Matthew 10:1623

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Matthew 1016-23

• Persecution Faced by Christians

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W, W, W, W, H

• Who Jesus and His newly commissioned disciples
• What Warnings and Exhortations
• When Directly after the disciples
  commissioning
• Where In the region of Galilee (91,35)
• How Jesus authority and foresight

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The disciples and the Lords people are compared
to sheep

• Jeremiah 506"My people have become lost sheep
  Their shepherds have led them astray They have
  made them turn aside on the mountainsThey have
  gone along from mountain to hill. And have
  forgotten their resting place.
• Ezekiel 3412" As a shepherd cares for his herd
  in the day when he is among his scattered sheep,
  so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them
  from all the places to which they were scattered
  on a cloudy and gloomy day.
• Matthew 2532"All the nations will be gathered
  before Him and He will separate them from one
  another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from
  the goats

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Wolves are compared to false prophets, and
contrasted directly with sheep
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Snakes Doves are used as other comparisons

• In most Scriptural contexts, serpents or snakes
  are caste in a negative light (Garden of Eden, as
  judgement in Numbers, Satan is called one in
  Revelation)
• Here only their shrewdness seems desirable
• Doves represent holiness, innocence (they were
  sacrificed, the Holy Spirit is compared to a dove)

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Gods People, Israel were prophesied to be
scattered in several Old Testament passages.
Jesus tells the disciples that these prophesies
will soon be fulfilled.

• Zechariah 137"Awake, O sword, against My
  Shepherd,And against the man, My
  Associate,"Declares the LORD of hosts " Strike
  the Shepherd that the sheep may be scatteredAnd
  I will turn My hand against the little ones.
• Matthew 2631Then Jesus said to them, "You will
  all fall away because of Me this night, for it is
  written, ' I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND
  THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.
• Mark 1427And Jesus said to them, "You will all
  fall away, because it is written, ' I WILL STRIKE
  DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE
  SCATTERED.'

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Jesus prophesied that His disciples would be
persecuted

• Verses 17-19 are proved in the later persecution
  of the church, Jesus Himself, and Paul
• Jesus was taken to the synagogue, where He was
  spat upon, hit, and slapped (Matthew 2657,67)
• He was then taken to Pilate, the governor
  (Matthew 272)
• He was also taken to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch
  or Galilee and Peraea (the son of Herod the
  Great, who had wanted to kill Jesus. Antipas was
  also who had John the Baptist beheaded Luke
  237)

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Persecution in the life of Paul

• Paul was brought before the governor Felix, then
  his successor, Festus, was persecuted by the
  Jews, and eventually brought before King Agrippa
  (great grandson of Herod the Great Acts 24-26)
• Paul was sustained by God through his journey to
  Caesar, being spared from shipwreck and snakebite
  (Acts 27 28)
• He was visited by an angel who reassured him he
  would be safe see Caesar (Acts 2722-24)

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In spite of persecution, we can trust that God
will give us even the words to say

• The Lord not only gives us a hope, He will
  actually make sure His will is accomplished!
• Just as the Lord sent an angel to give Paul
  reassurance, He will make His will come to pass!
• He has given us His perfect, Holy Spirit to
  guide, protect, and accomplish His will.

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There are those that are being persecuted everyday

• Example Khalid Saad
• Khalid became a Christian in Jordan in 2002
• When he became a Christian, he was fired and
  thrown out of his familys house
• He was excited to celebrate Christmas, and was on
  a way to see friends when his car was shot 12
  times
• Later, he found out that his persecutors were
  members of his own family!
• His story is on Voice of the Martyrs

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As Israel is scattered, the apostles mission to
evangelism will not end until Jesus return.

• Numerous verses in the Old and New Testament talk
  about the dispersion of Israel
• Even in Matthew 106, Jesus tells the apostles to
  go to the lost sheep of Israel.
• In fact, Israels refusal of the Savior allowed
  for us, as Gentiles to be grafted in to the
  family of God

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Group Break-out

• Nate
• Read Acts 121-6.
• What did it cost James and Peter to follow the
  Lord?
• How did the Lord help Peter?
• Could you endure the same things as Peter?
• Drew
• Read Acts 754-60
• What did it cost Stephen to follow the Lord?
• What assurance did God give Him?
• Could you give your life up for God?
• Rick
• Read Revelation 19
• Where was John?
• Why was he there?
• Read Revelation 2212
• What assurance did God give to John?
• Could you endure Johns situation?