Don’t Forsake Him
Scripture: Matthew 26:33-35Devotional Series: Preparing for Persecution
Teaching: Preparing For Persecution pt. 3 (SUN_AM 2021-04-18) by Pastor Star R Scott
Persecution is coming, mostly based upon our association, our fellowship, our acknowledging of and promotion of the lordship of Jesus Christ. This world hates Jesus. Just bring up His name and watch the people’s reaction. Then, go beyond mentioning His name and say, “By the way, there is no other name given whereby men can be saved but the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:12). Then, also mention, and the day is coming when “every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess” that He is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father (Romans 14:11). He said, “They have persecuted Me, they’re going to persecute you. They hated Me; they’re going to hate you” (John 15:19-20).
It’s just the natural consequence of our fellowship with Him. Not just our words but the fruit of our lives, who we are, how we conduct ourselves. It’s amazing, in the world’s system today, the heroes are the cheaters and the liars. And those that can manipulate themselves into positions of power or wealth. The advancement of self. In the kingdom in which you and I live, the way you advance is by humbling yourself. The greatest among us is “servant of all” (Mark 10:44). So, we live in constant conflict with the world’s system. Because “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). But “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). Two kingdoms in conflict. We are not of this world. To be “a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). We can’t walk side by side with these people. There’s conflict. We live our lives in total conflict. And I’m not meaning you stand every day and get in some kind of an argument with somebody at work. I’m talking about the fact that we are light. We are “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). And the world prefers darkness “because their deeds are evil” (John 3:19). Just be who you are and it brings conviction to people. Be diligent to show up to work on time and it brings conflict. Go the extra mile and people are wondering what you’re doing. Now, they’re doing it to serve their god and the corporation and looking for advancement. But they don’t understand how we’re doing it for Somebody else. We’re doing it to represent Jesus, our Lord and our Master. Everything we do, the Scripture says, we do as unto Him (Colossians 3:23). We’re not trying to get the praise of the corporation. We’re trying to bring honor to God. We’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do. And it brings glory to God. Let men “see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
So, here we are in this conflict and in the midst of it this warfare that’s going on. There’s a need in the hour we’re coming into, the need to be filled with Holy Spirit and receive power to be witnesses unto Him. The church, prior to being filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was bringing to their understanding as He was instructing them and He said, “Now, listen, the time is coming when all of you are going to forsake Me” (Matthew 26:31). Can you imagine if the Lord stood before us here and said, “I just want you all to know something. The time’s coming real soon and you’re all going to forsake Me.” Would that break your heart? There are many different reactions to that that would probably occur. Some of us would wonder, “What is He saying? How is this going to happen?” Some of us, like Peter, would rise up and say, “Not so, Lord” (verse 35). Peter went so far as to tell Him, “Listen, even the threat upon my life could never cause me to forsake You.” And he falls before the intimidation of a little young maiden. “Aren’t you one of those from Galilee?” (verse 69). And he cursed and said, “I do not know the man. I’m not one of them,” (verses 72 and 74). While Jesus was being tormented, he was warming himself at the fire. The Scripture tells us that every one of them “forsook Him” (verse 56). And we’re coming into an hour when I believe the Holy Spirit is saying to you and I, what He said to them in Gethsemane: it’s time to “watch and pray” (verse 41). That you don’t enter into the temptation, the seduction of the world with all of its lusts, intimidations and threats.
It’s just the natural consequence of our fellowship with Him. Not just our words but the fruit of our lives, who we are, how we conduct ourselves. It’s amazing, in the world’s system today, the heroes are the cheaters and the liars. And those that can manipulate themselves into positions of power or wealth. The advancement of self. In the kingdom in which you and I live, the way you advance is by humbling yourself. The greatest among us is “servant of all” (Mark 10:44). So, we live in constant conflict with the world’s system. Because “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). But “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). Two kingdoms in conflict. We are not of this world. To be “a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). We can’t walk side by side with these people. There’s conflict. We live our lives in total conflict. And I’m not meaning you stand every day and get in some kind of an argument with somebody at work. I’m talking about the fact that we are light. We are “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). And the world prefers darkness “because their deeds are evil” (John 3:19). Just be who you are and it brings conviction to people. Be diligent to show up to work on time and it brings conflict. Go the extra mile and people are wondering what you’re doing. Now, they’re doing it to serve their god and the corporation and looking for advancement. But they don’t understand how we’re doing it for Somebody else. We’re doing it to represent Jesus, our Lord and our Master. Everything we do, the Scripture says, we do as unto Him (Colossians 3:23). We’re not trying to get the praise of the corporation. We’re trying to bring honor to God. We’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do. And it brings glory to God. Let men “see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
So, here we are in this conflict and in the midst of it this warfare that’s going on. There’s a need in the hour we’re coming into, the need to be filled with Holy Spirit and receive power to be witnesses unto Him. The church, prior to being filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was bringing to their understanding as He was instructing them and He said, “Now, listen, the time is coming when all of you are going to forsake Me” (Matthew 26:31). Can you imagine if the Lord stood before us here and said, “I just want you all to know something. The time’s coming real soon and you’re all going to forsake Me.” Would that break your heart? There are many different reactions to that that would probably occur. Some of us would wonder, “What is He saying? How is this going to happen?” Some of us, like Peter, would rise up and say, “Not so, Lord” (verse 35). Peter went so far as to tell Him, “Listen, even the threat upon my life could never cause me to forsake You.” And he falls before the intimidation of a little young maiden. “Aren’t you one of those from Galilee?” (verse 69). And he cursed and said, “I do not know the man. I’m not one of them,” (verses 72 and 74). While Jesus was being tormented, he was warming himself at the fire. The Scripture tells us that every one of them “forsook Him” (verse 56). And we’re coming into an hour when I believe the Holy Spirit is saying to you and I, what He said to them in Gethsemane: it’s time to “watch and pray” (verse 41). That you don’t enter into the temptation, the seduction of the world with all of its lusts, intimidations and threats.