1) The document discusses how Christians face persecution from "the world" for identifying with Christ and not conforming to worldly desires. It provides examples of modern Christian persecution and defines "the world" as referring to society opposed to God. 2) Christians do not belong to this world and are constant reminders to it of sin, causing hatred. However, the Holy Spirit encourages and empowers Christians to remain faithful to God's word despite persecution. 3) Remaining true to Scripture and remembering examples of persecuted believers like Yubelina can help Christians face difficulties with perseverance through God's grace.

1. Hatred of the World
John 15:18 – 16:4

2. “Why do they hate us?”
▪A little girl asked this of her Mommy
▪She lives in Indonesia with her mother and
other siblings
▪She comes home crying nearly every day
because of other kids saying terrible things to
her
▪“Because we love Jesus,” she replies.

3. ▪This is Yubelina Hgato, our
sister in Christ
▪She’s from a small village
in SE Indonesia
▪Muslims attacked her
Christian village because
they would not deny the
Name of Jesus and
convert

4. ▪They poured lamp oil on
her as she tried to escape
with her children, and set
her on fire
▪Children call her Monster
▪People point, stare, and
whisper
▪But look at her smile…

5. 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has
hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of
the world, the world would love its own; but
because you are not of the world, but I chose you
out of the world, because of this the world hates
you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A
slave is not greater than his master.’ If they
persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if
they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things they will do to you for My
name’s sake, because they do not know the One

6. who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to
them, they would not have sin, but now they have
no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates
My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them
the works which no one else did, they would not
have sin; but now they have both seen and hated
Me and My Father as well. 25 But they have done
this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law,
‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’
26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send

7. to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth
who proceeds from the Father, He will testify
about Me, 27 and you will testify also, because
you have been with Me from the beginning.”
16 “These things I have spoken to you so that
you may be kept from stumbling. 2 They will
make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an
hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think
that he is offering service to God. 3 These things
they will do because they have not known the

8. 4 But these things I have spoken to you, so
that when their hour comes, you may
remember that I told you of them. These
things I did not say to you at the beginning,
because I was with you.”
John 15:8– 16:4, NASB

9. Why do they hate us?
▪Persecution is not isolated anymore
▪As of 2010, a Christian missionary
organization estimated 200 Million
Christians face persecution daily,
particularly in North Korea and
Muslim countries.
▪The Vatican reported that 75 out of every 100
people killed for religious hate are Christians

10. Why do they hate us?
▪From TVs in living rooms, elementary
schools to boardrooms of Corporate
America, to conference rooms of local,
state, and federal governments, satanic
influences have penetrated everywhere. We are
living in an anti-Christian world, no doubt.
▪This is not new! But we should pay attention now

11. First let’s define “the world”…
▪The Greek word here, is ‘kosmos’
▪Scripture uses it 3 ways;
▪The Created World
▪The World of Humanity
▪Society that opposes or pretends to be neutral
to God, we sometimes say “the World Sytem”

12. “The world”…
▪As Christians, we must be careful not to love the
world or be conformed to the world

13. “Do not love the world or the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the
Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the
world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is
of the world. 17 And the world is passing away,
and the lust of it; but he who does the will of
God abides forever…”
1 John 2:15-17, NASB

14. “The world”…
▪As Christians, we must be careful not to love the
world or be conformed to the world
▪Agapao again. It doesn’t mean not to care for
the world or those in it, nut not to sacrifice
yourself to it.
▪It means choose– agape God, or the
system of this world

15. Here’s why…
▪1.) We identified with Christ
▪Vv 18, 20– the world does not worship
Him or follow His commands
▪Because God’s Word goes against their
desires
▪We are constant reminders to them
▪Reminders of lost-ness– No Wonder!

16. Here’s why…
▪2.) We do NOT belong to the world
▪V 19 says they hate us because we
have moved into a “new position”
spiritually; In Christ, Out of the world
▪This does NOT mean that we should be
isolated
▪We can’t be salt and light that way!

17. Here’s why…
▪4.) The world will not be honest
about its sin
▪Vv 22-24 make it clear; there is no
excuse for sin
▪Most people today don’t even know they are
sinners– the concept escapes them
▪All the worse, those who’ve heard and ignore

18. Here’s how we fight and win!
▪Vv 25-27 have our answer– the Holy Spirit!
▪How does He encourage us, through hatred and
opposition?
▪Through His WORD! Until He returns it’s
everything we have!
▪Without Him we can do nothing, but ALL
things are possible through Him!

19. ▪I know it’s tough to look
upon, but a shining
promise comes with this
persecution
▪Isaiah 61:3 promises us
that when make this
“trade”, the blessings are
boundless

20. “…to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil
of joy for mourning, the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness; that they might
be called trees of righteousness, the
planting of the Lord, that he might be
glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3

21. Take-Away!
▪One compromise with the
world by us is one step further
away from the Lord, one step
closer to self-destruction.
▪As born-again Christians, we
can expect persecutions from
this carnal world. Stay true to
the Word of God.

22. Take-Away!
▪Remember Yubelina
when things get difficult
▪Remember the joy on her
sweet, scarred face
▪That smile tells all we
need to know about His
Grace to help us
persevere!