Tuesday, 28th June, 2022
By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 10:22 KJV)
When you study a story in Matthew 17:24-27, you will discover that when some Jewish officials came to harass Peter about taxes, they did not ask him about his own taxes. Rather, they said, “…Doth not your master pay tribute?” (Matthew 17:24). In other words, “Doesn’t your Master pay taxes?” They overlooked Peter and focused instead on the Master.
It has always been that way: it is all about our Master. The world hates us, not because of who we are, but because of who we represent – Jesus Christ. They will hate you for your faith in Him. No matter how good you are, how helpful you are, how kind you are, how successful you are; it will not make any difference to them because you are associated with Jesus Christ.
The hatred of Satan for Jesus is called the spirit of the world. The world hates Jesus. Many individuals who do not even know Jesus enough still hate Him, and you wonder why. How can they hate someone they do not even know? It is because of the spirit of the world. It has captured a lot of people in the world, and it moves them in a way that makes them think about the Master with hatred.
They want religion, they want to pray, they want to believe in something, but when you tell them about Jesus, they reject Him vehemently. A man named Simeon said that this Jesus is “set for a sign that shall be spoken against” (Luke 2:34).
There are people now who claim that when we say Jesus is the only way, it is “hate speech.” They are construing many of the things we say as hate speech thereby laying the foundation for a massive persecution of Christians in the last days.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:25, “…If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” When you are persecuted, always remember that you were sent, not in your own name, but in the Name of Jesus. Therefore, the Lord Himself shall be your defence, and reward.
PRAYER/CONFESSION
"I am Christ’s ambassador, the bearer of news of His saving power. I am steadfast, undaunted, always abounding in the work of the Lord, irrespective of the distress or persecution in this world. I triumph gloriously in Him always, boldly proclaiming the righteousness and blessedness of Christ and His saving power to the ends of the earth. Amen!"
FURTHER STUDY:
John 15:18-21; Luke 2:34; Matthew 10:24-25 (NIV)
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Acts 13:13-52 & Nehemiah 9-10
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
2 Corinthians 10:1-7 & Isaiah 17
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