The Persecuted
Notes
Transcript
As we close this series today on the Beatitudes, let me begin by saying this. People who follow Christ and live according to the principles of God’s Word will face opposition and rejection.
There are people in this world that do not like Christians and do not like what we believe and what we stand for.
Listen to this statement. As a believer you will receive criticism and opposition from the world and at times from those within the church.
As we continue to go on in this life in this world, there will be more and more opposition to the church and possibly from the church. Because more and more christians are beginning to lower their standards. Churches are beginning to allow more and more sin into their pulpits and into their bylaws. And as long as you stand for what is right and what is truth that comes from God’s Word you will be persecuted.
Look at our eighth and final Beatitude in Matthew chapter 5. It is found in verse ten.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
When you think about persecution, we know that persecution is taking place with believers and unbelievers alike. Persecution is familiar to all who are oppressed and downtrodden. However, Jesus did not offer the kingdom of heaven as a blanket blessing to all victims of persecution everywhere for all causes. He offered it only to those who are persecuted because of righteousness and because of Himself.
Kingdom honor is not granted as compensation for the unfairness of life, but as a blessing on those who have actively pursued true kingdom righteousness and have been persecuted for it.
Kingdom honor is not granted as compensation for the unfairness of life, but as a blessing on those who have actively pursued true kingdom righteousness and have been persecuted for it.
As you are facing persecution there will be temptations to compromise your faithfulness to God’s purposes in order to avoid shame and embarrassment.
38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
We see denominations and churches lower their standards to meet the world’s wants and desires. They scream all are welcome here as they want to show inclusiveness.
Can I say it. All are welcome here. However, we are not going to lower our standards just to make you feel better about who you are. We are going to love you and teach you what God’s Word says. And we hope that you will see for yourself what God is saying to you.
All people are welcome here, but there is a certain standard that we need to strive for as believers. And if you are working on raising your standards of living, then we want to help you get there.
Sadly as we become all that God wants us to become, the world is going to turn against you. There will be more and more laws passed that will target christians. There will be more and more persecution against the truth of God’s Word. The question is where do you stand?
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”
Are you okay with the persecution that will come with standing for the truth?
When I think of persecution in scripture, I think of several stories that stand out to me.
But the one I want to look at is about three guys that decided to stand for their faith in the midst of idolatry. Their names were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The story is found in Daniel 3.
Look at the story.
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.
3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do:
5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
This is what was set up. Everyone in the land had to do this and they all did except three. Look at the rest of their story.
8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews.
9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!
10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,
11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?
15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.
18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
So, again they get told the circumstances and they tell the king fine if that is what has to happen then do it.
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual
20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.
22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,
27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
If this story doesn’t give you something to shout about then you have something wrong with you.
God brought them out of the fiery furnace. And that is the same promise that God gave us here with the last beatitude.
Look at the promise.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The principles of God’s Kingdom never change. Just because man changes his mind doesn’t mean that God does.
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
We will be persecuted for our faith but God’s promise is when I suffer and endure persecution because of my devotion and commitment to God, I am promised a place of honor and reward in God’s heavenly kingdom.