Response of the Godly to Persecution

Driving home: The scripture says that he who loses his life, the same shall save it. The Christian, the true Christian, is both a perpetual loser, but a perpetual winner.

The common saying 'Everybody loves a winner, nobody loves a loser' is used to introduce the paradox of the Christian being both a perpetual loser and winner in the world's eyes.

Yet with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that wherein you are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that you suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. Now I'm sure that most of us at one time were, or another, have heard the saying, Everybody loves a winner, nobody loves a loser.

1:13 - 1:54 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The scripture says that he who loses his life, the same shall save it. The Christian, the true Christian, is both a perpetual loser, but a perpetual winner.

Moses' choice to suffer affliction with God's people rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin is presented as a vivid example of losing worldly status to gain a greater reward from God.

He's a winner. One such vivid example of this is found in Hebrews 11, when speaking of Moses. The scripture says that by faith, when Moses was come to years, that is, years of maturity, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, for he had respect, for he had respect, for he had respect to the recompense of the reward. Moses was a great loser.

2:51 - 3:27 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the 'Suffering 101' course, beginning with the rhetorical question 'Who is he that will harm you, if you be zealous of that which is good?' and explores its two…

The analogy of a college course, 'English Lit 101,' is used to describe Peter's systematic teaching on suffering as an elementary, foundational lesson.

If you enroll in a local college and you're going to take the elementary course in English literature, it will be English Lit 101. Prerequisite for 102 is 101. Well, this is what Peter is doing. He's taking us into the classroom over which is emblazoned the word Suffering 101.

11:43 - 12:03 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the 'Suffering 101' course, beginning with the rhetorical question 'Who is he that will harm you, if you be zealous of that which is good?' and explores its two…

The inscription on a Covenanter's headstone, 'Prelates Rage, did but chase them up to heaven,' illustrates that persecution cannot truly harm the righteous, only hasten their reward.

This is a group of people in Scotland who would not acknowledge any rule in Christ's church, but Christ and his word. And there were ecclesiastical leaders seeking to impose their will upon them, and these dear people, many of them even children, were chased around the hills and valleys of Scotland and martyred because they said, Christ alone shall rule in his church. And by the gravestone of one of them, or it may have been several in that gravestone, in that grave, there was this inscription, Prelates, which stands for bishops and ecclesiastical leaders, Prelates Rage, did but chase them up ...

18:12 - 18:55 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the 'Suffering 101' course, beginning with the rhetorical question 'Who is he that will harm you, if you be zealous of that which is good?' and explores its two…

The examples of Joseph, Daniel, and the three Hebrew friends living blameless lives in pagan settings are used to suggest that godly living can lead to peace and influence, even with enemies.

Did not Jesus say, do not sinners love them that love them, and do good to those who do good to them? So if we find a group of believers, who are being hassled and harassed, and pressured by the ungodly, not returning reviling for reviling, not evil for evil, but contrary wise blessing, could we not expect that that would break down any native antipathy, and ill will, and cause them to treat them with kindness? Do not the scriptures give us the record of how Joseph lived a godly blameless life, in a pagan setting, there in Egypt? Do not the scriptures record, how Daniel and the three Hebrew fr...

19:49 - 21:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be afraid, agitated, disturbed, or troubled in the face of opposition for righteousness' sake.

The troubling of the waters by the pool in John 5 is used to illustrate the meaning of 'troubled' as agitated or disturbed.

And this was devastating to his disciples. He said, let not your heart be troubled. It's the word used in John 5 to describe the troubling of the waters by the pool. When the waters were troubled, agitated, disturbed, fomented, boiling.

37:10 - 37:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be afraid, agitated, disturbed, or troubled in the face of opposition for righteousness' sake.

The disciples' reaction to seeing Jesus walk on water, thinking it was a ghost and being 'troubled,' illustrates the deep agitation and disturbance that fear can cause.

It's the word used in Mark, Matthew 14.26. When? In the middle of the night and in a storm, the disciples see Jesus walking on the water.

37:27 - 37:37 Read in full sermon