We are talking about the world hating you because they don’t know Jesus.

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John 15:18 "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.”

The world hates Jesus and you, because they don’t know God. If the world hates you, know that you're not the only one hated. This affects all your relationships and puts them into only two categories. The first category includes all those who hate Jesus. Not everyone in this category seems to hate you, especially if they can bring you back into the world with them. Be careful because hate doesn’t have to be obvious. Don’t blindly trust anyone in this category, especially if they encourage you to compromise with Jesus. Be on your guard. The second category includes all those who love Jesus. Some in this category seem to hate you. Be careful. Maybe they hate Jesus too and should be in the other category. Or maybe they don’t hate you, and they’re just angry about something.

Prayer coaching: “Jesus, give me discernment to know who loves You and who hates you. Jesus, guard me from the wolves who say they are my friends.”

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John 15:19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

The world loves its own, and hates you because Jesus chose you. The world hates Jesus and loves all those who hate Jesus. They love those who are like them. They love one another for their mutual hatred of Jesus, but they might compete and hate each other as they seek power, money, fame, and influence. I’ll use a basketball comparison. The Golden State Warriors don’t like the Los Angeles Lakers, but they both join forces on the olympic team to defeat other countries for the gold medal. The mutual goal brings them together. The mutual hatred of Jesus unites the world.

Prayer coaching: “Jesus, I will not compromise my relationship with You to get along with those who hate You and me. Protect me from those who hate us.”

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John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

If the haters persecute Jesus, they will also persecute you. The haters will persecute Jesus. They will bring Him down from His throne as almighty God. They will lower Him into a nice prophet who had good sayings. if the people around you persecute Jesus, they will also persecute you. They might even be polite about it, as they assault you with words trying to convince you that you are wrong about Jesus.

If people keep Jesus’ words, they will listen to you and keep your words. As you speak the truth about Jesus, the people who already keep Jesus’ words, will listen to you. They will keep your words, because you speak the same truth that Jesus does. I find that if I speak the truth in public, I quickly see who is for Jesus and who is against Him.

Prayer coaching: “Jesus, give me boldness to speak the truth about You in public. Show me who will keep Your words when I speak the truth about You. Make it obvious who loves You and who hates You.”

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John 15:21 "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.”

4. They will be against you because you represent Jesus’ name. The haters will try and convince you that they know God. They’ll say all the roads lead to the same god, but you shouldn’t preach the name of Jesus as the only way. They will say they know God, but they don’t because they reject Jesus. Because Jesus has been revealed as God, all who reject Jesus are rejecting God; and they are rejecting you for representing Jesus.

Prayer coaching: “Jesus, I want to boldly stand up for Your name in public, even if I am persecuted for it. Help me place Your name above all names in everything I do.”