Abiding In The Vine... Together

September 8, 2013 Sunday Sermon - Our Relationship to a Hostile World

9/11/2013

Sunday September 8th we continued to explore our relationship to the world. In our study passage, John 15:18-16:11, Jesus makes it clear that as his followers we will be mistreated. The key question for us is: What does Jesus expect from us as we live out our lives in a system of organized society that is hostile to God?
As a reminder, here are the scriptures we looked at together:

John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues and in fact a time is coming when they think that by killing the followers of Jesus they are actually offering a service to God ...

Act 6-7 Stephen is the supreme example of living out a faithful witness in an organized society that is hostile to God.

Revelation 12:11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony for they loved not their lives even unto death ...

2 Corinthian 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen

Act 7:56 And he said, ' Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

The answer we arrived at was - Jesus expects us to go into the world; that our highest calling is to be a faithful witness through it all, no matter what!

As I have chewed on Sundays message and scriptures, additional scriptures and thoughts came to mind. Here are a few of those scriptures and thoughts:

1 Thessalonians 1:6-9 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere...

1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone...
Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

It would be easy to decide that Jesus was speaking the things we looked at Sunday to His 12 disciples but not us today, not me. The scriptures and thoughts God brought to my mind as I meditated on the message and it's application clearly show that all these things are for us. We are called to the same life and mission. Our challenge is to determine how to rearrange our lives around our Lord's calling and command. Jesus, Paul and Stephen are examples to help us see what this kind of life looks like and to realistically know what to expect from the world and how to respond when we suffer for Christ.

1 Peter 2:20-21 ... if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Gerry

9/15/2013 02:25:06 am

Steven is an amazing account of Gods calling and God's empowering and strengthening to witness even unto death. In the sovereignty of God He give us His Holy Spirit and through Him (Holy Spirit) we are enabled to be courageous and convicted to go into the world in the power of Jesus the Christ and proclaim the Gospel to a hostile world. Steven was a man just as we are. The difference was he was full of faith and the spirit of God. And he was strengthened at the last supernaturally by the spirit to give him the courage to fulfill that calling. God uses us and has promised to strengthen us and give us the courage to do that calling. The spirit gets more and more control as we grow in the word of God. For some it is a life long growth and for some it is a very quick growth such as with Steven. He was so full of the word that He was given total faith (FULL OF FAITH) and the spirit was in total control of him(FULL the SPIRIT). Sometimes I have been fearful of what God has in Mind for me as he is reveals so much deep truth about his word, (OF HIMSELF) to me.I have wondered if I could stand as Steven or if I will deny Him. But Steven should be an inspiration that causes us to not be fearful to share to a world of hostiles because Jesus sent the Comforter(Holy Spirit) to give us the strength and courage we need. HE has promised to be with us and shows us that HE will fulfill that promise if we are Faithful to Him and HE will give us the courage that we can not have outside of the Holy Spirit. Fear Not for I am with you always. God knew what was going to happen to Steven and planned everything from the foundation of the world. Some theologians feel the stoning of Steven caused the church to be spread aboard and Paul's (Saul's) seed of faith may have been planted then. It is a challenge to share in this world. We may never know the results of our sharing. It can be a fearful thing. We are not all called to share even unto death, but I am convinced that we will stand if called because our God will enable us to stand. And if He enabled Steven and Paul and Peter and all the rest to die for the gospel how much more will he enable us in this time and this country to suffer, the limited suffering we will encounter. God Is FAITHFUL.

larry

9/15/2013 06:21:30 am

Luke 12: 11-12 is a great encouragement for those who are fearful, for God Himself will provide the words for you to say.

11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

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September 8, 2013 Sunday Sermon - Our Relationship to a Hostile World

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