Worship
Course: The Higher Calling to Worship
Lesson 12 (Outline)
Lesson Title: Rejoicing in persecution - United with joy in His sufferings
Lesson Goal: …to understand that opposition to the anointing brings an opportunity to worship.
Lesson
Text: 1 Peter 4:13
Lesson Theme: The anointing produces hostility from those who resist the moving of the Holy Spirit.
Introduction: There are three kinds of responses to the anointing mentioned in the early chapters of the book of Acts.
· A great multitude recognised Jesus to be the Messiah.
· Those who were not willing to be associated with the disciples but they recognised the power of God was with them.
· Many of the religious leaders resisted the moving of the Holy Spirit. It was this that provided the opportunity for worship on the higher level.
Introductory
Story: The prodding of the goad.
· A goad is a spiked stick that was used to prod oxen or other animals so that they would move in the right direction. Paul fought against the goads, Acts 9:5
· The anointed worshipper is one who glorifies the Lord in the face of persecution from those who resist the moving of the Holy Spirit.
Exposition:
1.
The prayers of anointed
worshippers has changed persecutors into worshippers, Matthew 5:44.
· The love of Christ praying for the persecutor. Stephen, Acts 7:60.
· The prayers of the early church for Saul of Tarsus were united with the eternal plan and purpose of God.
2. The early church was persecuted by those who resisted the moving of the Holy Spirit.
·
The anointing brought
humiliation to the Apostles and the threat of death. They were persecuted because the Jewish
leaders had been 'cut to the heart' by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Acts
· The disciples rejoiced when they were beaten and disgraced in front of highly respected Jewish leaders, Acts 5:40-42.
· Persecuting the church is the same as persecuting Christ, Acts 9:4-5.
3. Paul knew from his conversion that he would worship on this level.
·
The Lord revealed to Paul 'the 'great things he must suffer
for my name’s sake' Acts
·
His primary calling was always
to be a worshipper. Paul never sought to build up his ministry, but he sought
to move higher in worship.
·
Paul desired to fulfil his
ministry with joy, Acts
20:24. In
prison, out of prison, in need, or in abundance, he was content. He
wrote from prison to the Philippians that he counted all things as rubbish that
he might gain Christ, Philippians
3:10-11.
·
The fellowship of His
sufferings means being a fellow participator of His sufferings from those who
resist the moving of the Holy Spirit, Colossians 1:24.
· There are always greater heights to reach in worshipping the Lord. Paul worshipped at the highest levels of worship, yet he still wanted to 'to 'know Christ'. Even though Paul had worshipped in heaven, he still desired to move higher in worship.
4. A worshipper rejoices in being persecuted for Christ.
· A worshipper rejoices in persecution because of his or her love for Christ, 1 Corinthians 13:3. Some people are persecuted because they have been deliberately confrontational. This is not worship. Worship in persecution is humble submission to the will of God and rejoicing at the privilege of suffering shame for what the Lord has done.
· Jesus told His disciples to rejoice in persecution because they would receive a great reward, Matthew 5:10-12. John Wesley called persecution the badge of discipleship.
Conclusion:
1. We must never regard anyone as too bad to become a worshipper. The prayers of anointed worshippers can change persecutors into worshippers.
2. Persecution from those who resist the moving of the Holy Spirit provides opportunity to worship.
3. Paul was a worshipper and his ministry was built on worship.
4. We are to rejoice in persecution knowing that we will receive a great reward in heaven.
What
should the student do?
1) Pray for those who persecute us.
2) Worship in persecution
3) Seek to fulfil our ministry with joy.
4) Rejoice that we will receive an eternal reward.