John 15:19-20 (NKJV) If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
Jesus has already warned us that we will have persecution because He was persecuted. There are two kinds of persecution, first for being a Christian and second for the theological stand that we hold. Darkness will not welcome the light, especially today where the world’s values and Christian values are so divergent.
The Apostle Peter’s faith was being sifted when he was questioned whether he was associated with Jesus Christ, but he denied knowing Christ three times, and gave up his association with Jesus when tremendous pressure came with persecution after Jesus was arrested. If it happened to someone so close to Jesus, it will happen to us too! Peter has heard all the teaching, witnessed miracles, and even walked on water, but that’s what persecution does to us! We may also let go of the Word that we have heard and even disassociate ourselves from God. There will be a price to pay for being the salt and light for Him, but we need to remember that the seed of the Word of God regarding how to be the salt and light of this world will be stolen if we compromise or cave into the persecution and pressure from peers or business partners. If we are unable to stand up on our convictions, we will stumble when pressure is applied through persecution.
The second kind of persecution will be on the Word. We need to bear in mind that God is good all the time, and rightly divide the Word so we can identify the work of God and the scheme of the devil. Also, we must not just look for a formula to get out of the situation but build a strong foundation with the Word of God because what gives substance to our faith during times of crisis is the Word of God, especially His personal Word.
It takes patience and courage to stand in faith regarding the Word that we have heard. We can have a kind of faith that grows exceedingly when we allow the Word of God to take root in our lives through meditation and practising what was taught. This exceedingly growing faith will survive the onslaught of persecutions and tribulations thrown at us to get us to let go of our conviction of the Word.
Jesus wants us to allow the Word to take root in our lives so that we can stand firm during tribulations and persecutions and not fall away. Being a Christian does not promise us that we will be free from tribulation, but it does promise us the ability to overcome when it happens in our lives.
Sermon Series: Don’t Let It Be Stolen (Part 2)
基督徒实话实说
約 翰 福 音 15:19-20. 19 你 们 若 属 世 界 ， 世 界 必 爱 属 自 己 的 ； 只 因 你 们 不 属 世 界 ， 乃 是 我 从 世 界 中 拣 选 了 你 们 ， 所 以 世 界 就 恨 你 们 。20 你 们 要 记 念 我 从 前 对 你 们 所 说 的 话 ：
耶稣已经预警我们将有的逼迫，因祂自己曾遭逼迫。逼迫有两类。第一类因着我们基督徒的身份。第二类针对我们的神学立场。黑暗当然不接受光明，尤其是当今世界的价值体系与基督徒的价值观有着巨大的分歧。
当使徒彼得被问及他是否与耶稣基督为伍时，他的信心面临考验。耶稣被捕后，他在巨大的压力下三次不认主，否定了他们之间的关系。设想连与主这么亲近的彼得都无法承受当时的压力，我们如何能够幸免！彼得听过耶稣全部的教导，见证过祂行的神迹，甚至自己也曾在水面行走。但当逼迫一旦临到，人们的反应如出一辙我们同样可能放弃曾听过的神的道，甚至撇干净自己与神的关系。为主作光作盐是要付出代价的，但我们需要记住，如果我们妥协或屈服于来自同侪或商业伙伴的迫害和压力，上帝话语关于如何成为这个世界的盐和光的种子将被窃取。若我们不坚守信仰，当压力来临时我们势必会跌倒。
第二类迫害是针对神的话语的。我们必须始终记得神永远良善。让我们正确地区分圣言，这样我们就可以识别上帝的工作和魔鬼的计划。我们不能只是寻找一个脱困的公式，而是以神的话打造一个坚实的基础，因为在危难时为我们的信仰提供实质的，是祂的话语，尤其是祂个人的话语。
对我们所听到的话语保持信心需要耐心和勇气。当我们通过默想并操练所学的内容，让上帝的话语在我们的生命中扎根时，我们就能够拥有一种极度增长的信心。当迫害和患难袭来，试图迫使我们放弃对上帝话语的坚信时，这种极度不断增长的信心将幸存下来。
耶稣要我们让神的话在生命里扎根，使我们在患难和逼迫中能站稳不掉队。神没有承诺我们不遭遇患难，但祂应许我们当遭遇患难时有能力胜过。
讲章系列：别让种子被偷走（第二部分）
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