Following Faithfully In A World Of Hostility

John 15:18 - 16:15

Big Idea: In A World Of Hostility, The Holy Spirit Empowers Us To Follow Jesus Faithfully

The Holy Spirit empowers us to:

1) Endure hostility because others are worth it (15:18-16:1)

How to handle hostility Biblically:
1) Expect it (v. 18-20)
2) Understand it (v. 19-25)
3) Depend on the Holy Spirit in it (v. 26)
4) Witness lovingly through it (v. 27)

“’You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”
– Matthew 5:43-47

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and mind, and were by nature, children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
– Ephesians 2:1-3

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved.”
– Ephesians 2:4-5

2) Pay the price because Jesus is worthy of it (16:1-15)

“Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”
– Acts 5:41

Advantages of the Holy Spirit:
1) Sustaining comfort (v. 6-7)
2) Supernatural conviction (v. 8-11)
3) Spiritual guidance (v. 12-15)