THE PREACHER’S PERIL
John 15:26-16:4
CPT- Jesus has warned the disciples in advance about the persecution that will come upon them because of their preaching about Him so they will not stumble (stop faithfully preaching) when it happens.
CPS- We are to proclaim faithfully God’s Word despite opposition and persecution.
THE INTRODUCTION
What would you do in this situation? You have been the pastor of this church for eight months. Things have been going great. You are still on the honeymoon. The Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is coming up in a couple of weeks. In the other churches you have pastored, it has been your practice to preach a sermon on the sanctity of human life on this Sunday.
The man who was chairman of the pastor search committee that called you eight months earlier tells you Sunday he needs to come by and talk with you next week. He comes in and says, “There is something I need to tell you. I know from our conversations with you during the search committee process, it is your practice to preach a pro-life sermon on the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. But, I don’t think you should this year. You see, the deacon chairman’s daughter had an abortion last year before you came. You know he is one of the most influential men in the church and one of the major contributors. Although not everyone in the church knows she had the abortion, much of the leadership knows. I think if you preach a pro-life sermon, they will be deeply offended and many of the leaders in the church will take up the offense. So for the sake of peace in the church, I do not think you should preach a pro-life sermon this year.”
What would you do in that situation? Would you preach it or not? That brings us to the message of our text in John 15:26-16:4, THE PREACHER’S PERIL.
Jesus is giving His farewell address to His disciples on the Thursday night before His crucifixion on Friday. This occurs after the Last Supper on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is talking to them about three relationships. First, their relationship to Him, which He says, is like the relationship between the vine and the branches. Next, He talks to them about their relationship to each other, which is to be one of love and unity. Last, He tells them of their relationship to the world; the world will hate them. It is in the context of their relationship with the world that Jesus warns the disciples in advance about the persecution that will come because of their preaching about Him. He warns them in advance so they will not stumble when it comes. (CPT) He tells them about three things; their proclamation, their persecution, and their preparation. Let’s read our text starting with verse 26.
This warning was not only true for His disciples but it is also true for all faithful preachers of God’s Word. Jesus was not only speaking to His original disciples in this passage but He is also speaking to you and me. Therefore, the purpose of this message is to encourage us to faithfully proclaim the Word of God despite the opposition we will encounter.
THE PROCLAMATION
First, we see their proclamation, (26-27). These disciples had a message to proclaim. Jesus tells them the key to their preaching will be the Holy Spirit (26). The Holy Spirit will testify to them about Jesus. He will reveal to them truth about Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, ascension, and His coming again. As the Helper He will also empower them in their preaching (Acts 1:8).
“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
The message they were to preach was Jesus and His kingdom. They were to preach the gospel and the ethics of the kingdom that Jesus had taught. In the early church, this became known as the kergyma and the didache.
We preachers today also have a message to proclaim. The key to our preaching is the Holy Spirit as well. He will illuminate the Scriptures to us and show us God’s particular message for our congregation. The Holy Spirit will empower the message as He ministers the life of Christ through the Word. The message we proclaim is the whole counsel of God—the Bible. We are to systematically expound the Word of God in the power of God to the glory of God. We are not free men when we enter the pulpit. We are bound by the apostolic admonition given by Paul to Timothy, “Preach the word.”
THE PERSECUTION
Next Jesus speaks about their persecution (1-3). He tells the disciples in no uncertain terms they will be persecuted. This persecution will come from those who claim to be God’s people. Jesus even says these people will think they are doing a service for God. Paul was a prime example of what Jesus is saying. He killed the Christians in what he thought was a service to God. Jesus says their persecution will take the form of being cast out of the synagogues and even killed.
We preachers can also expect to be persecuted. This persecution will come not so much from society as it will from those who are within the church, those who claim to be Christians. Our persection many range from mild to servere. In its mild form we will be criticized. They will criticize our sermons for being too long, too boring, or too dogmatic. They will say we do not tell enough jokes, or stories. Another form of the mild persecution is they will stop coming to church or quit giving. Others will attend church but will not look at us while we are preaching. The persecution may move to a more severe form; slander and false accusations. Once when I was preaching from 1 Tim. 2:14 that women should not teach or exercise authority over men, some in the church accused me of being a woman-hater. They said my mother must have abused me when I was young since I hated women so much. Finally, the most servere form of persecution for us in America at this time is to be terminated from the church. We are asked to resign or even worse, fired.
THE PREPARATION
Lastly, Jesus gives the preparation necessary for the disciples to remain faithful in their preaching when the persectuion happens. Jesus gives three things they must do to prepare for the coming persecution. First, they must love one another and live in unity. When Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you.” (1) He is referring all the way back to verse 12. Their living in love and unity are clearly part of the preparation necessary to keep from stumbling when the persecution comes. Second, they must expect persecution from those who do not really know God, (3). Jesus tells them the reason these people are persecuting them is they do not really know Him or the Father. They know about Them, but they do not have a personal relationship with the Father and the Son. These persecutors are misguided and deceived. The third thing Jesus tells them is they must remember when persecution happens that Jesus told them in advance to expect it; to be forewarned is to be forearmed. The disciples must be prepared so they will not stumble and draw back from faithfully proclaiming God’s truth when opposition comes.
We preachers must be prepared for opposition and persecution. There are definite things we must also do. First, we must have close relationships with other like-minded pastors, (12-17). We need to spend time in prayer together, supporting each other. We need them to help us check our motives and perspective for what we do in our church. They can help us to make sure our motive is to preach faithfully the Word and not to use the Bible as a club to hit some disagreeable members over the head. Next, we must expect opposition from those who are not really Christians (18-25, 16:2-4). Those who oppose us because we are faithfully preaching the Word are misguided and deceived. Even though some are church members, even leadership in the church, many of these are only nominal Christians. Third, we must remember these words of Jesus; God’s servants have always suffered persecution. Stephen the first Christian martyr was stoned because he faithfully preached the Word. John Bunyan was imprisoned because he faithfully preached the Word. Jon Hus was burned at the stake because he faithfully preached the Word. Jonathan Edwards was dismissed from his church because he preached unregenerate people should not partake in the Lord’s Supper. We will probably not be burned at the stake but we will experience opposition and some forms of persecution. Expect it and be prepared! Fourth, we must fear God more than we fear man, (Matt 10:28).
"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The most men can do to us is torture us and kill us. God can both kill us and casts our soul into hell. Therefore, Jesus is saying we should not fear man but rather we should fear God. You will not have to stand before that chairman of the deacons someday and give account for your preaching. You will not have to stand before that personnel committee and give account for your preaching. You will have to stand before Jesus someday and give account for your preaching. Fifth, we must realize the solemn charge that has been given to us. Paul gave Timothy a solemn command, (2 Tim 4:1-2).
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
Paul gives the charge in the presence of two witnesses, God the Father and Christ Jesus. Paul wants Timothy to know that God the Father will be watching to see if he is being faithful to this charge to preach the Word. Not only will God the Father be watching but also Jesus the Righteous Judge will be watching and evaluating his every sermon. Notice, Paul refers to Jesus not only as the righteous Judge but also as the coming King. This adds a sense of urgency to the command. He is telling Timothy he will have to answer to the Kings of kings who is returning to set up His kingdom.
You and I have also been given this solemn charge to preach the Word! The same two witnesses are watching us to see if we are being faithful to this charge. We are to do so in season and out of season. When it’s convenient and when it is not convenient; when it’s popular and when it’s not popular; when it’s well received and when it is not well received. Our chief concern is not what men think but what does Jesus think. He is watching us and judging our faithfulness to His Word.
CONCLUSION
Men, our Lord’s words are clear. We have a message to proclaim—the full counsel of God. We can expect opposition and persecution when we are faithful in expounding His Word. We must be prepared so we will not draw back from faithfully preaching the Word when the persection comes. We must faithfully proclaim God’s Word despite the opposition and persecution we encounter. We must be faithful to expound the Scriptures no matter what the costs! The continual existence of our nation as a free people depends on it. There is such spiritual darkness in our land because of the absence of light from her pulpits. The light of the Word must shine brightly so the darkness in our nation can be expelled. The spiritual health of the Church depends on it! The church can only be healthy when she feeds on a steady diet of the Word. Your own spiritual health depends on it! You can only thrive spiritual when you are faithfully fulfilling your calling—which is to faithfully preach the Word.
Let’s commit anew today to faithfully preach the word of God despite the opposition we will encounter!
I will conclude with these words of Charles Spurgeon, “Where the light comes, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abides, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it, the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities. Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous.” (from Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1999 by Biblesoft)
