06/28/21 THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME OR FRIEND

06/28/21 THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME OR FRIEND

If you think this world is the friend of Christians, you have never read the Bible or you have forgotten what you read.

The world (system) is the enemy of God, His word, His salvation, His family. The world (Satan's anti-God forces in this world) is committed to destroying faith in Christ, in everyone, regardless of age. Be aware, be prepared for persecution. Rescue your children from anti-Christ forces.

SHALLOWNESS IS THE DANGER
Persecution itself cannot separate you from God.
Lack of spiritual depth (faith) during persecution results in falling away.

ALL WHO LIVE GODLY WILL BE PERSECUTED
2 Timothy 3:10-17
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

PERSECUTION DOES NOT SEPARATE US FROM GOD
Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

SHALLOW, OFFENDED BELIEVERS TRIP, STUMBLE, FALL AWAY WHEN PERSECUTED
Matthew 13:18-23
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
(dlg note... Luke 8:13 says that these people "believe for a while" but in time of temptation, adversity "fall away.")
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Persecution does not separate a believer from God, but lack of faith, due to shallowness during persecution, results in falling away from God.