| Much of today's religious system, call it what you | | | | reason the truth of the Passion - the horrible |
| will - New Age, cults, modernism, liberation | | | | suffering Christ endured - is being so lambasted in |
| theology, relativism, whatever - but much of | | | | the media today. |
| what even passes for religion today is false | | | | Have you experienced something like that, |
| religion. | | | | rejection, ridicule, persecution because you are a |
| There are many, many pastors in mainstream | | | | Christian and act like a Christian? |
| Christian denominations that say Jesus is just ONE | | | | If you haven't maybe it's because nobody can tell |
| WAY of getting to heaven, that maybe there | | | | you're a Christian. |
| was no such thing as the virgin birth, that social | | | | Do you keep your faith a secret, something you |
| action is more important that personal evangelism, | | | | share only on Sunday mornings? Hey, it is |
| that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle, that | | | | definitely uncool to be a Christian, a real Christian, |
| the Bible is just a sort of Miss Manners of Emily | | | | in our world, our society. |
| Post guidebook rather than the inspired word of | | | | The world can't give you what you want. It can |
| God. That is wrong. That is sinful. That is OF THE | | | | give you money. It can give you sensual |
| WORLD and that kind of religion will attack you | | | | pleasures. It can give you praise. But not enough. |
| and fight you every step of the way if it even | | | | You always want more. That's the way the |
| suspects you hold opposite views. | | | | system works, the world wants you to always |
| That's why Jesus, over and over and over again, | | | | be trying to buy your way into its graces. |
| tells us to hear his words and keep his | | | | The only happiness comes from knowing Christ. |
| commands. Where do we find his words and | | | | That's real fulfillment. And if there's anything the |
| commands? In the Bible. He knew that the | | | | world hates to see is someone who is really |
| warped religious system that put him to death in | | | | fulfilled in Christ. Because then the world loses its |
| his day will be just as antagonistic towards his | | | | hold on you. Who is the ruler of the world? The |
| followers as they were to him. | | | | Bible makes it clear in 1 John 5:19. Satan. This is |
| And so we see the lesson is as true for us today | | | | the devil's world. He controls it. |
| as it was in the past. Whenever someone stands | | | | And when a Christian lives a life powered by the |
| with Jesus Christ, he stands against the world. | | | | Holy Spirit and content in Christ, this kind of real |
| And the world will come down on those who hol;d | | | | life testimony gets attention. Other people start |
| to the way, the truth and the life. | | | | to say, hey, what's with this guy? What's he got |
| Jesus was the most narrow minded man who | | | | that I don't? For Satan, those are dangerous |
| ever lived. Wrong is wrong. Period. He never | | | | questions. So you need to be shortcircuited. |
| compromised with sin. Never. He exposed sin | | | | Derailed. You need to be squashed, discredited. |
| every time he came up against it and the world | | | | Sorry, Christians but you've got a big "X" on your |
| refused to hear him. They attacked him. | | | | back. |
| The world hates the truth. It hates it. That's one | | | | |