Participants:
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC201033
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00:01 >>BILL: DURING CHINA'S BOXER REBELLION OF 1900,
00:02 INSURGENTS CAPTURED A MISSION STATION, BLOCKED 00:05 ALL THE GATES BUT ONE, AND IN FRONT OF THAT ONE GATE 00:09 PLACED A CROSS FLAT ON THE GROUND. THEN THE WORD 00:10 WAS PASSED TO THOSE INSIDE THAT ANY WHO TRAMPLED THE 00:15 CROSS UNDERFOOT WOULD BE PERMITTED THEIR FREEDOM 00:18 AND LIFE, BUT THAT ANY REFUSING WOULD BE SHOT. 00:19 TERRIBLY FRIGHTENED, THE FIRST SEVEN STUDENTS 00:27 TRAMPLED THE CROSS UNDER THEIR FEET AND WERE 00:31 ALLOWED TO GO FREE. BUT THE EIGHTH STUDENT, A 00:32 YOUNG GIRL, REFUSED TO COMMIT THE SACRILEGIOUS 00:36 ACT. KNEELING BESIDE THE CROSS IN PRAYER FOR 00:41 STRENGTH, SHE AROSE AND MOVED CAREFULLY AROUND 00:42 THE CROSS, AND WENT OUT TO FACE THE FIRING SQUAD. 00:47 STRENGTHENED BY HER EXAMPLE, EVERY ONE OF THE 00:51 REMAINING NINETY-TWO STUDENTS FOLLOWED HER 00:52 TO THE FIRING SQUAD. 01:02 (MUSIC) 01:08 >>ANNOUNCER: IT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME 01:11 GOD'S BOOK THE BIBLE 01:14 STILL RELEVANT IN TODAY'S COMPLEX WORLD. 01:19 IT IS WRITTEN. 01:21 SHARING MESSAGES OF HOPE AROUND THE WORLD. 01:27 (MUSIC) 01:38 MATTHEW 5: 10 SAYS: "BLESSED ARE THEY WHO 01:39 ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE; FOR 01:44 THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN." HE WHO LIVES OUT 01:48 THE BEATITUDES WILL BE A PEACEMAKER YET 01:50 RECEIVE PERSECUTION. THE CHRISTIAN, BY TRYING 01:55 TO MAKE PEACE, STIRS UP STRIFE AND THAT IS WHAT 01:59 CAUSES HIM TO BE PERSECUTED. BELIEVERS ARE 02:00 PEACEMAKERS TO THOSE THEY HELP MAKE PEACE WITH GOD. 02:05 THEY ARE TROUBLEMAKERS TO THOSE WHO DO NOT RESPOND 02:09 TO THEIR EFFORTS. THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT THE 02:10 BEATITUDES DELINEATE WHAT CHARACTERIZES KINGDOM 02:15 CITIZENS MAY FEEL INADEQUATE. A PERSON WHO 02:19 LIVES OUT THE BEATITUDES CAN SEEM A LITTLE TOO GOOD 02:20 TO BE TRUE. THE BEATITUDES CAN MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU 02:25 ARE LOOKING AT SOMEONE ON A STAINED-GLASS WINDOW OR 02:28 AT A PLASTER SAINT. OUR NATURAL REACTION IS, "NO 02:29 ONE LIVES THAT WAY IN DAY-TO-DAY LIFE!" NO ONE 02:33 COULD FULFILL ALL THOSE INCREDIBLE CHARACTERISTICS 02:37 ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. 02:38 BUT GOD DOESN'T DEAL WITH STAINED-GLASS SAINTS AND 02:43 PLASTER FACSIMILES. IN THE BEATITUDES JESUS PRESENTED 02:44 AN IDEAL PORTRAIT OF THE BELIEVER--GOD DOESN'T 02:48 LOWER HIS STANDARDS TO ACCOMMODATE SINFUL MAN. 02:54 INSTEAD HE HANDS ALL CHRISTIANS OVER TO CHRIST, 02:55 WHO ENABLES THEM TO MEET GOD'S STANDARDS. ALL WHO 02:58 BELONG TO CHRIST'S KINGDOM WILL DEMONSTRATE THE 03:03 ATTITUDES MENTIONED IN MATTHEW 5:3-12, AND ONLY 03:04 THEY ARE TRULY HAPPY. AT FIRST YOU MAY DEMONSTRATE 03:11 THEM ONLY MINIMALLY--BUT THEY ARE ALL THERE. AS 03:15 TIME PASSES THEY SHOULD INCREASINGLY CHARACTERIZE 03:16 YOUR LIFE. AND AS THAT OCCURS, THERE WILL 03:20 INEVITABLY BE PAIN AND SUFFERING. YOU WILL BE A 03:25 PEACEMAKER BUT THE WORLD WILL VIEW YOU 03:26 AS A TROUBLEMAKER. 03:33 >>BILL: THAT BRINGS US TO OUR STUDY OF TODAY'S 03:34 BEATITUDE WITH OUR TWO GUESTS. PASTOR TONY BUENO 03:38 IS BACK. PASTOR WELCOME BACK. >>PASTOR TONY: THANK 03:42 YOU BILL. IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE. >>BILL: GOOD. WE'RE 03:43 GLAD TO HAVE YOU AND WE ALWAYS VALUE YOUR 03:46 INSIGHTS. PASTOR ALLAN CHICHESTER IS HERE WITH 03:49 US. HOW ARE YOU PASTOR ALLAN? >>PASTOR ALLAN: I'M 03:50 GOOD. I'M GOOD. >>BILL: YOU'RE GOOD. YOU ARE BACK. 03:53 YOU WERE WITH US ALSO WHEN WE DID OUR SERIES ON THE 03:55 TEN COMMANDMENTS, WERE YOU NOT? >>PASTOR ALLAN: YES. 03:57 >>BILL: WELL WELCOME BACK. 03:58 >>PASTOR ALLAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M HAPPY TO 04:00 BE HERE AND TO BE SITTING WITH YOU AND DOCTOR BUENO. 04:01 >>BILL: WELL WONDERFUL. 04:02 ALLAN, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU AND WHERE 04:07 YOU'RE PASTORING RIGHT NOW. >>PASTOR ALLAN: WELL 04:10 I'M PASTOR ALLAN CHICHESTER. I'M THE SENIOR 04:11 PASTOR OF THE TORONTO WEST SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST 04:15 CHURCH. >>BILL: WHERE IS THAT? >>PASTOR ALLAN: IT'S 04:18 LOCATED IN THE CITY OF ETOBICOKE, 1621 ALBION 04:19 ROAD. IT'S A CONGREGATION OF OVER 1000 MEMBERS. YOU 04:22 KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GREETINGS TO ALL THOSE 04:27 FROM THE CHURCH WHO ARE LOOKING INTO THIS TIME 04:28 WITH US AS WE SHARE THIS IMPORTANT BEATITUDE. 04:32 >>BILL: WONDERFUL. AND YOU GUYS MEET THERE SATURDAY 04:35 MORNINGS, 9:30 AND 11:00. 04:36 >>PASTOR ALLAN: YES. 04:37 SATURDAY MORNINGS, 9:30 AND 11:00 WOULD BE OUR 04:38 REGULAR SERVICE TIME. WE ALSO HAVE A PRAYER TIME 04:42 CALLED POWER HOUR ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 04:43 PM FROM 7:00 PM TO 8:00 PM EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. 04:49 >>BILL: WONDERFUL. SO THE FOLKS IN ETOBICOKE CAN GO 04:52 AND CHECK THAT OUT THERE. 04:53 >>PASTOR ALLAN: SURE. WE'D BE HAPPY TO PRAY WITH THEM 04:56 AND FOR THEM AND TO MINISTER TO THEM. >>BILL: 04:57 WELL, WE'RE COMING DOWN TO THE END AND WE'RE NOW - 05:02 THESE LAST FEW VERSES HERE ARE, ARE REALLY SOMETHING, 05:09 RIGHT? IN THAT, AT LEAST AT FIRST READ, IT SEEMS 05:10 TO SAY, BOY, YOU DO ALL OF THESE THINGS HERE 05:14 AND AS A RESULT YOU GET PERSECUTION. YOU GET THE 05:17 WORLD SAYING, HEY, THAT'S NOT, WE DON'T LIKE THAT 05:18 WHY? >>PASTOR TONY: YOU KNOW, AS WE READ THIS 05:26 TEXT IT'S ALMOST AS IF ONE COULD SEE CHRIST'S FACE 05:33 GROWING SOMBER. SO FAR I WANT TO PICTURE JESUS 05:34 WITH A BEAUTIFUL SMILE AND SAYING, 'BLESSED ARE THE 05:41 MEEK'AND 'BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS' AND THERE WAS 05:49 A TREMENDOUS JOY COMING OUT OF HIS EXPRESSION BUT 05:50 NOW HE THINKS OF THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO PAY 05:56 A PRICE FOR FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLES OF HIS GOSPEL. 06:02 AND, INEVITABLY HE BECOMES MORE SOMBER. HE BECOMES - 06:03 AN AIR OF SOLEMNITY COVERS HIM BECAUSE WHAT HE'S 06:10 GOING TO ADDRESS HERE IN VERSE 10 AND LATER ON IN 06:14 VERSES 11 AND 12 IS REALLY THE PRICE OF DISCIPLESHIP 06:15 >>BILL: OKAY. YES. 06:23 >>PASTOR TONY: HE HAS DESCRIBED HIS ETHICAL, 06:24 THEOLOGICAL, RELIGIOUS PLATFORM AND HE SAYS THIS 06:30 IS WHAT I AM PROPOSING THIS IS HOW I UNDERSTAND 06:35 MY KINGDOM TO BE. THESE ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF THE 06:36 KINGDOM. BUT, NOW, HE SAYS THERE MIGHT BE A PRICE 06:43 ATTACHED TO IT. AND THAT PRICE TAG MAY BE HIGH, IN 06:50 FACT, IT MIGHT BE AS HIGH AS YOUR LIFE. NOW, ARE YOU 06:51 PREPARED TO FACE THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE 06:59 OF JESUS? THAT QUESTION IS SO FUNDAMENTAL THAT IT HAS 07:05 BEEN CONFRONTING EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE 2000 YEARS 07:06 OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY WHOEVER CLAIMED TO ACCEPT 07:12 CHRIST AS HIS OR HER SAVIOUR AND LORD. AM I 07:18 REALLY WILLING TO SERVE AND FOLLOW HIM NO MATTER 07:19 WHAT, EVEN AT THE COST OF MY LIFE? THAT IS 07:23 FUNDAMENTAL. >>BILL: IT'S THE TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, 07:29 TAKE UP THE CROSS AND FOLLOW ME EVEN UNTO DEATH 07:30 IF THAT, IF THAT IS THE CALL, ISN'T IT? WHY? 07:33 WHY DOES THIS CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE RECEIVE SUCH 07:41 ANGER AND SUCH WRATH FROM THE WORLD? >>PASTOR 07:42 ALLAN: WELL I THINK THAT, CONTEXTUALLY, IF WE LOOK 07:50 BACK AT THE AUDIENCE THAT JESUS IS SPEAKING TO. IT'S 07:55 AN AUDIENCE THAT EXPECTS A MESIANIC KINGDOM. IT'S AN 07:56 AUDIENCE THAT IS CULTURED IN THE CONTEXT OF EXTERNAL 08:03 RIGHTEOUSNESS. JESUS COMES AND HE PAINTS A DIFFERENT 08:09 PICTURE OF THE KINGDOM IN THIS, HIS SECOND SERMON OR 08:10 WHAT WE MIGHT CONSIDER HIS TRUANT SPEECH. AND HE 08:14 OUTLINES THE WAY INTO THE KINGDOM AND THE 08:18 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM 08:19 AND IT IS DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO WHAT HAS BEEN 08:24 PROPOSED BY THE PHAROSIES AND SCRIBES FOR MANY, MANY 08:29 YEARS. SO, RIGHT AWAY IF ONE IS TO FOLLOW JESUS AND 08:30 TO FOLLOW HIS WAY INTO HIS KINGDOM IT CREATES A KIND 08:36 OF A SEPARATION IN TERMS OF THE SOCIETAL PERCEPTION 08:43 AS TO WHO THIS PERSON IS BECAUSE HERE IS SOMEONE 08:44 WHO IS HUMBLE; HERE IS SOMEONE WHO 08:47 IS A PEACEMAKER; HERE IS SOMEONE WHO IS, WHO HAS A 08:52 PURE HEART, NOT BECAUSE OF EXTERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS 08:53 BUT BECAUSE OF INTERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS GIVEN BY 08:56 JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE INDWELLING POWER OF THE 09:01 HOLY SPIRIT. AND THAT SEPARATION OF ITSELF 09:02 CREATES A CHALLENGE TO OUR SOCIETY. AND SO ONCE 09:06 ONE DECIDES TO FOLLOW JESUS THERE IS WHAT IS 09:11 CONSIDERED A PRICE OR THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIPAND 09:12 THAT COST IS DEMONSTRATED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 09:17 IN SEVERAL PASSAGES. YOU KNOW, PASSAGES IN THE BOOK 09:20 OF ACTS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND IN 1PETER, THAT THOSE 09:21 INDEED WHO FOLLOW CHRIST'S WAY OF THINKING AND LIVED 09:26 AS CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM DID PAY A PRICE. >>BILL: 09:32 SO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAD, SORT OF, CONDITIONED 09:33 THE FOLKS TO THINK, WELL, THE MESIAH'S GOING TO 09:37 COME, HE'S GOING TO BRING AN END OF OCCUPATION, AN 09:40 END TO PERSECUTION AND NOW HERE'S JESUS SAYING, NO, 09:41 NO, NO, NOW WAIT A SECOND. 09:44 NO, IN TERMS OF - YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET 09:45 IN TERMS OF PERSECUTION. 09:48 >>PASTOR TONY: YOU KNOW, BELIEVERS WERE BEING 09:49 PERSECUTED BY THE ROMANS, BY THE OCCUPYING POWER, 09:53 BUT NOW CHRIST IS TALKING TO HIS FOLLOWERS AND HE'S 09:58 SAYING TO THEM, PEOPLE, NOT JUST UNBELIEVERS, NOT 09:59 JUST PAGANS, ROMANS, BUT EVEN FROM OUR OWN CULTURAL 10:06 CONTEXT MAY PERSECUTE YOU AND SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T 10:11 KNOW THE LIFE OF JESUS WELL MAY SAY, WELL, HOW 10:13 CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT? 10:16 YOU JUST BEGAN YOUR MINISTRY. YOU KNOW, YOU 10:17 ARE NOW, IN MATTHEW 5, STARTING IN YOUR PREACHING 10:20 CAREER, SO, HOW CAN YOU TALK ABOUT PERSECUTION? 10:25 HAVE YOU FELT IT YET? AT THE END OF YOUR LIFE, YES, 10:26 WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE SO MANY ATTEMPTS, WELL, LET'S 10:30 NOT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED TO JESUS BEFORE THAT. 10:35 BECAUSE IF YOU GO TO LUKE, CHAPTER FOUR AND 10:36 THAT IS A PASSAGE THAT CHRONOLOGICALLY PRECEDES 10:41 THE ONE THAT WE ARE READING ABOUT, IN LUKE, 10:49 CHAPTER FOUR, JESUS PREACHES HIS FIRST 10:50 SERMON AND THAT IS AT THE SYNOGOGUE IN NAZARETH. 10:54 >>BILL: OKAY. >>PASTOR TONY: ALL RIGHT. SO, THIS 10:57 IS BEFORE THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IN LUKE THE 10:58 SERMON ON THE MOUNT IS IN CHAPTER SIX. SO, WE ARE IN 11:02 CHAPTER FOUR. NOW, CHRIST IS HERE IN THE SYNOGOGUE 11:06 IN NAZARETH IN THE TOWN WHERE HE GREW UP AND 11:07 HE PREACHES THE FAMOUS SERMON, 11:13 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME BECAUSE HE HAS 11:14 ANNOINTED ME", ETC. AND THE INITIAL REACTION IS 11:16 VERY POSITIVE BUT THEN THE PEOPLE IN THE SYNOGOGUE, 11:19 THE LEADERS, THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF HIS TIME TURN 11:20 AGAINST HIM TO THE POINT THAT WHEN WE GO TO 11:26 VERSE 28 TO 30 THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS. 11:52 SO CHRIST HAD ALREADY BEGAN, FROM THE VERY 11:53 FIRST SERMON, HE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PERSECUTION. 11:56 NOT JUST LIKE PERSECUTION, IT WAS A LIFE THREAT. 11:59 PEOPLE WERE READY TO KILL HIM THE MOMENT HE PREACHED 12:01 HIS FIRST SERMON. SO, IT'S WITH THAT BACKGROUND IN 12:07 MIND THAT HE SAYS, NOW, BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN YOU 12:09 ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF ME. HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS 12:10 TALKING ABOUT. >>BILL: THAT'S VERY INTERESTING. 12:17 THIS - THE TYPES OF PERSECUTION THAT HE MAKES 12:25 REFERENCE HERE TO, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING 12:26 ABOUT ATTEMPTS TO, DEATH THREATS, RIGHT? I MEAN, 12:36 SOMETIMES THIS PERSECUTION IS A LITTLE BIT LESS 12:40 SUBTLE, NOT NECESSARILY LESS PAINFUL BUT CAN 12:41 BE MORE SUBTLE, RIGHT? 12:45 >>PASTOR ALLAN: YES. 12:46 THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERSECUTION. THERE'S 12:49 VERBAL PERSECUTION. 12:50 THERE'S PERSECUTION BY SEPARATION. I WAS 12:53 FORTUNATE TO HAVE MET A YOUNG LADY, FOR EXAMPLE, 12:55 WHO CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY FROM ONE OF 12:59 THE OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS AND BECAUSE OF THE 13:03 CULTURAL CONTEXTS OF HER PREVIOUS RELGION HER 13:04 PARENTS ASKED HER TO LEAVE THE HOME AT A VERY TENDER 13:09 AGE DURING HER TEENS. SO, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES 13:13 OF PERSECUTION. THERE'S PERSECUTION, FOR EXAMPLE, 13:14 WHERE ONE COULD BE EMPLOYED BUT BECAUSE ONE 13:18 IS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST, ONE IS PERCEIVED 13:21 IN A DIFFERENT WAY AS NOT PARTAKING OF THOSE THINGS 13:22 OFFERED BY THAT EMPLOYER AND SO THAT PERSON COULD 13:28 BE RELIEVED OF HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT. SO THERE ARE 13:32 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERSECUTION. THERE'S 13:33 PHYSICAL PERSECUTION, VERBAL PERSECUTION, 13:35 PERSECUTION BY SEPARATION AND THIS CONTEXTUALLY IS 13:41 SEEN IN THE BOOK OF ACTS WHERE THE DISCIPLES, IN 13:42 FACT, ACTS CHAPTER EIGHT AND VERSE ONE IS A VERY 13:46 INTERESTING TEXT AND I WOULD ASK DOCTOR BUENO TO 13:51 SHARE THAT TEXT WITH US AND POSSIBLY THE CONTEXT 13:52 OF THAT TEXT, YOU KNOW, THAT DEMONSTRATED 13:55 HOW PERSECUTION ACTUALLY BEGAN IN THE EARLY CHURCH. 13:59 >>PASTOR TONY: NOW, ACTUALLY WE COME TO THIS 14:00 TEXT AFTER READING THE STORY OF THE MARTYRDOM OF 14:04 STEVEN. THE FIRST, LET'S SAY THE SECOND CHRISTIAN 14:10 MARTYR IF JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS THE FIRST AND WE DON'T 14:11 COUNT JESUS THERE BECAUSE HIS DEATH WAS 14:17 NOT A MARTYRDOM, IT WAS A SACRIFICE WILLING OFFERED 14:21 FOR OUR SINS BUT STEVEN WAS JUST STONED HERE. 14:22 AND RIGHT AFTER THE STORY STOPPED WE HEAR THAT. 14:49 VERY INTERESTING THAT IT PUTS IT THAT WAY BECAUSE 14:50 YOU REMEMBER WHEN CHRIST WAS ARRESTED OR WAS GOING 14:53 TO BE ARRESTED, HE SAID, I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHARD 14:57 AND THE SHEEP WILL RUN AWAY. AND HE SAID TO THE 14:58 DISCIPLES, YOU ALL WITH FLEE. AND THEY DID. 15:02 BUT THIS TIME, AFTER PENTACOST, WHEN ALL THE 15:09 BELIEVERS RUN AWAY, THE DISCIPLES STAY THERE. THEY 15:10 STAY IN JERUSALEM. THEY HAVE FOUND THE STRENGTH TO 15:16 WITHSTAND THE TROUBLE THAT WAS COMING THERE WAY. AND 15:20 THAT WAS A GREAT PERSECUTION THAT BEGAN. IT 15:21 MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A SERIES OF ATTEMPTS BY 15:25 THE STATE AGAINST THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH THAT 15:32 INCLUDED MOMENTS AS TRAGIC AS THE BEHEADING OF JAMES, 15:33 ON THE THREE APOSTLES AND THE INCARCERATION OF 15:42 PETER WHO MIRACULOUSLY WAS FREED BY AN ANGEL. BUT THE 15:51 CHURCH BEGAN TO FEEL IN ITS FLESH THE POWER OF THE 15:52 STATE PERSECUTING THEM. 16:00 AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE 16:01 CHRISTIAN ERA. WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GO TO THE HISTORY 16:05 OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE EARLY CENTURIES, THE 16:10 FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH CENTURY, BASICALLY 16:11 UP UNTIL THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE IN 312. THERE 16:16 WERE A SERIES, WAVES OF PERSECUTIONS AGAINST THE 16:23 CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND IT WAS VERY METHODICALLY 16:24 CARRIED OUT BY THE ROMAN EMPIRE. THEY WOULD COME TO 16:29 A CITY AND THE FIRST THING THEY WOULD DO IS TO ARREST 16:33 THE LEADER OF THE CHURCH IN THAT CITY. AND SEE IF 16:34 THEY COULD FORCE HIM TO RECANT OR TO OFFER 16:39 SACRIFICES TO PAGAN GODS IF THEY WERE ABLE TO DO SO 16:46 THEY KNEW HE WOULD INFLUENCE THE BELIEVERS 16:47 >>BILL: RIGHT. >>PASTOR TONY: PRAISE GOD THAT THE 16:52 MAJORITY, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE LEADERS OF 16:57 THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THOSE CENTURIES CHOSE TO 16:58 SUFFER FOR THEIR FAITH AND GAVE A TESTIMONY BEFORE 17:02 THE CONGREGATION THAT ENCOURAGED THE OTHERS TO 17:07 FOLLOW IN THEIR STEPS. 17:08 PEOPLE LIKE POLYCARP, WHO WAS THE BISHOP OF THE CITY 17:15 OF SMYRNA, ONE OF THE SEVEN CITIES OF THE BOOK 17:16 OF REVELATION AND WHO, BEING AN OLD MAN, 86 YEARS 17:21 OLD, THE AGE OF MY FATHER TODAY, HE WAS ARRESTED AND 17:27 WAS BROUGHT TO THE STAKE TO BE BURNED ALIVE AND THE 17:28 AUTHORITIES SAID, POLYCARP ? BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE. 17:34 IT'S NOT NICE TO BURN AN OLD MAN ALIVE SO, PLEASE, 17:41 RECANT. AND HE SAYS, HOW CAN I DO THAT? I HAVE 17:42 SERVED CHRIST AS MY FRIEND FOR 86 YEARS. HE HAS 17:46 NEVER DONE ANY WRONG TO ME NEVER DENIED ME. HOW COULD 17:49 I DO THAT TO HIM NOW? AND SO HE WENT UP TO THE STAKE 17:50 AND FACED DEATH WITH A SENSE OF PRIVILEDGE THAT 17:55 HE COULD SHARE IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST. 18:03 >>BILL: I GUESS THAT'S WHAT CAUSES SOME PEOPLE 18:04 TO LONG FOR THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO GO BACK TO THAT, 18:09 TO THAT FIRST LOVE OR THAT PASSION. MAN O MAN, I 18:20 ALSO, I OFTEN WONDER ABOUT, ARE THERE 18:21 CHRISTIANS ALIVE TODAY THAT WHEN FACED WITH THE 18:25 SAME CHOICE STILL CHOOSE THE STAKE OVER JESUS? 18:33 RATHER BE BURNED ALIVE THAN BETRAY JESUS CHRIST 18:34 WHAT'S HAPPENED? >>PASTOR ALLAN: I THINK THAT THERE 18:42 ARE MANY CHRISTIANS, TODAY, THAT ARE ALIVE WHO 18:43 WOULD MAKE THAT DECISION. 18:44 WE LIVE IN A SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN CONTEXT IN THE 18:49 WESTERN WORLD AND SO OFTEN WE DON'T HEAR OF THESE 18:50 STORIES. BUT I THINK FROM OBSERVING THE SIMPLE 18:56 FAITHFULNESS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP 18:58 THEIR EMPLOYMENT FOR CHRIST, THAT'S A MAJOR 18:59 DECISION.>>BILL: NO DOUBT. 19:03 ABSOLUTELY. >>PASTOR ALLAN:.IN A TIME OF 19:04 RECESSION.>>BILL: YES. 19:06 >>PASTOR ALLAN:.THAT ONE IS WILLING TO FOREGO 19:07 INCOME TO SUSTAIN ONES FAMILY BECAUSE OF THE 19:09 CAUSE OF CHRIST. SO I DO BELIEVE THAT IF IT WERE TO 19:15 HAPPEN NOW, YES, THERE WOULD MANY FAITHFUL PEOPLE 19:16 WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE UP THEIR LIVES FOR 19:19 JESUS CHRIST. THERE IS A CONTEXT ALSO IN THE TEXT 19:24 THAT I HEARD DR. BUENO REFERENCE IN ONE OF THE 19:25 OTHER DISCUSSIONS IN THAT EVERY SO OFTEN WE LOOK 19:29 AT THE WORD 'BLESSED' AS A WORD THAT MEANS HAPPY. THE 19:34 WORD ALSO MEANS FORTUNATE. 19:35 SO THAT CHRIST PRESUPPOSES THAT THOSE WHO SUFFER FOR 19:38 HIM ARE FORTUNATE. WHY ARE THEY FORTUNATE? THEY'RE 19:39 FORTUNATE BECAUSE THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN 19:43 AND THAT NOT ONLY IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN GIVEN TO 19:48 THEM BUT GREAT WILL BE THEIR REWARD IN THE KINDOM 19:49 OF HEAVEN. >>BILL: WOW. 19:53 >>PASTOR TONY: IT'S INTERESTING, IN JOHN 15, 19:54 CHRIST IS ADDRESSING THIS VERY ISSUE. AND IN VERSE 20:01 20, JOHN 15:20, HE SAYS TO THE DISCIPLES AND HE SAID 20:11 THAT RIGHT BEFORE GOING TO GETHSEMANE. OKAY, THIS 20:12 IS AT THE UPPER ROOM. THEY JUST HAD THE LORD'S SUPPER 20:17 AND THEY ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR GETHSEMANE AND 20:20 HE SAYS TO THEM IN VERSE 20, 20:47 SO, CHRIST IS SAYING THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT 20:48 YOU ARE GOING TO SUFFER PERSECUTION. IN FACT, IN 20:51 MATTHEW 24, HE REFERS TO A TIME OF TROUBLE LIKE THERE 20:59 WAS NEVER BEFORE FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD 21:00 SO, THOSE OF US WHO LIVE TODAY IN THE WESTERN WORLD 21:05 AND WHO THINK, OH WELL, LIFE IS COMFORTABLE AND 21:08 ARE PEACEFUL, AND OUR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND RIGHT 21:09 TO WORSHIP ARE PROTECTED, YET, THIS TIME IS COMING. 21:12 >>BILL: YES. >>PASTOR TONY: AND IN MANY 21:17 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD IT'S HAPPENING ALREADY 21:18 >>BILL: RIGHT. >>PASTOR TONY: THERE ARE CHRISTIANS 21:20 TODAY WHOSE FAITH IS BEING TESTED AND WHO ARE 21:23 SUFFERING PERSECUTION RIGHT NOW. SO, IT IS WITH 21:24 THAT AWARENESS THAT WE NEED TO STICK CLOSE TO 21:29 JESUS AND SAY, LORD, HELP ME TO BE FAITHFUL TO YOU 21:35 WHEN MY TIME COMES BECAUSE IT WILL COME. >>BILL: YES. 21:36 I THINK THAT, ABSOLUTELY, - WE HAVE ABOUT TWO 21:41 MINUTES LEFT. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE KEYS 21:44 HERE. THAT CHRIST'S SAYING THAT THIS IS INEVITABLE IS 21:45 A WARNING TO US TO SAY YOU HAVE TO GET READY NOW. YOU 21:49 CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT TIME YOU NEED TO BE FILLING 21:55 YOUR TANK NOW. GRABBING ON TO HIM NOW SO THAT YOU 21:56 WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST WHEN THAT TIME, WHEN 22:00 THAT TIME COMES. >>PASTOR ALLAN: YES. YOU'RE RIGHT 22:02 AND THAT'S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE A DILIGENT 22:03 STUDENT OF THE WORD AND TO HAVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE 22:06 IN WHICH THE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLINES ARE PRACTICED. 22:11 A GOOD PRAY LIFE, A GOOD CONNECTION WITH 22:12 JESUS CHRIST, THAT IS SO IMPORTANT AND IT'S ALSO 22:16 GOOD TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE END OF REALITY. THAT 22:21 BEYOND THIS TIME OF PERSECUTION WHICH HAS BEEN 22:22 PROPHISIZED IS COMING THE GLORIOUS KINGDOM OF OUR 22:27 LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. AND WHAT JOY IT 22:30 WILL BE TO BE IN THAT KINGDOM. >>BILL: YES. 22:31 >>PASTOR ALLAN: YOU KNOW, I THINK OF PETER WHO WAS 22:33 CRUCIFIED UPSIDE DOWN AND ONE OF THE GATES OF THE 22:37 KINGDOM CARRIES HIS NAME. 22:38 YOU THINK OF PAUL WHO WAS BEHEADED FOR THE SAKE OF 22:42 THE GOSPEL, WALKING ON THE STREETS OF GOLD. SO 22:43 THERE'S THE ASSURANCE THAT GREAT IS THE REWARD 22:46 IN HEAVEN. >>BILL: YES. 22:47 >>PASTOR TONY: YOU KNOW, IN THE EPISTLE OF JAMES - 22:51 NOW THIS WAS NOT THE JAMES THAT WAS BEHEADED, THIS IS 22:56 JAMES THE BROTHER OF JESUS BUT IN CHAPTER FIVE AND 22:57 VERSE ELEVEN - VERSE TEN AND FOLLOWING, HE SAYS, 23:31 IT IS AS WE CONSIDER THE FAITHFULNESS OF THOSE 23:32 WHO PRECEEDED US THAT WE REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF 23:34 BEING FAITHFUL AS WE BEAR THE NAME OF JESUS IN OUR 23:40 TIME. WE ARE AT THE END OF A LONG CHAIN OF 23:41 FAITHFULNESS, EVEN UNDER PERSECUTION. WE NEED TO 23:45 PRAY THAT GOD GAVE US THE SAME STRENGTH TO REMAIN 23:49 FAITHFUL TO HIM UNTIL HE COMES. >>BILL: AMEN. THANK 23:50 YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS. WELL, THERE'S NO 23:54 DOUBT THERE IS A PRICE TO PLAY, TO PAY WHEN YOU LIVE 23:59 KINGDOM LIFESTYLE. BUT THE FRUITS OF LIVING SUCH 24:00 A WAY IS ETERNAL LIFE. 24:08 EVENTHOUGH, MAN MAY TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING YOU MAY 24:09 POSSESS IN THIS WORLD, THEY CANNOT TOUCH WHAT GOD 24:14 HAS PROMISED IN THE NEXT CHRISTIANS OFTEN THINK 24:20 THAT SUFFERING FOR CHRIST ALWAYS MEANS ENDURING 24:21 PERSECUTION FROM THE WORLD BUT SUFFERING FOR CHRIST'S 24:24 SAKE MEANS MORE THAN WHAT IS HAPPENING TO US 24:28 CIRCUMSTANTIALLY. 24:29 SUFFERING FOR CHRIST ALSO REQUIRES SELF-DENIAL. ARE 24:34 YOU DAILY WALKING THE PATH OF SUFFERING THE CHRIST 24:35 CALLS ALL WHO KNOW HIM TO TREAD? THE PATH OF 24:40 SELF-DENIAL. DO NOT DREAD PERSECUTION. REJOICE. 24:46 REJOICE IN IT THAT GOD USES IT TO FASHION YOU 24:47 INTO A FIT INHABITANT OF HIS KINGDOM. AND PASTOR 24:55 ALLAN I WOULD WONDER, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULD 25:00 LEAD US IN PRAYER AS WE COME TO THE CLOSE OF THIS 25:01 PROGRAM? >>PASTOR ALLAN: SURE. SHALL WE PRAY? 25:04 HEAVENLY FATHER, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORDS OF 25:08 JESUS CHRIST THAT GIVES US THE BLESSED ASSURANCE THAT 25:09 THOUGH MANY MAY SUFFER NOW FOR THE CAUSE OF 25:16 CHRIST, PAYING THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP, GREAT 25:21 SOMEDAY WILL BE THEIR REWARD IN THE KINGDOM OF 25:22 HEAVEN. REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING TO THIS 25:26 PROGRAM, WATCHING THIS PROGRAM. REMEMBER THOSE IN 25:32 FOREIGN LANDS WHO ARE SUFFERING PERSECUTION AT 25:33 THIS POINT IN TIME. BE WITH THEM. GRANT THEM 25:37 COURAGE AND STRENGTH AND FORTITUDE. AND HELP US ALL 25:40 TO BE READY TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING FOR 25:41 JESUS CHRIST KNOWING THAT THE SUFFERING NOW CANNOT 25:46 COMPARE TO THE ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY AND REWARD 25:52 WHICH GOD HAS IN STORE FOR US. THESE MERCIES WE 25:53 ASK IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN. 25:58 >>PASTOR TONY: AMEN. >>BILL: AMEN. 26:01 (MUSIC) 26:15 >>MATTHEW: IF YOU ARE ENJOYING BILL'S SERIES ON 26:16 THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AND WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE 26:17 HIS LATEST BOOK CONTAINING ALL 11 MESSAGES IN THIS 26:21 SERIES THEN CALL OR WRITE US AND WE WILL SEND IT TO 26:22 YOU AS A FREE GIFT FROM IT IS WRITTEN CANADA. THE 26:25 BOOK WILL ARRIVE AT YHOUR HOME POSTAGE PAID AND 26:29 THERE IS NO OBLIGATION ON YOUR PART WHAT-SO-OVER. IF 26:30 YOU WOULD LIKE TO REQUIEST BILL'S BOOK TODAY, HERE 26:34 IS THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO GET YOUR COPY. 27:36 >>BILL: IF YOU'VE ENJOYED THIS SERIES ON THE 27:37 BEATITUDES AND YOU'D LIKE TO RECEIVE THE WHOLE SET 27:40 ON DVD, WE CAN SEND THAT TO YOU. IF YOU SEND US A 27:46 CHARITABLE DONATION OF $30 OR MORE, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO 27:47 SEND YOU THAT SET. AND YOU CAN SHARE IT WITH YOUR 27:51 NEIGHBOURS AND YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR LOVED 27:55 ONES AND THEY TOO CAN EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE 27:56 BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE AS YOU FOLLOWED THIS. 27:58 GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. PASTOR WE 28:00 LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN. PASTOR ALLAN, 28:01 GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR MINISTRY. AND THANK 28:05 YOU FOR BEING WITH US REMEMBER THE WEBSITE, 28:07 ITISWRITTENCANADA.CA. WE PRAY TO BE BACK NEXT WEEK 28:08 HOPEFULLY, YOU WILL JOIN US. UNTIL THEN, REMEMBER, 28:13 IT IS WRITTEN; MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE 28:17 BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM 28:18 THE MOUTH OF GOD. 28:24 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ |
Revised 2014-12-17