The Church Will be Persecuted

Jesus Warned Us About Persecution

Book of John 15:18-27

We should understand that in all the ages since the Lord Jesus Christ went back home to Heaven to prepare us a place to live, Christians have been persecuted in one form or another. We talk about persecution here in America but in reality, we have never seen persecution like those who live in many other parts of our world.

As Christians we are never to seek the propagation of the Gospel by force. We are to understand that all those in Heaven will be there because they chose to love the Lord with all their heart. Not one hypocrite will be in Heaven.

Not one persecutor of the true Church will be in Heaven unless they repent of their evil ways as did the Apostle Paul.

Paul never forgave himself for persecuting the church even though he had been forgiven of all his sin by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psa 7:10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

Psa 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

Psa 7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

Psa 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

All unbelievers will see the wrath of God, we can be sure, but those who persecute the Church that the Lord has built cannot escape the judgments of the Lord.

The Lord has prepared for them special instruments of death. To me this is very frightening!

What did Jesus say to us?

*****Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

If this world hated all those who are mean, or who are selfish, or who profit from lies, or who are dishonest and who live by immoral standards then the world may be right, but the truth is, evil is not the object of hatred in this world we live in!

This world we live in hates goodness. Too much profit is made in the things of evil for the world to give up on evil and turn to goodness!

Jesus said that all Christians would be hated because we no longer belong in this world, our home is in Heaven. We are the aliens that this world spends so much money looking for!

Heaven is that world that cannot be seen by the greatest telescopes.

Heaven is that world that cannot be reached by the greatest of all spaceships.

Heaven is the world that can only be reached by and through the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Bible remains the bestselling, book in all the world and the Lord Jesus Christ the most hated of all persons in the world.

Today in America, we have a president who claims to be Christian. He is not hated because of what he has done. He is hated because he claims to be Christian along with his wife who also claims to be Christian.

This is what America has become. Our nation which was established upon Christian principles is being attacked by those who want an evil nation and want to be supplied with every evil thing to keep it that way.

This is why the Bible says these things would only get worse.

2Ti_3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Notice it is not because people are being told the truth, it is only because people are being deceived that all these things are happening!

This does not allow for change in the way of the Christian!

1Th_5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

The Lord also did not never say that to be a Christian would be easy.

*****Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

All those of the world are the same as those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because it was our Lord Jesus Christ who taught the real meaning of sin!

Jesus makes it really simple, this world loves its sin to much to give it up!

This world refuses to accept that there is a God and His name is Jehovah!

Those that reject that there is a God, named Jehovah, are all those who are of the world! They are those who are lost, and they are those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Even a blind man can see that this is true!

As Christians these must not be see as strange things that just happen, the Lord tells us all that these things will happen!

The Muslim hate the Christian because they are being deceived.

The Hindu hate the Christian because they are being deceived.

It is the same for all false religions and all those who twist the Word of God into a lie.

Once our Creator is understood then many more will come to Christ to be saved.

This is why it is so important that we not give in to any thing that challenges the Word of God in the Book of Genesis nor any other book of the Bible.

We have the truth, it is not up for discussion with those who reject the truth!

God is not some supreme grandfather, He is God even though He is a Loving God and a Just God!

We must understand that only by the "Grace" of God are we any better than those of this world.

We must also understand, that though we will one day meet the Lord "face to face" we will never be equal to our God.

*****Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

We may never understand Christian persecution, but we should see that it is a test of our character and an evidence of living as a Christian.

We have seen all over the world how Christians have gone to prison before they would deny the Lord.

We have seen all over the world of Christians who have been beheaded before they would deny the Lord.

What will we do when persecution comes our way? We need to ask ourselves this question because persecution could come our way at any time!

We must also understand that persecution is not some test that comes from God.

The world hates believers because they are convicted of their sin.

It is the "Gospel Message" that convicts this world of sin because sin cannot hide from righteousness.

Righteousness is doing things right according to the Word of God.

Joh 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

The world does all these things because the world rejects the true God!

*****Joh 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Joh 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

Joh 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

This world hates goodness and it shows more each day!

If the Lord had never come to this earth the world would have been happy to continue on until death and Hell just as it was in the days of Noah.

Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Gen 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

We are fools if we cannot see that the wickedness of man is growing again at a rapid pace.

The children of God again are turning toward the world!

Gen 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

Gen 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

God had promised that He would not send a flood to cover this entire world again and He gave us the "Rainbow" to remember this promise.

When God came to this world in the flesh of Jesus Christ with the message of salvation, He pointed out the sin of this world which would again lead to destruction this time by fire.

As the world hides behind race and poverty, the Lord says there are only two groups of people, the Church and the World.

We see so many of the Church are not as hated because they have become part of the world. The Church is sinking in the sea of the world and may not ever rise again!

We all have to work in the same places, enjoy the same things, and become friends to those who oppose the Lord.

There is still a great gulf that is growing between right and wrong, goodness and evil, and many are not willing to give up the things that the Lord hates.

There is no bridge to cover this division between the two.

There must be a complete separation.

2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2Co_6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

There is a growing hatred between these two groups.

The Lord Jesus Christ did many things just to prove that He is God and we live in a world that increasingly denies these things because they cannot disprove them!

*****Joh 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Many say they believe the Word of God, but they just cannot believe the Word of God is Divine even though it is!

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Jesus then said if we cannot believe that all the Word of God was sent from Heaven, then just believe the miracles that are recorded in the Word of God.

Many do believe that the Word of God is an accurate history of the time of Christ Jesus.

Joh 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

Joh 11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

Joh 9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

Joh 9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

These enemies of the Lord could not deny the miracles that were seen by so many people, yet many today, still say these things were impossible and that is the whole point.

The Lord Jesus Christ did the impossible, yet He is still denied. We live in a very foolish world!

There is truly no reason for this world to hate Jesus, but it does!

Joh 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Joh 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

Joh 5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

We can only deduce that this world we live in is truly ignorant!

It astounds me that our younger generation can believe the lies of the liberal politicians, who have never proven they hold to the truth, yet they can deny Jesus Christ.

Many in this world say they believe in a God but when they deny Jesus Christ, they have denied the only God that exist!

Many today talk of sin and ways to get to Heaven yet they deny the only means to do so!

The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin of "unbelief"!

Over and over many will say "I do not pretend to be a Christian and yet in their next breath they will say "But I do not hate God". How foolish are they who say such things!

Loving Jehovah is the key to salvation!

All those that say they love God but hate or deny Jesus Christ are certainly not trying to please the God they say they love!

Obedience is the first sign of love!

You want to see the face of anger, just mention the name Jesus in a crowd! Makes no sense at all!

Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

We must also understand some things of the Holy Spirit.

*****Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

We must clearly understand that our salvation can only happen by the work of the Holy Trinity, the Triune God!

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit! Not three Gods but one God in three persons!

Things we cannot deny:

1) God is three persons!

2) Each person is the same God with all the same characteristics and powers!

3) There is only one God!

Any group of religionist that deny the Triune God then are only cults and certainly not Christianity!

The Holy Spirit has a mission and that mission is to draw us closer to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

It was the Holy Spirit who caused the Apostles to remember all the things of Jesus Christ!

It was the Holy Spirit who gave miracle making powers to the Apostles!

It was the Holy Spirit that these Apostles the words to say when they were brought before the government!

It is the Holy Spirit who will teach us the deep things of God.

It is the Holy Spirit who travels with the Word of God to bring conviction to those who hear God's Word's!

It is the Holy Spirit that shows our ownership to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

It is impossible for the Holy Spirit to lead us anywhere except to the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is impossible for the true believer to not be endowed with the Holy Spirit!

It is the Holy Spirit that causes us to be a Temple for the Father and His Son to abide in upon this earth!

1Co_6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

It is the Holy Spirit who shows our ownership to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Lord Jesus Christ will present us to His Father!

When Pilate ask the Lord Jesus, "what is truth", Jesus Christ was and is Himself the Truth!

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the strength to overcome persecution!

Amen

Let's Pray!

Jesus Teaches Us How to Serve

Jesus Taught Us How To Serve

Book of John Chapter 13

If you are keeping up, then these things take place on Wednesday, where Thursday would begin at 6PM in the week that Jesus would be crucified.

The Disciples had been arguing about who should be the highest rank in the government that Jesus would set up and they did not even realize that this was far into the future in the time of the Millennial Kingdom.

We can just imagine how Jesus felt for He had just a few days left to teach them, and they were bickering about things they did not yet understand.

Just like most all of us, these men were still yearning for ambition, power, and authority and they were to begin the Church by first laying all these things aside as meaningless.

We should be able to see just how important it was when Jesus washed the feet of these men.

They still had to be humbled so they could serve the Lord!

This is a great lesson for us all.

Mar_9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

2Ti_2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

Then Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, taught these disciples a very valuable lesson.

*****Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

These things could have taken place in the "Upper Room" where many important events took place even though some say these things took place in the house of Simon the Leper.

These things took place just before the last Passover that Jesus would take part in, because the Lord Jesus Christ is our Passover!

The most important thing on the mind of Christ was that He was going home and 11 of these men would continue in the ministry of the church, once they were filled with the God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was departing but these men would continue to be exposed to this evil world.

The last great lesson they needed to know was a lesson in humility.

Jesus had chosen these men with a purpose that only He knew, even Judas who would betray Him, had a purpose and the Lord knew this even when He chose him.

The Lord did not even set Judas apart at this time but loved him till the end.

When Judas betrayed the Lord, he could never lay the blame on the Master.

Jesus would depart out of this world because there is the world where He lives, a far better world.

Jesus loved His own. His own are not just those disciples but all those who believed upon Him in all generations.

Remember God is self-existing in a place of no time but in eternity.

We should also understand that until the exact hour, the enemies of the Lord could only plan, for they could not lay hands upon Him until it was His time!

Jesus knew these 11 men would not realize the importance to their ministry until the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit would come upon them.

Even as these things were going on, the Devil was working on Judas.

Judas wanted a King and not some man who was going to die and he could never grasp what Jesus was saying until after he had betrayed Him, and he still could not find it in his heart to repent.

*****Joh 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

Joh 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

We should understand that Satan did everything possible to keep Jesus off the cross.

When Satan was defeated, he then began to try to destroy the Church, and now Satan is trying his best to cause harm to every believer!

We should not be deceived, this was not the time of the "Lord's Supper" nor the Passover meal, this was just Jesus gathering the 12 for some last-minute teaching.

Jesus knew His hour had come. What had Jesus been doing?

Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

This is the same thing these disciples were trained to do, and it is the same things that that every Christian is to do. We are to do God's Will every day.

Jesus had loved His own.

Joh 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Jesus gave all disciples the command to continue in His love as He had the Father's love.

Knowing the enemy.

Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

We must realize that as soon as we give the Word of God to some stranger or even some family member, Satan is ready to discredit the Word of God.

Knowing all these things should increase our faith and it should show in what things God has given us to do.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

It would be many days before these men, who would shake-up this world, would realize the purpose behind what the God of Heaven had done when He washed their feet.

*****Joh 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

Joh 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

If we think we are being the greatest of all God's servants, then we need to understand what Jesus has done in this passage!

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Luk 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

The Lord our God promises to do this again to certain believers. Are you one?

Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

There was always a large basin made available for this service and it was the job of the lowest slave in the house or the lowest servant.

It was the Lord of Lords and King of Kings who washed the feet of these 12 disciples. Judas had not yet gone his way to betray the Lord so even his feet were washed.

The Lord knew this, but He still washed the feet of Judas.

Even while Jesus did these things, He knew God the Father had given Him all power to do as He so chose to do and the first thing He chose to do, was to wash the feet of 11 disciples and 1 traitor.

Allow that to sink in for a moment!

For a few moments in our time the Lord and Master of all things chose to become a slave!

There is a real dignity in humbling ourselves to meet the need of others!

But then comes Peter.

*****Joh 13:6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Joh 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

We should understand that until we are cleansed by Jesus, we are still a dirty rotten sinner.

Once we are washed by Jesus then we need only to be cleansed from our daily walk in this evil world.

Jesus has no sin Himself but as long as we are in this world, we are still in the flesh of a sinner who needs to repent every day!

If we are not a part of Christ, then we can never serve Him!

Peter loved the Lord, but he did not understand what He was doing.

Peter felt it was just too humiliating a task for Jesus to wash his feet, but it was also a very humiliating thing for the Lord to humble Himself and go to the cross for our sin not His, He had no sin!

We should understand that if Jesus could wash the feet of Judas, we should see the love the Lord has for the believer but also His enemies!

When Peter spoke up, he was telling Jesus that He did not know what He was doing and of course Peter was wrong again.

We can be sure the other disciples were just as astonished as Peter but were not about to speak up for they were not as bold and would allow Peter to speak for them all at times.

The boldness of Peter was a trait that the Lord would take advantage of after Pentecost but for now Peter just needed to watch and learn.

The lesson for us all is that we may have to humble ourselves to the work of Jesus, but with all our heart we are to submit to the will of our Father in Heaven.

We must submit to the will of Lord, to be Christian!

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

A study of the Words of Jesus is a great study, but we will not understand everything that Jesus did until our "faith" leads us to the truth and we are filled with the Holy Spirit who does know all the things of Jesus Christ and He will explain these things as it becomes necessary!

We should see that everything that Jesus did was an example of the things that we must do, to be disciples.

Joh_8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

*****Joh 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Joh 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

Joh 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

To be saved is to be washed completely by the Blood of Jesus.

To be regenerated is to be washed by the Holy Spirit.

To be a servant is to be washed completely in the Word of God.

We cannot hold back any part of our body in this process but once this has taken place, then we need only wash away the filth of this world as we travel in it, day to day!

Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Psa 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Psa 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

The reason Jesus said that not all were clean was because Judas was still in the room and as we know Judas had sin in His heart!

The other disciples did not know this at this time, but the Lord certainly knew.

The Lord knew, and He had always known from the day He had chosen Him to show us whosoever will can be saved.

Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Our life is about choices and it was Judas who chose not to believe.

Act 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

Act 1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

John wrote in another place.

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

So now Jesus says to them all, including Judas:

*****Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Notice Jesus asked them, but Jesus did not wait on an answer, Jesus gave the answer that He was expecting!

If we recognize Jesus as Master,(Rabbi) which means the Master teacher then we are to believe what He says.

It seems that many a church of today has forgotten this.

If this is not enough then we know that Jesus is our Lord which means we must obey the things He tells us or commands us.

Again many of the churches of today have rejected this for their own laws.

We must learn the lessons taught by the Lord who is our ALL!

Again when Jesus says, "I Am", He is saying that He is Jehovah, YAHWEY or YHWH!

We must never doubt that Jesus is the Messiah, Emmanuel, God come down from Heaven in the flesh!

We are never to address the Lord Jesus without showing respect. The Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior, but He is still the Almighty God!

Act 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Act 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Above all it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our true example! To be like Christ is to be Christian.

How much do we all fail in being like the Lord!

*****Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Over and over the Lord Jesus has taught us this lesson:

Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

Luk 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We know that God does not like to repeat Himself and He should not have to but to be Christian is to do the things that the Lord Jesus did!

We are foolish to rebel against the Word of God.

We are foolish to put our man-made words above the Word of God, like the Pharisee and these Hard-Line Jews.

This also is a lesson we are to learn!

We exist to serve the Lord Jesus Christ!

We are to administer to the Spiritual needs of others but also to their physical needs when we are able.

And as Jesus says, when we know all these things, we should be happy to do them.

We should feel the joy of knowing we are following the example of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Nothing makes our Father in Heaven happier than following in the ways of His Son with the fruit of the Holy Spirit!

Just knowing the truth is not nearly enough, we must also walk the talk!

What did the Prophet Jeremiah say?

Jer 15:15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

We are not serving the Lord until we do as He did!

When we do not do the things of Jesus, then we have become a Judas!

Let that sink in!

*****Joh 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Rock that is the foundation of the Church, so in reality Judas would soon commit treason against the Church.

TREACHERY is a violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence.

This why the Holy Spirit causes us to remember another Psalm.

Psa 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

We have talk about God placing someone into the future as the woman at the well and the blind man that was blind since birth who had recently become 30 years old.

We see now that Judas was also someone that God had placed into the future to be as an unruly horse who would try to kick the one who fed him.

The betraying of Christ was not accidental, or a thing that happened by chance it was Satan confusing the mind of someone close to Jesus Christ.

It was the Father who ordained the cause of our salvation, to reconcile us unto himself in his Son, and the Son willingly and voluntarily obeyed the Father.

If we have not seen by now, every step that Jesus took from the day of His birth had been planned by Him before we hear those words "In the beginning God".

The Lord washed the feet of Judas, but Judas could not be cleansed by the washing because he had on him the filth of Satan the deceiver and had no faith.

Satan cannot be cleansed but all those under his influence still can if they will call upon the Lord with a true heart!

The title of our lesson is "Jesus Taught Us How to Serve" and He did, but He also taught us that some of our enemies could be those that we trust the most!

Amen

Let's Pray!