How to Outlive Your Critics
(English) In this message Ps Monty talks about how to outlive your critics in these 3 points:
(Matthew 5:10 NIV) Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 5:11-12 NIV) Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. (12) Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Acts 3 - Peter and John go to the Temple for Prayer
(Acts 3:4-10 NIV) Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” (5) So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. (6) Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (7) Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. (8) He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. (9) When all the people saw him walking and praising God, (10) they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
(Acts 4:1-4 NIV) The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. (2) They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. (3) They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. (4) But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
(Acts 4:17-20 NIV) But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” (18) Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (19) But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! (20) As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
How can we outlive our Critics?
1) We will have Trials
2) We have Jesus
(John 16:33 NIV) “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
3) When we hold onto Jesus, We have Makarios
(Mark 10:29-30 NIV) “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, (30) will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.
