Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Truth for the Heart

June 12, 2005

ROUGH TIMES AHEAD

John 16:1-4

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.”

John16:1-4 is a warning to the disciples that they can expect persecution because of the message they would preach. When persecution did come to His disciples, the Lord wanted them to remember that He had taught them to expect rejection (John 15:18-27).

I like Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase at this point, In “THE MESSAGE” he writes “I’ve told you these things to prepare you for the rough times ahead.” The disciples would be ostracized from the synagogues. We are told that the synagogue was the local center of Jewish religious life in Palestine and throughout the area where the Jews were scattered. Wherever Jews were found in a given community, if there were at least ten men present, they formed a synagogue for worship and instruction. By the time John wrote his gospel the synagogue had become an institutionalized center of enmity to the gospel. The Lord Jesus had tasted its hostility and now He warns His disciples against it. Not only would they be forbidden the use of the synagogue, many of them would be martyred for their faith. This persecution would be precipitated by the Jews! They would launch this persecution because they were willfully ignorant of the Father and His Son.

This is the central reason for the rejection of the gospel message and its messengers. Persecution is the believers’ lot in this life. Paul tells us that we are appointed to these things. If the Lord Jesus paid a price for making salvation possible – then we must pay a price for making salvation available.

However, persecution takes on different forms. In comparison to other countries in the world, America has had it relatively easy. Not too many people in our land have lost their lives and families for the gospel’s sake. Our political, legal and educational systems have been infiltrated by leaders who have betrayed America. Hollywood has taught our children to delight in evil, while schools immerse them in pagan rituals to other gods. Many church leaders are ashamed to mention sin and the cross, and most “Christians” are drifting with the trends, too distracted to know or care.

We shouldn’t be surprised at this. Again and again, the Old Testament shows our natural inclination to drift toward apathy, compromise, and paganism –anything but God Himself. It’s happening in America, and I Corinthians 10:1-11 tells us that we are not immune to consequences like those that destroyed ancient Israel.

Remember, “the whole world is under the control of the evil one (I John 5:19). Satan’s subjects will always despise our King, twist His truth, and hate His people. Why should we not expect opposition? Jesus described the normal Christian life this way; “If they persecute Me, they will also persecute you.” He told His disciples the reason; “for they do not know Him who sent me” John 15:20-21.

We need to take His warning to heart, count the cost of discipleship, and pray to be prepared for inevitable battles. Now is the time, before we yield to the voices that call for compromise and consensus, to heed His call: “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged” Hebrews 12:1-3.

So beloved, let us gird up our minds with truth and determine that we are going to prepare ourselves to take a stand for God’s truth. This means that we must be much in the Word and prayer, taking advantage of every opportunity given to us by God. Remember the forceful words of Tertullian in the 1st century: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” So until next time, God bless and have a great week.