Our message series is called “Doing What Jesus Did.” To be a follower of Jesus is to say and do the same things that Jesus did. We’ve learned from the gospel of Luke that Jesus did three main things. He preached the gospel of the kingdom, He healed the sick and He cast out demons.
Not only did Jesus do these three things, He trained His disciples to do the same things. In Jesus’ ministry vast crowds gathered to hear him preach and be healed and delivered. Yet everyone did not follow him or believe in him. As Jesus’ ministry continued to grow, the opposition to Jesus began to grow as well.
Today, we’re going to study some of the opposition to Jesus’ ministry. As we do, we recognize that we also are going to face opposition in life. My message today is entitled “Winning the Three Battles of Life.” If you’re a believer, a follower of Jesus, you are in a battle. Your battle is with the power of darkness that engages you in three areas. To follow Jesus does not exempt us from life’s battles, rather it increases them.
John 15:19 (ESV) If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples at the time and to us as disciples today. If you’re a believer, then the world hates you. Who is the world? The world is the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan. The members of the kingdom of darkness are evil spiritual beings called demons. And the members of the kingdom of darkness are also all unbelievers. You see, every spiritual being and every human being is either a member of the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light that is the kingdom of God.
John 15:20 (ESV) Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Not only will the followers of Jesus be attached by evil spirits, they will be persecuted by unbelievers. Just as Jesus was. The attacks of the kingdom of darkness have two aims. The first aim is to simply silence you, to stop you from being a witness. If the dark kingdom cannot silence you, it will attempt to destroy you.
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV) Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Those who are living a godly life for Jesus will be persecuted. Let’s put that another way. If you’re not being persecuted, you aren’t living a godly life. That’s why Jesus elsewhere tells us to rejoice when we’re persecuted. Because we’re doing something right, so important that we’ve got the devil’s attention.
Unfortunately today in America, the kingdom of darkness has done a pretty good job at silencing believers and the church. Not by the threat of imprisonment, harsh fines or torture. But simply through the fear of what others may think of us. God wants that to change for everyone listening to this message.
Proverbs 28:1 (ESV) The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
God wants us to overcome fear and be bold as lions in the face of opposition. Today, we’re going to learn more about being overcomers in the three battles of life. To begin with, we need to …