Jesus warns us of coming hatred and persecution so we do not stumble when they arrive: “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.” (1). He tells them and us we will get kicked out of church and some will even think by killing us they are serving God’s interests but their hatred and action is founded in ignorance, specifically ignorance of God and His Son (2-3). We need to remember these words so we are not distracted or derailed from our Divine purpose by being offended by hatred and persecution. He then informs us that His physical presence will be replaced by His spiritual presence in the Holy Spirit. The devil’s desire is to derail Christians from effective presentation of God’s kingdom by the distractions of hatred and persecution. Let us, by God’s grace and Christ’s Word, stand strong without stumbling, by Spirit filled living and Spirit empowered testimonies.