The Blessing in Persecution

Intro-

example of annuls

prepare you for this type of persecution as well as common persecution by seeing the blessing in it and knowing that God sees you.

Reconciling Gods Blessing with Persecution

Blessed : Happy - to be in the favor of God.

persecution: chased after / attacked

How do we reconcile Gods favor with enduring persecution for his sake.

Blessed are the spiritually poor, those who mourn, meek, spiritually hungry, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and finally those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.

popular opinion says something different -

blessed are the rich , blessed are the proud, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for attention for they will get facebook friends, blessed are those who learn to love themselves, blessed are those who get even and blessed are you when everyone says good things about you and loves you.

beattitudes of Christ show a spiritual blessing of those who deny themselves and follow after Christ.

counter cultural - because of this we can expect to recieve persecution.

1 Timothy 3 :12

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

living out the beatitudes will lead to persecution

Q . so you may still be wondering , Why am I blessed to be receiving persecution for righteousness sake.

A. well, you are blessed because the holy spirit rests upon you.

1 Pe 4:14 | If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Must be convinced that having the holy spirit living inside of you is a better blessing than anything this world has to offer

We are the most blessed people to walk on this earth.

move over bill gates, mark zuckerberg, tom cruise

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHARD I SHALL NOT WANT

FOR I WANT NOTHING MORE THAN JESUS

His life in me is going to lead to persecution.

for now mild, but not for long

Seeing the examples set before us

so we wont be afraid or caught off guard