Sermons About Persecution
The Holy Spirit Leads
There are times when God opens doors and times when He closes them. He may lead in ways that make perfect sense to us, and there may also be times when the path that God illuminates seems to contradict everything that we think is right or best. Sometimes, God's way may even seem crazy to us. What is our response to occasions when God's plan leads us to "uncomfortable places?"
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Blessed Persecution, Pt. 1 (Matthew 5:10-12)
Throughout the beatitudes, the Lord has been laboring to make clear what it means to truly be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. He has, in a few verses, managed to turn the religious thinking of His day upside down. Now as we come to the end of our study of the beatitudes we are confronted with one of the most shocking statements the Lord ever uttered. The Lord gives His most extensive treatment to this last beatitude. First, let me just note the structure of these verses. In v. 10 the Lord ends the inclusio which began in v. 3, now returning to the present tense, “Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” As opposed the previous 6 verses, “shall be,” which looks forward to the ultimate and final fulfillment at the end of the age; in heaven. Verses 11-12 expand on His statement in v.10. To understand what the Lord is teaching us here we are going to break it down into 5 truths about persecution that will encourage us to live more boldly & more decisively for Christ. They are: (1) REALITY, (2) REASON, (3) RESULT, (4) RESPONSE, and (5) REWARD of persecution. We are going to look at the first 3 this morning.
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It's All About Jesus
Paul's trial before Felix reminds us that no matter what our circumstances, it is all about Jesus.
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How Deep The Father's Love For Us: The Parable of the Tenants
How Deep The Father's Love For Us: The Parable of the Tenants
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The Holy Spirit Works Through Opposition To Accomplish God's Purposes
In this sermon we are reminded that there is a cost for pursuing Christ. Specifically, we see the example of the early church being persecuted for speaking about Jesus. There response may come as a surprise. Instead of becoming fearful, they celebrate and continue to boldly share their faith.
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Paul's Testimony
Paul's skillful and courageous confession of Jesus before a hostile Jerusalem mob should encourage us not to fear but confess Jesus as well when we face persecution.
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It Comes as No Surprise (I Peter 4 12-19) 8-2-09
Suffering for the name of Jesus should not be seen by Christians as "something strange", but should instead by seen, with joy, as part of God's purposes for His children.
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In The World
As Jesus prays for all who would believe through the words of the Disciples He says some amazing things, like "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." What? You mean to tell me that Jesus does not want me to have an easy life with no worries? Really?
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To Find Your Life Is To Lose It ...To Lose Your Life Is To Find It
A statement that appears to contradict itself, but actually has a basis in truth.
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