How do you respond to adversity?

Persecution: Expect It!

Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. (1 John 3:13

NKJV)

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12

NKJV)

1 John 2:6

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as

He walked.

How, then did Jesus handle his adversaries?

“Facing Our Adversaries”

(Mat. 26:57-68; Mk. 14:53-65; Lk. 22:66-71; Jn. 18:12-14, 19-24)

What to Expect From Our Adversaries

A Superior Attitude

(John 18:19-22)

The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple,

where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. "Why do you ask Me? Ask

those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said." And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer

the high priest like that?"

(John 15:18)

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated

you.

What to Expect From Our Adversaries

A Superior AttitudeDisinterest in the Truth

(Luke 22:67)

"If You are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.

What to Expect From Our Adversaries

A Superior AttitudeDisinterest in the TruthThose who will ignore their inconsistencies

(Mark 14:56-59)

For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and

within three days I will build another made without hands.'" But not even then did their testimony

agree.

What to Expect From Our Adversaries

A Superior AttitudeDisinterest in the TruthThose who will ignore their inconsistenciesThose who seek our destruction

(John 3:19)

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their

deeds were evil.

What to Expect From Our Adversaries

A Superior AttitudeDisinterest in the TruthThose who will ignore their inconsistenciesThose who seek our destructionThose who accuse us of teaching error

(Mat 26:65)

“He has spoken Blasphemy!”

What to Expect From Our Adversaries

A Superior AttitudeDisinterest in the TruthThose who will ignore their inconsistenciesThose who seek our destructionThose who accuse us of teaching errorThose who mock us

Matthew 26:68

saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?"

Adversity may even come from unexpected sources.

And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests,

the elders, and the scribes. (Mark 14:53 NKJV)

Responding to Our Adversaries

The Wrong Ways to Respond:Some people will not face them: Peter

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your

heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans

10:9 NKJV)

"Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of

God. (Luke 12:8 NKJV)

Responding to Our Adversaries

The Wrong Ways to Respond:Some people will not face them: PeterSome Treat Them As Their Enemy: Peter

(John 18:10)

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high

priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was

Malchus.

Responding to Our Adversaries

The Right Ways to Respond:Living a Christ-Like Life

Responding to Our Adversaries

The Right Ways to Respond:Living a Christ-Like Life No Response

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

(Matthew 5:44 NKJV)

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will

reward you. (Proverbs 25:21-22 NKJV)

Responding to Our Adversaries

The Right Ways to Respond:Living a Christ-Like Life No Response Give Them the Truth

(John 18:20)

"I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the

temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.

"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you

do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (John 8:24

NKJV)

"I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3 NKJV)

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and

believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,

you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NKJV)

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be

baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of

the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 NKJV)

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked

works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- if

indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not

moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a

minister. (Colossians 1:21-23 NKJV)

For Those Who Have Fallen:

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James

5:16 NKJV)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse

us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John

1:9-10 NKJV)