of the Christ,

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we are enabled to weather the storms of

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persecution.

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And he should die.

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If we should die for Christ, the benefit

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is, according to the context here, is that

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that person ceases from sin in glorification.

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Look at the text once again, verse number

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one.

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Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the

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flesh, you arm yourselves also with the same

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mind.

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In other words, we cultivate that mentality.

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For he, not speaking of Christ the he,

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it's not a reference to the Lord, but

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he in general, the believer who has suffered

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in the flesh, to the extent that he

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even cost him his life, has ceased from

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sin.

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That he no longer should live the rest

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of his life in the flesh for the

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lust of men, but for the will of

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God.

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So as I face persecution, and the potential

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even of martyrdom, my mentality is one of

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joy.

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Because if they take my life, and I

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pass from this life to the next, the

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benefit of that is I have ceased from

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sin.

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I no longer grieve Him.

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I no longer reproach His name.

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Listen carefully here.

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John MacArthur said, the worst that can happen

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to a believer suffering unjustly is death.

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And that is the best that can happen,

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because death means the complete and final end

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of all sins.

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He goes on to say, if the Christian

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is armed with the goal of being delivered

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00:13:29,650 --> 00:13:32,550
from sin, and that goal is achieved through

275
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his death, the threat and experience of death

276
00:13:35,870 --> 00:13:36,750
is precious.

277
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So you're going to kill me?

278
00:13:39,470 --> 00:13:40,890
You're going to take my life?

279
00:13:41,370 --> 00:13:43,050
You're going to hang me from the gallows?

280
00:13:43,390 --> 00:13:44,690
Burn me at the stake?

281
00:13:45,030 --> 00:13:46,230
Take my head off?

282
00:13:46,470 --> 00:13:48,270
That's the best thing you can do for

283
00:13:48,270 --> 00:13:49,250
me as a believer.

284
00:13:49,250 --> 00:13:52,090
For I will encounter it next, in the

285
00:13:52,090 --> 00:13:55,530
next world, the living presence of He who

286
00:13:55,530 --> 00:13:57,470
gave His life for me.

287
00:13:58,190 --> 00:14:01,350
Peter says we are to arm ourselves with

288
00:14:01,350 --> 00:14:05,110
this same mind of suffering that Christ endured

289
00:14:05,110 --> 00:14:06,310
on our behalf.

290
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Now here is the practical implication, and we

291
00:14:09,830 --> 00:14:11,990
really seek to make it very practical here.

292
00:14:12,810 --> 00:14:15,430
How often do we think on the gospel

293
00:14:15,430 --> 00:14:15,910
again?

294
00:14:17,980 --> 00:14:20,550
Is it perpetuated in our thought life?

295
00:14:22,410 --> 00:14:24,530
Do we take the time each day to

296
00:14:24,530 --> 00:14:27,430
allow our minds to be fixated upon the

297
00:14:27,430 --> 00:14:30,130
good news of what Christ has done on

298
00:14:30,130 --> 00:14:34,770
our behalf, and specifically His sufferings for us?

299
00:14:35,710 --> 00:14:38,550
Do we allow Christ and Him crucified to

300
00:14:38,550 --> 00:14:42,790
drive our thoughts, ministry, and lives in everything

301
00:14:42,790 --> 00:14:43,510
that we do?

302
00:14:44,350 --> 00:14:47,430
To preach the gospel, you see, to yourself

303
00:14:47,430 --> 00:14:50,950
will afford you innumerable benefits.

304
00:14:51,770 --> 00:14:53,270
Some of you have been under my preaching

305
00:14:53,270 --> 00:14:54,090
the last few years.

306
00:14:54,330 --> 00:14:55,830
You know that this is a part right

307
00:14:55,830 --> 00:14:59,170
now of my present spiritual pilgrimage of what

308
00:14:59,170 --> 00:15:01,850
it means to be gospel-centered or gospel

309
00:15:01,850 --> 00:15:02,270
-driven.

310
00:15:03,170 --> 00:15:04,610
But listen to what it does.

311
00:15:05,170 --> 00:15:07,650
It will give you incentive to mortify sin

312
00:15:07,650 --> 00:15:09,370
and walk in humility.

313
00:15:10,290 --> 00:15:13,030
It will lift your head from depression and

314
00:15:13,030 --> 00:15:15,550
cause you to rejoice in adversity.

315
00:15:16,490 --> 00:15:19,170
It will motivate you to love and forgive

316
00:15:19,170 --> 00:15:19,870
your enemies.

317
00:15:20,810 --> 00:15:23,790
And it will prepare you for persecution and

318
00:15:23,790 --> 00:15:26,970
death if God should cause your life to

319
00:15:26,970 --> 00:15:29,490
be imperiled for the gospel's sake.

320
00:15:30,450 --> 00:15:33,610
I ask you, friend, is the very gospel

321
00:15:33,610 --> 00:15:36,250
that you've believed on as the power of

322
00:15:36,250 --> 00:15:39,910
God unto salvation is it having a sanctifying

323
00:15:39,910 --> 00:15:41,790
power over your life?

324
00:15:42,990 --> 00:15:44,750
Does it improve your relationships?

325
00:15:45,870 --> 00:15:47,830
Does it restore your relationships?

326
00:15:48,970 --> 00:15:51,770
Does it cause you to see sin from

327
00:15:51,770 --> 00:15:56,210
God's perspective that you might subsequently mortify to

328
00:15:56,210 --> 00:15:57,770
the praise of His glory?

329
00:15:58,650 --> 00:16:01,290
The gospel can do all those things as

330
00:16:01,290 --> 00:16:03,510
we allow it to salivate in our minds.

331
00:16:03,890 --> 00:16:04,990
But listen to this.

332
00:16:04,990 --> 00:16:09,090
Nothing dispels fear and emboldens the saint of

333
00:16:09,090 --> 00:16:12,670
God any more than the sufferings of the

334
00:16:12,670 --> 00:16:13,930
dying lamb.

335
00:16:16,310 --> 00:16:19,210
As a handsome communist soldier after his conversion

336
00:16:19,210 --> 00:16:25,910
testified, with great reality and empathy, he says,

337
00:16:26,050 --> 00:16:28,990
for me, for me, he died.

338
00:16:29,910 --> 00:16:34,430
For him, for him, I live.

339
00:16:35,430 --> 00:16:36,470
Think about it, friend.

340
00:16:37,410 --> 00:16:39,630
Let it sink down deep into your heart.

341
00:16:39,930 --> 00:16:41,370
Let it take hold of you.

342
00:16:42,090 --> 00:16:44,070
There is nothing that will help you in

343
00:16:44,070 --> 00:16:47,390
life and sustain you in every trial than

344
00:16:47,390 --> 00:16:52,070
the gospel of Jesus Christ, namely, His passions

345
00:16:52,070 --> 00:16:53,530
or His sufferings.

346
00:16:54,050 --> 00:16:57,670
And Peter says, let that mime be in

347
00:16:57,670 --> 00:16:58,050
you.

348
00:16:58,590 --> 00:16:59,370
Arm yourself.

349
00:17:00,470 --> 00:17:02,790
We don't fight with physical weapons.

350
00:17:03,849 --> 00:17:06,569
Carnal weaponry will never win the day.

351
00:17:07,349 --> 00:17:09,290
But we are to take to ourselves this

352
00:17:09,290 --> 00:17:13,210
weapon called the gospel that Christ has so

353
00:17:13,210 --> 00:17:16,930
beautifully set forth in His example in bearing

354
00:17:16,930 --> 00:17:21,349
the cross and bearing our sins upon it.

355
00:17:22,030 --> 00:17:24,910
Secondly, notice something else, another key verb here

356
00:17:24,910 --> 00:17:25,650
in the text.

357
00:17:26,530 --> 00:17:29,670
And that is, you'll notice in verses 8

358
00:17:29,670 --> 00:17:34,670
and 9, he speaks of being sober.

359
00:17:35,450 --> 00:17:36,530
Being sober.

360
00:17:36,850 --> 00:17:38,210
Look at verses 8 and 9.

361
00:17:38,490 --> 00:17:40,710
But the end of all things is at

362
00:17:40,710 --> 00:17:40,970
hand.

363
00:17:41,050 --> 00:17:44,150
In other words, the persecution is coming.

364
00:17:44,850 --> 00:17:46,870
The aggression is on the horizon.

365
00:17:47,830 --> 00:17:51,210
I mean, the threat of martyrdom, it looms,

366
00:17:51,410 --> 00:17:53,970
it's impending before you.

367
00:17:54,350 --> 00:17:56,990
And he says this, in the light of

368
00:17:56,990 --> 00:18:03,890
that, be you therefore sober and watch unto

369
00:18:03,890 --> 00:18:04,330
prayer.

370
00:18:05,130 --> 00:18:08,210
He says in verse 8, but above all

371
00:18:08,210 --> 00:18:15,070
these things have fervent charity among yourselves, for

372
00:18:15,070 --> 00:18:18,890
charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

373
00:18:19,290 --> 00:18:22,770
And then he gives us the outworking of

374
00:18:22,770 --> 00:18:26,210
that fervent love, that extended love, as he

375
00:18:26,210 --> 00:18:29,470
says in verse 9, use hospitality one to

376
00:18:29,470 --> 00:18:31,170
another without grudging.

377
00:18:31,450 --> 00:18:35,390
Don't complain about the privilege of extending hospitality

378
00:18:35,390 --> 00:18:38,550
even in the face or even context of

379
00:18:38,550 --> 00:18:39,210
persecution.

380
00:18:42,140 --> 00:18:45,480
Verse 10, as every man hath received the

381
00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:45,860
gift.

382
00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:50,420
The word gift there means endowment encompassing many

383
00:18:50,420 --> 00:18:53,280
physical resources and spiritual gifts.

384
00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,700
He's not talking about one specific thing.

385
00:18:56,020 --> 00:18:59,000
He's talking about us being the beneficiaries of

386
00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:02,540
an abundance of gifts physically and spiritually.

387
00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:04,480
And he says we're to be good stewards

388
00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:06,700
of those things and using them for the

389
00:19:06,700 --> 00:19:09,040
glory of God in our ministry to one

390
00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:09,440
another.

391
00:19:11,290 --> 00:19:12,850
Now let's elaborate on this.

392
00:19:14,630 --> 00:19:17,410
When Peter says at the end of all

393
00:19:17,410 --> 00:19:20,930
things is at hand, there's differing opinions from

394
00:19:20,930 --> 00:19:22,990
different commentators.

395
00:19:23,590 --> 00:19:25,910
Some believe that he is referring to the

396
00:19:25,910 --> 00:19:26,710
end of the world.

397
00:19:27,690 --> 00:19:29,890
While others believe that he refers to the

398
00:19:29,890 --> 00:19:32,310
end of their fiery trial.

399
00:19:33,350 --> 00:19:37,350
Therefore, Peter exhorts them, though, to be serious

400
00:19:37,350 --> 00:19:41,270
minded and not be given to frivolity or

401
00:19:41,270 --> 00:19:42,090
levity.

402
00:19:42,910 --> 00:19:44,850
In this frame of mind, brethren, and this

403
00:19:44,850 --> 00:19:47,410
is significant to note now, in this frame

404
00:19:47,410 --> 00:19:51,350
of mind, we must understand that they are

405
00:19:51,350 --> 00:19:53,650
to watch in prayer and so are we,

406
00:19:53,970 --> 00:19:56,830
meaning that as the end approaches, they should

407
00:19:56,830 --> 00:19:59,770
be serious and prayerful.

408
00:20:00,790 --> 00:20:04,570
You say, well, if the end's coming, if

409
00:20:04,570 --> 00:20:07,710
it's going to come to an end, why

410
00:20:07,710 --> 00:20:08,230
pray?

411
00:20:09,590 --> 00:20:13,250
But he says even in that context where

412
00:20:13,250 --> 00:20:16,870
your life is being threatened, where the prospects

413
00:20:16,870 --> 00:20:23,110
of being taken captive and tortured, perhaps, are

414
00:20:23,110 --> 00:20:23,510
real.

415
00:20:24,570 --> 00:20:26,670
He said our response should be one of

416
00:20:26,670 --> 00:20:27,430
sobriety.

417
00:20:28,250 --> 00:20:29,950
And in that, we should be praying.

418
00:20:30,970 --> 00:20:34,450
Listen, from this mindset, brethren, he instructs them

419
00:20:34,450 --> 00:20:35,530
to do three things.

420
00:20:35,610 --> 00:20:37,010
This is very, very important now.

421
00:20:37,550 --> 00:20:42,330
Do three things in love to strengthen faith

422
00:20:42,330 --> 00:20:44,630
-family relationships.

423
00:20:46,130 --> 00:20:48,650
First of all, he says they are to

424
00:20:48,650 --> 00:20:54,170
express a non-hypocritical love to one another.

425
00:20:54,630 --> 00:20:58,330
In other words, listen, they are to convey

426
00:20:58,330 --> 00:21:02,290
an extended love among themselves because the very

427
00:21:02,290 --> 00:21:05,390
word fervent means in the Greek extended.

428
00:21:06,650 --> 00:21:07,610
They say elaborate.

429
00:21:08,690 --> 00:21:10,890
In other words, friend, I don't just say

430
00:21:10,890 --> 00:21:13,650
I love you, I show you how much

431
00:21:13,650 --> 00:21:14,370
I care.

432
00:21:15,010 --> 00:21:17,930
I affirm my love through my deeds.

433
00:21:18,450 --> 00:21:21,370
It's what John said in 1 John 3

434
00:21:21,370 --> 00:21:22,370
and verse 18.

435
00:21:22,810 --> 00:21:24,550
My little children, let us not love in

436
00:21:24,550 --> 00:21:28,450
word, neither in tongue, but in deed and

437
00:21:28,450 --> 00:21:29,510
in truth.

438
00:21:30,270 --> 00:21:32,570
So in other words, if I say I

439
00:21:32,570 --> 00:21:35,730
love you, Dan, I'm not just saying that

440
00:21:35,730 --> 00:21:39,170
casually at a distance, but I'm showing you

441
00:21:39,170 --> 00:21:42,110
how much I love you in reality by

442
00:21:42,110 --> 00:21:44,790
extending my love to you.

443
00:21:45,370 --> 00:21:46,370
I'm there for you.

444
00:21:46,470 --> 00:21:47,410
I care for you.

445
00:21:47,570 --> 00:21:49,050
I help you bear your burdens.

446
00:21:49,230 --> 00:21:51,210
I'm coaching you in persecution.

447
00:21:51,570 --> 00:21:52,730
I'm affirming you.

448
00:21:53,710 --> 00:21:54,150
You see.

449
00:21:54,830 --> 00:21:57,130
And this is the picture that Peter portrays

450
00:21:57,130 --> 00:21:57,370
here.

451
00:21:58,370 --> 00:22:00,410
Now, here's another thing.

452
00:22:01,150 --> 00:22:03,950
Number two, they are to use hospitality toward

453
00:22:03,950 --> 00:22:06,650
each other without complaining.

454
00:22:08,010 --> 00:22:09,810
You say, you've got to be kidding.

455
00:22:10,050 --> 00:22:18,350
We're supposed to demonstrate, convey hospitality toward our

456
00:22:18,350 --> 00:22:21,510
brothers and sisters in Christ when we're running

457
00:22:21,510 --> 00:22:22,690
for our lives?

458
00:22:23,790 --> 00:22:25,950
May I remind you that this is the

459
00:22:25,950 --> 00:22:29,070
very thing that God has used to produce

460
00:22:29,070 --> 00:22:32,730
such a colossal bomb of healing and encouragement

461
00:22:32,730 --> 00:22:38,090
and consequently has used it to reproduce believer

462
00:22:38,090 --> 00:22:41,350
after believer in oppressed China?

463
00:22:42,670 --> 00:22:47,950
In that context, where the threat of death

464
00:22:47,950 --> 00:22:50,390
looms daily in the lives of so many

465
00:22:50,390 --> 00:22:53,790
of those believers, they are driven to use

466
00:22:53,790 --> 00:22:55,710
hospitality toward one another.

467
00:22:56,330 --> 00:23:00,190
And that method of evangelism, which we call

468
00:23:00,190 --> 00:23:04,670
house-to-house or oikos evangelism, in that

469
00:23:04,670 --> 00:23:08,970
context, friend, suddenly because of the threat of

470
00:23:08,970 --> 00:23:12,930
persecution without, it drives them within and they

471
00:23:12,930 --> 00:23:14,970
build stronger bonds with each other.

472
00:23:15,270 --> 00:23:19,430
They're greatly edified and many people are being

473
00:23:19,430 --> 00:23:22,010
brought into glory as the consequence.

474
00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:25,780
Listen.

475
00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:29,940
He says on top of it, we shouldn't

476
00:23:29,940 --> 00:23:30,460
complain.

477
00:23:32,140 --> 00:23:35,940
Now friend, if we can't use hospitality when

478
00:23:35,940 --> 00:23:39,340
things are well, what makes us think that

479
00:23:39,340 --> 00:23:44,160
we're going to extend hospitality when our lives

480
00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:45,060
are on the line?

481
00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,340
It's interesting, but the Greek word for hospitality

482
00:23:50,340 --> 00:23:53,000
has the idea of pursuit.

483
00:23:54,420 --> 00:23:59,720
In other words, I'm literally chasing down strangers

484
00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:03,820
to drag them into my home to love

485
00:24:03,820 --> 00:24:06,920
them and minister to them and comfort them

486
00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:09,480
and help them any way I can.

487
00:24:10,100 --> 00:24:11,760
I'm stalking strangers.

488
00:24:12,820 --> 00:24:15,540
That's the idea of biblical hospitality.

489
00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:18,360
It's not like I like you, you like

490
00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:20,020
me, I'll have you in my home, I'll

491
00:24:20,020 --> 00:24:21,620
have you to eat and you have me

492
00:24:21,620 --> 00:24:23,360
in your home to eat because we have

493
00:24:23,360 --> 00:24:24,480
this special friendship.

494
00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:25,380
No, friend.

495
00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:29,300
We're literally looking for opportunities to extend hospitality.

496
00:24:29,860 --> 00:24:33,660
We are searching, pursuing, stalking people to bring

497
00:24:33,660 --> 00:24:34,880
them into our homes.

498
00:24:36,660 --> 00:24:38,700
And this is what he says that we're

499
00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:39,140
to do.

500
00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,560
Use hospitality and don't complain about it.

501
00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:46,560
Don't gripe and say, well, you know, I'm

502
00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:47,820
not sure I can afford it.

503
00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,140
I tell you, all glory goes to God,

504
00:24:52,140 --> 00:24:54,440
but we were moved years ago outside of

505
00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,900
Atlanta in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and before my wife

506
00:24:57,900 --> 00:24:59,860
got up to speak at this women's conference,

507
00:24:59,960 --> 00:25:02,840
just a little mini women's conference, the pastor's

508
00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:04,980
wife stood up and said, you know, years

509
00:25:04,980 --> 00:25:08,940
ago, Cindy invited us to come to their

510
00:25:08,940 --> 00:25:12,040
home and we got there and she just

511
00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:14,980
had sweet tea and pimento cheese sandwiches.

512
00:25:16,900 --> 00:25:18,840
And even though it wasn't very elaborate, the

513
00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:22,500
food, she said that really impacted me because

514
00:25:22,500 --> 00:25:25,120
nobody had ever asked us to come to

515
00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:26,020
their home before.

516
00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:31,600
Are we given to hospitality, brethren?

517
00:25:32,380 --> 00:25:34,380
And even people maybe at times that we

518
00:25:34,380 --> 00:25:35,460
don't particularly like.

519
00:25:37,500 --> 00:25:39,640
This is the thing that God's going to

520
00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,760
use to give us strengthening and sustaining grace

521
00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:46,140
in the face of persecution is learning to

522
00:25:46,140 --> 00:25:49,620
build relationships through this grace of hospitality.

523
00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:54,200
Furthermore, we also find there to use every

524
00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:55,420
available gift.

525
00:25:55,540 --> 00:25:57,300
As we said, the word gift there in

526
00:25:57,300 --> 00:25:59,280
the context means endowment.

527
00:26:00,380 --> 00:26:02,860
And it denotes multiple gifts.

528
00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,760
Not just physical gifts that God has given

529
00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:10,520
you benefits through your lot in life, physical

530
00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:13,200
resources, but even spiritual gifts.

531
00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:16,720
You're the beneficiary of many things.

532
00:26:17,300 --> 00:26:19,280
And we're to use those things as good

533
00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:22,520
stewards to build our relationship with one another.

534
00:26:23,540 --> 00:26:24,820
Now, why is this so important?

535
00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:25,200
Listen.

536
00:26:27,300 --> 00:26:31,600
Because one of the greatest deterrents to cowering

537
00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,980
under the threat of persecution is the strength

538
00:26:34,980 --> 00:26:37,180
of body life.

539
00:26:38,340 --> 00:26:40,300
I had some friends the other day that

540
00:26:40,300 --> 00:26:42,820
said, well, thank God that there's a good

541
00:26:42,820 --> 00:26:45,300
church three hours from here that we can

542
00:26:45,300 --> 00:26:48,120
go and take refuge in among those people

543
00:26:48,120 --> 00:26:50,300
if the persecution does come.

544
00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:52,880
And I said, well, what about your own

545
00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:53,500
faith family?

546
00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:56,980
Well, yeah, but those people up there are

547
00:26:56,980 --> 00:26:58,380
a lot more spiritually minded.

548
00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:03,460
I said, first of all, a lot of

549
00:27:03,460 --> 00:27:06,540
us won't have the advantage of going to

550
00:27:06,540 --> 00:27:08,860
a church that we feel like is a

551
00:27:08,860 --> 00:27:11,200
spiritual colossal church that's really going to be

552
00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,440
able to feed us and affirm us.

553
00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:18,160
And I said, furthermore, if you're getting your

554
00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:22,660
input of body life through a televangelist, you'll

555
00:27:22,660 --> 00:27:26,180
never find hope and affirmation from him when

556
00:27:26,180 --> 00:27:27,520
the oppression comes.

557
00:27:29,060 --> 00:27:31,320
You see, right now, friend, it's so important

558
00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,540
whatever faith family that you're identified with, that

559
00:27:34,540 --> 00:27:37,740
you're a part of, strengthen the relationships within

560
00:27:37,740 --> 00:27:38,480
that family.

561
00:27:40,850 --> 00:27:42,590
You see, the truth of the matter is

562
00:27:42,590 --> 00:27:44,930
when the mortars are flying over your head

563
00:27:44,930 --> 00:27:46,630
and you're in a foxhole with people that

564
00:27:46,630 --> 00:27:50,050
have glitches and idiosyncrasies in your eyes, those

565
00:27:50,050 --> 00:27:51,650
things really don't matter anymore.

566
00:27:53,790 --> 00:27:55,830
It really don't matter that you're bunkering down

567
00:27:55,830 --> 00:27:56,790
with an Arminian.

568
00:27:58,710 --> 00:28:00,910
As long as they love Jesus, and they've

569
00:28:00,910 --> 00:28:02,870
proven their love for Christ by virtue of

570
00:28:02,870 --> 00:28:04,690
the fact that they're willing to endure persecution

571
00:28:04,690 --> 00:28:06,910
for Him in that bunker with you.

572
00:28:08,830 --> 00:28:10,770
But I tell you, to have any saint

573
00:28:10,770 --> 00:28:12,830
of God, I don't care how poor he

574
00:28:12,830 --> 00:28:15,510
is or immature he may be, to be

575
00:28:15,510 --> 00:28:19,510
with me during those times of horrific aggression

576
00:28:20,110 --> 00:28:23,470
from satanic influences that will seek to snuff

577
00:28:23,470 --> 00:28:26,010
out our life, I tell you, will be

578
00:28:26,010 --> 00:28:27,450
a tremendous consolation.

579
00:28:28,330 --> 00:28:30,110
So we need to build relationships.

580
00:28:30,890 --> 00:28:34,130
Years ago, I was working, and quite honestly,

581
00:28:34,170 --> 00:28:35,970
I've done everything in the local church or

582
00:28:35,970 --> 00:28:36,710
everything in the ministry.

583
00:28:36,910 --> 00:28:39,830
I mean, I've been associate pastor.

584
00:28:39,830 --> 00:28:41,750
I've been a jail minister.

585
00:28:42,070 --> 00:28:43,830
I've gone into the prison regularly.

586
00:28:44,310 --> 00:28:46,110
I've worked with youth ministry.

587
00:28:46,650 --> 00:28:47,770
I mean, I've been a custodian.

588
00:28:47,990 --> 00:28:49,670
I've cleaned toilets in the church.

589
00:28:49,910 --> 00:28:51,170
I've been in mission work.

590
00:28:51,270 --> 00:28:52,350
Everything I've done.

591
00:28:52,630 --> 00:28:54,250
And I was working at a youth camp

592
00:28:54,250 --> 00:28:56,370
years ago, and we used to have toward

593
00:28:56,370 --> 00:28:59,670
the end of the camp a game that

594
00:28:59,670 --> 00:29:01,410
we called the persecutors.

595
00:29:03,210 --> 00:29:05,910
And all of a sudden, all the staff,

596
00:29:06,150 --> 00:29:11,030
they dressed in army fatigues, and they dressed

597
00:29:11,030 --> 00:29:13,830
up their face with all these black marks.

598
00:29:14,290 --> 00:29:17,050
And our whole personality took on a different

599
00:29:17,050 --> 00:29:17,610
demeanor.

600
00:29:18,350 --> 00:29:24,010
We were harsh and oppressive and rude, and

601
00:29:24,010 --> 00:29:26,890
we had no patience whatsoever for the campers.

602
00:29:26,970 --> 00:29:29,330
And so here we've got 200 campers with

603
00:29:29,330 --> 00:29:33,530
their youth leaders, and we create this scenario

604
00:29:33,530 --> 00:29:38,550
that the whole land is under persecution.

605
00:29:39,530 --> 00:29:40,890
You've got to survive.

606
00:29:42,310 --> 00:29:44,030
Well, the first 30 minutes, they think it's

607
00:29:44,030 --> 00:29:44,950
a cool game.

608
00:29:46,090 --> 00:29:47,290
We can't touch them.

609
00:29:47,350 --> 00:29:49,510
We can't inflict any harm to them, but

610
00:29:49,510 --> 00:29:51,390
we can speak very roughly to them.

611
00:29:52,530 --> 00:29:54,590
And if they're caught, of course, we take

612
00:29:54,590 --> 00:29:56,510
them to two different places that have been

613
00:29:56,510 --> 00:29:58,250
set up as prisons.

614
00:29:59,570 --> 00:30:02,190
It's amazing, after 30 minutes, that suddenly something

615
00:30:02,190 --> 00:30:03,230
begins to take place.

616
00:30:03,610 --> 00:30:07,470
They recognize that the reality of this may

617
00:30:07,470 --> 00:30:09,410
indeed come down the pike.

618
00:30:10,230 --> 00:30:13,210
We may one day be running for our

619
00:30:13,210 --> 00:30:13,710
lives.

620
00:30:14,570 --> 00:30:16,850
And what was amazing is suddenly these kids,

621
00:30:17,010 --> 00:30:19,170
they start singing to the Lord.

622
00:30:19,310 --> 00:30:21,770
And you can imagine in the woods of

623
00:30:21,770 --> 00:30:24,910
northwest Texas or northeast Texas, I mean, it

624
00:30:24,910 --> 00:30:27,370
just pierced the darkness there.

625
00:30:27,630 --> 00:30:28,890
They're singing to the Lord.

626
00:30:29,090 --> 00:30:30,170
They're singing choruses.

627
00:30:30,170 --> 00:30:31,370
They're singing hymns.

628
00:30:31,570 --> 00:30:32,410
Back in the day, it was hymns.

629
00:30:32,490 --> 00:30:34,050
It wasn't contemporary choruses.

630
00:30:34,410 --> 00:30:35,190
It was hymns.

631
00:30:36,410 --> 00:30:37,670
And they're singing to the Lord.

632
00:30:38,030 --> 00:30:39,610
And then suddenly, they begin to turn to

633
00:30:39,610 --> 00:30:42,150
us and they start witnessing and sharing Christ

634
00:30:42,150 --> 00:30:42,770
with us.

635
00:30:43,750 --> 00:30:45,190
Others are starting to cry.

636
00:30:46,090 --> 00:30:48,090
They're cowering down under the pressure.

637
00:30:49,370 --> 00:30:52,050
Nobody comes forward and says, I deny Christ

638
00:30:52,050 --> 00:30:53,450
in that context.

639
00:30:53,790 --> 00:30:56,570
But see, friend, the purpose of that game

640
00:30:56,570 --> 00:30:59,450
was to convey the reality that one day

641
00:30:59,450 --> 00:31:01,810
you may suffer for the cause of Christ.

642
00:31:02,150 --> 00:31:05,970
And it had tremendous implications in their own

643
00:31:05,970 --> 00:31:06,850
experience.

644
00:31:07,850 --> 00:31:08,990
You think about tonight.

645
00:31:09,990 --> 00:31:12,950
If suddenly you went home and you heard

646
00:31:12,950 --> 00:31:15,510
the news report that some things have changed

647
00:31:15,510 --> 00:31:18,930
in government and there are certain maneuvers and

648
00:31:18,930 --> 00:31:21,090
strategies that they're imposing that's going to make

649
00:31:21,090 --> 00:31:24,210
life very uncomfortable for you as a professing

650
00:31:24,210 --> 00:31:25,630
believer in Jesus Christ.

651
00:31:25,630 --> 00:31:27,670
And friend, don't you dare for a minute

652
00:31:27,670 --> 00:31:30,070
say, it'll never happen in my lifetime.

653
00:31:31,310 --> 00:31:31,950
It's coming.

654
00:31:32,990 --> 00:31:33,610
It's coming.

655
00:31:33,710 --> 00:31:35,070
I'm not a prophet of doom.

656
00:31:35,530 --> 00:31:37,110
But I tell you, there is too much,

657
00:31:37,170 --> 00:31:39,110
as I see in the Scripture now, with

658
00:31:39,110 --> 00:31:41,850
what I am hearing on the horizon that

659
00:31:41,850 --> 00:31:45,650
confirms the fact that this potential is about

660
00:31:45,650 --> 00:31:46,170
to occur.

661
00:31:51,170 --> 00:31:52,570
So we need each other.

662
00:31:53,470 --> 00:31:57,350
Interestingly, this historical context of Nero's reign of

663
00:31:57,350 --> 00:32:01,870
terror, the apostle exhorts the Christians to serve

664
00:32:01,870 --> 00:32:02,490
one another.

665
00:32:02,750 --> 00:32:05,510
Once again, look at verses 8-10.

666
00:32:06,110 --> 00:32:10,070
And above all things, have this fervent charity

667
00:32:10,070 --> 00:32:14,130
among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude

668
00:32:14,130 --> 00:32:15,030
of sins.

669
00:32:15,830 --> 00:32:18,750
And then he says this, Use that hospitality

670
00:32:18,750 --> 00:32:22,830
toward one another without grudging, as every man

671
00:32:22,830 --> 00:32:25,610
hath received the gift, even so, watch now,

672
00:32:25,610 --> 00:32:28,550
minister the same one to another as good

673
00:32:28,550 --> 00:32:32,150
stewards of the manifold grace of God.

674
00:32:32,650 --> 00:32:36,510
Listen, body life is of utmost importance.

675
00:32:37,090 --> 00:32:39,270
Faith, family is essential.

676
00:32:40,030 --> 00:32:40,530
Build it.

677
00:32:41,190 --> 00:32:42,270
Strengthen relationships.

678
00:32:42,990 --> 00:32:45,350
For in so doing, you will draw a

679
00:32:45,350 --> 00:32:48,330
grace of courage that will help you withstand

680
00:32:48,330 --> 00:32:49,610
the coming storm.

681
00:32:49,750 --> 00:32:51,550
Thirdly, look at another verb, if you would,

682
00:32:51,870 --> 00:32:52,990
in verse number 12.

683
00:32:54,110 --> 00:32:55,290
Verse 12.

684
00:32:56,390 --> 00:32:59,070
You find here that he exhorts them to

685
00:32:59,070 --> 00:32:59,610
think.

686
00:33:01,310 --> 00:33:02,750
Think providentially.

687
00:33:03,990 --> 00:33:05,730
Notice the words in verse 12.

688
00:33:05,870 --> 00:33:10,050
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery

689
00:33:10,050 --> 00:33:12,930
trial which is to try you as some

690
00:33:12,930 --> 00:33:15,290
strange thing happened unto you.

691
00:33:16,830 --> 00:33:19,270
Now listen, brothers and sisters, carefully.

692
00:33:20,050 --> 00:33:24,090
We must get beyond our feelings and our

693
00:33:24,090 --> 00:33:26,550
fears and learn to think.

694
00:33:26,550 --> 00:33:27,410
Thank you, brother Dan.

695
00:33:27,930 --> 00:33:28,610
Thank you, brother.

696
00:33:33,260 --> 00:33:33,840
Very good.

697
00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:34,460
Thank you, brother.

698
00:33:36,860 --> 00:33:39,580
We must get beyond our feelings and our

699
00:33:39,580 --> 00:33:42,500
fears and learn to think biblically.

700
00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:45,960
I don't know what you're going through tonight.

701
00:33:46,180 --> 00:33:47,660
I don't know what your struggle is.

702
00:33:47,740 --> 00:33:48,980
It may be something domestic.

703
00:33:49,220 --> 00:33:50,880
It may be something relational.

704
00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:53,780
It may be something financially oriented.

705
00:33:54,180 --> 00:33:54,940
But listen, friend.

706
00:33:55,700 --> 00:33:59,260
We would solve every problem that we have

707
00:33:59,260 --> 00:34:01,840
if we would think biblically.

708
00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:06,900
And in this context, it must needs be

709
00:34:06,900 --> 00:34:09,179
that we think providentially.

710
00:34:11,340 --> 00:34:14,139
The tendency is, is we look upon the

711
00:34:14,139 --> 00:34:17,300
circumstances and we say such things as I

712
00:34:17,300 --> 00:34:19,260
never thought it would happen in my lifetime.

713
00:34:21,420 --> 00:34:27,760
I never anticipated these things occurring while I

714
00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:28,239
was living.

715
00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:30,179
You know what we're admitting?

716
00:34:31,179 --> 00:34:32,540
This is strange.

717
00:34:33,699 --> 00:34:34,639
This is strange.

718
00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:40,179
Listen, the phrase, some strange thing happened means

719
00:34:40,179 --> 00:34:41,719
to fall to chance.

720
00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,500
We must never think of any tribulation as

721
00:34:45,500 --> 00:34:46,440
an accident, brother.

722
00:34:46,780 --> 00:34:49,760
Listen, when we hear of new government regulations

723
00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:52,639
that will affect the future of our children,

724
00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:55,679
born or unborn, we must refuse to see

725
00:34:55,679 --> 00:34:59,720
them as happening independently of divine intervention.

726
00:35:01,140 --> 00:35:04,160
The Apostle Paul had a providential perspective.

727
00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:07,560
No matter what he incurred for the gospel's

728
00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:10,220
sake, he said, I realize that all these

729
00:35:10,220 --> 00:35:14,180
things have fallen out, have occurred to the

730
00:35:14,180 --> 00:35:16,200
furtherance of the gospel.

731
00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:20,760
This is what makes the gospel so savory

732
00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:23,840
and effectual to the salvation of sinners is

733
00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:24,560
persecution.

734
00:35:25,580 --> 00:35:28,760
You see, nothing will give us peace and

735
00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:32,280
stability any more than resting in the ordained

736
00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:35,260
promises of God.

737
00:35:35,540 --> 00:35:40,220
Someone said years ago that contentment is an

738
00:35:40,220 --> 00:35:43,280
embracing of the sovereignty of God.

739
00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:45,360
So how is your reaction?

740
00:35:45,360 --> 00:35:49,080
When things happen, do you allow your feelings

741
00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:50,380
to govern your life?

742
00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:54,920
Does fears, would they begin to shut down

743
00:35:55,940 --> 00:35:58,020
your exercise of faith?

744
00:35:58,860 --> 00:36:03,160
Or would you look beyond the pressure and

745
00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:07,000
the difficulty and see the sovereignty of God

746
00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:07,820
in it all?

747
00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,620
This passage is, brethren, like Ephesians 1.11

748
00:36:11,620 --> 00:36:13,960
that God works all things after the counsel

749
00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:14,640
of His will.

750
00:36:15,700 --> 00:36:18,820
In Romans 8, verse 28, as Thomas Watson

751
00:36:18,820 --> 00:36:21,740
put it, God's divine cordial, that He's working

752
00:36:21,740 --> 00:36:23,960
all things together for good to them that

753
00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:26,340
love God, to them who are the called

754
00:36:26,340 --> 00:36:27,420
according to His purpose.

755
00:36:28,260 --> 00:36:32,260
It's taking refuge in those promises, thinking biblically,

756
00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:38,040
thinking providentially that we are buoyed up in

757
00:36:38,040 --> 00:36:40,140
hopeless situations.

758
00:36:40,700 --> 00:36:43,800
I remember Spurgeon talking about this prophet who

759
00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:45,580
ultimately became a martyr himself.

760
00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:49,720
And the guy had one message everywhere he

761
00:36:49,720 --> 00:36:50,040
would go.

762
00:36:50,260 --> 00:36:52,120
At least this was his premier message.

763
00:36:53,240 --> 00:36:54,640
All things together for good.

764
00:36:55,100 --> 00:36:57,140
Everywhere he would go, this was his testimony.

765
00:36:57,340 --> 00:36:58,520
All things together for good.

766
00:36:58,680 --> 00:36:59,740
All things together for good.

767
00:36:59,960 --> 00:37:03,080
It was always all things together for good.

768
00:37:03,720 --> 00:37:05,940
And over and over again, he had that

769
00:37:05,940 --> 00:37:06,580
reputation.

770
00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:08,980
That was the reputation of his ministry.

771
00:37:08,980 --> 00:37:12,640
And one day, Bloody Mary, it was during

772
00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:15,680
her terrible reign, she took him captive.

773
00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:22,000
And the soldiers that put him in chains,

774
00:37:22,300 --> 00:37:23,600
they began to taunt him.

775
00:37:24,120 --> 00:37:26,580
And they said, all things together for good,

776
00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:26,860
huh?

777
00:37:27,740 --> 00:37:29,460
How is this going to work together for

778
00:37:29,460 --> 00:37:29,840
good?

779
00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:32,440
Talking about his persecution.

780
00:37:33,780 --> 00:37:35,660
He said, I do not know, but I

781
00:37:35,660 --> 00:37:38,240
believe that even this will work together for

782
00:37:38,240 --> 00:37:38,540
good.

783
00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:43,800
Well, in the process of terrorizing and buffeting

784
00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:45,640
this guy, they broke his leg.

785
00:37:46,660 --> 00:37:49,240
As a result, it delayed their entrance back

786
00:37:49,240 --> 00:37:51,280
into the city where he was scheduled to

787
00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:53,860
be executed two additional days.

788
00:37:54,980 --> 00:38:00,380
Because of the delay, this man was set

789
00:38:00,380 --> 00:38:00,740
free.

790
00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:04,220
The order was given for all the prisoners

791
00:38:04,220 --> 00:38:07,640
to be released because Queen Mary, Bloody Mary,

792
00:38:07,820 --> 00:38:10,220
had been dethroned and Queen Elizabeth had been

793
00:38:10,220 --> 00:38:10,880
enthroned.

794
00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:17,040
A great revolution and liberation swept over England.

795
00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:20,460
He looked at his tormentors and said, did

796
00:38:20,460 --> 00:38:22,680
I not tell you that all things will

797
00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:25,020
work together for good to them that love

798
00:38:25,020 --> 00:38:28,100
God, to those who are called according to

799
00:38:28,100 --> 00:38:28,680
his purpose?

800
00:38:29,740 --> 00:38:32,920
You see, we must understand the importance of

801
00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:36,220
seeing things from a providential perspective.

802
00:38:37,060 --> 00:38:40,020
But brothers and sisters, notice a fourth word

803
00:38:40,020 --> 00:38:41,920
here in our text, and that is in

804
00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:42,700
verse 13.

805
00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:46,120
Rejoice, rejoice.

806
00:38:46,980 --> 00:38:51,500
But rejoice inasmuch as you are partakers of

807
00:38:51,500 --> 00:38:54,820
Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be

808
00:38:54,820 --> 00:38:59,120
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding

809
00:38:59,120 --> 00:38:59,560
joy.

810
00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:01,720
Now watch verse 14.

811
00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:04,320
For if ye be reproached for the name

812
00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:08,000
of Christ, happy are you, for the Spirit

813
00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:11,720
of glory, the idea is the presence of

814
00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:14,660
God, rests upon you.

815
00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,080
The Spirit of glory and of God rests

816
00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:18,840
upon you.

817
00:39:19,240 --> 00:39:22,540
On their part, he is evil spoken of,

818
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:26,240
but on your part, experimentally, he is being

819
00:39:26,240 --> 00:39:27,200
glorified.

820
00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:29,540
Now watch this.

821
00:39:30,540 --> 00:39:35,240
Suffering for Christ gives us much reason to

822
00:39:35,240 --> 00:39:35,920
rejoice.

823
00:39:38,260 --> 00:39:41,600
When's the last time someone shared a cynical

824
00:39:41,600 --> 00:39:45,800
remark in your presence, said something under their

825
00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:50,720
breath, or perhaps even overtly, loudly blasphemed you

826
00:39:50,720 --> 00:39:53,740
because of your faith and you walked away

827
00:39:53,740 --> 00:39:55,160
from it rejoicing?

828
00:39:56,380 --> 00:39:58,360
Do you realize that there is a grace

829
00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:02,460
that accompanies those who rejoice in the fact

830
00:40:02,460 --> 00:40:06,160
that they are worthy to suffer for his

831
00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:06,820
name?

832
00:40:07,540 --> 00:40:08,280
Listen.

833
00:40:09,220 --> 00:40:12,760
To recognize that our good and all-wise

834
00:40:12,760 --> 00:40:17,000
Father is orchestrating every detail according to his

835
00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:22,300
predetermined plan affords us peace and the grace

836
00:40:22,300 --> 00:40:25,280
of courage and gives us every reason, brethren,

837
00:40:25,700 --> 00:40:28,200
to rejoice that he has ordained us to

838
00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:29,460
be a part of it.

839
00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:32,000
You see, there are certain things we see

840
00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:33,900
in these verses that we just read.

841
00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:36,640
First of all, our union with Christ.

842
00:40:37,120 --> 00:40:39,540
You'll note once again, but rejoice in as

843
00:40:39,540 --> 00:40:44,600
much as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings.

844
00:40:45,060 --> 00:40:49,220
Certainly that validates this union that we have

845
00:40:49,220 --> 00:40:51,220
with our Head, the Lord Jesus.

846
00:40:52,020 --> 00:40:54,960
Secondly, we are assured that when we behold

847
00:40:54,960 --> 00:40:58,580
his glory in his death or his return,

848
00:40:58,920 --> 00:41:01,760
we will have the joy of knowing that

849
00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:03,280
we have suffered for him.

850
00:41:03,460 --> 00:41:06,900
Once again, verse 13, that when his glory

851
00:41:06,900 --> 00:41:11,940
shall be revealed, ye may be glad also

852
00:41:11,940 --> 00:41:14,020
with exceeding joy.

853
00:41:14,720 --> 00:41:16,320
We have no idea, friend.

854
00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:20,500
The presence of God comes to the rescue

855
00:41:20,500 --> 00:41:24,100
of those who suffer for Christ.

856
00:41:26,240 --> 00:41:29,930
And with that said, thirdly, we encounter the

857
00:41:29,930 --> 00:41:33,590
manifest presence of God in suffering for the

858
00:41:33,590 --> 00:41:33,890
Savior.

859
00:41:34,530 --> 00:41:37,190
Verse 14, watch this now.

860
00:41:38,170 --> 00:41:40,210
If ye be reproached for the name of

861
00:41:40,210 --> 00:41:44,350
Christ, happy are you, for the Spirit of

862
00:41:44,350 --> 00:41:49,090
glory and of God rests upon you.

863
00:41:49,490 --> 00:41:51,790
I don't know if you've read Richard Wurmbrand's

864
00:41:51,790 --> 00:41:56,350
account of the suffering under Krzyzewski, the Romanian

865
00:41:56,350 --> 00:41:57,850
communist leader.

866
00:41:58,810 --> 00:42:02,630
But when Richard Wurmbrand was held captive in

867
00:42:02,630 --> 00:42:05,490
the prison, he said the glory of God

868
00:42:05,490 --> 00:42:08,510
so filled his cell that he was dancing

869
00:42:08,510 --> 00:42:09,930
with the Lord in the cell.

870
00:42:11,330 --> 00:42:15,010
His presence was so rich, so pronounced, that

871
00:42:15,010 --> 00:42:17,690
the presence of Jesus was in the cell.

872
00:42:17,870 --> 00:42:19,830
He was dancing before the Lord.

873
00:42:22,230 --> 00:42:26,870
This is something, friend, that is significantly subjective.

874
00:42:28,150 --> 00:42:31,270
We're not talking about some academic knowledge of

875
00:42:31,270 --> 00:42:31,990
Christ here.

876
00:42:32,210 --> 00:42:36,370
We're talking about Christ's presence being manifest in

877
00:42:36,370 --> 00:42:37,750
the midst of suffering.

878
00:42:40,980 --> 00:42:43,000
I believe a couple of years ago, I

879
00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:44,600
may have shared this with some of you,

880
00:42:44,680 --> 00:42:50,880
but if you've read Francis Chan's book, Crazy

881
00:42:50,880 --> 00:42:53,920
Love, it gives the story of how these

882
00:42:53,920 --> 00:42:58,240
South Koreans went up to Afghanistan to minister

883
00:42:58,240 --> 00:42:59,040
to the people.

884
00:43:00,060 --> 00:43:02,020
The country was ravaged by war.

885
00:43:03,260 --> 00:43:04,700
Poverty was abounding.

886
00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:07,820
And so they saw an opportunity to share

887
00:43:07,820 --> 00:43:09,160
with these people the Gospel.

888
00:43:10,420 --> 00:43:12,560
When they got there, they were taken captive

889
00:43:12,560 --> 00:43:15,440
by the Taliban, the terrorist group.

890
00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:18,920
And so the Taliban saw the opportunity of

891
00:43:18,920 --> 00:43:20,980
getting a lot of money, so they sent

892
00:43:20,980 --> 00:43:22,640
word back to the Korean government.

893
00:43:23,620 --> 00:43:25,620
The only way we'll return the people is

894
00:43:25,620 --> 00:43:27,380
for you to send us X amount of

895
00:43:27,380 --> 00:43:27,760
dollars.

896
00:43:29,060 --> 00:43:31,760
The South Korean government refused to do that.

897
00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:34,500
So they said, if you don't send us

898
00:43:34,500 --> 00:43:36,260
money, we're going to start killing them one

899
00:43:36,260 --> 00:43:36,880
by one.

900
00:43:37,500 --> 00:43:39,720
Once again, the government did not respond.

901
00:43:40,660 --> 00:43:42,700
They found out later, the ones that were

902
00:43:42,700 --> 00:43:45,440
fighting over the privilege of dying first for

903
00:43:45,440 --> 00:43:47,120
Christ were the two leaders.

904
00:43:47,860 --> 00:43:50,380
Both of them were martyred for their faith.

905
00:43:51,040 --> 00:43:53,760
And when the Taliban found out that nobody

906
00:43:53,760 --> 00:43:55,440
was going to yield and no one was

907
00:43:55,440 --> 00:43:57,020
going to pay a ransom for the rest

908
00:43:57,020 --> 00:43:58,760
of the people, they let all the people

909
00:43:58,760 --> 00:44:01,280
go and sent them back to South Korea.

910
00:44:02,060 --> 00:44:04,400
When they got back to South Korea, these

911
00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:08,420
Christians were perplexed because they had experienced such

912
00:44:08,420 --> 00:44:11,780
a rich manifestation of the presence of Jesus

913
00:44:11,780 --> 00:44:14,820
when they were held captive, that they wanted

914
00:44:14,820 --> 00:44:15,860
that same presence.

915
00:44:15,860 --> 00:44:20,200
They fasted, they prayed, they sought the Lord,

916
00:44:20,660 --> 00:44:23,440
but still no manifestation of His presence.

917
00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:26,500
You know what those almost 30 people did?

918
00:44:27,880 --> 00:44:30,380
They scrounged up any amount of money they

919
00:44:30,380 --> 00:44:34,040
could to get their airline flights back to

920
00:44:34,040 --> 00:44:37,480
Afghanistan because they wanted to be held captive

921
00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:40,080
for the cause of Christ again to encounter

922
00:44:40,080 --> 00:44:41,440
the presence of the Savior.

923
00:44:42,260 --> 00:44:44,460
Now brothers and sisters, call it mystical if

924
00:44:44,460 --> 00:44:46,380
you want, but you can't deny the Word

925
00:44:46,380 --> 00:44:46,920
of God.

926
00:44:47,240 --> 00:44:51,000
The Spirit of glory and of God rests

927
00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:53,220
upon those who suffer with Him.

928
00:44:58,400 --> 00:45:01,420
You think He's going to ignore what you

929
00:45:01,420 --> 00:45:02,980
will endure for His namesake?

930
00:45:04,460 --> 00:45:08,000
I tell you, you may know more the

931
00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:11,420
tangible presence of Christ in the midst of

932
00:45:11,420 --> 00:45:14,460
oppression than you've ever known in your life

933
00:45:14,460 --> 00:45:15,040
before.

934
00:45:16,300 --> 00:45:17,720
Look at something else.

935
00:45:17,820 --> 00:45:19,040
Number five, very quickly.

936
00:45:19,160 --> 00:45:21,880
Verse 16 is the word glorify.

937
00:45:22,960 --> 00:45:24,240
The verb glorify.

938
00:45:24,600 --> 00:45:27,540
He says, Yet if any man suffer as

939
00:45:27,540 --> 00:45:31,460
a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but

940
00:45:31,460 --> 00:45:35,500
let him glorify God on this behalf.

941
00:45:36,240 --> 00:45:40,940
Now the word, friend, the word glorify means

942
00:45:40,940 --> 00:45:47,240
to put on display by showcasing, embellishing.

943
00:45:47,780 --> 00:45:51,820
In other words, it's placed upon a pedestal.

944
00:45:52,540 --> 00:45:56,640
So in the midst of our persecution, our

945
00:45:56,640 --> 00:46:00,500
suffering for Christ, we are putting on display

946
00:46:00,500 --> 00:46:04,480
our allegiance and devotion to God.

947
00:46:04,780 --> 00:46:07,000
And God is magnified.

948
00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:09,300
He's glorified in our suffering.

949
00:46:10,220 --> 00:46:12,720
First of all here, we believe that if

950
00:46:12,720 --> 00:46:15,120
we suffer for Jesus, we are assured.

951
00:46:16,140 --> 00:46:18,620
Here's one reason we should rejoice and glorify

952
00:46:18,620 --> 00:46:18,920
Him.

953
00:46:19,220 --> 00:46:21,620
We are assured that we belong to Him.

954
00:46:24,920 --> 00:46:27,960
The greatest thing that could happen to the

955
00:46:27,960 --> 00:46:31,620
church in North America is intense persecution.

956
00:46:33,260 --> 00:46:35,620
Because there are some preachers and there's a

957
00:46:35,620 --> 00:46:37,800
lot of people in churches that you thought

958
00:46:37,800 --> 00:46:41,720
were really devoted to Christ who loved loving

959
00:46:41,720 --> 00:46:43,740
Jesus, but they didn't love Jesus.

960
00:46:45,000 --> 00:46:46,260
And they're going to fall away.

961
00:46:48,240 --> 00:46:52,140
That is the ultimate apostasy, is to fall

962
00:46:52,140 --> 00:46:55,380
away when the oppression comes.

963
00:46:56,980 --> 00:46:59,580
Persecution, friend, validates our profession.

964
00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:02,520
If we are reproached by the world for

965
00:47:02,520 --> 00:47:07,620
being a believer, then more than likely, we're

966
00:47:07,620 --> 00:47:08,080
a Christian.

967
00:47:08,940 --> 00:47:11,280
Paul is clear on this point in 2

968
00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:13,500
Timothy 2 and verse 12 again.

969
00:47:13,640 --> 00:47:17,500
If we suffer, we shall also reign with

970
00:47:17,500 --> 00:47:17,900
Him.

971
00:47:18,680 --> 00:47:21,700
And Jesus said, listen, in Matthew 5 verses

972
00:47:21,700 --> 00:47:24,880
11 and 12, Blessed are you when men

973
00:47:24,880 --> 00:47:27,660
shall revile you and persecute you and say

974
00:47:27,660 --> 00:47:30,540
all manner of evil against you falsely for

975
00:47:30,540 --> 00:47:31,480
My name's sake.

976
00:47:31,660 --> 00:47:34,760
He says, rejoice and be exceedingly glad for

977
00:47:34,760 --> 00:47:37,320
great is your reward in heaven for so

978
00:47:37,320 --> 00:47:40,980
persecuted the prophets which were before you.

979
00:47:42,760 --> 00:47:49,620
Secondly, if we are chosen to suffer, we

980
00:47:49,620 --> 00:47:52,400
must remember it's a very high and honorable

981
00:47:52,400 --> 00:47:53,380
privilege.

982
00:47:54,640 --> 00:47:55,680
Such a privilege.

983
00:47:57,580 --> 00:48:00,240
There are those in the book of Acts

984
00:48:00,240 --> 00:48:02,000
who rejoiced in knowing that they had been

985
00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:03,680
counted worthy to suffer for His name.

986
00:48:03,920 --> 00:48:06,680
Acts 5 verse 42, And they departed from

987
00:48:06,680 --> 00:48:09,540
the presence of the council, rejoicing once again

988
00:48:09,540 --> 00:48:12,480
that they were counted worthy to suffer shame

989
00:48:12,480 --> 00:48:13,020
for His name.

990
00:48:13,180 --> 00:48:13,740
Why?

991
00:48:14,540 --> 00:48:15,500
Why was that?

992
00:48:16,040 --> 00:48:19,640
Listen, the Jewish rulers there did not beat

993
00:48:19,640 --> 00:48:22,000
these believers to create fear in the people

994
00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:24,080
to keep them from following these men.

995
00:48:24,380 --> 00:48:27,280
They did it to disgrace the disciples of

996
00:48:27,280 --> 00:48:27,760
Christ.

997
00:48:29,260 --> 00:48:33,480
But rather than feeling shame, they overcame evil

998
00:48:33,480 --> 00:48:35,280
with good.

999
00:48:37,920 --> 00:48:40,240
By seeing that God had honored them with

1000
00:48:40,240 --> 00:48:43,140
the opportunity to identify with the sufferings of

1001
00:48:43,140 --> 00:48:43,680
Christ.

1002
00:48:44,460 --> 00:48:45,700
Now think with me for a moment as

1003
00:48:45,700 --> 00:48:46,640
we wrap things up.

1004
00:48:47,480 --> 00:48:50,720
The third thing here we find in this

1005
00:48:50,720 --> 00:48:54,100
thing of glorifying Him, it gave them a

1006
00:48:54,100 --> 00:48:57,920
significant platform to advance the Gospel.

1007
00:48:59,540 --> 00:49:01,580
Advance the Kingdom of God.

1008
00:49:02,300 --> 00:49:06,720
You see, persecution, friend, affords a unique opportunity

1009
00:49:06,720 --> 00:49:10,560
like none other to validate our Christian message

1010
00:49:10,560 --> 00:49:13,800
and to exalt the God of the Gospel.

1011
00:49:16,890 --> 00:49:20,250
Matthew Henry was accosted on one occasion by

1012
00:49:20,250 --> 00:49:20,770
thieves.

1013
00:49:22,670 --> 00:49:24,930
And after the whole ordeal was over, he

1014
00:49:24,930 --> 00:49:27,510
said he would be thankful for four things.

1015
00:49:28,170 --> 00:49:29,830
This is what he recorded in his journal.

1016
00:49:30,430 --> 00:49:31,990
He said, first of all, he said, I

1017
00:49:31,990 --> 00:49:34,150
am thankful that I was never robbed before.

1018
00:49:35,170 --> 00:49:36,790
Secondly, he said, I can be thankful that

1019
00:49:36,790 --> 00:49:38,410
though they took my purse, they did not

1020
00:49:38,410 --> 00:49:39,390
take my life.

1021
00:49:39,950 --> 00:49:41,470
Thirdly, I can be thankful that though they

1022
00:49:41,470 --> 00:49:43,790
took my all, it was not much.

1023
00:49:44,370 --> 00:49:46,090
And fourthly, he said, I can be thankful

1024
00:49:46,090 --> 00:49:47,790
that it was I who was robbed, not

1025
00:49:47,790 --> 00:49:48,890
I who did the robbing.

1026
00:49:54,150 --> 00:49:56,890
God is magnified in our persecution.

1027
00:49:58,030 --> 00:50:00,350
But number six and finally, verse 19, look

1028
00:50:00,350 --> 00:50:00,850
at this.

1029
00:50:01,350 --> 00:50:03,730
This is the sixth verb that's very significant

1030
00:50:03,730 --> 00:50:06,350
in the text for providing a divine directive

1031
00:50:06,350 --> 00:50:07,670
for preparation.

1032
00:50:08,950 --> 00:50:12,350
He says, Wherefore, let them that suffer according

1033
00:50:12,350 --> 00:50:15,530
to the will of God commit.

1034
00:50:16,450 --> 00:50:17,290
You see that?

1035
00:50:17,870 --> 00:50:18,570
Commit.

1036
00:50:19,690 --> 00:50:22,810
The keeping of their souls to Him in

1037
00:50:22,810 --> 00:50:27,750
well-doing as unto a faithful Creator.

1038
00:50:28,310 --> 00:50:29,150
Faithful.

1039
00:50:29,610 --> 00:50:30,870
A faithful Creator.

1040
00:50:32,330 --> 00:50:35,870
You see, brethren, the word commit here in

1041
00:50:35,870 --> 00:50:39,290
Psalm 31 and verse 5 means to yield

1042
00:50:39,290 --> 00:50:40,310
for the keeping.

1043
00:50:41,370 --> 00:50:42,390
It's important.

1044
00:50:43,290 --> 00:50:44,510
You say, why should I do that?

1045
00:50:44,530 --> 00:50:45,410
I'm going to die anyway.

1046
00:50:45,550 --> 00:50:46,210
I mean, it's inevitable.

1047
00:50:46,510 --> 00:50:47,750
I mean, why should I do it?

1048
00:50:49,110 --> 00:50:50,470
Because God requires it.

1049
00:50:51,050 --> 00:50:53,910
We are to yield for the keeping.

1050
00:50:54,590 --> 00:50:58,330
To commit the soul is to devote the

1051
00:50:58,330 --> 00:51:00,230
entire being to God.

1052
00:51:01,090 --> 00:51:06,590
Lord, come what may, whether it's the anguish

1053
00:51:06,590 --> 00:51:10,470
through being tortured or martyrdom, Lord, I commit

1054
00:51:10,470 --> 00:51:13,990
my entire existence to You.

1055
00:51:14,390 --> 00:51:14,770
Listen.

1056
00:51:15,470 --> 00:51:18,990
Because of the imminent danger of persecution and

1057
00:51:18,990 --> 00:51:23,390
possible martyrdom, friend, Peter exhorts them to commit

1058
00:51:23,390 --> 00:51:26,190
themselves to God as they continue to do

1059
00:51:26,190 --> 00:51:26,630
well.

1060
00:51:27,390 --> 00:51:30,730
For, listen now, for their God has promised

1061
00:51:30,730 --> 00:51:34,250
that He would be faithful to them even

1062
00:51:34,250 --> 00:51:36,490
unto death.

1063
00:51:39,250 --> 00:51:42,750
Alborn says this, they were to leave everything

1064
00:51:42,750 --> 00:51:48,030
in His hand, faithfully performing every duty and

1065
00:51:48,030 --> 00:51:50,830
not being anxious for the result.

1066
00:51:51,850 --> 00:51:55,250
The Lord Jesus in Luke 23 and verse

1067
00:51:55,250 --> 00:51:58,190
46 says, And when Jesus had cried with

1068
00:51:58,190 --> 00:52:01,110
a loud voice, he said, Father, in Thy

1069
00:52:01,110 --> 00:52:06,090
hands I commit, I commend my spirit.

1070
00:52:08,600 --> 00:52:12,480
The word there means I entrust my spirit

1071
00:52:12,480 --> 00:52:14,360
to Your keeping.

1072
00:52:16,300 --> 00:52:17,320
Why is this important?

1073
00:52:18,240 --> 00:52:19,380
As I say it, I'm closing.

1074
00:52:20,060 --> 00:52:20,420
Listen.

1075
00:52:21,340 --> 00:52:25,140
We must not underestimate the importance of committing

1076
00:52:25,140 --> 00:52:26,840
ourselves to God.

1077
00:52:28,280 --> 00:52:30,200
You should be doing it now when all

1078
00:52:30,200 --> 00:52:30,760
is well.

1079
00:52:31,920 --> 00:52:36,360
When there is no impending threat of persecution.

1080
00:52:36,640 --> 00:52:38,040
Still be doing it now.

1081
00:52:38,900 --> 00:52:44,760
But even when persecution does come, especially, He

1082
00:52:44,760 --> 00:52:49,200
said be conscious of committing your soul to

1083
00:52:49,200 --> 00:52:51,280
that faithful Creator.

1084
00:52:53,140 --> 00:52:53,260
Listen.

1085
00:52:54,460 --> 00:52:57,740
We are not to underestimate the importance of

1086
00:52:57,740 --> 00:52:59,840
committing ourselves to God.

1087
00:53:00,360 --> 00:53:03,760
For in so doing we see some significant

1088
00:53:03,760 --> 00:53:04,420
things.

1089
00:53:05,140 --> 00:53:09,160
First of all, it's an acknowledgment of our

1090
00:53:09,160 --> 00:53:09,560
faith.

1091
00:53:12,990 --> 00:53:15,530
You're not going to cower under persecution, are

1092
00:53:15,530 --> 00:53:15,710
you?

1093
00:53:17,230 --> 00:53:20,810
You're not going to wither under what they'll

1094
00:53:20,810 --> 00:53:22,090
threaten you with, are you?

1095
00:53:25,160 --> 00:53:27,980
For me to commit my soul is a

1096
00:53:27,980 --> 00:53:30,620
statement that I believe.

1097
00:53:31,700 --> 00:53:34,420
I commit my soul to this faithful Creator.

1098
00:53:35,500 --> 00:53:38,860
I acknowledge with an exclamation point that I'm

1099
00:53:38,860 --> 00:53:39,660
not my own.

1100
00:53:39,780 --> 00:53:40,820
I'm bought with a price.

1101
00:53:40,980 --> 00:53:44,040
Therefore, I commit myself to Him that already

1102
00:53:44,040 --> 00:53:46,680
has purchased me with the blood of His

1103
00:53:46,680 --> 00:53:46,960
Son.

1104
00:53:47,980 --> 00:53:51,920
Secondly, it is the final obedience in a

1105
00:53:51,920 --> 00:53:52,780
saint's perseverance.

1106
00:53:53,940 --> 00:54:01,880
Dear people, in persecution, only those who persevere

1107
00:54:02,440 --> 00:54:04,160
will inherit eternal life.

1108
00:54:05,640 --> 00:54:08,580
If you do not persevere in this life,

1109
00:54:09,540 --> 00:54:10,880
you will perish.

1110
00:54:12,300 --> 00:54:15,360
Understand, we're not talking about perfection.

1111
00:54:16,520 --> 00:54:18,400
Even a believer sins.

1112
00:54:19,000 --> 00:54:22,400
And sins at times in a way that

1113
00:54:22,400 --> 00:54:25,340
grieves the Master that maybe we would assess

1114
00:54:25,340 --> 00:54:27,080
when we look at our own sin as

1115
00:54:27,080 --> 00:54:28,960
a regular sin pattern.

1116
00:54:29,320 --> 00:54:30,560
But let me tell you something, friend.

1117
00:54:30,920 --> 00:54:33,180
You're troubled about it because you're not your

1118
00:54:33,180 --> 00:54:33,600
own.

1119
00:54:34,040 --> 00:54:37,800
You've been redeemed through the merits of Christ.

1120
00:54:38,520 --> 00:54:41,440
But in that, we continue to keep picking

1121
00:54:41,440 --> 00:54:42,300
ourselves up.

1122
00:54:42,440 --> 00:54:44,380
The just man falls down seven times.

1123
00:54:44,620 --> 00:54:45,580
He keeps rising.

1124
00:54:46,000 --> 00:54:48,260
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but

1125
00:54:48,260 --> 00:54:50,080
the Lord God shall deliver them out of

1126
00:54:50,080 --> 00:54:50,680
all of them.

1127
00:54:50,980 --> 00:54:53,780
And by virtue of your perseverance, it's an

1128
00:54:53,780 --> 00:54:55,600
evidence of the fact that you are being

1129
00:54:55,600 --> 00:54:58,460
kept by the power of God.

1130
00:55:01,600 --> 00:55:05,300
So when we finally, the ultimate exercise is,

1131
00:55:05,520 --> 00:55:08,840
Father, into Your hands, I commend my spirit.

1132
00:55:08,960 --> 00:55:10,120
I commit myself.

1133
00:55:11,280 --> 00:55:13,900
Then it's the final act once again of

1134
00:55:13,900 --> 00:55:14,640
our perseverance.

1135
00:55:15,780 --> 00:55:21,540
But then this, if you do suffer, and

1136
00:55:21,540 --> 00:55:26,060
it results in death, martyrdom, you're not going

1137
00:55:26,060 --> 00:55:26,440
to die.

1138
00:55:28,380 --> 00:55:29,740
You're not going to die.

1139
00:55:31,600 --> 00:55:35,620
For the believer, the world looks at your

1140
00:55:35,620 --> 00:55:37,340
corpse and says they died.

1141
00:55:38,500 --> 00:55:44,600
But from God's perspective, it's a triumphant transition

1142
00:55:44,600 --> 00:55:46,260
into glory.

1143
00:55:47,280 --> 00:55:48,220
You want to know why?

1144
00:55:48,760 --> 00:55:51,560
Because Jesus said in John 8 and verse

1145
00:55:51,560 --> 00:55:56,720
51, He that keepeth My saying shall never

1146
00:55:56,720 --> 00:55:59,360
see death.

1147
00:56:00,380 --> 00:56:02,120
You're not going to encounter death.

1148
00:56:02,880 --> 00:56:09,260
It's just a transcendent, triumphant transition into glory.

1149
00:56:11,840 --> 00:56:15,240
So while they're killing you, and your life

1150
00:56:15,240 --> 00:56:18,220
is ebbing away in their eyes, you're committing

1151
00:56:18,220 --> 00:56:20,160
your soul to a faithful creator.

1152
00:56:21,020 --> 00:56:21,920
And guess what, friend?

1153
00:56:22,600 --> 00:56:24,420
You're not going to really draw a last

1154
00:56:24,420 --> 00:56:24,860
breath.

1155
00:56:26,220 --> 00:56:29,320
First thing you know in that transition, there's

1156
00:56:29,320 --> 00:56:34,540
the Savior, Stephen, standing on the right hand

1157
00:56:34,540 --> 00:56:36,440
of the throne of God.

1158
00:56:36,860 --> 00:56:37,680
He's there.

1159
00:56:42,230 --> 00:56:43,810
What a blessed reality.

1160
00:56:45,290 --> 00:56:47,450
What an exceeding great and precious promise.

1161
00:56:49,850 --> 00:56:51,370
Preparing for persecution.

1162
00:56:52,590 --> 00:56:53,070
It's coming.

1163
00:56:54,030 --> 00:56:54,590
It's coming.

1164
00:56:54,950 --> 00:56:55,710
Let's pray together.