Matthew 10:16-25
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
The world is a scary place.
We see the insanity and the godlessness around us.
It is not mean to say this, it is a fact that the world and our society is running ever faster to the demonic and hell.
It is an unholy world we are asked to be holy in.
The world is against us, and we know this.
But do we remember the rest?
Our friends, our families may turn on us.
Our congregation, our church family may turn on us.
Those we trust to be with us in following the Bible.
Just as the Jews persecuted Christians, then Catholicism also persecuted Christians.
Down through history we see the persecution.
Today, we see Islam persecuting Christians in some places.
The world is always against us.
Even our family and people we expect to be allies.
But we should not be surprised or dismayed or worried.
We are like our Master; we are persecuted for the truth.
We are not better than Jesus and He died on a cross with thieves next to Him.
He was crucified as an example of what happens when you do not follow the world and society.
It was intended to be a message of fear, to threaten us into submission.
Persecution is intended to intimidate us.
To get us to stop speaking about Jesus and the gospel.
There is so much power in the message of Jesus, that the enemy does not want it to spread.
We still see this today.
In the media, in society, we are maligned and threatened to get in line, to follow the demonic lies.
Don't give in to that pressure, that lie, that deception.
Satan wants us to quit, to give up, but the Lord is with us.
We do not need to fear.
Notice what Jesus says in verse 22, "But he who endures to the end will be saved."
We just need to endure to the end.
Just as Jesus suffered but never relented or gave in.
Continue to proclaim the gospel.
Keep promoting Jesus and His salvation.
The Lord is the only hope anyone in this world has.
Make sure they know it.
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