Todays sermon was incredible! I love a sermon so packed with scripture that i can't remember it all!
Pastor always brings the word of God, nothing but it, and I'm so thankful.
Our church has been working through the book of John, we are about 4 months in studying this book, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. We are currently in Ch. 15 and todays scripture was Jesus telling his desciples that if you truly love God (the trinity), that the world will hate you. It is impossible for us to love God and love the world. He then went on to explain that when we live our life for Christ, the world will oppose us because we aren't in agreeance with the choices the world makes. (One of my friends in bible study always says, "If you walk like the world, look like the world and talk like the world....you are the world.")
The most thought provoking part of the scripture was when Jesus said to his desciples that "they hated me first." In other words, your persecution and sufferage in life does not make you unique. All will be persecuted for Christ and just because you are feeling challenged by the world, does not give you entitlement to think you are the only one. The Bible promises all believers who are saved will face some form of persecution.
That will just about shut you up! It's hard for any American to actually speak the words "persecution" because we really have no concept of it. I do think of the believers who are physically persecuted in other countries, those hung, stoned, and tortured for refusing to denounce God's name. But, none the less, God understands even our idea of persecution here in the U.S.
Jesus has clearly stated in his word that the world will hate believers. Expect it.
Jesus was clear when he said that we aren't the first nor the only. Stop the pity.
Thank God for eternity......where the hate stops and praises of his name will be endless!
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