Page 8 - The Promise of Persecution
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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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