Hatred of the World

A couple years ago, there was an NPR segment on impulse buying. And one of the things that caught my ear the most about this is the statistics and the study proved that men were more susceptible to impulse buying. I thought, well, how could this be? Well, as they continued to explain, I realized that I am an impulse buyer. I am guilty. And this bothered me because it's dangerous to be an impulse shopper. Stores are designed for us. You go to the line with the things you need and there's already things all around you that they're trying to push on you to make you think you need something else. There's displays that try to appeal to you so that you buy things that you really don't need and you never expected to purchase. When going to a store, it really takes a lot of discipline to keep yourself focused on the things you have come to purchase. My own personal kryptonite is Sam's Club. There's just something about it. I don't know if it's because the building's so large. If it's because everything's in bulk, it seems like a good deal. There's just something about it where I'm just especially enticed there. They have things I never knew I needed. And so we go around in our cart and we keep picking up things and of course it's not just a little of something, it's a lot of something and numerous parts to it. And so it's whenever you get to the cash register and the lady rings you up and you realize, wow, that's a lot of money. You realize that's going to cost a lot of money. And so you start looking at the things you got and you say, this isn't worth that. And then it comes that awkward tension. I don't want to pay that much for this stuff that I'll never use or especially not use all of it. And so then it comes the awkward conversation. Could you take this off? Could you take this back? Could you could you remove these things because it's just not worth the cost? This morning, we're going to talk about cost and worth. We're going to talk about the cost of discipleship. We're going to talk about what Christ teaches us and what it will cost us to be disciples. You don't rush into being a Christian. You consider the cost. You look at what your life is and what it will come to. As we were saying, it's a hell bound race. You consider Christ and what he accomplished and what it'll cost you. There's a great cost when it comes to being a Christian disciple. First of all, Christ poured out his precious divine blood so that we can be disciples. Already, we see that discipleship is costly because we were so far from God. He had to come so close, so far to come get us. But as a Christian, it means we deny ourselves. It means we live for Christ and no longer for our sinful desires. It means we lay down our life for our brothers. As this morning, as we'll see, it means we'll be hated by the world. The world will hate us. Jesus Christ has come to show us what the love of God is. Jesus Christ has come to give us new life. And if we believe in him, if we follow him, it's promised. The world will hate you. This is why it's important that we remember there's no such thing as cheap grace. There's no such thing as cheap grace, which is so tempting to embrace. Cheap grace says this, it treats Jesus death as a license to sin. That's a simple, easy definition of cheap grace. It looks to the death of Christ, it looks to a sacrifice, and it acts as if that is a license to sin. It says Jesus saved me from the sins I'm committing. It says Jesus gave his precious blood so that I don't have to feel bad about the current sins that I'm practicing. That's cheap grace. It misses the point that he didn't just come to forgive us. He came to renew us, to give us a new life that we can rejoice and be one with Christ and fellowship with him and see the glory of God in Christ's face. It's a transforming grace. True grace, so that Jesus came to die for me. It gave me new life and a new purpose and a new way of living. True grace says he came to die so that I might live. True grace says that he came to me so I could go back up to God. It was costly to Christ and it will be costly to us. To get the gospel, we must see the great cost, which it cost Christ to save us. It required his blood to be poured out. See, we were all sinners. We were opposed to God. We were under his wrath. We were unrighteous in every way. And Christ had to come and die in our place so that we could be disciples. And now he calls us to follow him, which is also costly. We're called to follow him, to deny ourselves. This morning, we're going to see that one of the consequences One of the promises of scripture, whenever we're following Christ, is that the world will hate us. We're on page 903. If you're using a pew Bible, we're in John chapter 15. As we continue to study the gospel of John, we've been looking at this section as Jesus' last words to the disciples. He's preparing them for what's about to happen. They haven't quite gotten it that he's going to die on the cross. They haven't quite gotten it that He's going to rise again. They haven't quite gotten it that there's a whole new stage of redemption when the Holy Spirit comes down and indwells them and changes them. So He's trying to prepare them for all the things that lie ahead. Here we are, John chapter 15, beginning at verse 18. Again, Pew Bible, page 902. If you do not have a Bible or you are using that Bible and you want to take it home, we would love for that to be our gift to you. It contains the words of life. Take and read. Hear the Word of God, beginning in verse 18. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my father. But the word that is written in their law must be fulfilled. They hated me without a cause. But when the helper comes, whom I will send to you from the father, the spirit of truth who proceeds from the father, he'll bear witness about me. And you will also bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning. I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told them to you. Will you pray with me? Father, we go to you and we ask that you help us understand these heavy words. Help us to recognize the hatred that the world first had against the sun and the hatred that the world has against you. And help us to see that we are being called into a great love in Jesus Christ. And that here we are being warned that if we love you, And if we follow you, we will be hated. Lord, give us grace to understand this. We pray most of all that you would give us the grace to endure. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Well, a summary of the message this morning is fairly simple. The world will hate us because it hated Jesus. That seems to be very clear throughout the entire passage. The world will hate us because it hated Jesus. It's a warning passage. It's a warning telling you this is what's lying ahead. There will be hatred. There will be persecution. Now, it's interesting how this fits in the context. Look at the verse before. Verse 17. These things I command you so that you will love one another. This was actually a repeat of verse 12. The passage before is about how Christ said, if you obey me, You're abiding in me. If there's fruit, you're part of the vine. And then when he talks about all these commands, he narrows in on one particular one. Love one another. It's important that we recognize this is falling on the heels of cults who love one another. Within the church, within the body, among the saints, we're supposed to be loving. That's what defines the interior of the church, not within the walls, among the people. The church is the people of God was supposed to define a relationship that they love for one another. The church is called to a new identity in Christ, a new unity, loving one another as he loved us, a different kind of worship. Christians have a unique relationship with one another. It's not that we have it all together. It's not that we're more moral people. It's not that we fix ourselves enough so that we're acceptable for God. It's simply that we have believed in Jesus Christ who died for us, who washed us, who gave us new hearts, a new life so that we can be together. There's no self-righteousness allowed in the church. It's a boasting only of Christ and what he's commanded and called us to be. We're to be a different kind of people when we're together. What's supposed to take place is supposed to be obvious to the world. The world should see how we relate to one another and be jealous. That's part of the reason they would hate. The world should be able to look and see how Christians are loving one another and caring for one another as Christ loved us. And there should be a jealousy. The difference isn't that we dress differently or walk differently or sing different kinds of songs. It's how we love one another. and exalt Christ with that love. We're called to receive grace. We're called to bear fruit. We're called to obey Jesus. We're called to love one another. And now it means the world will hate us. Let me stop here and just say if you're not a Christian this morning. This is a difficult passage for you to hear us talk about. But this is the one thing you need to hear. You have something in common with everyone in this room. You're a sinner. Apart from God changing your heart, you cannot have life. Apart from believing in Christ, you will suffer the consequence of your sins because God is a righteous God and His wrath will come upon you when you die. The only thing that makes us different as Christians is that we believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that He died in our place. We believe that He took the sin debt, the wrath of God, that we deserve so that when we believe in Him, God's wrath is taken upon Him and we receive righteousness. Our sins are washed away. That's what makes us different. It's Christ in Christ alone. I encourage you to not leave until you talk to somebody about what that means. But our passage is written for the church. So church, be prepared for the hatred that comes from the world. Church, be prepared for the hatred that comes from the world. Listen to verses 18 through 20 again. You should be feeling uncomfortable, by the way. This is an uncomfortable passage. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you are of the world, the world would love you as its own, but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. Verse 18 really tells us everything we need to have in this passage. Verse 18 tells us everything. The rest of it is just explaining it with more detail. If the world hates you, know that it hated me before you. We have to realize the world is that order that has plagued creation of men who are rebelling against God and resisting His righteous rule. We go back to Adam. That's what he did. He resisted God's right to rule. And it's a righteous rule. It's a rebellion against everything that's good. The creation was made for God's glory. And we said, no, we would rather glorify ourselves. We resisted what we were created for, for his worship. Instead, we wanted to glorify ourselves. We see what the world's made up of. Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life from the first John reading. The world is that rebellious order of creation against the creator. The world will hate us. Know that it hated Christ before us. It hated Christ because he came to be a light to the world. He came to shine light in the darkness. He came to declare God's truth in the midst of the lies. He came to shine the glory of God in the midst of the creation that hated that glory because they were more interested in their own. We will be hated just as our master was hated." Now, it says if, verse 18, right? At some level you can hope that this is a real big condition clause. If! But look how absolute it is. If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you. Look at verse 20, though. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. We know they persecuted Christ. They put him on a cross, the most shameful way to die. They hated him. They will hate us. They hated him. They will hate us. Look at verse 20, though. It says if they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. There's an interesting parallelism here. There's interesting that these two things are put side by side. And it's because Jesus is the dividing point for all of humanity. You're either against him or you're with him. You either respond to the gospel and you're saved by the grace of God or you remain in the rebellion. Jesus Christ is the dividing line. You're either abiding in him or you're against him. Now notice the teaching of Jesus. Two different paths. The love-hate language captures this, right? It's two different ways of living. There's two different ways of walking. You can't have two masters at the same time. You're either loving the world and serving the world, or you're loving God and serving Him. You cannot worship two different gods. You cannot worship yourself and your glory while trying to worship God. You cannot. You can live either in the world and love the world, or you can live in Christ Be loved by Him, and this means the world will hate you. Something to note here, look at verse 19. If you are of the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. If you love the world, you do not have the love of Christ. Jesus Christ is against you as a righteous judge. If you love Jesus, you have the love of Jesus, but the world is against you. So, on one level, you're choosing yourself who you're going to align with. Are you going to align with the world? Or are you going to align with Jesus? The other way of looking at this is, who do you want against you? The world that can persecute you? Or the almighty, righteous God who can punish you and will punish you for an eternity because of your sin? There are two options. We're all by nature, in our sin, children of wrath, but Jesus Christ has come to deliver us. The fruit of the Christian life, as we looked at last week, if you abide in Christ, there is fruit, and one of the fruits is that you will run up against the world. I ask you this, are you so fruitful in Christ that you are hated by the world? Does this describe in any way a reality for you? It's uncomfortable to read, but is there actually discomfort in your own life because of the reality of what this passage is teaching? Are you so fruitful in Christ that you are hated by the world, or are you so friendly with the world that you're actually so fruitless they don't care? Right, so are you fruitful in Christ and hated by the world, or are you so friendly with the world you're fruitless? Why does the world hate us? Why would they hate Christians? This is important to ask. What is so distinct about Christians that they should hate us? Do they hate us when we're nice? I don't think so. Christians should be good neighbors. Christians should be good human beings and being nice to their neighbor. They wouldn't hate us for being nice. I don't think. Does the world hate us when we feed the poor? I don't think so. I think they will look at that and say, that's a good way to serve your community. That's something we can participate with the world in. Do they hate us because we dress nice on a particular day and gather to sing songs? They may think that's curious, but I don't think there's a reason for them to hate us. So why do they hate us? Let's first ask, why did they hate Jesus? They hated Jesus because he revealed the glory of God. which helped them and made them see how disgusting their sin is. Jesus Christ revealed the glory of God, which simultaneously, as the light of God is shined upon His glory, our sin is revealed to us. That's why they hated Him. That's when they'll hate the church. The world hates the church when we reflect the glory of God in our lives. The world hates the church will reflect the love of God in our fellowship. The world hates the church would proclaim the truth of God that can save them from the sin they so love. Through what they rejected Jesus Christ, the true light, because they love their darkness. Now, let's be clear, the world hates the church when it is reflecting the glory of God. The world hates it when Are we reflecting the glory of God in our lives? Are we being faithful to Christ in such a way that the light is shining in the darkness and the world hates it? Now, let me back up a second. We live in a nation that's free. We praise God for that. We have the freedom of religion. We can come and we can gather and we can worship. Not everybody has that privilege. This is a great privileged place, and we're thankful for those who have fought and died to secure that right and that freedom. But are we using that freedom to truly glorify God? Are we using that freedom as a way of disciple making? Are we using that freedom to share the gospel? Or are we letting fear of our neighbor And the way they would respond to us, keep us from evangelizing. I want you to hear this. We actually have the freedom in America to share the gospel. We can believe any way we want to, and we can go out and tell people what we believe and hope that they believe it. Most importantly, we're called to evangelize regardless of the freedom we have by our master and commander, Jesus Christ. This is something that I think plagues the American church. we would rather send missionaries into dangerous places so they can share the gospel or they can be beaten, imprisoned, and martyred, rather than going down the street and telling all our own neighbors in the freedom we have, the gospel of Jesus Christ. That's a problem we have. We would rather feel good about ourselves and the gospel great commission by sending missionaries where they're in danger when we're not even going out of the freedom we have, the protection we have to share the gospel with our neighbors. Well, what's keeping us from it? Social awkwardness? Are we afraid that our neighbors are not going to be so neighborly? Are we so afraid that those neighbors we have and our friends It would be awkward conversations. They may not like us. They may not invite us over for dinners and parties anymore. Is that the cost? Is that what we're afraid of losing when we would be declaring the gospel that could save them from their sins? Now, there's tension here. Are we so afraid of being unfriended that we don't share the gospel? In order to resolve this, in order to help us through this, I have to ask a question. If you're a Christian, do you think there is a righteous and just God who will hold every sinner accountable? Do you believe that that God will judge everyone according to their sins? And do you believe the only hope is that they would hear and believe in Jesus Christ, who alone has died for them and can free them and forgive them? Do you believe the gospel? Take a minute there. Do you believe that's true? Is Jesus Christ the only name in which we can be saved? If not. I need to tell you something. God is a just and righteous God and every sinner will be held accountable. And if you do not believe in his name and his name alone, you will be judged. You will suffer under hell. You will suffer hell. Alas, you believe in Jesus. Now, if you believe the gospel is true, why are we telling anybody? We're blessed to live in this free nation if we're not celebrating it by going out and telling people about God and his grace and his gospel. We're not taking advantage of this, we're not using it for God's glory. You see, the world's not going to hate us if we're harmless. The world will not hate us if we're harmless. Christians, look at me. We have the most powerful weapon this world has ever known. It's the gospel of Jesus Christ. It doesn't destroy people. It changes their lives. It transforms hearts. It takes people out of hell and puts them in the kingdom of the sun. It's the most powerful weapon. And all we have to do is say it and the Holy Spirit can use it to save people from hell. How dare we keep it in our holster? How dare we keep it in our homes, or how dare we keep it at church for one hour a week? It's the gospel that changes lives here and everywhere. There's only one gospel. It is the power of God to save sinners. We need to have confidence in that gospel and proclaim it. Now, here's some warning. When the world hates you, make sure it's because you're shining Christ's light. 1 Peter 3 actually informs us here, chapter 3, beginning of verse 13. Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled. But in your hearts, honor Christ, the Lord is holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience so that when you are slandered, Those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. One of the clear ways that we will be hated by the world is by not participating in the rebellion. So let me give some, I think, I hope, helpful practical points that you can exercise while you're at work. We'll begin with while we're at work. At work, you need to figure out how you're going to participate with those who are in the world. Here's three, I hope, helpful things. First, do not participate in beating up of the boss. Do not participate with your co-workers when they start disrespecting and speaking against your boss. Speak up with a word of respect. Now, this requires something. First, you have to have that proper respect that Christianity and Christ command you to have of your boss. So first, there's a heart issue. Do you respect him as Christ says to respect him? And secondly, don't participate in the beating up. But speak words of respect. Second, do not take part in office gossip or slander. Refuse to engage in or listen to. Stand against all kinds of negativity and gossip and slander. Stand against the people who mock other people. Say encouraging things. Change the culture. But there again, we have to realize there's a heart change. We actually have to think much of people. We have to want to defend them. And we probably need to stop or make sure we're not engaged in church gossip to make sure we're not involved in office gossip. Third, refuse to laugh at the off color jokes. Refuse to show in any way that you're entertained by the off color jokes. Now, there we have to actually be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit and to righteousness that we don't think they're funny. We think they're offensive. You see, there's a heart change that has to take place so that we don't beat up the boss, we don't participate in the office gossip, and we refuse to laugh at inappropriate jokes. And the family. Parents, if you want your children to be faithful, be diligent to follow Christ. Show your purposes and priorities to them. Help them to recognize that your love for Christ is what drives everything in your home. And here's the way the world would hate you. Know that as you're showing your priorities and purposes in the home, your children may be of the world or still trying to follow the pattern of the world. They may hate you for it. They may resist you. They may speak against you. Continue faithfully loving them, protecting them, make your priorities in life clear and be consistent. Children. Know that your parents know more than you do. Know most of all that they have the best intent for you. They're seeking to care for you, protect you, and love you. Trust your parents and their discernment. Parents, when people scoff at you because you're not following the pattern of the world, be encouraged. Don't boast in your difference. Boasting in crisis made you different. So there's a warning there, but be encouraged that people recognize that you're not following the pattern of the world. Be encouraged that there's been a fruit of Christ that has changed you so much that people see there is a difference in them. And pray that God would use that, as 1 Peter said, as an opportunity to give an answer for the hope that is clear and abundant in your lives. Here's a bonus application. Christians, stop scoffing at one another. One of the things we need to realize is why we put this in the context. Love is supposed to be defining these relationships. We don't need hatred within because we're getting so much from without. Everyone, accept that you will be judged and stereotyped. You just have to accept it. It's going to happen. This is why Jesus Christ is warning his disciples. They're going to judge you. They're going to stereotype you. They're going to say negative things about you. They're not nailing you to the cross. They're saying hard words to you know that Jesus Christ has set the path. We're walking on it. We're proclaiming his truth. If they hated him, they're going to hate us. Praise God, if you will mock you for being a goody two shoes. Praise God. That people see a difference in you and use it as an opportunity to share the gospel. Finally, as we'll see later, much more clearly, If they hate you, know it's not a you problem, it's a God problem. They hate you because they hate God, and you're reflecting His glory. Now earlier we had such a charge of evangelism, I want to give you just four points that I hope help you in thinking about evangelism. How to evangelize? First, pray. Pray that you would get clarity of the gospel. Pray that you would have the gospel so clear in your mind, in your life, that you would be ready all the time, eager to share. Also, pray for opportunities. Start today. God, give me an opportunity to share your glory and your gospel. And you can pray for specific people. Share with other believers who you are praying for that you would be sharing the gospel with them faithfully. So pray. Second, prepare. You've got to study the gospel. Ask Pastor Ben or one of the other elders or anyone in the church. Let's walk through an evangelism study together. Two ways to live. What is the gospel? Make sure you are studying and preparing yourself to be ready. Third, be personal. The best question, my favorite question to ask when I'm sharing the gospel, the first thing I ask, what do you believe in the gospel? What do you believe about God? Ask what do you believe about God that let them tell me what they think that gives me everything I need to know about them to share the gospel and it's personally engaging them. Finally, and this one comes especially from your pastor's personality, be pointed. Get to the point. Don't get distracted by secondary things. Keep it focused on the only thing that's going to change them. Jesus Christ death. Jesus Christ resurrection. Look at verse 20. Remember this. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they keep my word, they will keep yours. We're supposed to go out and share the word. And Jesus Christ does all the work. Trust the power of the Holy Spirit. We have to be careful of something, Christians, and this is why this relationship to the previous passage is so important. This needs to be defined by love. Our relationship together needs to be defined by love. Too often the world sees us hating inside and they don't love that. There's nothing that would draw them here. We're too often defined by hatred inside for them to ever look inside and say that's something worth hating. Rather they want to stay away. The other one is this. We're supposed to be speaking the truth and love and loving our neighbor and loving our enemy. Too often we're showing hatred. We need to be careful in showing the true love of Christ. Our next section, I'm actually going to skip the passage on the Holy Spirit to the end, the world rejects the father, beginning of verse 21, but all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my father. But the word that is written in their law must be fulfilled. They hated me without a cause." Drop down to chapter 16, verse 1. I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogue. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the father nor me. But I said these things to you that when their hour comes. You may remember what I told that I told them to say, you see, a friend trying to warn a brother, he knows what's coming up, he knows he's going to die on the cross, he knows he's going to rise again. He knows the world will then begin to persecute his church. The big picture is this. They're going to hate us. They're going to hate us because we're in Jesus' name and reflecting His glory. They hated Jesus because He came and spoke the word of the Father. It ultimately comes down to the world hating God. We're in the midst of a bigger battle. We're in the midst of a bigger war. We're small pieces receiving a small amount of hatred that the entire world has for the great glory of God. We're part of this. We're supposed to love one another, build one another, but keep one another. He's preparing them. The church, we're supposed to abide in Christ, so we bear fruit. We're supposed to love Christ. We obey his commandments. We're supposed to be one with one another and later in life with another because we're obeying him, loving him. This will bring the hatred of the world against us. We have to prepare for this hatred. Let me skip ahead. Finally, look at verse 26 and 27. This will kind of break the tension of our passage. But. When the helper comes, whom I will send to you from the father, the spirit of truth who proceeds from the father, he will bear witness about me. And you also bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning. If it weren't for this passage, our task would be daunting, even impossible. This is the refreshing news in the midst of the high calling. This is the refreshing news that says, I can persevere. I can endure because Jesus Christ, he's already gone. He's died. He's ransomed me. He's washed me. He's above now, resurrected and ascended to the right hand of the Father, interceding. And the Son, through the Father, sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of me. This is the good news, friends. Just like before, he said, keep my commandments. I'm sending the Holy Spirit. The only way we can keep the commandments is if we have the Holy Spirit. The only way we can endure the kinds of trials and tribulations we're going to face if we're faithful is when the Holy Spirit, the divine power comes down, dwells within us, seals our heart, changes us and give us a new life. This is the encouraging, comforting part of the passage. You're going to face trials. You're going to be cast out. You're going to be hated. Here's the good news. God has sealed you in his love by his Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has come to apply directly to your heart, the love of Christ, the love the father has for Christ, by sending the Holy Spirit and changing your heart, giving you that new identity that you're now a child of God. Now you can serve. Now you can endure. It's because God has given you his spirit. We'll look more at this next week as we continue to see how the Spirit will change the world. Friends, let me conclude. If you are not a Christian, I urge you to think about are you against God or are you for God? Are you living in sin that you will be judged for or will you believe in Christ? We believe that he has died for your sin, that he has risen again, that his precious blood can wash away your sin. We can only tell you this is your only hope. Will you pray with me? Our God, we continue to look to you and pray. And praise you that you have occupied our lowly hearts. You sent your spirit so that you would continue to grow in your supreme reign of our hearts as you conquer the rebel powers. Release us, Lord, of the flesh. Release us, Lord, of our own sinful desires that keep resisting you. Help us, Lord. To live that life that not only brings us peace, but will bring the hatred of the world upon us. Help us to shine bright your glory. Help us, Lord, to hold one another up as we endure the trials and tribulations. Help us, Lord, to see your work done as you are lifted up. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.