1. What you may expect from men (10:17-18)? Men will deliver you to courts. Even the religious ones will have you whipped in their houses of worship, thinking they're serving God. You will be put on trial before the highest authorities.

Why? It's a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

Caesar ain't coming to our revival. So we have to get the gospel to him, and the best way to do that is to have one of us arrested and put on trial before him.

2) What you may expect from God (10:19-20). Do not become anxious over what to say. That will be given you. After all, it will be the Holy Spirit speaking, not you. Many a martyred believer has lived the truth of this. The testimony of the radiant believer was used by the Holy Spirit to capture someone watching the sad scene. (In Acts 7:58, Saul of Tarsus watches the death of Stephen and is never the same).

3. What you may expect from everyone, good or bad (10:21-23). Family members will betray you. You will be hated by all on account of My name. They will run you out of cities. When that happens, go on to the next one.

Workers for the Lord have sometimes gone out naively expecting everyone to welcome them and greet them with appreciation. When they find themselves in the crosshairs of evil people and turned upon by those they trusted, they feel betrayed as though the Lord has not kept His promises. The fault was theirs for not knowing the Word they went forth to share.

Question:  What do these two puzzling statements mean?

4. What you should expect from yourself (10:24-31).

a. Do not fear, because there is nothing hidden that is not going to be revealed (10:26).

b. Do not fear, because the worst they can do is send you to heaven (10:28).

c) Do not fear, because you are of great value to your heavenly Father (10:31).

Dr. Mark Rutland's

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