“the master’s guide to greatness” part 5 “dealing with opposition” matthew 10:16-33

““The Master’s Guide to The Master’s Guide to Greatness”Greatness”

Part 5Part 5

““Dealing with Opposition”Dealing with Opposition”

Matthew 10:16-33Matthew 10:16-33

1971 Ford Bronco II1971 Ford Bronco II

• PruningPruning is what God does is what God does inin us to us to

make us more like Christ and make us more like Christ and

persecutionpersecution is what happens is what happens toto us us

because we are like Christ.because we are like Christ.

You need to know the “risks”…You need to know the “risks”…

• PhysicalPhysical assaultassault

““Be on your guard against men; they Be on your guard against men; they

will hand you over to the local councils will hand you over to the local councils

and flog you in their synagogues. and flog you in their synagogues.

- Matthew 10:17- Matthew 10:17


• SocialSocial and and politicalpolitical isolationisolation and and

accusationsaccusations. (v.18). (v.18)

… … you will be brought before governors you will be brought before governors

and kings… and to the Gentiles. and kings… and to the Gentiles.

(Matthew 10:18)(Matthew 10:18)


• FamilyFamily abandonmentabandonment and and deathdeath(v.21)(v.21)

““Brother will betray brother to death, Brother will betray brother to death,

and a father his child; children will and a father his child; children will

rebel against their parents and have rebel against their parents and have

them put to death. - (Matthew 10:21)them put to death. - (Matthew 10:21)


• The first time Jesus warns His disciples The first time Jesus warns His disciples

of the possibility of of the possibility of martyrdommartyrdom it is in it is in

the context of the context of familyfamily. .


• FalseFalse accusationsaccusations (vv.24-25) (vv.24-25)

• ““The term Beelzebub literally means The term Beelzebub literally means

““mastermaster of the of the househouse”.”.


A student is not above his teacher, nor A student is not above his teacher, nor

a servant above his master. It is a servant above his master. It is

enough for the student to be like his enough for the student to be like his

teacher, and the servant like his teacher, and the servant like his

master. master.


If the head of the house has been called If the head of the house has been called

Beelzebub, how much more the Beelzebub, how much more the

members of his household!members of his household!

- Matthew 10:24-25- Matthew 10:24-25

You need to know You need to know the “rewards”…the “rewards”…

• God God defendsdefends us (vv.19-20) us (vv.19-20)

But when they arrest you, do not worry But when they arrest you, do not worry

about what to say or how to say it. At about what to say or how to say it. At

that time you will be given what to say, that time you will be given what to say,


• God God defendsdefends us (vv.19-20) us (vv.19-20)

for it will not be you speaking, but the for it will not be you speaking, but the

Spirit of your Father speaking through Spirit of your Father speaking through

you. – Matthew 10:19-20you. – Matthew 10:19-20


• God always God always writeswrites the the lastlast chapterchapter

All men will hate you because of me, All men will hate you because of me,

but he who stands firm to the end will but he who stands firm to the end will

be saved. – Matthew 10:22be saved. – Matthew 10:22


• God will always God will always dodo whatwhat is is rightright

Do not be afraid of those who kill the Do not be afraid of those who kill the

body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, body but cannot kill the soul. Rather,

be afraid of the One who can destroy be afraid of the One who can destroy

both soul and body in hell. both soul and body in hell.



Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet not one of them will fall to the Yet not one of them will fall to the

ground apart from the will of your ground apart from the will of your

Father.Father.



And even the very hairs of your head And even the very hairs of your head

are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; are all numbered. So don’t be afraid;

you are worth more than many you are worth more than many

sparrows.sparrows. – Matthew 10:28-31 – Matthew 10:28-31

You need to know You need to know the compelling reason…the compelling reason…

• Jesus Christ is the only person Jesus Christ is the only person worthyworthy

of such commitment. of such commitment.

• I am sending you - v.16I am sending you - v.16

• On my account - v.18On my account - v.18

• All men will hate you because of me,All men will hate you because of me, - -

v.22v.22

Bottom Line:Bottom Line:

Stay Stay JesusJesus--centeredcentered even when you are even when you are

facing opposition. facing opposition.

How do I respond to How do I respond to spiritual hostility?spiritual hostility?

Be Be shrewdshrewd and and innocentinnocent……

I am sending you out like sheep among I am sending you out like sheep among

wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as

snakes and as innocent as doves. snakes and as innocent as doves.

– –

Matthew 10:16Matthew 10:16


• When Jesus told us to be “shrewd” and When Jesus told us to be “shrewd” and

“innocent” he means we are to use “innocent” he means we are to use

ccautionaution and stay and stay purepure..

Be on your Be on your guardguard against men; against men;

• If your present suffering can be directly If your present suffering can be directly

related to bad choices, sinful choices related to bad choices, sinful choices

or unhealthy choices or unhealthy choices youyou havehave mademade– –

you are suffering you are suffering consequencesconsequences. .


• If you are suffering because of some If you are suffering because of some

bad choices, sinful choices, or bad choices, sinful choices, or

unhealthy choices that unhealthy choices that othersothers havehave

mademade we call that living life in the we call that living life in the

middle of a fallen sinful world. middle of a fallen sinful world.


• If you suffering and there appears to be If you suffering and there appears to be

absolutely no reason for your suffering absolutely no reason for your suffering

(Job) we call that “(Job) we call that “hardhard providenceprovidence”. ”.


• If you are suffering on If you are suffering on accountaccount of of JesusJesus

– that is persecution and you should – that is persecution and you should

use caution and stay pure when you use caution and stay pure when you

are persecuted.are persecuted.


I, John, your brother and companion in I, John, your brother and companion in

the suffering and kingdom and patient the suffering and kingdom and patient

endurance that are ours in Jesus, was endurance that are ours in Jesus, was

on the island of Patmos because of the on the island of Patmos because of the

word of God and the testimony of word of God and the testimony of

Jesus. - Revelation 1:9Jesus. - Revelation 1:9

Don’t Don’t taketake unnecessaryunnecessary risksrisks

When you are persecuted in one place, When you are persecuted in one place,

flee to another. (Matthew 10:23)flee to another. (Matthew 10:23)

Live in Live in trusttrust of God not of God not fearfear of of man man

• … … do not worry…the Spirit of your do not worry…the Spirit of your

Father - v.19Father - v.19

• ““So do not be afraid of them.” – v.26So do not be afraid of them.” – v.26

Live in Live in trusttrust of God not of God not fearfear of of man man

• Do not be afraid of those who kill the Do not be afraid of those who kill the

body…be afraid of the One who can body…be afraid of the One who can

destroy both soul and body in hell. – destroy both soul and body in hell. –

v.28v.28

• So don’t be afraid; you are worth more So don’t be afraid; you are worth more

than many sparrows. – v.31than many sparrows. – v.31

Put your Put your confidenceconfidence in the in the SpiritSpirit of of GodGod – not your – not your ownown abilitiesabilities

……do not worry about what to say or do not worry about what to say or

how to say it. At that time you will be how to say it. At that time you will be

given what to say, for it will not be you given what to say, for it will not be you

speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking, but the Spirit of your Father

speaking through you. – v.19-20speaking through you. – v.19-20

Put your Put your confidenceconfidence in the in the SpiritSpirit of of GodGod – not your – not your ownown abilitiesabilities

• FindingFinding God in the midst of all the pain, God in the midst of all the pain,

confusion and uncertainty of life is a confusion and uncertainty of life is a

difficult task. difficult task.

• TrustingTrusting God is an even more difficult God is an even more difficult

journey. journey.

“the master’s guide to greatness” part 5 “dealing with opposition” matthew 10:16-33

Documents

rewards god

opposition matthew

risks family abandonment

risks false accusations

context of family

term beelzebub

time jesus

political isolation