How to Respond Properly to Persecution

Matthew 5:10–12 (NLT)

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

10 μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

11 μακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς καὶ διώξωσιν καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν πονηρὸν καθʼ ὑμῶν ψευδόμενοι ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ.

12 χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.

ETS: Jesus blessed those who are persecuted for the cause of Christ.

ESS: True believers will be persecuted; and must respond properly to it.

OSS: Believers will commit to respond properly to persecution.

PQ: How am I to respond to persecution for the cause of Christ?

UW: Reasons

INTRODUCTION:

A- The promise to the Child of God:

1- Persecution is coming.

2- Illustration:

The Apostles (Acts 5:25-42)

Acts 5:25–42 (NLT)

25 Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”

26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.

27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them.

28 “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”

29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross.

31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven.

32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them.

34 But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while.

35 Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men!

36 Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing.

37 After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.

38 “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown.

39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

40 The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.

42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

Key verse (Acts 5:41)

Acts 5:41 (NLT)

41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.

B- The question:

1- How am I to respond to persecution for the cause of Christ?

a- "Be happy about it!" (χαίρετε = to enjoy a state of happiness and well-being—‘to rejoice, to be glad.’)

b- “Be very glad!” (ἀγαλλιᾶσθε = to experience a state of great joy and gladness, often involving verbal expression and appropriate body movement—‘to be extremely joyful, to be overjoyed, to rejoice greatly.’)

2- Why am I to respond in this way?

a- There are five reasons:

I. IT LETS YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK (Matthew 5:10a).

Matthew 5:10a (NLT)

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

10 μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

δεδιωγμένοι = to systematically organize a program to oppress and harass people—‘to persecute, to harass, persecution.’

A. Those who live for Christ are assured of persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12).

2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)

12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

1. persecution in the world.

a. Ridicule.

b. Attempts to cause you to belie Your profession and testimony.

(1) Illustration of man who was the only christian on his job. Others tried to back him into a corner. (personal experience).

c. Laws that restrict practicing your faith.

(1) Female student in Florida who was persecuted for witnessing and passing out New Testaments in a classroom assignment.

2. Persecution among uncommitted believers.

a. Put-downs for being a "fanatic".

(1) Beware of the "Wet Blanket Committee".

b. Attempts to stop You from selling - out to Christ.

B. Satan does not fight those who live ungodly or uncommitted lives.

1. He did not fight Ahab and Jezebel. He did fight Elijah! (1 Kings 18-19).

2. If You are being persecuted for walking with Christ, rejoice, you are on the right track.

II. YOU HAVE ASSURANCE OF A HEAVENLY HOME. (Matthew 5:10b).

Matthew 5:10b (NLT)

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

10 μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

A. This assurance is due to the fact of Christ in You. (1 John 5:11-13).

1 John 5:11–13 (NLT)

11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

1. God has provided eternal life in His Son.

2. You have accepted His Son as You personal Lord and Savior.

B. This assurance is made surer when You live out Your faith in Christ. (1 John 3:21-22)

1 John 3:21–22 (NLT)

21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.

22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

1. Living in obedience to Christ produces confidence and assurance.

2. Failure to live in obedience produces doubt.

III. THE ACCUSATIONS ARE FALSE (Matthew 5:11).

Matthew 5:11 (NLT)

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

11 μακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς καὶ διώξωσιν καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν πονηρὸν καθʼ ὑμῶν ψευδόμενοι ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ.

A. You will know that the attacks are unwarranted.

1 . Notice the types of attacks mentioned here.

a. "Mock” (ὀνειδίσωσιν): “to speak disparagingly of a person in a manner which is not justified—‘to insult, insult.’”

(1) Means to subject to verbal abuses, attempts to discredits, to express displeasure with, to criticize severely and find fault with.

b. "Persecute" (διώξωσιν): "To put to flight, drive away, to pursue.

c. “lie about you” ( ψευδόμενοι = to communicate what is false, with the evident purpose of misleading—‘to lie, to tell falsehoods.)

d. “ say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.” (εἴπωσιν πᾶν πονηρὸν καθʼ ὑμῶν = pertaining to being morally corrupt and evil—‘immoral, evil, wicked.’)

2. There is great comfort in knowing the accusations are false.

a. You can continue to hold your head high.

IV. YOU HAVE WONDERFUL REWARDS AWAITING YOU IN HEAVEN. (Matthew 5:12a)

Matthew 5:12a (NLT)

12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

“12 χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.”

A. Because Your works will endure the fires of Judgement. (1 Cor. 3:10-17).

1 Corinthians 3:10–17 (NLT)

10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.

11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.

13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.

14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.

15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

1. Enduring works ensure a crown (2 Tim 4:6-8).

2 Timothy 4:6–8 (NLT)

6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

B. Keep Your eye on eternity!

1. Example of Moses (Heb. 11:23–29).

Hebrews 11:23–29 (NLT)

23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.

26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.

27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

V. YOU ARE IN GOOD COMPANY (Matthew 5:12b).

Matthew 5:12b (NLT)

12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

12 χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.

A. Those who have stood for God were always persecuted.

1. Moses (Exodus)

2. Elijah (1 Kings 17-21)

3. Miciah (1 Kings 22:7-28)

4. Paul (Acts)

5. John (Revelation)

B. It will be far better overall to keep the company of the martyrs, than with the ungodly. (Psalm 1)

Psalm 1 (NLT)

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.

6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

(Hebrews 11:35-38, 12:1-3)

Hebrews 11:35–38 (NLT)

35 Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.

37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NLT)

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

CONCLUSION:

Persecution is really a time for shouting! It is not a time to get down in the mouth.

Are you under persecution? Don't give up. Keep on walking with growing in your intimacy with Him. Keep on following in absolute and complete obedience to His Word and the prompting of His Holy Spirit.