INTRODUCTION:

King Jesus has come:

• Foretold by the Prophets

• Announced by Angels

• Worshipped by kings

King Jesus has authority:

• Over Religion

• Over Tradition

• Over Sickness

• Over the Natural

• Over the Supernatural

• Over Life & Death

King Jesus sends messengers:

• To proclaim the kingdom

• To heal the sick

• To stand against death

• To invite the despised, helpless and broken

King Jesus will be rejected:

• Blasphemer

• Beelzebul

• Crucify him

SHEEP AMONG WOLVES:

Who are the wolves?

• beware of men…

How do they operate?

• Religion (v.17)

• Government (v.18)

• Family (v.21)

Why do they hate you? (v.18; 22; 25)

• for my name’s sake

THE HATRED OF THE WORLD:

• There is a God and it is not you.

• There is a standard and you do not meet it.

• There is truth and you don’t get to define it.

• There is a King and you must bow to him.

WORLDWIDE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS:

• Jewish Persecution

• Roman Persecution

• Mohammed 7th Century

• Ottoman Empire 16th Century

• French Revolution

• Chinese Government - 17th Century

• Imperial Japan

• Russian Revolution

• Mao

• Stalin

• 70 million Christians killed for their faith since AD 33

• 35 million Christians murdered in the 20th Century

• 1.6 million Christians murdered from 2001 to 2010

• 900,000 Christians murdered from 2011-2020

2019

• 2983 Christians killed for their faith

• 3711 imprisoned without trial

• 9488 churches attacked

2022

• 5621 murdered

• 4542 imprisoned without trial

• 2110 churches attacked

Today Christians are the most persecuted group of people on the planet!

260 million live in countries where persecution is normal

5 Most Hostile Countries in the World:

• North Korea

• Afghanistan

• Somalia

• Lybia

• Pakistan

PERSECUTION IN ETHIOPIA:

WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

• Be wise

• Be innocent

• Be watchful

• Be trusting

• Persevere

• Flee

• PRAY

CG Questions:

1. What were your takeaways from the sermon?

2. What is Jesus’ advice to disciples in a hostile world?

3. How did the teaching on persecution strike you?

4. Have you experienced persecution for the sake of Jesus?

5. Pray

• for each other - for boldness

• for the persecuted church