John 15:18 NIV

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first."

3 Realities every believer needs to know:

1. Expect HOSTILITY

1st John 2:15-16 NLT

15 "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world."

Have you blended in so well that you no longer look like Jesus?

Romans 12:2 NLT

2 "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

2. Remember your IDENTITY

John 15:18 NIV

"You do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world."

Philippians 3:20 NLT

"But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior."

Assimilation is the process of taking in, absorbing, or adapting fully to something.

3. You have an ADVOCATE

John 15:26-27 NIV

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

John 15:27 NIV

27 "And you also must testify...."