Page 8 - The Promise of Persecution

them, that is, He called them. He's assuring

them that He has ordained them, in other

words, placed His authority and His Spirit

upon them. He assures them in verse 16

that they would bring forth fruit — that's a

promise — and He also assures them that

He would hear their prayer. So we actually

find four thoughts given to us in verse 16.

As we come to this text tonight, we see

that the disciples would be hated and they

would be persecuted. Now, the reason that

I want to take this section tonight is that we

all, including myself, get a little shocked and

surprised when things don't go our way and

when people speak about us in a slanderous

way or things of that nature.

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