The Christian life is not a bed of roses, and it never has been. Jesus made it clear that persecution should be expected – that because people hated Jesus, they would hate his followers.
You will be hated by all nations because of my name, he said. Matthew 24:9
According to Open Doors Ministry (*2020 World Watch List reporting period):
Over 260 million Christians living in places where they experience high levels of persecution
2,983 Christians killed for their faith
9,488 churches and other Christian buildings attacked.
3,711 believers detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned
As we worship, let’s open up our hearts to the suffering that Christians all over the world are encountering, and at the same time allow our hearts to be prepared for whatever persecution God may have for us in the future.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:3–11
A Mighty Fortress
Words and Music by Martin Luther (1529)
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper he, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Does seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
From age to age the same;
And he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God has willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers
No thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever!
Prayer
Lord, if you had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, we would have been swallowed alive, the flood would have engulfed us, the raging waters would have swept us away. Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Bless this time in your presence, as your gathered people. Prepare us for days ahead. Enlarge our faith, solidify our trust, replenish our hope, and energize our love. In Christ’s name we ask this expectantly. Amen. (by Walt Harrah)
LEADER:
We have this treasure in jars of clay
to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
CONGREGATIONAL:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
LEADER:
perplexed, but not in despair;
CONGREGATIONAL:
persecuted, but not abandoned;
LEADER:
struck down, but not destroyed.
CONGREGATIONAL:
All this is for your benefit,
so that the grace that is reaching more and more people
may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
LEADER:
Therefore we do not lose heart.
CONGREGATIONAL:
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
LEADER:
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for
us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
CONGREGATIONAL:
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
LEADER:
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:7–18
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
Words and Music by Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson & Michael Farren
© 2018 CityAlight Music, Farren Love And War Publishing, Integrity's Alleluia! Music
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to his
Oh how strange and divine I can sing all is mine
Yet not I but through Christ in me
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side the Savior he will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need his power is displayed
To this I hold my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley he will lead
Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
Yet not I but through Christ in me
No fate I dread I know I am forgiven
The future sure the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And he was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released I can sing I am free
Yet not I but through Christ in me
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For he has said that he will bring me home
And day by day I know he will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to him
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian famous for his stand against Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. His beliefs and convictions ultimately cost him his life in a Nazi concentration camp. He remains one of the most well known theologians and martyrs of the 20th century.
While in prison an official pastor of Tegel prison asked Bonhoeffer to write some prayers that he could pass around to the other prisoners. The following is one of those prayers. Let’s pray….
O God, early in the morning do I cry unto thee.
Help me to pray, and to think only of thee.
I cannot pray alone.
In me there is darkness, but with thee there is light.
I am lonely, but thou leavest me not.
I am feeble in heart, but thou leavest me not.
I am restless, but with thee there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with thee there is patience.
Thy ways are past understanding, but Thou knowest the way for me.
Be Still My Soul
Words by Kathrina von Schlegel; Tr. Jane Borthwick (1855); Music by Jean Sibelius, FINLANDIA (1899)
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shall you better know his love, his heart,
Who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.
Be still, my soul: your Jesus can repay
From his own fullness all he takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
A young woman named Perpetua stood firm in her faith in the year AD 203 in Carthage, North Africa. Because she kept a diary, we know much about her ordeal. This story is based on her diary.
"I Am a Christian" It was simple, really. All I had to do to get out of prison was to offer a small sacrifice of incense to the pagan gods. Just a pinch of incense to honor the emperor Septimus and I would walk free.
The dark dungeon prison was a far cry from my comfortable Roman-style home. The heat and stench were nearly unbearable. Hunger overtook my body, but God sustained me and the other prisoners who were Christians. We cried out to God for relief, and took great comfort in prayer and song and in speaking God's Word. God even gave us visions and dreams that encouraged us in our journey. True relief came my way one special day, when my infant son was allowed to come and stay with me. I felt the prison had suddenly become like a palace! I no longer minded the horrible smell or the oppressive heat -- I had my sweet little baby to hold and to care for. I fed him and held him and sang to him our songs of faith. Night and day I prayed for him, trusting God for his future.
My stomach wrenched in pain as I thought of my family and my own sweet son. But no matter what, I could not dishonor my Savior. I tried to comfort my father. "Whatever God wants to happen to me will happen. My strength doesn't come from myself, it comes from God."
Finally, the sentence was handed down. I was condemned to the arena and the wild beasts. I would be called upon to give my life for Jesus, just as He gave His life for me. I knew He would strengthen me for what I must do.
The other Christians were also sentenced to death. In our final days together, we prayed, sang and encouraged one another. We even celebrated the Lord's Supper on our last evening. God gave us the strength we needed to stand firm in our beliefs. We rejoiced knowing that our struggle would soon be over and we would be together in the presence of our Savior!
Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2–4
For the Cause
Words and Music by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend
© 2016 Getty Music Publishing and Townend Songs
For the cause of Christ the King
We give our lives, an offering
’Til all the earth resounds
With ceaseless praise to the Son
For the cause of Christ we go
With joy to reap, with faith to sow
As many see and many put their trust in the Son
Christ we proclaim,
The Name above every name:
For all creation, ev’ry nation,
God’s salvation through the Son!
For the King once lifted high
To cries of rage, of ‘crucify!’
Endured the cross as every sin was laid on the Son
To the King who conquered death
To free the poor and the oppressed
For lasting peace
For life and liberty in the Son
Let it be my life’s refrain:
To live is Christ, to die is gain;
Deny myself, take up my cross
And follow the Son
Offering Prayer
Offertory:
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus (instrumental)Tune: Traditional Indian Tune, ASSAM
Prayer of Illumination
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
Sermon
The Lord’s Supper
[instrumental music played or congregational singing]
The Mystery of the Faith
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again!
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
Words: Anonymous; Music: Traditional Indian Tune, ASSAM
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Benediction
(based on Romans 8:15–17)
As we go from here, remember this:
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have not received a spirit of fear, but one of hope and confidence. For we are children of God, members of God’s own family, and heirs with Jesus Christ himself.
So go out with joy to love and serve the Lord.