How to Face Constant Conflict as a Christian (Part 13-A)

Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #178

TEXT: Matthew 10:37-42

Today, as we close out this series based on Matthew chapter 10, we can look at the state of the world around us and see that Jesus' words to His disciples which were passed down to us are more relevant than ever before. It is almost as if they were spoken and written yesterday. We are reminded of verse 23 where Jesus said, "When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another." That happened quite literally  this past week when the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Iraq told the Christians in the city of Mosul either you will convert to Islam, pay a tax, or be killed. They were persecuted in that city where they have been for nearly 2,000 years, and in order to not deny Jesus Christ and to save their lives and their families, they fled to other cities in Iraq, and according to reports, there is not one Christian left in the city of Mosul today.
 
That is the kind of world we live in. And the relevance of the Word of God should re-establish in our hearts and minds that it is divinely inspired and is good for yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, we ought to take heed to it as we read it and hear it preached.
 
In these final verses of Matthew chapter 10, Jesus addresses three important areas of our Christian life:
  
1. Let's look at our supreme love.

2. Let's look at the threat of loss. 

3. Let's look at the rewards of eternal life. 

MUSICAL SELECTION: "Enter Your Gates" by Stephen B. Steward and "Take Me to the King" by Tamela Mann