When They Hate, We Witness

We learned a lot of things today at our campus fellowship here in Symbiosis!

Scripture: John 15:18-27

1. Jesus establishes here what Paul later tells us in 2 Timothy 3:12- Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

2. 1 Peter 1:6 says that trials/persecutions maybe of various kinds! It's relieving to know that getting beheaded or stoned is not the only persecution we'll face, but even being bullied at school for sharing God's word is a kind of persecution!

3. Often, we feel hurt and angry at our persecutors, but verse 21 points out that they do these things because they don't know the Father. If we lovingly understand this truth, our response will change from anger to even empathy, praying like Jesus, "Father, forgive them- they don't know what they're doing"

4. People who have heard the gospel in some way don't have any excuse for not being saved. Neither do we his children have any excuse for continuing in lawlessness once we have been saved from sin.

5. Jesus presented his words to the people and gave accompanying signs and wonders, the works, to testify to the word (Hebrews 2:3,4)... but people were not even willing to believe the works(vs 24). Today the Holy Spirit is given to us to strengthen us with power to witness the word and also to do the works.

6. Vs 25- Are they actually hating us without a cause or because we actually deserve the hatred by all the things we do to dishonour God before those who don't know him? (1 Peter 4:14,15)

It's worth introspecting sometimes!

7. We can't withstand such hatred if not for the Helper, the comforter, the counselor and the advocate, who's promised to be with us. ( the Greek word parakletos means all of this- he's such a wholesome personality!)

At the same time he fulfils all our emotional (comforter) and mental needs (advocate, counselor) and every kind of need (helper) in fact!