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Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM

2. Psalm 107:22
Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing.
Hymns
Invitation
Red Songbook -
Supplemental

3. The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed
John 17
Reading: John 16:1-6, 15-24
IMAGE:
The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed

4. Persecution
Dioko – to flee or be pursued Persecution can be: Physical – Acts 22:4 Verbal – John 5:16, Matthew 5:11
Ac 22:4 "I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,
Joh 5:16-17 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.
Mt 5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

5. Jesus’ Promise
Men will persecute us John 15: The world HATES those in Christ
Jas 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

6. Jesus’ Promise
Men will persecute us John 15:18-25 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12
It is a promise – to be in Christ is to be an enemy of the world

7. Jesus’ Promise
Men will persecute us Jesus being in heaven will be hard - Men will mock our belief in Him

8. Comprehending Persecution
We are persecuted when: We cannot participate in the deeds of others 1 Peter 4:3-5
1Pe 4:3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 4 ¶ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

9. Comprehending Persecution
We are persecuted when: We cannot participate in the deeds of others We hold ideas others find foolish 2 Peter 3:3-4
2Pe 3:3 ¶ Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."

10. Comprehending Persecution
We are persecuted when: We cannot participate in the deeds of others We hold ideas others find foolish We hold truths that the world hates Acts 19:23-29
Ac 19:23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; 25 these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. 26 "You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all.27 "Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence." 28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia.

11. It is Not Persecution:
Consequences for our bad decisions 2 Samuel 12:10 - Not trusted due to poor decisions - Struggles due to fiscal mismanagement
2Sa 12:10 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.‘
If we are not trusted due to errors in the past, this is not persecution

12. It is Not Persecution:
Consequences for our bad decisions The penalties of sin 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 1 Peter 2:20 - Punishment for sin is NOT persecution
1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Pe 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

13. It is Not Persecution:
Consequences for our bad decisions The penalties of sin Disagreement

14. Avoiding a Persecution Complex
Do not be easily offended 2 Timothy 3:10, 4:2
2Ti 3:10 ¶ But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

15. Avoiding a Persecution Complex
Do not be easily offended Do not look to find persecution Peter in Acts 12 Paul in Acts 22:25-26
Ac 12:17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, "Report these things to James and the brethren." Then he left and went to another place.
Ac 22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?"
Ac 22:26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, "Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman."

16. Avoiding a Persecution Complex
Do not be easily offended Do not look to find persecution Do not return evil for evil Luke 6:35
Lu 6:35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

17. Avoiding a Persecution Complex
Do not be easily offended Do not look to find persecution Do not return evil for evil Do not expect evil must triumph Matthew 24:21 Psalm 27:13-14
Mt 24:21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
Ps 27:13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.14 Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

18. The Opportunity in Persecution
1 Peter 3: The chance to demonstrate Grace - The opportunity to give an answer

20. Being Faithful Until Death:
"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10