Living in a World that Hates You
So far, we’ve covered these two principles in this series;
1. Love Those Who Hate You
2. Live in an Attitude of Forgiveness
Today, we’re going to look at a third principle.
3. Rely on the Word of God
Let’s begin by reading from the Word of God.
Psalm 119: 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living
according to your word. 10 With
my whole heart, I have sought you. Don’t
let me wander from your commandments. 11 I
have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes. 13 With my lips,
I have declared all the
ordinances of your mouth. 14 I
have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies,
as much as in all riches. 15 I
will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways. 16 I will delight
myself in your statutes. I will not
forget your word.
You might be familiar with the 119th Psalm. It is the longest chapter in the Bible, with 176 verses. And it is also known because the entire Psalm is about living by, submitting to, meditating on, memorizing, studying, and following the precepts of the Bible.
If you just look at what David advocated in the few verses we read, he said a person should,
live according to your word, follow it with your whole heart, hide it in your heart, declare it to others, rejoice over it, meditate on it, delight in it, and don’t forget it.
Now, you tell me, how many books can you recommend doing all of that? Would you say that the works of Shakespeare are worthy of meditation, memorization, and following their moral guidelines? But that’s what David says here about the Bible.
And truthfully, the Bible has stood the test of time in that regard. It has been around for thousands of years, yet millions today are still studying it, and trying to live by it.
Not many books have that kind of influence. No document stands the test of eternity. In fact, books come and go in their influence. What was considered a classic piece of literature yesterday is deemed offensive today. I just read online about a school district that was torn up over whether students ought to read “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I was looking online at other banned books. All of these books were once considered classics, but now some want to ban them.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Call of the Wild, Gulliver’s Travels, James and the Giant Peach, Uncle Tom’s Cabin
These books were banned in China.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Green Eggs and Ham,
And of course, the most banned and burned book of all time…the Bible
There are 52 countries today where 1. The Bible is difficult or dangerous to obtain. Or 2. Illegal or highly restricted. Or 3. Strictly illegal or only obtainable by covert smuggling. (information from Voice of the Martyrs)
And here’s the list of countries,
1. Afghanistan
2. Iran
3. Kazakhstan
4. Kyrgyzstan
5. Maldives
6. Mauritania
7. North Korea
8. Saudi Arabia
9. Somalia
10. Tajikistan
11. Turkmenistan
12. Uzbekistan
13. Yemen
14. Algeria
15. Bhutan
16. Brunei
17. China
18. Cuba
19. Djibouti
20. Eritrea
21. Kuwait
22. Laos
23. Libya
24. Malaysia
25. Morocco
26. Oman
27. Sudan
28. Tunisia
29. Bahrain
30. Bangladesh
31. Central African Republic
32. Columbia
33. Egypt
34. Ethiopia
35. India
36. Iraq
37. Jordan
38. Kenya
39. Lebanon
40. Mali
41. Myanmar (Burma)
42. Nepal
43. Niger
44. Nigeria
45. Pakistan
46. Philippines (Mindanao)
47. Sri Lanka
48. Syria
49. Tanzania
50. Turkey
51. United Arab Emirates
52. Vietnam
But yet, we, who call ourselves Christians, are “People of the book.” We live by the Bible.
As I thought about this sermon series on How to live with a world that hates you, I was thinking about how in America, Christian values are becoming less and less accepted or tolerated by the general population. And so, as we watch the general population drift further and further away, what do we do? How should we live?
There used to be some common values; God, marriage, family, education, law and order, love for country, a common history, freedom and certain rights. But many of those values we no longer hold in common with our neighbors. So, what do we do? We have to figure out what matters most, and stand on that.
I was specifically thinking about the book of Acts, and how those 1st century Christians lived. We’ve already considered love and forgiveness. As the world becomes more hateful and vengeful, we are to become more loving and forgiving. Now, as we consider the world around us, we have less and less in common with it, as it rejects more and more of Scripture, what do we do? We lean more heavily on the Bible.
That’s, I believe, why Paul was saying in,
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
This is what I think that meant for Paul.
He was raised a devout Jew, who believed in God, and the Word of God. Then he became a Christian. But as he traveled out into this strange Gentile world, where Christ had not been preached, he found that many of the values he grew up with roused the anger of those to whom he spoke. So, this is what I think he would have thought. “I’m walking around in an alien world. It is totally different than anything I have ever known. There are so many things that I see around me that need correction. But I can’t spend my life trying to reform society, or change culture. I can’t fix people’s customs. There is too much to do, to do all of that. So I need to narrow down my work to the most essential thing; preaching the cross of Jesus Christ.
And really, that’s where we are as American Christians. For many years we have been fighting to hold on to the culture, the laws, the freedoms, the lifestyle, the institutions, and the morals we’ve grown up with. But many of those battles are lost. We are now like Paul, walking around in an alien world. So, we to must step back and think about what is most important. What are the cornerstones of the Christian life? And one of those cornerstones is the Word of God.
We need to zoom in on our central message; the Scripture.
That’s the message for today.
I. Reliance on the Word of God energized by the Spirit of God
And I’m going to outline this point in the same way that I outlined the previous two;
The principle, the narrative, the reason
A. The Principle; Hear the Word, Know the Word, Speak the Word
Build your life on the Word.
Let me illustrate what I mean by this. In the last few months of 2020, there has been a lot of discussion about the presidential election. I myself, had high hopes and fears about its outcome. And people got very heated in their opinions regarding each of the candidates. But I avoided taking up sides in the context of church meetings. I didn’t preach sermons telling people who they ought to vote for. But I’ll tell you what I did,
I did point out that abortion, and homosexuality are sins according to the Bible. I preached a sermon about the role of government in any society. And part of that sermon pointed out that government is supposed to punish evil and reward good. But some of our politicians at the state and federal level seemed to be encouraging and excusing riots.
I’ve pointed out before that God gave us government to keep order with law, and that we are commanded to submit to the police.
Now obviously, anyone listening could probably guess who I was voting for. But I didn’t get up and tell people to vote for a specific person, I just opened the Word of God and taught.
And people would get distracted by personalities in politics. They will say, “I don’t like that guy, he’s a jerk.” But all I did was look at what the people said, and what their record said they had done in the past, and compare it to Scripture.
The same holds true for every believer. We can get into political arguments. We can get into arguments about “science.” Is the “climate change” agenda “science?” Is wearing a mask as a means of slowing the spread of Covid 19 “science?” I can argue about cultural topics. Some people want me to say that I have “white privilege.”
I can argue philosophy, science, politics, and history. But we are in a time now where many refuse to have a conversation about these things. So what can I do as a Christian?
Get down to the basics, the most essential things. You can proclaim Scripture, and say “Thus says the Lord.”
And really, isn’t that the only thing we can be confident of?
1. You are a proclaimer of God’s Word, not your word.
My words, and arguments are going to pass away, but listen to what Scripture says about Scripture.
2 Timothy 3: 16 Every Scripture is God-breathed
It’s source is God.
and[a] profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,
It is profitable—I looked up synonyms of the word profitable,
fruitful, advantageous, bankable, economic, gainful, lucrative, paying, productive, remunerative, rewarding advantageous, productive, useful, utile
It is capable of accomplishing the mental and spiritual goals. It is profitable for doctrine; For ascertaining the mind of God.
For reproof, for analyzing doctrine to determine where it is false.
For instruction in righteousness, it can not only tell you where your thinking has gone astray, but where your actions have as well.
17 that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Complete, thoroughly equipped. Missing nothing.
The Word of God is different than the word of anyone else. It is completely true, and produces perfect results. That’s why I’m a preacher of the Word. Preaching anything else just doesn’t compare.
You see, when I get up to preach on Sunday morning, I don’t have to think of what to say. I don’t have to come up with the truth, I already have it in the Bible. That’s what’s so great about being a preacher.
It’s not my job to be brilliant. It’s not my job to come up with something new, or novel. It’s not my job to win the argument. It’s my job to know and speak the Word of God.
And you know what? If you are a Christian the same can be said of you.
It’s not your job to be brilliant. It’s not your job to come up with something new, or novel. It’s not your job to win the argument. It’s your job to know and speak the Word of God.
So, as we go out into a hostile world, it can be nerve-wracking, can’t it? Well, if I go to a family gathering, maybe I better not bring up politics, because such and such will be offended. I better not bring up environmentalism. Don’t talk about the Supreme court or election law. Somebody’s going to be offended. Eventually we can get to the place where there’s nothing to talk about. That’s why many families watched sports during holidays, so there wouldn’t be arguments. But now, you get to watch the players take a knee during the anthem, or wear culture slogans on their helmets. So it’s not safe to watch sports with family anymore.
So, here’s the principle. Don’t waste your time arguing over trivialities, go straight to the Bible. Hey, it’s getting to the place where they are going to be offended anyway. So they might as well be offended by something important, like their own salvation. You’re not going to win many arguments, and maybe you’re not confident enough to even argue. But you can stand on the Word.
Psalm 118: It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in man.
Matthew 4: 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’”Deuteronomy 8:3
1 Corinthians 2:1-3 When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
2. We are to preach the Word without fear or shame
2 Timothy 1:7 7 For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 8 Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
Romans 1: 15 So as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
Now the second part of this message is the narrative. Here we look for examples from the book of Acts, of Christians leaning on the Word of God.
B. The Narrative
Reliance on the Word of God—Frankly, there are examples throughout the book of Acts.
In Acts chapter 1, after Jesus ascended to God, as the disciples waited for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the decide that they need to replace Judas Iscariot. Remember that one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, Judas Iscariot betrayed Him, and subsequently committed suicide. So, the remaining 11 disciples decided to replace him. Now why did they decide that they needed to replace him? Did they just think that 12 was a good number? No, they decided to replace him because the Scripture said that he would be replaced. Listen to Acts 1:20.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell in it;’Psalm 69:25
Now think about this a minute. They were deciding whether or not to replace Judas, and somebody stood up and said, “well of course we have to replace him, because it says in Psalm 69…
How many of you could have quoted Psalm 69 off the top of your head? But these guys lived by, meditated on, studied, memorized, and were guided by the Word of God.
And there are examples of their relying on Scripture throughout this book.
When Philip told the Ethiopian Eunuch about Jesus, he did so by explaining the meaning of an Old Testament passage of Scripture in Acts 8:32. Paul was opening up the Scripture in chapter 13 when he preached to the Jews in Antioch. When Peter first went into the house of a Gentile named Cornelius, he was hesitant, because Jews didn’t go into Gentile houses. Jews thought that God loved them and hated the Gentiles. But God gave both Peter and Cornelius a vision, and in the end, God brought a thought to Peter’s mind.
34 Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
Now where did this thought come from? Was the idea that God does not have favorites a new idea? No, Peter remembered it from Scripture.
Deuteronomy 10:17 For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes.2 Chronicles 19:7 Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.” Job 34:19 He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands. Peter remembered Scripture. In the Jerusalem Council, when the church was trying to decide whether Gentiles should be allowed in the church without becoming Jews, they heard from Peter who had a vision from God, Paul and Barnabus who were used by God to perform miracles and healings among the Gentiles, but do you know what cinched the argument? It wasn’t visions and miracles, it was the Word of God. James stood up and quoted Scripture.
Acts 15: 12 All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. 13 After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. 15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
16 ‘After
these things I will return.
I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen.
I will again build its ruins.
I will set it up 17 that the rest
of men may seek after the Lord;
all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who does all these things.’Amos 9:11-12
23 Being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 25 who by the mouth of your servant, David, said,
‘Why do
the nations rage,
and the
peoples plot a vain thing?
26 The kings of the earth take a stand,
and the
rulers take council together,
against
the Lord, and against his Christ.’[a]Psalm 2:1-2
27 “For truly,[b] both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. 29 Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”
We’ve considered the principle, the narrative, and now the reason.
C. The Reason
What is the reason for relying on, leaning on, becoming more committed to, and knowledgable about Scripture? Especially as we walk in a world that hates us?
There are a couple of reasons. First, the Bible is the only truth that doesn’t change.
You know, a lot of people think they are very intelligent. They’ve read a lot. They’ve become masters of their field. But what is amazing about knowledge is that it has an expiration date. The things that students are learning in college today, much of it will be obsolete before they graduate.
I still look back over my education, with amazement.
Do you know that I could say, “I am very intelligent?” How do you know that I am very intelligent? Because I have lots of letters after my name. I could put on my letterhead, Bruce Hays Bachelor of Arts, Master of Divinity, Graduate Degree in Teaching.
But yet, I look back over some of the stuff I learned in college, and it was foolishness. But some people put a lot of stock in degrees. I remember a conversation at a teacher meeting at Marshall Middle School. There were several teachers in the room, including a sarcastic older teacher, and a naïve younger teacher. And I don’t even remember what the conversation was about at the time. They were talking about some teaching subject, and the younger teacher decided that she needed to let everyone know how smart she was. She said, “Well I have a master’s degree.” And I’ll never forget. The older teacher looked at her and responded, “Well who doesn’t?!”
And it was so funny to me, because it’s true. You can’t throw a coffee cup into a teacher’s lounge without hitting someone with a master’s degree. And this young naïve teacher thought she was so special, but didn’t realize that everybody in the room was special. Some of us more “special” than others.
But all the world’s knowledge is ignorance stacked up next to the Word of God. So that’s the first reason that we should lean heavily on the Word, because everything else is trifling.
Psalm 138: I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the angels,[a] I will sing praises to you. 2 I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all. 3 In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
A second reason we should lean on the Word is because, people still come to faith the old-fashioned way. They encounter the Word of God, boldly proclaimed by a believer. And God uses that Word to penetrate their hearts.
It is the only hope for salvation. Listen to Paul talk about what he preached.
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe
1 Corinthians 2:1And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
So, we build our lives on the Word. Because everything else is a vapor. It is water poured on a scolding hot rock in the middle of the desert. No sooner do you pour it out, then it evaporates into the air.
But God’s Word is an oasis in the desert that we can always turn to, to refresh our souls in this dry and thirsty land.
Let us pray.