Text: Matthew 10:40-42. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward…,” verses 40-41. (ESV). If you receive Jesus Christ, then you will have received God, the one who sent Him. And you will receive a reward equivalent to[…]
Text: Matthew 6:16-24. “….that your fasting may not be seen by others but your Father who is in secret.” And your Father who sees in secret will reward you,” verse 18. Do not pretend to fast for a show when there is no brokenness in you. Let your fast be of humility trusting that God who sees the[…]
Text: Matthew 6:1-14. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward,” verse 2. (ESV). Do not seek your own glory and honor but in everything meekly seek[…]
Text: 1 Peter 3:8-22. “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense for 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[…]
Text: 1 Peter 2: 13-25. “For what credit is it if, when you sin and beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God,” verse 20. (ESV). When you suffer for genuinely serving God, it is praise worthy. It is not[…]
Text: John 15:15-27. “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,” verse 19. (ESV). If you choose to worship and work for Christ, you will be persecuted and hated by the[…]
Text: Luke 21:10-19. “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake, verse 12. (ESV). Here the verse mentions synagogues because at that time synagogues served both as centres for discipline and also[…]
Text: Matthew 5:33-48. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” verse 44. (ESV). As you serve God, you must speak well of your enemies and pray for them. This is a great challenge for many. To give food and water and pray well for one persecuting you is not easy; however,[…]
Text: Luke 6:20-26. “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on the account of the Son of Man!,” verse 22. (ESV). As you serve the Lord diligently be sure you will be hated because you are different from the rest. The difference comes from the righteousness[…]
Text: 2 Corinthians 11:11-33. “On frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers,” verse 26. (ESV). Paul faced many hardships in serving God in his generation. If you think that the rising up of your[…]