Bro David Fu
11-09-2018
Olivet Discourse
Matthew 24:7-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, [a]pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Luke 21:10-19 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will [a]answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or [b]resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.
Definition - Persecution
Greek: διωγμός (diōgmós) (from 1377 /diṓkō, "follow, pursue") – properly, pursuit (chase); persecution – literally, "the hunt to bring someone down like an animal," trying to suppress (punish) their convictions.
Ways believers are persecuted:
·
Aggravated assault "without cause"
·
Bodily mutilation or torture
·
Dehumanisation & Delegitimisation
·
Discrimination (skin or creed)
·
Deportation
·
Destruction or forfeiture of property
·
Enslavement
·
False accusations
·
Forced to recanting faith or face death
·
Harassment and Threats
·
Imprisonment & Labour camps
·
Legal Prohibitions curbing religious or personal liberty
·
Selective taxation
·
Undue surveillance
Hebrew: רָדַף (radaph): to pursue, chase, persecute
Definition - Tribulation
Greek θλῑ́ψεως (thlípsis) – properly, pressure (what constricts or rubs together), used of a narrow place that "hems someone in"; tribulation, especially internal pressure that causes someone to feel confined (restricted, "without options"); especially when feeling there is "no way of escape" ("hemmed in"). A Greek metaphor, oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits
a board interspersed with holes where rocks or nails are fastened. Dragged by camel, horse, oxen or mule, a farmer sits on it and is dragged over the grain to break it out of its chaff.
Hebrew: (צָרָה) tsarah: affliction (1), anguish (2), distress (34), distresses (1), trouble (22), troubles (11)
Lawlessness
False teaching in the
last days:
- Distortions/scriptural aberration - prosperity,
cessationism, escapology, dominionism
- Gnosticism (secret knowledge) - unscriptural mixture
(idolatory)
- Mysticism - influences of the east, pantheism, occult
- Worldly philosophy - futility of the mind, evolution,
etc
- Anomianism - liberalism (freedom from moralistic
constraints), anarchy
- Aetheistic secularism, hedonism, unbelief in the Holy
writ (Higher criticism)
- Syncreticism - mixture of scriptural teaching with unscriptural
2 Timothy 3:2-5 New King James Version (NKJV)
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, [a]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
2 Timothy 4:3-5 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Portraits of God's
People under Persecution from Past to Present
Exodus 1:9 New King James Version
(NKJV)
9 And he said to his
people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we;
- Children of Israel in Egypt
- Prophets of OT: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Daniel
- Jews in the period of the Macabees
- Jesus
- 12 apostles
- Stephen
- Paul
- The early church under Roman emperors
Why do believers in Jesus Christ suffer?
Two kingdoms and two rebellions.
We are now under rebellion to Satan.
Sufferings will come.
Through many tribulations we must now enter God's kingdom.
1) Strengthen the church
Romans 5:1-5 New King James Version (NKJV)
Faith Triumphs in Trouble
5 Therefore, having been
justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory
in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces [b]perseverance; 4 and
perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not
disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit who was given to us.
2) A time of trials, temptation and testing
James 1:2-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
Profiting from Trials
2 My brethren, count it
all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your
faith produces [a]patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you
may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
3) Separates wheat from chaff
Daniel 12:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 Many shall be
purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none
of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
4) Prepares a believers witness for evangelism
Acts 8:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
Saul Persecutes the
Church
8 Now Saul was consenting
to his death.
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Christ Is Preached in Samaria
4 Therefore those who
were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
Posture:
1) Right Relationship
·
Love the Lord and be in an attitude of thanksgiving and praise
·
Put on the new self, set your minds on the things above
·
Do not harbour unforgiveness but forgive and keep forgiving
·
Love the body of Christ, be subject to one another, bear each
other's burdens
·
Use your grace gifts to edify the body
Matthew 22:37-40 New King James Version (NKJV)
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Colossians 3 New King James Version (NKJV)
Not Carnality but Christ
3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Character of the New Man
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
The Christian Home
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for[a] you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
1 Peter 4:8-11 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the [a]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the [b]dominion forever and ever. Amen.
2) Equip Yourself
i) Get the foundations
of doctrines right
ii) Memorise Scripture
2 Timothy 3:14-17 New
King James Version (NKJV)
14 But you must continue
in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you
have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
iii) Familiarise with our manual for persecution
Acts, Romans, 1 & 2
Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, 2 Corinthians, 1 & 2 John, 1 & 2
Peter, Jude, Hebrews, Revelation
iv) Read up
-Church history
-Testimonies of those in
persecution past and present
-Learn from those in the
field
3) Remember Them
i) Intercede for them
ii) Emulate them
iii) Visit them and
attend to their needs
iv) Strengthen and
encourage them
v) Make their plight
known to able mission bodies or authorities with compassion to their plight
that can influence for their better treatment or evacuation to safety.
4) Expect it
Matthew 5:11 New King
James Version (NKJV)
11 Blessed are you when
they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely
for My sake.
5) Endure
5281 hypomonḗ (from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 3306 /ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots in life.
2 Thessalonians 1:4 New King James Version (NKJV)
4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and [a]tribulations that you endure,
2 Thessalonians 1:4 New King James Version (NKJV)
4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and [a]tribulations that you endure,
2 Timothy 2:8-10 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 Remember that Jesus
Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but
the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake
of the [a]elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ
Jesus with eternal glory.
2 Timothy 2:12 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
2 Timothy 3:11 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 persecutions,
afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what
persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Revelation 13:5-10 New King James Version (NKJV)
5 And he was given a
mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to
[a]continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy
against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in
heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome
them. And authority was given him over every [b]tribe, tongue, and nation. 8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written
in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the [c]patience and the faith of the saints.
Revelation 14:12 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 Here is the [a]patience of the saints; here[b] are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
6) Overcome
Revelation 21:7 New King
James Version (NKJV)
7 He who overcomes
[a]shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
How shall we overcome?
·
Love your enemies
·
Do good to those who hate you
·
Bless those who curse you
·
Pray for those who persecute you
·
Repay evil with good
Matthew 5:43-48 New King James Version (NKJV)
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that
it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 [a]But I
say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who
hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that
you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil
and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you
love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors
do the same? 47 And if you greet your [b]brethren only, what do you do more
than others? Do not even the [c]tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be
perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Luke 6:27-28 New King James Version (NKJV)
Love Your Enemies
27 “But I say to you who
hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who
curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
7) Rejoice
James 1:2 New King James
Version (NKJV)
Profiting from Trials
2 My brethren, count it
all joy when you fall into various trials,
1 Peter 4:13-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
13 but rejoice to the
extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is
revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are [a]reproached
for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God
rests upon you. [b]On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is
glorified.
Acts 5:40-42 New King James Version (NKJV)
40 And they agreed with
him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded
that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they
departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for [a]His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in
every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in
distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
Seeing the Invisible
16 Therefore we do not
lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is
being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
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