Persecution

Sometimes when speaking or seeking peace, persecution follows

Psalm 120:7 “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!”

Data from the Small Business Administration shows that an average of

80% of employer businesses survive the first year,

70% survive at least two years

50% survive at least five years

30% survive at least ten years

25% survive at least fifteen years

Why did they Fail?

42% – failed to find a market need for their services or products

29% – failed due to running out of cash

23% – failed because they didn’t have the right team

19% – failed due to being bested by a competitor

18% – failed due to pricing and cost issues

17% – failed due to poor product offering

17% – failed due to a bad business model

14% – failed due to poor marketing

14% – failed because they ignored their customers

2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

Matthew 10 “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

1. Persecution was not a new concept for the original hearers of the sermon on the mount.

Matthew 5:12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Zechariah, Jeremiah, Isaiah

Simon the zealot

John the Baptist Disciples

John 1:40 “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.”

2. General persecutions will often be seen or felt through specific attacks or sufferings

Matthew 5:11 ““Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

a. Criticism

People may ask why you are willing to endure such thing.

Luke 17:10 “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ””

b. False accusations

3. Persecution leads to blessing if affiliated with righteousness.

Matthew 5:10a “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

4. The ultimate blessing for persecution is the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5:10b “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Acts 14:22 “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”