Summary: Satan hates God. However, he can't hurt God directly. So he does everything he can to hurt God indirectly, and he does so by attacking God's children. Holy Scripture promises us that "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus promised his followers that they will be hated just for being Christians (John 15:18-20). Christian, if you follow Jesus faithfully, you will have enemies. These too are God's promises. Jesus calls us to withstand hate with love, but how do we withstand opposition like lions, while loving those who oppose us, like lambs?

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And God, we thank you for the blessing and privilege it is to gather safely, in peace, to worship your Holy name, to meditate upon your Holy scriptures as your church, as your people. We recognize that this blessing isn't afforded to many in the world, that many do not have this freedom, this Liberty, this privilege to gather in peace that many are actively and violently opposed and persecuted and we pray for our brotherhood and we pray for our sisterhood. We pray for those who are suffering just because they name the name of Jesus Christ. We pray that you strengthen them. We pray that you also remind us today that when you call us to yourself, you call us to a path of sacrifice. That we worship a God who gave himself. Jesus, you were nailed to a cross and like a lion, you tenaciously and ferociously overcame Satan, sin, and death and still as you hung in that cross, you extended your generous, lavish embrace to your enemies.

I pray that you make us tough as nails and tender as lambs that when we are persecuted, when we are slandered, when we experience the opposition that you have promised us. We pray that we recognize that often that is your will in order to refine us in order to give us a perspective that is eternal. I pray Holy spirit come and strengthen us, give us a resolve that we will not just live for you, but we would be willing to even die for you if that's what you choose for us. We pray that you bless our time, the Holy scriptures. Now we pray all this in the name of the father, of the son, of the Holy spirit. Amen.

So we're in a sermon series that we are calling "Tough and Tender: Developing Resilience for Life." And the topic of the message today is opposition. This sphere, this area will strengthen your toughness and will soften your tender heart like nothing else that we have covered. Today, we are talking about opposition that the way of following Christ is a path of opposition. Why? Because at the center of Christianity, at the crux of Christianity, is a crucified savior who has given himself for us and he calls us to take up our cross and follow him daily. Thus, we shouldn't be surprised that Christians have been persecuted and continue to be persecuted, have been opposed, and continue to be opposed. Christians are the most persecuted group on the planet. It's the least reported and the most overlooked truth. The secular society called International Society for Human Rights says the worst persecution of Christians in all of human history is actually happening in our lifetime. 70 million Christians have died for their faith from the beginning of the church.

The founding of the church by Christ. 70 million have died, 35 million in the past 100 years. Every 10 minutes at least two Christians die for their faith. John L. Allen Jr wrote "The Global War on Christians" in which he documents today's stories of people who are dying for their faith. The Christian Perspective Review of 2019 says that one third of the world's population suffers from religious persecution, 80% of which are Christians and spreading not just geographically, but it's growing in severity. In some regions, the level and nature of persecution is coming close to international definitions of genocide. Open Doors 2019 Worldwide Watch List Report says that in 2018, 215 million Christians have been persecuted. This year alone, it's been 245. This year alone, 2,625 Christians have been detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and in prison, 1,266 churches, church buildings have been attacked.

In the last five years, the number of countries classified as extreme and persecuting Christians has grown from one, North Korea, to 11 countries. That's increasing and the persecution is coming from aggressive nationalism or ultra nationalism in countries like China and India and from Islamist militia groups. How about in Boston, 2019. Well, it's different here. Might not be an active violent oppression, but it's definitely a silent repression. It's a polite persecution. There's ridicule when people can't respond with reason. Laughter.

"I can't believe you believe that, you bigot" laughter as substitute for logic. We might not be persecuted, but certainly we are pressured. You might not get that promotion just because you're a Christian. You might not get into that program, not get into that school. Just because you're a Christian. People might look down on you as antiquated or unintelligent because you are a Christian. Be silent, shut up, blend in, conform. Do not share your faith. Do not proselytize. I can't believe that you are on the wrong side of history. Well, for Christians it's more important not just to be on the right side of history, but to be on the right side and that side is the side of Jesus Christ. And he said, I am the way, the truth and the life and there's no other way to the father, but through me. If you claim that, if you believe that if you live that out, you will be opposed.

Jesus Christ said, count the cost before you come and follow me. There is a cost to following Jesus. What does it cost you to follow Christ? Would you die for the name of Christ? Statistically, some of you might. And if you're willing to die for Christ, are you willing to live for him? If being a Christian ever became illegal in the United States, would there be enough evidence against you for claiming Christian, confessing Christian, to convict you? These are some of the things that we are talking about today.

To set up our time, we're going to look at first Peter chapter four, seven through 19. First, Peter suffered for the faith to the point that he died. He was crucified upside down. He knew about suffering. He knew about beatings. When you talk about suffering, you just talk about verbal suffering. You talk, not just emotional suffering but physical suffering for the faith.

So he writes this letter to Christians who are suffering in Asia Minor and he reminds them over and over refers to them that you are sojourners, you are exiles. This is not your home. Our citizenship is in heaven. We are resident aliens. This is all temporary. We might suffer, but from the point of view of eternity, this is just a blip on the radar and is worth it. First Peter four seven through 19 would you please look at the text with me?

The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be self controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling, as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. Whoever speaks as one who speaks Oracles of God, whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.

Amen. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God, and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

And if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good. This is the reading of God's Holy and infallible, authoritative word. May he write these eternal truths upon our hearts. Seven practical points to frame up our time. Point one is welcome to the club. Point two is lead with repentance. Three, rejoice at the honor. Four shame with glory. Five, love your enemies. Six, trust God as you do good and seven, extend hope gently. First of all, welcome to the club. This is what he begins with. So what did you expect if you follow a crucified savior? And Jesus said, "Come and follow me." What did you expect? So don't be surprised. He says in verse 12, beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. For them, they understood what it meant to follow Christ in that Roman culture.

Christ was crucified. Therefore, he calls us to a path of suffering. Don't be surprised, it's not unusual. You're probably doing something right. It is surprising to the church in the United States. To many, it's surprising because many present the gospel as a bait-and-switch. We do not do that at Mosaic. When we talk about coming to the Lord, repenting of sin and accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we talk about counting the cost. There is a cost.

Jesus said, before you build a tower, you got to sit down and first figure out how much it's going to cost or else you won't have the resource. There is a cost to following Jesus Christ. And as our culture becomes more antagonistic to the gospel and the implications of the gospel in particular when it comes to gender and sexuality, there's going to be more and more of a cost. Don't be surprised. It's not unusual. It's not new. It's not strange. He says it's normal. It's necessary. It's refining. Life is hard. God is good. Glory is coming.

The fiery trial here he's talking about is persecution, is to be expected. In Peter's mind, it wasn't just insults, it wasn't just maligning or slander or reviling, it was beatings and sufferings and crucifixion and being tossed to the lions. 2 Timothy 3:12, indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. God promises this. Acts 14:22 talking about the apostles, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith and saying that through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God. Through many tribulations.

Many of us have developed a theology of prosperity, not many of us have a theology of adversity. And we need a theology of adversity to recognize how to meet these trials head on. It's guaranteed trials will come, expect it. 1 Peter 5:6-9, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. There's a humility that needs to come with becoming a Christian. And Lord I repent of my sins. I'm a wretch, please save me. But then there's also a humility of following Christ and on a daily basis.

God is sovereign and often sovereignly ordains trials, opposition, persecution, and there's a humility that needs to come. Lord, I humble myself under this chosen path that you have for me, that at the proper time, he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Now, Peter, how can you write this as God's timeless word and have it still relevant today as we're reading it? Because this fact has not changed. Satan hates Christians because Satan hates the church, Satan opposes the faithful. And I understand that our opposition is first world opposition. It's micro-suffering, but still it's suffering, it's persecution. And unlike on a daily basis, you need to count the cost of following Christ. My oldest daughter Sophia is 11 and she was telling me that she just wishes there were more Christians in her church. Sorry, that too.

Amen. In her school. I wish I had a Christian friend in my class. Maybe that's why we're here. We're not here because it's comfortable, we're here to get the gospel to those who do not have eternal hope in Christ. That's why we're here. It's difficult. Hebrews 13:3, remember those who are in prison as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated since you are in the body. That we are a body of bleeds, we're the body of Christ and parts of the body and other parts of the world are suffering for the faith.

We are to remember them, we are to pray for them. Many of us hearing a sermon on suffering and persecution for the faith is brand new. If you come from other parts of the world, you know about this. You know about this, not theologically, you know about this experientially. My family is in the United States because they were persecuted for their faith. That's how we got to the United States, in religious refugee asylum in the late 80s because in the Soviet Union was illegal to be a Christian.

It was illegal... typically the gospel. We have family members who spent decades in prison for their faith. This isn't new. This is part of following Christ. John 15:18-20 Jesus said, if the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you are of the world, the world would love you as its own, but 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 also keep yours. Jesus was persecuted. Jesus was the most opposed figure in all of world history, so it makes sense that his followers will too, be opposed. Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the gospel who will not receive a hundredfold." Now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, we love that promise, with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life.

Don't be surprised. So welcome to the club. It's part of being a Christian too, is lead with repentance. This is important. 1 Peter, Peter, when he talks about persecution, he's very careful to qualify that you are being persecuted for the name of Christ, not because of your own sin. That you're not using persecution as a cover for sin. 1 Peter 3:17, it's better to suffer for doing good if that should be God's will than for doing evil. And in our text, 1 Peter 4:15, but let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

What's he talking about? Saying some people are persecuted for being Christians, some people are being persecuted just for being obnoxious. That's what the word meddler means. So meaning, you've got to hold this imbalance. If you are always persecuted for everything. If any kind of criticism, any kind of negativity for anything from anybody is persecution. He said, "Be careful it's not for your own sin." If you are never persecuted for anything ever as a Christian, then you've got to ask, "Am I living faithfully following Christ?"

And by meddler here he's talking about being the type of obnoxious Christian that hold any conversation with absolutely anybody. You're always Jesus juking. You're always trying to talk about hell and condemnation and fire and brimstone. Don't be that person. Don't be the person, and I've got to qualify this a little, who at work instead of doing your job, you're evangelizing. It's important to evangelize to coworkers and it's important for them to know. And I say this because I went through a season where I call this the cage stage.

I think every Christian goes through this cage stage. I found out about reformed theology and I wanted everyone in the world to know about it. And instead of working on my Excel spreadsheets at work, I would read Bible studies. Don't be that person. Don't be, this is what he's saying, the meddler. So you might get fired for being a person like this. But you got to do a spiritual inventory. Hey, is there hypocrisy in my life? Is there sin in my life? Is there opposition in my life just because there's a carnal nature coming out or is it truly for the faith?

And it happens with personal judgment. That's why 1 Peter 4:17 he says, for it's time for judgment to begin at the household of God, meaning we judge ourselves. We're doing this spiritual inventory ourselves. It begins with us and what will become of those who do not obey the gospel of God and if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So lead with repentance. If there is sin, we repent of that sin in the context of persecution as well. Three, is rejoice at the honor. And this is incredible that he uses the word rejoice in verse 13, rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the spirit of glory and if God rests upon you, is it comfortable? No. But there's something greater than comfort. There's development of character, and God cares infinitely more about our character than our comfort. We choose to rejoice. It's a choice to rejoice even in suffering, and this is absolutely nonsensical to the unbelieving world. The unbelieving world finds this unbelievable. The world doesn't understand that there's a source of joy, a joy that's greater than happiness, that's greater than pleasure. He says, "Rejoice at this." Congratulations, it's a confirmation, it's a compliment from God that when we suffer, when we are insulted for the name of Christ, it is to bring us joy, because God's name is glorified.

Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus, this is in the Beatitudes talking about blessing, and the word for bless here is the highest level of happiness, the highest level of joy. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Rejoice, great is the reward. And this only makes sense from the perspective of eternity, the eternity... that our life compared to eternity is just a little blip on the radar.

St. Peter, after he was beaten with the other apostles in the book of Acts as the very beginning of the inauguration of the church, Acts 5:41, "And they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." They were dishonored, they were persecuted, and they rejoice. They rejoice not despite the persecution, but because of it, because of the persecution. The persecution gave them this perspective of eternity's perspective on what really matters, and they rejoice.

Scripture often talks about suffering as a path that God chooses for us to strengthen us and to increase our joy. Romans 5:3-4, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." James 1:2-3, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." Nothing tests our faith as genuine like persecution. God often sends persecution in order to purify the church. Who's truly a Christian, who's a genuine believer? There's a testing. Romans 8:18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

Hebrews 12 talks about Moses, who leaves the comforts of the palace, of Pharaoh's palace in Egypt, and it says he, Moses, "choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward." Fleeting pleasures that you can't keep or an eternal reward that you can never lose. He does the cost-benefit analysis, he said, "Yes, the cost is worth it." God wants to prosper us. He wants to give us an enduring prosperity, a long-term prosperity that often comes at the cost of short-term adversity.

Opposition also strengthens our faith. This is another reason to rejoice, that we are getting stronger. Every athlete knows, if you work out, you know that strength is developed under pressure. It's time under tension, and you go through that suffering because you have an end goal, and you're willing to endure because of the strength that's coming.

1 Peter 1:6-7, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." He talks about this testing as a fire. What does a fire do? It burns off the impurities, the dross, and leaves the substance, leaves the goal. And what the fire and the testing does, it reveals our true allegiances, what we truly love. If the idol in your life is comfort, then you can't begin to understand suffering, you can't begin to understand pain. But if God is at the center of your life, if God is the most precious thing in your life and the greatest treasure that you have, then you will cling on to God despite suffering.

It's no secret that adversity makes us stronger. A couple secular studies I'll quote here, Alyssa Croft in 2013 surveyed 15,000 adults, and she's entitled the study From Tribulations to Appreciation: Experiencing Adversity in the Past Predicts Greater Savoring in the Present, and this is what... She found people who had experienced major trauma in the past, and she said that people who have overcome adversity in the past are better at savoring life's small pleasures, which in turn could promote greater life satisfaction.

This is how Scripture talks about it, that adversity, opposition, persecution, suffering, it's a blessing if it's from the Lord, and this blessing allows us to truly savor his other blessings. There's a negative blessing that leads to a depth of savoring the positive blessings. She noted that people who emotionally overcome a negative event, it leads to this greater appreciation later in life and makes them more resilient. And this is what fiery trials do. They make us stronger. They make us a courageous people. Scripture often talks about Christians as needing to be courageous. Would you describe yourself as being courageous? Are you a courageous Christian? And the way that we strengthen our courage is going through that suffering. Jesus is the great shepherd; we are the sheep. Sometimes he brings us to green pastures, sometimes he brings us to nice bucolic rivers. Other times, he takes us through the valley of the shadow of death, and I trust him, he got me this far, he'll get me through, and that strengthens us.

A study by Stanley J. Rachman, he researched Fear and Courage: A Psychological Perspective, and here's how... This is secular work. Here's how he talks about growing from courage to fearlessness. He says, "Situational demands and confidence are thought to be important contributors to fearless behavior. The successful practice of courageous behavior leads to a decrease in subjective fear and finally to a state of fearlessness." How? "Courage grows into fearlessness. People who are learning to parachute from an aircraft display courage when they persevere with their jumps despite subjective fear. Veteran parachutists, who have been successfully habituated to the situation, no longer experience fear when jumping; they have moved from courage to fearlessness." Subjective fear, you overcome it with courage. The more you do that, the more you string these wins together, the more fearless you become. Courage just becomes part of who you are.

This is why we are to rejoice when God allows us to be opposed for his fight, shame with glory. Jesus often talks about those who are ashamed of his name. Mark 8:38, "For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Have you ever felt shame for being a Christian? Have you ever felt shame for believing the words of Christ, words that our culture rejects? 1 Peter 4:16, "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." Don't be ashamed, but glorify. Why is he bringing these two together? What ashamed, what is shame? The human ego hates shame. The human ego hates to be embarrassed.

So Scripture says, what do we do with this shame? We are to follow the example of Christ, who despised the shame. Hebrews 12:2, "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." He despised the shame. Jesus despised what kind of shame? At the center of Christianity is a shamed Christ, Christ who was mocked, he was rejected, he was spat on, he was stripped, he was scourged, and ultimately he was crucified. And the crucifixion was developed by the Romans not just to increase the level of pain as much as possible, it was to increase the level of humiliation, but Jesus went through it because he despised the shame. There's something greater motivating him than his own honor, and that was to bring glory to God the father. Don't be ashamed. What is shame? It's our name not being glorified. It's our name not being honored. Our reputation tarnished. We are not as approved or accepted by the people around us. That's shame.

My wife and I we have four daughters, and I get this question all the time, and I just got to remind everyone to stop asking this question, "Are you guys going to go for the fifth? Are you guys going to try to get a boy?" Stop asking that question. In particular, I get it from my Slavic brethren, from people from a Slavic/Russian background. "Don't you want a boy? And what about your name? Don't you want your name to continue past?" Like the name is so important. And my response every single time, "I don't care." Vezikov that's not a good last name. Like who cares? That's number one.

Number two, theologically it's wrong. Who cares about my name? Seriously, if I'm dead and rotten and forgotten, who cares? As long as the name of Jesus Christ magnified through my life. I believe that theologically. Experientially? And I struggle with this all the time describe for people, "What do you do?" "I'm a pastor." Just having that conversation, or like, "What kind of Christian are you?" Just having that conversation. "Oh, you guys really believe in The Bible? Isn't that antiquated?" And like, "Yeah, we do." There is a shame, but you know what? It's not about my name being glorified it's about the name Jesus Christ being glorified even at the expense of my name, of my disrepute because we worship a Christ who despised that shame.

Luke 6:26, "Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets." If you're never opposed for being a Christian, if you're never dishonored for being a Christian are you standing for the truth? Are you public with your faith? And why do people hate the truth, why do people oppose the truth? Because there is an element of the truth showing the darkness for what it is, exposing the evil. This is John 3:19, this is the judgment, "The light has come into the world, and people love the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." The way that we fight shame is by glorifying God. A God who deserves all glory.

Five is love your enemies. This is so counter intuitive, it's so counter cultural. The preached opposition here is that there will be enemies. We do have enemies. There are people who are defiantly opposed to the Christian truth. Luke 6:27 through 31, "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies," then act of agape love. "Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you, to the one who strikes you on the cheek offer the other one also, and from the one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from the one who takes away your goods do not demand them back, and as you wish that others would do to you do so to them." Refuse to retaliate that's what he's... Refuse to respond to hate with hate. Refuse to allow other people to control your emotions, to control your reaction. The way that we oppose our enemies is not with hate, but with love.

Romans 12:17 through 21, "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine. I will repay,' says the Lord. To the contrary, if you're enemy is hungry feed him, if he is thirsty give him something to drink for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, and overcome evil with goods." It's so hard. It's not just hard this is impossible. It does take supernatural strength, it does take a filling of the Holy Spirit to respond to our enemies in the same way that Christ responded to us. Jesus Christ died for us not because we were lovely, but because he was loving, and he died for us when we were still his enemies.

First Peter 4:89, "Above all keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sin, show hospitality to one another without grumbling." It's a practical love. There are enemies in your life, those who oppose you practically seek to show them love. And this perfect love casts out fear. First Peter 3:9, "Do not repay evil for evil, or reviling with reviling, but on the contrary bless. For to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing." So, we bless our enemies in the name of Jesus Christ we bless them, and we do that by praying for them. And what are we praying for? We're praying for them to come to an eternal relationship, into an eternal life with Jesus Christ. And the only way you can do this practically is if you understand theologically the source of opposition. It's not us against them, it's not Christians against non-Christians. It's every single one of us against God, and God comes, gives himself, is crucified in order to redeem us. And the real source of the opposition is not the person who is opposing you. The real source of opposition is Satan. It's the demonic realm.

First Peter 5:89, "Be so reminded, be watchful your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." Satan hates God. Satan wants to do everything he can to oppose God, but Satan can't hurt God. Jesus promised that he will build his church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. The book of Revelation promises us that Jesus wins. We know how the story ends. Satan does as well. He can't hurt God, so he tries to hurt God by means of hurting God's children. And this is what opposition is. This is what persecution is.

Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers, over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." So, when we are opposed we need to know who's behind the opposition, it's Satan, and that's why we pray for the person who is in front of us. It seems like if the person is embodying the persecution, embodying the opposition, but we need to pray for this persons eternal soul. We need to pray for the Lord to release this person from the entanglement of the evil one.

Six is trust God as you do good, and the word for trust here is more than just intellectual assent it's entrusting yourself to the good will of God. This is First Peter 4:9, "Therefor let those who suffer, according to God's will, entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good." We entrust ourselves to the sovereignty of God. "God, if you have allowed suffering, and opposition, and persecution in my life this is your will, and I will humble myself underneath your will, under your good sovereign will. Let your will be done in my life." We entrust our souls to him.

It's the the same word that Jesus Christ uses when he's on the cross in Luke 23:46, "Jesus calling out with a loud voice says, 'Father into your hands I commit my spirit.' And having said this he breathed his last." It's the same word that's used in first Peter 2:21, 25, "For to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you. Leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin, and live to righteousness by his wounds. You have been healed for you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls."

Sometimes suffering is God's will for your life. First Peter 2:15, "For this is the will of God that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people." First Peter 5:10 through 11, "After you have suffered a little while the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you to him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

And then point seven to extend hope gently. What do I mean? Suffering exposes what we truly hope in. Where is our hope? What is the anchor of our souls? When we're tough under oppression, and we tenderly share hope this is one of the greatest apologetics for the Christian faith. And this is why this suffering grew the Christian faith like nothing else. Historians are puzzled by how quickly Christianity grew despite opposition and persecution. Despite martyrdom, Christianity grew at a clip of 40% per decade.

Up to the point where in the 4th century, Constantine comes to power and realizes that the only way to consolidate all of the empire is by claiming to be a Christian. How? It was through oppression. It was through persecution. The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church, and this is why. In 1 Peter 3:14-15, the famous verse is, "Always be ready to give a defense for the hope that you have." That is given in the context of suffering. Verse 14, 1 Peter 3. "But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them nor be troubled. But in your hearts, honor Christ. The Lord is Holy.

Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the reason, for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect. The world understands. If you become a Christian to prosper and be healthy and wealthy, the world understands that. That's your ticket to prosperity. We have other tickets to prosperity. The world does not understand when Christ is your greatest treasure, despite suffering. That makes no sense. You still love Christ. You didn't get the prosperity. You got adversities. You still love him. Makes zero sense. People begin to wonder, what is this thing that you believe? Hold onto Christ in the midst of suffering. Be prepared to make a defense, to explain why Christ is your treasure. So when you suffer, don't panic. Pray. Don't worry, worship. Don't focus on the pain, on the opposition.

Focus on God. We extend the gospel with gentleness and respect. This is 1 Timothy 2:23-26, "Have nothing to do with foolish ignorant controversies." And he wrote this before online evangelists and comments section and Facebook evangelists. He wrote this way before any of that. Don't get into debate on Facebook about Jesus. It's never helpful. Ignorant controversies. You know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone. Able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance, leading to a knowledge of the truth that they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will. This is our goal. This is our hope. We have received this hope and Christ. It was not of our doing.

We're saved by grace through faith, and we're willing to go through the persecution and opposition in order to testify to this grace, to those who are far from the Lord. My short term comfort, I'm willing to sacrifice it for someone else's eternal comfort in the presence of Christ. Titus 3:2-7, I'll close with this. "Speak evil of no one to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle, to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, lead astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another." But when the goodness and loving kindness of God, our savior appeared, he saved us. Not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration, renewal of the Holy spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ, our savior.

So that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. If you're not a Christian today, cry out to God. God, save me. God, repent my sin. God, I entrust myself to you. But do so knowing the path that Jesus Christ might potentially have for you, a path of opposition, persecution, and suffering. But it's worth it. The seven points, just in case you missed any. Welcome to the club, lead with repentance, rejoice at the honor, fight shame with glory, love your enemies, trust God as you do good, extend hope gently.

And we'll close with the words of Christ on the cross, Luke 23:34. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they do." Amen. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for grace we didn't deserve. But Jesus, through your suffering, we are saved. And we understand, Lord, that you might ordain suffering for us so that we may be strengthened, and for others to be saved through our witness. And I pray that you strengthen us in those moments. Make us a bold people, a courageous people, people who proclaim your truth. And we do it unapologetically, unflinchingly, and we do it with tenderness of heart. We pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.