Unjustly Persecuted For the Lord - Act 21:15-35

Here is the audio recording for Acts 21:15-35 taught during our Sunday School hour at Village Bible Church.

Unjustly Persecuted For the Lord - Acts 21:15-35

There are three things we can learn from this passage:

1. Believers Should Expect False Accusations and Unjust Persecution

Matthew 5:10-12; John 15:20-21

The Lord promised we would have accusations and persecution but didn’t promise he would deliver us from all of them. Paul had been delivered out of hands of evil men and from jail but not this time. There would be no divine intervention anymore.

We should also understand that we won’t always be protected. But God is sovereign and will accomplish his will in us through it all.

2. Believers Should Understand that the World is Not Their Home

1 Peter 2:11, Hebrews 11:13

We should not think that we are of this world. We are pilgrims. As pilgrims we shouldn’t be too comfortable and think that we are of this world.

" “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Talk about countercultural. In a world where everything revolves around yourself —protect yourself, promote yourself, comfort yourself, and take care of yourself —Jesus says, “Crucify yourself. Put aside all self-preservation in order to live for God’s glorification, no matter what that means for you in the culture around you.” " David Platt, Counterculture

3. Believers Should Be Steadfast in Proclaiming the Gospel in spite of the Cost. 1 Corinthians 4:1-14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

The mission of sharing the Gospel is for all of us no matter what is our daily job. We are called to be God’s witnesses (martyrs). There is a cost in serving the Lord but this shouldn’t really matter to us because we belong to the Lord. Jesus paid the greatest cost. If he did, why should we expect to pay less?