Sent by God to Preach

We have been giving a series of sermons from Bible studies on the teachings of Jesus, particularly using the book of Matthew as a basis for those teachings, because amongst others, Matthew portrays Christ as the king of kings, as a Messiah, and it describes a number of events, like healings and miracles, which basically proved to the Jews that he was a Messiah. Last time, we just started on chapter 10, but I actually want to go back to Matthew chapter 9. So I want to go back a little bit, so just put a little marker there on Matthew, because we're going to begin an out of Matthew. So I want to start in Matthew chapter 9, so that we get to it as well. In verse 35, it's saying, I mean, the section before, it describes a number of healings and miracles he did that proves he is Messiahship, or being the Christ, and then it shows in verse 35 that he went about all the cities and religious teaching, preaching, and healing. So in his mission of his first coming, he was teaching, you know, about the kingdom of God. He was preaching that, that gospel, and he was healing. And these healings were powerful miracles that pointed or identified him as a Messiah. Very, very strong, powerful healings, miracles, for your part. Then, a little later, he says, he said to his disciples in verse 37, that the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send up laborers into his office. And that is a perfect introduction, in a way, to the next chapter, which is basically God identifying some additional laborers to the harvest, and he is now sending some of those additional laborers to the harvest. So, we can see now, in chapter 10, where Christ identified and called his disciples, and identified 12, and he gave them power over uncleans first to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of diseases. So, we see here that he gave them special authority, special power, and we can see these are the ones that he identified and he sent.

It is important for us to keep in mind that these apostles had a very special power given to them because it was the beginning of the church, and therefore it was important to create that visibility about the church. If we look at 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 12, 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 12, 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 12, it says, "...truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished amongst you with all perseverance in signs and wonders and mighty deeds." Those apostles that had been sent and specifically chosen by Jesus Christ to represent him, to be a witness of his resurrection, to proclaim the gospel, in other words, to start the foundation of the church, they had very unique signs that God gave them the capability to do certain signs. So God used them and gave them the capability of doing some signs. Now, that obviously, as you and I know, brought a lot of persecution on the apostles.

Now, nowadays, as is God's people, as we're going to see a little later, nowadays, as is God's people, we have to do the work. There are miracles of healing to the church, but they're not outwardly as visible as in the time of the apostles. Now, will that again happen in the future? I believe it will, particularly probably towards the very end, or at least the time of the two witnesses, because there'll be great miracles that they will do, and that will cause a lot of attention.

The problem with creating a lot of attention is that you get a lot of people coming to church, but they do not live for the right motive. See, so God, at the moment, is selecting a few of us, and yes, He does heal us, but the healing today is along the lines of character development, of according to God's greater mind, of training us, and teaching us, and coaching us, for a big job to do in the future.

Because if we were just healing, and if we were around the eye, and people would seek, we went there and heal, I mean, we'll have TV cameras on us, everybody, and everybody will be wanting to come here. But how much repentance and change will there be? So, sometimes it's important for us to consider that in God's mind, great mind, He does have a plan, and He knows better how to execute it. So, it's encouraging to know that God is in control. Another thing that is always encouraging is not deviating a little bit, and I apologize.

Another thing that is encouraging is that God said, you remember the story of Abraham, and he was going to destroy Solomon Vamara, and he said, I'm not going to do it unless I tell you first that I'm going to do it. And he also, he would not destroy Solomon Vamara until his servant were protected.

And you know, and you can read prophecies, where he says, run about when is the heavenly signs, and the seventh seal comes along, and he says, you can't do anything until his servants are protected. God does care and love us and protect us. So, let us never lose hope. You think about the Egyptians leaving, the Israelites leaving Egypt.

They, at first, some of the trials, some of the plagues affected them, but after a point, they were protected from the plagues. And then those plagues continued, but the Israelites were protected. God does protect us. We live in very difficult times, brethren. I don't want to, I don't want to be negative about things, but I want to be realistic. And, you know, when I, when I traveled other countries and we're coming to the States, particularly the sloth stroke, as we went into the plane from South Africa, they said, we take in completely different route.

Then we never take in before, and I said, why? And then I now realized there was this big storm brewing, but in South Africa and in Brazil, you know, the weather was calm. But as we came into the States, there was these extreme changes of things.

It does appear as God is removing the hedge, the protection from Israel. And we have to be aware that we do live in precarious times. We don't know how long is there to go, but I believe time is very short, and we, brethren, need to be aware of that. And we need to do whatever we can to be close to God, because times are short.

Anyway, that was a little detour there, so I apologize. But going back to Matthew, Matthew chapter 10, so Christ called the apostles, and He gave them power, and then He lists the names of the apostles. It's interesting that we see quite often the apostles being named in three groups of four. The first four are two pairs of brothers, and always starting with Peter, and the last four always ending, the third pair, the last four always ending with Judas is carried. So those 12 apostles are mentioned. They were sent out in groups of two. You can see that in Mark chapter 6 verse 7.

It says they went out in groups of two, and then He gave them instructions. So from verse 5 of chapter 10 to the end of chapter 10, are basically a set of instructions, in other words of teachings, that Christ gave to His apostles.

And I think it is instructive to us, because yes, granted, we're not His apostles, but we are His disciples, and these principles do apply to us. These instructions are grouped in three sections.

The first section is from verse 5 to verse 15, and you can see the end of that section of verse 15 where it says, as surely I say to you. And this first section is brief directions for the mission that the apostles were going to have. And we can draw some lessons from that as well. The second section is from verse 16 through to verse 23.

And you can see in verse 23 it says, it says, for surely I say to you, again the same phraseology used there in verse 23. And the third section, and by the way that second section, is about warnings of the implications of preaching the gospel. And the third section, which is verses 24 to 42, and you can see again the ending of that section on verse 42 saying again, as surely I say to you, so the same phraseology used there. And this third section are some general principles about the mission of preaching the gospel and the service of Jesus Christ.

Today, brethren, I hope to cover the first two sections. You know, it was from verse 5 through to verse 23.

So let's start then with the first portion of this set of teachings, which is verse 5 to 15. As I mentioned, those are directions for the mission that they're going to have, some directions. In other words, where they were to go, what they were to say, what they were to do, and how they went to conduct themselves. So where, what, and how. Where to go, what to say and do, and how to conduct themselves. So starting in verse 5, where they were sent to, verse 5, it says, do not go into the way of the Gentiles and do not enter a city of Samaritans. But go rather to the last sheep of the house of Israel.

Initially, the gospel was to go, starting from Jews, to the last sheep of the house of Israel. You and I know the last sheep of the house of Israel is not just Judah. It's beyond Judah. It's the Israelite people, beyond Judah, which is normally referred to as the diaspora. Those that had been scattered outside of Judea, and they were non-Jews, but they were believers. For instance, if you look at 1st Peter, chapter 1, yes, Peter writing a letter to the diaspora. 1st Peter, chapter 1. 1st Peter, chapter 1. Look at in verses 1 and 2. 1st Peter, chapter 1.

Be it an apostle of Jesus Christ to the pilgrims of the disclosure. It was of the diaspora in Pontus, in Galatia, in Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. In other words, people outside the diaspora. They are of the house of Israel. So, let's go back to Matthew chapter 10. We'll continue in verse 6. Let go rather to the last sheep of the house of Israel. Also, if you look at verse 23, look at verse 23. He says, and when they persecute you in this city, three to another. For surely, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the son of mankind. So, the initial mission for these apostles was to go to the Israelites. You and I know that later it was expanded to go to the Gentiles. For instance, you know about the story next then, where Peter has the stream, and he says, don't call any man unclean. And basically, the reason of the stream was for him to go to a Gentile, to Cornelius. And then later, you know, how Paul went to the sitting gawks first, and then they kind of threw him out and said no, and they were jealous. And then he says, well, from your own words, I'll go to the Gentiles. So, God started to the Israelites, but then the message went to the Gentiles.

Let's continue. So, that's where they were sent to. That is verses 5 and 6. In verse 7, is what they were to say. And it says, and as you go, preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. So, they were to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. Now, in the book of Matthew, most often it's used the term kingdom of heaven, but in the other, epistles, is used kingdom of God, referring to the same scriptures and the same situations. There are maybe two or three times in the book of Matthew that it refers to the kingdom of God, but we can see the book of Matthew being written to the Jews, to the Jewish community, and the Jewish community being very careful, as they are today, about using God's name. Therefore, they would have, therefore, rather say, instead of the kingdom of God, use the word the kingdom of heaven, so that they would not be using God's name. So, it is already that tendency was in there. So, that's what they were to do. They were to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. Why? Because God was about to take some decisive action about their nation.

Their nation was going to be again expelled from Judea, from Palestine. In fact, about 40 years after Christ died, in AD 70, they were expelled.

Keep your finger there, and let's now read about something important here in this context of they being expelled, and God removing the protection from the Jewish people, and they needed to have the hope of the kingdom of God. And likewise, today, we need to have the hope of the kingdom of God, because trials are ahead. Turn with me, please, to Isaiah chapter 5. Isaiah chapter 5.

verse 1. Now, let me sing to my well beloved, a song of my beloved regarding Israel. My well beloved as a familiar, on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up. He cleared out his stumps. He planted it with the choicest spine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress. So, he expected it, rightly, of course, because all the right things, he expected it to bring forth good rights. But it brought forth wild grapes.

Yah is an analogy or a parable. Let's read about this parable. Now, verse 3. Her inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, please, between me and my village. What more could have been done to my village? That I have not done in it. Why then? When I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? And now, please, let me tell you what I'll do to my village.

And Yah is the one. I'll take away its hedge. In other words, its protection.

And it shall be burned, and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. How may it waste? It shall not be pruned or died, but it shall come out of bribes and thorns, and also will command the clouds that rain, no rain on it.

Brethren, what is the Spirit? The Spirit, for the vineyard of the Lord, of hosts, is the house of Israel.

And the men of Judah, or his pleasant plot, he looked for justice, but beyond oppression. He looked for righteousness, beyond a cry for help. Isn't this what's happening today? Really, this is what's happening today. This is what was happening at the time of Christ, the nation of Judea. It's happening today to our society.

Look at Matthew chapter 21. Matthew chapter 21. Matthew chapter 33-37.

Now, this is Christ giving a parable, and look at how similar it is to Isaiah 5. Think about it, and let's look at the similarities. Here is another parable. There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set the hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. And he leased it to the wine dresses. So, yeah, we're referring to the landowner, God through Christ, and he leased it to the vine dresses, which is no other than the priesthood, and went into a far country. Now, when the vintage time drew near, he sent his servants, the prophets, to the vine press, that they might receive his fruits. And the vine dresses took his servants, beat one, killed one, and sown another.

And, again, he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise. So, he sent more prophets. And, you know, the story of the prophets that we killed was stone.

Then lost of all, then lost of all, the last one, after all these prophets had come, he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to them saying, they'll respect my son.

And what did they think of Christ? You know? And, but when, verse 38, the vine dressed as soul, the son, the priesthood, the Sanhedrin, and all those leaders, they said amongst themselves, this is the hair. Come, let's kill them and see, see, see their reference.

And so they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed it. It's not so amazing.

It's exactly what happened, isn't it? Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to these vine dresses? They said to him, he will destroy those wicked men miserably and lead his vineyard to another vine dresser who will render to him the fruits of the essence in this business. And then Jesus said to them, have you never read the scriptures? Now it's the bullet to the heart, you know, kind of straight to, he says, this stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. You know what? Those people knew the Old Testament just like this, you know, they could quote it off my heart. So this really break them. Therefore, I say to you, now this is Christ saying to them, to this leadership, he says, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and will be given to a nation bearing fruits of it.

And you know what it says, you that are our nation are our nation. You are now a holy priesthood, which is the Church of God.

Verse 44, and whoever falls on this stone will be broken, but on whom ever it falls, it will grind him to power. And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking of them.

So, brethren, to be part of the kingdom of God, we must be fruits of it. Fruits of it. So let's go back to Matthew chapter 10.

And as you go and preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The lesson there is, the days are short. It's around the corner. We must bear fruits. Because you and I can see how the nation, the edges be taken out. Whatever you do, it's going to be wrong that there is political infighting, there's trouble in the land. Unless you and I are blind, we can see that God has removed the edge from the Gelitish nation. That's it. Time of Jacob's trouble is around the corner. So it's time to preach the gospel. We have to preach the gospel. So that's what they have to say. Continue in verse 8. Heel to speak, clams the lepis, cast out demons, freely receive freely the die. I beg your pardon? Freely receive freely you give. Why did I say that? Well, because I was thinking about the phrase, raise the dead. Because I said that. Because I specifically skipped it.

Why? Because that is not in the majority of the Greek manuscripts. That is only in the Alexandrian text.

He says, Heel to speak, clams the lepis, cast out demons, freely receive freely give. But the first part of verse 8 is what to do. The apostles had this specific power and authority. They had the power and they were authorized to do very visible things. And, as I think I've mentioned before, in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 12, he says this is the power of the apostles, the postolic power. And the point here is, they ought to preach about the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God. And the kingdom of God is a real kingdom with power. God's kingdom is to be respected. When God's kingdom comes, and the king comes, which is Christ, he'll come with power. There is power. And then, the second half of verse 8 is how they were to conduct themselves. That means freely receive freely give.

We preach the gospel freely as a gift. We don't ask people to pay for our booklets. Turn with me to 2 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 17. 2 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 17.

For we are not as so many, or as the rest do. We are not what? We are not peddling. We are not peddling. And my little margin says, adultery for gain. You are not merchandising. That's what peddling is, is merchandising, making business, making money out of the Word of God.

How do people merchandize things quite often? In the world today, a way of making money is watering it down. Say for instance, oh, it's fresh orange juice, but it's quite watered down. It's not really fresh orange juice. Or whatever.

So we are not, number one, selling the Word of God, and two, we're not watering it down. We're not watering it down. We're not corrupting it by watering down the truth of God, like the rest do. It says, so many do.

But that's from God. We speak in spite of God in Christ. And that's what we've got to do. We've got to preach the Gospel freely, but with what? Without watering it down.

We're going to continue then in Matthew chapter 10. We now move on to verse 9. Provide not a gold, no silver, no copper in your money belts, no bag for your journey, no tunics, no sandals, no stock, for a worker is worthy of his food. So there we're to go out in faith, not having extra blankets, extra clothing, extra money. We're to have a labor of faith. However, look at Luke chapter 22, verse 35 and verse 36. Look chapter 22.

Verse 35 and 36. So we're straining them, teaching them to have faith. But look at verse 35 and verse 36 in Luke 22. Let me say to them, when I stand to you without money, or a money bag, nap sack and sandals, did you lack anything?

And what did I say? No, I didn't lack anything. Look at verse 36. Then he Christ said to them, but now, can you see that Christ then changed this statement? He says, but now, the U.S. money bag, let him take it. And likewise, a nap sack. And the U.S. little sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. What we see is that that instruction of going without anything was rescinded. And we in the Church of God now, we do go. When I go to Brazil, I don't take a bit of money with me. Otherwise, I can't just go there and say, okay, guys, somebody take me to someplace to sleep, you know? So that was rescinded. But still, we've got to do our job of cry aloud, let Zion hear. You know that song? Cry aloud, let Zion hear. Blow the trumpet. We've got to do that. Why? And that comes out of Isaiah 58, verse 1, as you may recall. Why? Because there's going to be a time of a famine. There's going to be a time of a famine.

Now, what type of famine? Look at Amos chapter 8, verse 11. Amos chapter 8, verse 11.

The old days are coming, says the Lord 12, that I'll stand a famine on the land. And you know, Amos, if you read it in context, for instance, look at verse 9, and I'll make the sun go down at noon, and I'll darken the earth, talking about the heavenly signs. So there's going to be a time before that, where he says, I'll send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, not a thirst for water, but I'll hear the words of the Lord. It doesn't start reading the words of the Lord.

Yes, listen, that battle's up there. People can still read, but it's his own hearing, which means of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to be preached. There'll come a time that that will not be able to be preached. It's very easy. I mean, we do have a door that no man can shut, but it's very easy one day when God allows them to be shut to just switch off the Internet. Or whatever. They do that in certain countries.

Or whatever. So all the sermons could be gone. And you'll not hear the word of God. But then, maybe for the two witnesses. So brethren, there's going to be a famine coming. But in the meantime, we're going to cry aloud, Spare not!

The other thing that it says here is talking about a very important principle, which is explained a little bit more in 1 Corinthians 9. So I want you to look at that. 1 Corinthians 9, verse 13 and 14. 1 Corinthians 9, verse 13 and 14. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple? In other words, the priesthood that served in the temple they ate of those offerings. Yeah, not the burnt offering, but other offerings they went to eat. It says, Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple? And those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? So in the Old Testament, the Levitical priesthood ate from the offerings at the temple. But look at now what he's saying, taking that example in verse 14. Even though the Lord has commanded, Christ has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. So, indeed, that's what we practice. There's a tithing system, and through the tithing system, God's ministry is able to preach the Word and do the work. That's the way God instituted it. Look also at 1 Timothy 5, verse 18. 1 Timothy 5, verse 18.

1 Timothy 5, verse 18, it says, For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox while he treads out the grain. And the laborer is worthy of his wages.

So the ox, when it's working and treading out the grain, can actually eat of that grain. And a laborer is worthy of his wages. So continuing then in Matthew, chapter 10, verse 11 and 12. Yes, at that time, they were not to take money, but we saw that that specific instruction was rescinded by Christ. Later on, as we saw in Luke 22, and nowadays we have the tithing system that is used to preach the Gospel and to do the work. Then continuing reading in verse 13, or verse 12. And when you go into household, greet it. Just say, hello, greetings, whatever salutations you have. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. So they welcome you, you preach in the Gospel, they invite you in. But if it's not worthy, if they don't want you there, let your peace return to you. As that gets phased, we are preaching the Gospel as a witness. If their mind is not open, you can go down to somebody else.

And whoever will not receive you, know, hear your words when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust on your feet. So don't feel bad, just go out and go somewhere else. Don't waste your time. In verse 15, surely I say to you, and this is the end of this section, surely I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that city.

Those people, particularly I am talking to the apostles, that we are going out and talking there and being trained by Christ to later on be able to do it when Christ was dead or resurrected. And it was showing them that they had authority, that they had to go out in faith, and that there was a requirement for people to respect Christ's spiritual representatives. And if they don't, they're going to answer it in the Day of Judgment. You know of Christ, later on in Matthew 11, starting in verse 20 through verse 24, talks about what you chorizin and what you befsaida, because if these works were done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have been repacked. And then in chapter 12, in verse 41 and 42, it says, It says, The men of Nineveh will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it. So there will be a time of judgment. You and I know, as you read Revelation 20, when he talks about a first resurrection, and then he says the rest of the dead will not be raised until a thousand years later. That is the time of judgment, when those people will be resurrected altogether, be resurrected.

So we have to be aware that a Gospel is being preached, and it's a witness. And people are going to have to answer to it. It's a very serious matter. And then he goes on to the next section, which is the second portion of this instruction, which is basically saying, there are going to be some implications of doing the work. And the implications are that when you preach the Gospel, there will be people that will not like it, and that you'll be hated.

Behold, I'll send you a sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and armless as dabs. Behold! Number one, let I stand you. They are stent. God's ministers are stent. When I do a lot of work with the Portuguese people, I continuously get people saying, I'm a minister, I'm a pastor, and why aren't you guys fighting for me? I'm going to go and preach the Gospel for you. And I say to myself, you first need to be a disciple. Because you don't even know what you need to practice. So how are you going to teach people if you don't even know what to teach?

And then, as you bear fruits, then God will call some. Because He's the master potter, and He decides which portions of that pot are to be used for whatever reason. Like it says, God puts you into His body. And in His choice, what position He gives you and puts you into His body. Okay, these people don't understand it, but always keep in mind this point that we need to be stent. We need to be stent. And the other point is that we are stent as sheep. And sheep, in a way, are defenseless before a prayer. And our only defense is God. Our only defense is God's Word and Christ being with us.

Now, then it says, therefore be wise as turpens and alms as dabs.

Which means, don't be fanatical to say, please, march to me. I'm doing this, then please, march to me, because look at it, I'm just kind of blowing the horn unwisely. No! Yes, we've got to answer this video, but we've got to do it with discussion.

We've got to be wise in what is good. Yes, there'll be a time when great persecution will come, but let's not bring it upon ourselves. Let's be wise in the meantime. Verse 17, but beware of men, for they'll deliver you up to councils and scourge you in the synagogue. So we say, beware of people, particularly local governments, local entities, and religious people around you. That's where the problem's going to start. From religious people, from local communities, yeah, you see this, so we've got to be very careful how we say it. And then that will be taken higher to higher authorities. That's what happened when Christ spoke. The religious leadership stood up against you, and then they brought it up to the higher community. To the religious high court, to the Sanhedrin.

Look at Peter in Acts 4 and 5. You also had to go before the Sanhedrin. Look at Stephen in Acts 6 and 7. Also, men ended up going before the Sanhedrin and being killed. Paul went into Gentile areas. In the end, right at the end, you read it, the end of Acts, from chapter 21-26. It was his own people! His own people were accused and wanted to kill him. And then he appealed to Caesar, and he went to Rome. And there is a time, right at the end, when Paul says, No one in Rome stood by me. No one, no other Christian in Rome stood by me. I had to stand by myself. That's in 2nd Timothy chapter 4, verse 16-18. So, yes, we are stamped, as sheep in a mist of wolves, bewise as serpents and harmless as doves. And basically means, be smart, be careful, because you don't want to bring persecution when it's not time for it. When it's not time for it. Verse 18 says, You will be brought before governance and kings for my name's sake.

Test me to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, yes, when persecution will come and will come, then don't worry about what to say, for it will be given to you in that hour that is what you should speak. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. It's amazing how many ministers have had to be in situations or even you heal yourself. Sometimes you ask somebody and they ask you really a difficult question. You don't know what to say. And you know what you do? That's what I do. I'm sure that's what you do. You give a little internal prayer. He says, God, please help me. And suddenly the right words just come out. And you don't know where they came from, but they were just the right words.

So, you know, God does inspire us and He protects us and He promises that. So He speaks to us today. And continuing now, verse 21. Now, a brother will deliver you, brother, to death. And a father is child. And children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated for my name's sake. You will be hated for my name's sake. You know, brethren, many people think that Jesus Christ came to earth to bring peace. Now, in His Second Coming, you'll bring peace. But His First Coming, number one, was to preach the Gospel. Number two, was to start up, found, begin the Church of God. And number three, was to suffer and die for the sinterman kind. But at His Second Coming, yes, you will bring peace to the world. But it says here in verse 22, you will be hated by all for my name's sake.

Sometimes brethren in the Church have the feeling that says, well, if we are really friendly to the world, they'll like us. No. No. Why? Because they hate the light. They hate the light. Oh, if the light is shining, they'll love you. No. Why? Because you might keep them guilty by your exalement. And indeed, even today, there are Christians which carry, who says Yah, His name as Christians. Maybe they don't know all the things about the truth. But you know, there are Christians, they try and carry the name, and they're being killed, particularly if they live in Muslim countries. This is definitely happening. And it could very well happen very easily in this country if one day we say something which will be deemed to be not politically correct, or to be what they call height speech, or whatever it is, because we say something that does not fit their liberal ideologies, but it's biblical, and then bang! Persecution could come upon us. And I'm being very careful what words I'm using here, so you know what I'm talking about. So, this is the point. We have to be very careful.

This is actually fulfilling in Psalm chapter 2. So let's look at Psalm chapter 2 quickly. Psalm chapter 2.

Psalm chapter 2.

Why did the nations rage, and the people clocked a vain thing? The kings of the earth stick themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed. The nations are taking position against Christ. Oh, you may think not. But you know, oh, we can't read the Bible, we can't pray in public, we can't say this. They're turning against God, and Christ. Let us bring their bonds in places, and cross the way they cause from us. You know, let's take away God's law in this, because they bondage to us. We don't want all this. Take that out. He who sits in heaven shall laugh. The Lord shall hold them in the region. Then he shall speak to them in his wrath. You see, the day of God's wrath will come. Prophatically, you know, when the day of God's wrath comes. We've covered that before, so let's not go there now. And in distress them in his deep displeasure. And distress them in his deep displeasure. Yes, I have said my king! That's Christ in my holy hill of sign. And no one will prevent it. When Christ comes, no one will stop it. Oh, they'll try to, but they won't stop it. I will declare the decree, the Lord has said to me, you are my son. God has said to Christ that he is his son. Today I've begotten you. Ask of me and I'll give you. So, God will give Christ the nations for your inheritance and the end of the earth for your possession. You, that's Christ, shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Now therefore be wise, O kings of the earth. Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear. That is the returning Christ. The Lord with fear and rejoiceth trembling because he's going to be the king that's going to be established. Kiss the son! Lest he be angry and he will perish in a way when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in him. You know, brethren, Jesus Christ is going to come and bring peace to the earth. And that is our great hope, which is the kingdom of God. So, continuing in Matthew chapter 10, we're reading verse 22. And you will be hated for all my name's sake. But if he who endures to the end will be saved. Because when Christ comes, you'll establish that kingdom and will be saved. But you know the word endures? Yeah. The word endures is supermeno, which means patient, calmly enduring. Patient, calmly waiting.

Now, at the time of Christ, quite a lot of the scriptures quote what they call the Septuagint, which was a Greek version of the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures, the Septuagint. Turn with me to Daniel chapter 12, verse 12. In Daniel chapter 12, verse 12, in the Septuagint, the word hoopamone is used here. In pamone, in pamone, in pamone, in pamone, in pamone, in pamone, in pamone, in pamone, 12, 12, Daniel 12, 12. Blessed is he who waits, who pamone waits, in julis, waits patiently. Blessed is he who endures, who waits, and comes to the 1,335 days. That is very interesting. That is very interesting. A point for us to talk at another time. Very interesting. Look at Mark chapter 13, 13. Mark 13, 13.

Mark 13, 13.

And you will be hated of all nations for my name's sake, but he who endures, waits patiently, who pamone shall be saved. Romans 12, 12. Romans 12, 12.

Rejoice, be, and hope patient in tribulation.

If you have a little marker on your Bible, maybe next to the word patient you'll find persevering, because the Greek word there is poupomeno. Patient, patiently, calmly, calmly, waiting, enduring till the end. Patient, enduring in tribulation, continuing steadfast in prayer. 1 Peter 2, verse 20. 1 Peter 2, verse 20. For what credit is it when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently, enduring, poupomeno. But when you do good and suffer, and you take it poupomeno, patiently, enduring, calmly, this is commendable before God. So, we need to suffer patiently and enduring till the end. Look, chapter 21, verse 16 through 19. Look, chapter 21, verse 16 through 19. And you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends, and they'll put some of you to death. And you'll be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will be lost by your patience, poupomeno, patiently, waiting, persevering till the end, possess your life, your eternal life, and your soul, which is your life capability.

Enduring without breaking down till the end is key to our salvation. That's why it says when he comes, those that will be with him are called and chosen and faithful, because they endured till the end, calmly, patiently. So, brethren, we all can get discouraged. We all can get down.

We all can be depressed. But, you know, brethren, we have to endure till the end, calmly wait till the end, and then we'll be silent. A fruit of God's holy spirit is to be faithful to the end, faithfulness. And so we've seen here, by covering today, we've seen where the apostles were sent. We've seen what they were to do and to say, to preach the Gospel, and they were to heal, and how Job, in a sense, is also to heal the minds of the sword, without giving them the right understanding, and how to conduct themselves by freely they've received, freely to give. And they were sent, but they were sent, when being told, to be careful of men, to be wise of serpents. And then, the final conclusion of this section here is that we have to patiently endure to the end. That is an absolutely important key for salvation.