Sermon nuggets Tues Sept 30
Theme- The Work of the Holy Spirit
Verses- John 16:1 "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.
2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
PRESENCE Of the Spirit
Jesus tells the disciples they will not be left without a counselor. The joy of what was about to happen after the cross, resurrection and ascension was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each believer. I am convinced we have not allowed the Spirit to do what he wants in our lives enough.
We are blessed to have God in our daily lives, but unsettled days are ahead of us according to the prophecies. We are in the midst of economic turmoil, threats of nuclear war, and domestic immorality unlike ever before. To identify with Jesus was dangerous business then, and in many countries today. But the encouragement during persecution and hard times is that we are strengthened by the Spirit and encouraged in the hope that is ours even if we die. Jesus is coming to rule as King.
When the disciples did share about Jesus Christ they were beaten, put in jailed, thrown out of the cities, and synagogues, and killed. Tradition has it that Matthew suffered martyrdom by being slain with a sword in Ethiopia. Mark expired at Alexandria after being dragged cruelly through the streets. Luke was hanged upon an olive tree in Greece. John was put in boiling oil but escaped death only to be in exile in the Island of Patmos. Peter was crucified with his head downward. James was beheaded at Jerusalem by Herod. Bartholomew was flayed alive, Andrew was bound to a cross, and preached to his persecutors until he died. Thomas was run though the body with a lance at Coromandel in E. Indies. Jude was shot to death with arrows. Matthias was first stoned and then beheaded. Barnabas of Gentiles was stoned to death at Salonica. Paul, after various tortures and persecutions, was at length beheaded at Rome by Nero. Indeed how would Jesus prepare his disciples with what was to face them? People zealous for God thought they were doing God a favor. During the time of the great Spanish inquisition he "iron Maiden" with its bloody spikes and the torture wrack that pulled limbs out of their sockets were used by the Catholic Church to "convince men of the 'one true faith' and to save their souls from hell."
According to David Barret editor of the World Christian Encyclopedia In this century, an average of 300,000 Christians has been martyred each year. Martyrdom is not an outrageous exception, but a part of a surprisingly regular 2,000 year pattern where persecution and suffering are the normal lot of the body of Christ.
According to Jim Reapsome, editor of the Evangelical Missions Quarterly "missionaries are finding themselves in increasingly dangerous conditions. " He believes that the history of the church confirms that missionaries are bona fide candidates for martyrdom."
They trusted in God and even found a spiritual joy in the power of the Holy Spirit during the most difficult of times.
Jesus said, "I told you all this so that you will not go astray." When the time comes we will not have the courage to stand and testify for Jesus unless we know the power of the Spirit within. You do not need the Holy Spirit to be religious or play at church. But persecution will me an defection if you are without Him.
Pastor Dale
