Today is the final message in our series “I’m Glad You Asked.” As Pastor Alex reminded us, our prayer is that today will serve more as a runway, a launch point, rather than merely the end of a series. Over the past few weeks we have looked closely at the biblical worldview and the Bible’s response to four of life’s fundamental questions: How did we get here? (Creation) What went wrong? (Fall) How do we fix this? (Redemption) How do we live now? (Restoration) As we launch today, we were reminded of what we believe:

• We believe, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1).
• We believe that God created man in His own image; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:26-27).
• We believe in the doctrine of original sin.
• We believe that God promised to bless all the families of the earth through Abraham (Genesis 12).
• We believe that God prophetically spoke to our forefathers to remind them He would send a Savior. Isaiah 1:18 reminds us, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
• We believe that the prophetic voice went silent for 400 years, until…
• We believe in the incarnation: that Jesus was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22).
• We believe John the Baptist rightly proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
• We believe in the crucifixion: that Jesus was crucified and died between two criminals.
• We believe that Jesus, in that moment, uttered three words that changed everything: “It is finished” (John 19:30).
• We believe that the body of Jesus was laid in a tomb (Matthew 27:57-61).
• We believe that Jesus rose again from the grave! (Matthew 28:5-6)
• We believe that we were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot! (1 Peter 1:18-19)
• We believe He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins! (Colossians 1:13-14)
• We believe there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all! (1 Timothy 2:5)
• We believe that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).
• We believe that in Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us! (Ephesians 1:7)
• We believe that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Christ Jesus is Lord of all! (Philippians 2:5-11)
• We believe that Jesus gave His followers a mission and we are to follow in His footsteps (All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore make disciples of all nations Matt. 28:18-20).
• We believe there will be a great multitude, from every nation, gathered around the throne! (Revelation 7:9)
• We believe we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our minds and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27).
• We believe there is a time when Jesus will come again and take us to be with Him! (“Surely I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20)

We all believe in something and that belief matters deeply because it sets the direction of our lives both now and eternally. Consider the the trajectory of your life:

• What do your patterns and rhythms reveal about what you believe?
• How are you investing your time, energy and resources?

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2 Timothy 3:10-12 says, “…all who deserve to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” This isn’t talking about someone saying something ugly to you because you are a Christian. This is speaking about life and death for the sake of the gospel. Every month, 322 Christians are killed, 214 church properties are destroyed, and 772 forms of violence are committed. What is persecution comes to the United States? How do we respond?

Leonard Ravenhill observed, “The early Church was married to poverty, prisons, and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity.”

Here are 5 actions Jesus challenges us to take when we are persecuted:

1. Rejoice and be glad (Matthew 5:10-12)
2. Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44)
3. Pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44)
4. Deny yourself – say no to self centerdness (Mark 8:34-38)
5. Take up your cross – be willing to physically die (Mark 8:34-38

Jesus’ last words on suffering came from His charge from the Upper Room. He said in John 15:20, “If they persecute me, they will also persecute you.”

The apostle Paul shares his experience of persecution and pain in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29. Paul stayed committed to Jesus because he never forgot how much he had been forgiven and loved.

Remember, we were build for more than just this world. Suffering for the gospel is extremely hard, and many lose their life for the sake of Jesus. BUT…this life is a temporary home for a little while. We must keep perspective. The church grows during times of great persecution. Will we be ready if and when it comes?

Pray for persecuted Christians around the world. A great resource is The Voice of the Martyrs.

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1 Kings 17-19 recounts the remarkable story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Elijah prophesied that there would be a 3-year drought. Ahab blames Elijah for the drought, so Elijah asks Ahab to gather the 850 prophets of Baal and Ashera to prove which is real, the gods of Baal or the God of Israel. The prophets try and try to get Baal to send fire down from heaven to consume a bull sacrifice, but nothing happens. Elijah then places a bull on the alter, digs a trench around it, places 12 stones, and douses it with a lot of water (remember, there is a drought). Elijah calls to God and He sends fire down to consume it ALL. Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, was angry with Elijah because he had slaughtered all of the prophets of Baal. She told him that she would kill him by the next day. 1 Kings 19:3 says, “Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life…” All in all, he traveled 160 miles and was physically exhausted. He was afraid, and he asked God if he could just die. Elijah had forgotten the lesson God had been teaching him at Kerith, Zarephath, and Carmel. His eyes were on his circumstances rather than on the Lord. God sent an angel to provide cake and water to Elijah. Elijah “went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights” as he traveled to Horeb. There, God reminded Elijah what was most important and helped Elijah finish the task that he was called to do. Depression is a persistent feeling of sadness. You have no energy and you lost interest in activities you once loved. Anxiety involves fear or worry that you can’t control. Sources of Anxiety and Depression:

1. Physical exhaustion – sleep reminds us that we are not God.
2. Spiritual attack – demonic oppression is real.
3. Brain Chemistry – sometimes we need medication, but don’t start here. Pray for answers.
4. Circumstances/Situations – Be careful where you look. What are you beholding?
5. Loneliness – we were built for community. Isolation is very dangerous.
6. Social Media – comparison robs joy. Evaluate whether you need this in your life.
7. Loss – of a loved one, job, community, financial security.

Remember, Satan lies and he isolates. John 8:44, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Steps that will help you overcome Anxiety and Depression:

1. Listen to the Truth – the Word is life
2. Live in community – where is your biblical community?
3. Talk to the Father – Spend time in daily prayer
4. Talk to someone – counseling can be of great benefit!

Phil 4:6-7 says, “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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