Introduction:
What does persecution aim at?
Why do the enemies of Christ, the enemies of the gospel, the enemies of the church — threaten the church, attack the church, inflict harm upon the church?
What is persecution aiming at?
Persecution does not ALWAYS aim at elimination.
While lost humanity hates the church, it isn’t always aiming at martyring the church.
But persecution ALWAYS aims at intimidation.
What makes persecution effective, from the vantagepoint of the persecutor, is that it generates FEAR.
If you don’t want to be in trouble.
If you don’t want to lose your reputation.
If you don’t want to lose your freedom.
If you don’t want to lose relationships.
If you don’t want to lose your ability to supply for yourself and your family financially.
If you want to live in peace.
“THEN YOU WILL STOP WHATEVER ACTIVITY IT IS YOU ARE DOING IN THE NAME OF CHRIST THAT BOTHERS US.”
“And if you don’t, then you will experience something you dread.”
THE POWER OF PERSECUTION IS THAT IT ACCESSES MAN’S FEARS.
Our Lord has given His disciples’ instructions for their ministry mission.
Our Lord has informed His disciples’ expectations not just for one mission, but for all time and for all ministry missions.
And now our Lord addresses what He knows will be one of His disciples’ greatest areas of vulnerability.
He addresses our fears.

Knowing that we will certainly come under attack (vs.25… “so have no fear”), we must with certainty know what our temptation might be, and we must address that temptation with truth.
THE TEMPTATION WILL BE FEAR OF THE PERSECUTORS.
THE TRUTH WILL FOCUS OUR FEAR ON GOD.
In our verses we will consider fear rightly focused. Five things we must do if we are to rightly focus our fear.
• WE MUST BELIEVE CHRIST REGARDING FUTURE ILLUMINATION (vs.26)
He gives us a reason why we are to have no fear of them. We must not fear them (imperative) “for” whatever is covered now (καλύπτω – hidden, concealed, kept secret), whatever is hidden (κρυπτός – unknown because of being kept secret), it will all be brought into the light.
IT WILL BE REVEALED — ἀποκαλύπτω — “brought into the light; unveiled.”
IT WILL BE KNOWN.
This is a two-fold unveiling.
This is true of unrighteousness, and this is true of righteousness.
And the unveiling will have to do with all sorts of things that manifest sin and righteousness.
WORDS
MOTIVES
CONFEDERACIES
SCHEMES
THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH WILL BE ESTABLISHED.
ESV 1 Corinthians 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
ESV 1 Timothy 5:24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
EVEN ONE’S TRUE RELATIONSHIP TO GOD WILL BE ESTABLISHED
ESV Romans 8:19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
This great day of illumination encompasses EVERY KIND OF JUDGMENT.
THIS WILL BE TRUE WITH THE JUDGMENT THAT CONDEMNS
THIS WILL BE TRUE WITH THE JUDGMENT THAT COMMENDS
IT WILL BE A DAY WHEN RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ENTHRONED AND WICKEDNESS IS PUNISHED.
Indeed, such will be the justice of God, that the people judged by this world to be unworthy of its acceptance will one day be involved in the judgment of the world.
YOU TALK ABOUT A REVERSAL OF FORTUNES!
All the powerful, the influencers, those who thought themselves favored because of their riches, who were considered wise as they mocked the truth of God, WHO CONDEMNED CHRISTIANITY — WHO MOCKED THE LORD’S BRIDE — ALL OF THEM will one day see the saints of God inherit the earth.
ESV Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.