If You Are Suffering and Being Persecuted Because of Jesus Then The World Isn't Worthy Of You

John 15:18-20; Hebrews 11:36-40 & 12:1-3

When you serve Christ you will pay a price and it won't be easy. Keep your eyes on Jesus because He's preparing your true home and it isn't on earth.

Soul Food

John 15:18-20

“‘If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.’”

Hebrews 11:36-40 & 12:1-3

“Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Soul Search

• Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?
  If you have, have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to stand up for Jesus and for the truths found in the Bible?
  Can you explain what happened?

• Maybe you are a follower of Jesus and got into a situation where in looking back you should have spoken up and/or stood up for Jesus and for your biblical values, but you got nervous or scared and kept silent.
  Can you talk about it?

• As the world seems to be increasingly ‘anti-Christ,’ have you thought about the possibility that you could be persecuted for your Christian beliefs?
  Many Christians are suffering terrible persecution in certain parts of the world.
  Have you thought about how you can or would prepare for persecution if it came to your door?
  What does that preparation look like?

• Are you someone who wants everyone to like them?
  Does that desire tend to make you go quiet if you think your beliefs and values will cause you to be disliked?
  If so, how do you think you should stand up for Christ in those moments you are tempted to go silent?

Soul Moves

• Ask God to give you the strength and courage to stand up for Jesus and for your Christian morals and values – especially if you’re someone who tends to go quiet when your beliefs are being disparaged.

• Ask God to prepare you in every way – spiritually, emotionally and physically – for various forms of persecution that might come.

• Be in relationship with other Christ-followers and have discussions about how they think they would prepare to encounter opposition to their faith.

• Prepare yourself – and ask God to prepare you – for persecution and mockery.
  It might even begin in your own family.
  Practice standing up for Jesus by doing so with arguably the toughest audience you might have: your friends and family.