As the sheep of Jesus’ pasture we must expect persecution, we must trust His purposes in persecution, we must rely upon the Spirit to endure persecution; as it goes with the Shepherd, so it goes with the sheep.

• A call for prudence among enemies – Wise as a serpent.
• A call for innocence among persecutors – Pure as a dove.

• The promise that persecution will come. (Matthew 10:17)
• Persecution and the purposes of God. (Matthew 10:18)
• The promise of the Spirit’s help in the midst of persecution.(Matthew 10:19-20)
• Persecution and the endurance of the Saints. (Matthew 10:21-23)