May 14, 2023 Lord’s Day Service

The Inevitable Persecution of the Church

(Matthew 10:16-23)

Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim

God
is spirit.
He
appeared to people who have flesh
so He could become their Lord,
but the world did not know Him (Jn 4:23-24).
Because the world grew from chaotic ground, it has no harmony,
and since everyone excludes each other,
they eat and are eaten (Gen 4:4-12).
The world is where only those who are always strong can survive.
However, even these are punished by One who is stronger (Heb 9:27).
Since we do not belong to the world,
the world hates us,
and since we belong only to God,
they fail to acknowledge believers like they fail to
acknowledge God (1 Jn 4:5-6).
Religion belongs to the world, so the world welcomes it,
but as the Church of Jesus does not belong to the world,
the world hates it (Jn 8:23).
Therefore,
we must behave wisely by God’s wisdom (Mt 10:16).
The Church does not fight with the government.
Because our bodies are subject to the government,
they follow its rules (Rom 13:1-4).
Because the spirit belongs to heaven, it follows heaven (Jn 3:3-8).
Give to God what is God’s
and give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.

◎ No persecutions is not considered a blessing.
Blessings are given along with persecutions.

◎ The history of Jesus’ Church is a trail of blood.
Our greatest hope is to be martyred.
A martyr will participate in the first resurrection.

◎ There will be a crown of righteousness and crown of life
if you are beheaded because of the Gospel of Jesus.
We are running to receive a crown.

※ Do not be afraid or worried about persecutions.
Since Jesus was persecuted and shed blood,
we should also endure again and again until we shed blood.