Sermon #57                                                           Series: Mark

          Title:            “Take Heed To Yourselves

          Text:            Mark 13:9-13

          Reading:      2 Corinthians 4:1-5:1

          Subject:       The Troubles And Consolations Of God’s Elect In This World

          Date:            Sunday Morning - July 26, 1998

          Tape #         U-78a

          Introduction:

 

Mark 13:9-13  "But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. (10) And the gospel must first be published among all nations. (11) But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. (12) Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. (13) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

 

          The title of my message this morning is found in the opening verse of our text. As our Lord Jesus warns us of the trials, troubles, and persecutions we must face while we live in this world, he admonishes us, saying, Take Heed To Yourselves”. My purpose in preaching this message is to remind us both of the troubles we must expect in this world and the consolations God has given us in anticipation of them, lest we be overcome by them. Let us ever beware of these things and take heed to ourselves.

 

Proposition:         We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

 

Divisions:    Using the words of our Master in this text, I want to show you three things in this message.

1.    The Fact Of Our Problems

2.    The Fulness Of God’s Promises

3.    The Fruit Of Our Perseverance

 

I.     The Fact Of Our Problems

 

          I begin my message by reminding you of the fact of our problems because many have the dreamy-eyed idea that faith in Christ puts an end to earthly trouble. Nothing can be further from the truth. There are many troubles that are sure to follow faith in Christ.

 

          It is written, “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Trouble, sorrow, heartache, and pain are the things assured to all men because of sin. It is the common lot and portion of Adam’s fallen race. Where there is sin there is sorrow. These are the thorns and thistles of our hearts.

 

          Yet, there are specific troubles to which all true believers are and must be exposed in this world. These are our lot and portion as long as we are in this body of flesh. The believer’s life is a checkered history of great sorrow and great joy. All the prophecies dealing with the church of God on the earth between Christ’s first and second advent speak this plainly, just as the text before us today does. Our Master told us plainly, “In the world you shall have tribulation.” In Philippians 1:29, the Holy Spirit tells us, “Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” As long as we live in this body of sin, every believer has his divinely appointed…

 

·        Miseries and Mercies.

·        Nights of Darkness and Days of Brightness.

·        Trials and Triumphs.

·        Temptations and Preservations.

·        Falls and Deliverances.

·        Sorrows and Joys.

 

          There is no question about the fact of our many problems and in troubles in this world. But we are often surprised by their sources, though we shouldn’t be. Our Lord told us plainly what the sources of our woes would be.

 

A.  We must always expect trouble from people the world, especially lost religious people.

 

Mark 13:9  "But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them."

 

Mark 13:11  "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."

 

Mark 13:13  "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake."

 

          Never look for help or favor from “rulers and kings”. Our way of life, the gospel we believe, and the God we worship is a constant annoyance to this world. These things will never bring us favor with men. Our gospel constantly exposes their sin, their idolatry, and their condemnation. Those who dream that politicians and civil magistrates will one day serve help the cause of Christ as they once did, have misread both the Word of God and history.

 

          Many there are who have been persecuted, imprisoned, beaten, and burned at the stake for absolutely no reason except their adherence to the gospel of Christ. Trouble from the world is not too surprising. But there is another source of trouble plainly stated in our text, a source that every believer will experience, which almost always shocks us. If we are faithful to Christ and the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in him…

 

B.  We must expect trouble from our families, too.

 

Mark 13:12  "Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death."

 

          Do not be surprised, my brother, my sister, when those to whom you are most devoted, even father and mother, brother and sister, son and daughter, husband or wife, speak evil of you, hold you in contempt, and treat you as an enemy. We must not be surprised if those whose hearts are enmity against our God are also enmity against us. Cain will always persecute Abel. Esau will ever despise Jacob. The seed of the serpent will always persecute the seed of the woman.

 

          We will all be wise to remember these things and lay them to heart. We must, if we would follow Christ, “count the cost” of being his disciples. I know that we are living in days of great freedom. Physical persecution, at least in this country, is not a fear to God’s church these days. But persecution is still sure to follow true faith in and faithfulness to the Son of God. You can bank on it. Believers still suffer in their livelihoods for the gospel’s sake. God’s children must still endure scorn, slander, laughter, ridicule, isolation, and petty hostilities for their faith in Christ, even from their families.

 

Illustration: The 15 year old boy I heard from yesterday.

 

·        “The offense of the cross” has not ceased.

·        “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.”

·        Those who are “born after the flesh” still persecute those who are “born after the Spirit.”

 

          Let us never forget or doubt this word from our God and Savior. It is as true as the declaration that Christ died for our sins. - “YE SHALL BE HATED OF ALL MEN FOR MY NAME’S SAKE.”

 

NOTE: Add to these things the fact that many of God’s people in this world live with indescribable…

·        Bodily Infirmities.

·        Sorrows, Bereavements and Losses.

·        Domestic Troubles.

 

          Still, there is another source of great trouble. Indeed, the greatest source of our trouble in this world is this third source.

 

C. We must, as long as we live in this world, expect to have an unceasing warfare in our souls between the flesh and the Spirit, between the old man and the new.

 

Romans 7:14-24  "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

 

Galatians 5:16-17  "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

 

          Let me illustrate what I am saying by asking you to consider a few questions. Be honest with yourself. These are things which trouble me greatly. I am sure they trouble you too.

 

Before God saved you, did you ever imagine that a believer, a sinner redeemed by the blood of Christ, robed in his righteousness, saved by God’s free grace, living in the prospect of heavenly glory, a person truly born of God, one who truly believes and loves the Lord Jesus Christ

 

·        Could have so much difficulty with inward lusts as you do?

·        Could find it so difficult to read the Word of God as you do?

·        Could be so indifferent to the things of God as you are?

·        Could have such a hard time praying as you do?

·        Could love the world so much and love Christ so little as you do?

 

          No wonder our Lord said, “TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES!” We who know ourselves to be such sinners have great reason constantly to give thanks to God that salvation is by grace alone!

 

1 Corinthians 15:10  "By the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

 

          Let us ever give thanks for him who is our unceasing, all-prevailing Advocate with the Father.

 

1 John 2:1-2  "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

 

II. THE FULNESS OF GOD’S PROMISES

 

          Our blessed God and Savior holds before us in his Word an immeasurable, rich range of promises to encourage us, comfort us, and inspire us in the midst of the many problems we have in this world. Here are two sweet cordials with which we may encourage our own hearts and one another.

 

A.  First and foremost, we are assured that God’s purpose of grace in Christ shall be fulfilled.

 

          Look at verse ten. Right in the middle of this list of woes, our Savior interjects this blessed word of promise. “And the gospel must first be preached among all nations.” He seems to be saying, These things are all necessary for the accomplishment of God’s purpose of grace toward his elect. This is how I am going to bring about the fulness of my kingdom and the glory of my name.

 

1.    There is a people in this world loved and chosen of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, who must and shall be saved by God’s irresistible grace.

 

2.    God’s appointed means of grace and salvation is the preaching of the gospel.

 

Romans 1:16-17  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

 

3.    Therefore the gospel must be preached among all nations.

 

          Let men and devils, kingdoms, empires, and nations do what they will, God’s purpose of grace cannot be thwarted. These specks of dust, though they swell and burn with rage against our God, his Christ, and his gospel, are as surely under God’s control and as surely used by him to fulfil his purpose of grace toward his elect as the angels of heaven. The Word of God is not bound and cannot be bound!

 

2 Timothy 2:9  "Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound."

 

B.  Second, our Lord Jesus here assures us that when special help is needed special help will be given.

 

Mark 13:11  "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."

 

          Many pervert this text into an excuse for laziness and being unprepared for the pulpit ministry. It has nothing to do with such foolishness! This promise has nothing to do with preaching. It is talking about persecution. Our Master here promises that as he gave words of wisdom to his apostles before their persecutors, so he will give us words of wisdom to answer our persecutors as needed, or else he will give us wisdom and grace not to answer them at all.

 

1 Corinthians 10:13  "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

 

Isaiah 43:1-5  "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (2) When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (3) For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. (4) Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. (5) Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west."

 

2 Corinthians 12:9  "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

 

Romans 16:20  "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."

 

Illustration: “Tried and Proved”

 

III. THE FRUIT OF OUR PERSEVERANCE

 

Mark 13:13  "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

 

          Tribulations shall come. But our Savior holds out a word of promise to those who endure to the end, to those who will not forsake the gospel, who will not, for any reason, receive the mark of the beast. Listen carefully to what I have to say here.

 

A.  Perseverance is a matter of personal responsibility.

 

          We must hold on our way. We must cleave to Christ. We must take heed to ourselves, lest we wind up like those who perished in the wilderness. Demas, Diotrephes, Judas, and Lot’s wife stand upon the pages of Holy Scripture like burning beacons to warn us. Having put our hands to the plow, we must not look back. We must not drop out of the race. We must resolutely take up our cross every day and follow Christ.

 

B.  Perseverance for God’s elect is a matter of absolute certainty.

 

1.    Our names are written in the book of life.

2.    We are predestinated to everlasting salvation.

3.    Our Surety, Christ Jesus, has already obtained the purchased possession for us!

4.    We have the pledge of heavenly glory within us.

5.    We are sealed unto eternal life.

6.    We are kept by the power of God’s grace in Christ.

7.    We have our Savior’s promise. - “THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH!”

 

C. All who persevere unto the end shall reap a rich harvest of grace - “THE SAME SHALL BE SAVED!”

 

          We may sow in tears, but we shall reap with joy. We may pass through much tribulation, but we shall pass through it into the kingdom of God. Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, shall work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!

 

Application: When those who hate our God, despise our gospel, and persecute us are cast into hell, we shall enter into life everlasting with Christ!

 

Revelation 19:1-8  "And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: (2) For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. (3) And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. (4) And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. (5) And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. (6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

 

Revelation 21:1-5  "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."

 

AMEN.