One of the last things that Jesus spoke to his disciples,
was a warning
and a promise.
Jesus is just hours away from going to the cross
and he knows this is the last classroom experience
so to speak with his 12 disciples.
And he knows exactly what's ahead
for each and every one of them.
He knows that one of his disciples
is going to fall into unbelief
and even end his own life.
He knows another disciple is going
to be exiled on a remote island and just left for dead.
He knows the other 10 are going to be tortured
and die in excruciatingly painful ways
and so he knows this is his last time,
last chance to really speak into them
and to fuel them for what's ahead.
And so Jesus speaks a promise.
But before that,
a big warning
because he knows what's coming.
And he says this.
Jesus said to those disciples,
something that echoed through their hearts
into ours right now.
"In this world,
you will have trouble.
But take heart!
I have overcome the world."
These words have encouraged millions of Christians
in their last moments before they died.
Dying for their faith,
being intentionally killed because simply,
they love who you love.
They value what you value.
They were killed simply because they love Christ.
And you might think, well, that was back then.
You know, that was, that's in church history,
that's in the history of the world, you know,
Nero and Diocletian and these different people
that killed mass amounts of Christians.
That was, that was back then.
Well, it's today.
It's today.
You know what's happening to your brothers and sisters in the faith?
You know that in 2016, about every six minutes
a Christian was murdered
for loving Jesus?
That's about 90,000 Christians who were taken
from this planet in death simply because
they value what you value, they love who you love.
And those words,
that warning with a promise,
is what they needed to hold on to,
to give them encouragement.
It's coming.
It's already here. And the world
that we live in, you can do all
these different things, have conviction
in how you live your faith and say to others,
"Well, I'm just not comfortable with that."
All these things we talked about this week,
you can do all those steps and still
there are going to be times when you just get attacked,
and you get persecuted.
Remember these words.
And remember this truth:
that Jesus gave that warning,
in this world you will
have trouble.
This world is broken and sin reigns and rules here.
And so sometimes you're going to be
that collateral damage of just sin being in this world.
And it's not that God has forgotten you,
God is going to get you through it.
And so He gives you a promise.
A promise that you and I so desperately need.
When Jesus looks into your soul
and looks into your heart
and says,
"Take heart.
"Have courage no matter what you're facing.
"Have courage for I have overcome the world."
Jesus is your shield.
He is your very great reward no matter what you are facing.
Jesus is that good shepherd who knows your voice
and listens to your voice. The Good Shepherd,
who has pushed away and kept away
that prowling lion looking to devour your flesh
for an eternity.
And Jesus will not stop.
He's never stopped.
He's always loved you.
And through that love, through that grace,
He's going to take you to be with Him in heaven.
So no matter what you face,
no matter what is in front of you,
know that God has never left you.
Know that God dearly, passionately loves you.
And take heart
for God has overtaken the world.
Which means
they'll take you from this world
to be with him in heaven.
Thank you Jesus for that strength.
Bring it on devil.
We got Christ.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you so much for hanging out with me this week,
as we've gained encouragement on how to
live our faith in a bold way inside this world.
I'm curious what of the encouragements I gave you this week
has really resonated with you.
What have you already put into practice
and has really touched your heart?
Could you leave that in the comments below?
And then let's do this.
Let's pray.
Let's pray for all of us to be bold inside this world.
Lord Jesus give us confidence, give us strength
and no matter what we face, you are always there.
You're Lord,
you're our God,
you're our Savior.
And you never fail.
Give us confidence, give us peace and that truth.
Amen.