The Blessed Affliction

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Text: Matthew 5:10-12

So, let's be real for a second. When you think about the word "blessed," what comes to mind? For a lot of us, our social media feeds have kind of hijacked that word.

We see a picture of a perfectly brewed latte in a sunny café: #Blessed.

A new job offer: #Blessed.

A vacation photo on a beach: #Blessed.

And listen, gratitude for good things is awesome. We should be thankful! But if that’s our *only* definition of "blessed," then what Jesus says next in the Beatitudes is going to sound completely insane, backwards, and maybe even a little toxic.

We’ve been working our way through the Beatitudes—this list Jesus gives of who is truly fortunate, who is truly in a good place with God.

For example Jesus said:

Matthew 5:3 NIV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Well, the world will never tell you to be poor in spirit. Godly humility is a laughingstock these days. Today we are told: "Be number one; assert yourself."

Matthew 5:4 NIV

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Who in America wants to cry? America is laughing its way to Hell - The world says “stop crying”

Matthew 5:5 NIV

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

The world says, "Don't be a meek man. Be a man. Be a strong girl!. Show what you got!. Impose yourself. But whatever you do, don't be a meek man." The world doesn't like that. The world thinks meekness is weakness, and the world's attitude and motto is "The winner takes all."

Matthew 5:6 NIV

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

The world will never advertise “righteousness” which ultimately means the desire to be free from sin in all its forms and manifestations.

The world say to that to have satisfaction in your life you need to have more money, a new relationship, a husband, a wife, a child, a degree, a new profession… these things may give you some kind of satisfaction, but it will be fleeting.

But Jesus said that The Secret of Complete Satisfaction is to have a hunger for righteousness (Jesus) and you will be filled - satisfied.

Matthew 5:7 NIV

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Let’s be honest—mercy isn’t our default. We prefer:

To get revenge (revenge is satisfying in the moment).

We want to “get even” (“They hurt me, so they don’t deserve my kindness”).

Comfort (helping people in trouble is inconvenient).

Biblical Example: Jonah didn’t want to show mercy to Nineveh (Jonah 4:2). He preferred to see them judged rather than forgiven. Sound familiar?

Illustration: Social media trains us to shame, not to show mercy. An old tweet from a celebrity resurfaces, and instead of allowing growth, we demand its deletion. But what if God treated us this way?

Matthew 5:8 NIV

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

The heart – It is that part of the individual that dictates character, directs the will, and dominates the affections.

You cannot have mixed emotions about your devotion…

You cannot have two masters…

What he's saying is that you can't hold the world with one hand and Jesus Christ with the other.

Matthew 5:9 NIV

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

We live in a very violent world that seems bent on destruction. Now, what causes all this?

James 4:1-4 tell us that we are at war with each other— Because we are at war within. And why are we at war within? Because we are at war with God.

Peace is a right relationship with God that leads to a right relationship with oneself and guides us into a right relationship with others.

When God thinks of you, do you know what He wants for you? Peace. - Jeremiah 29:11 “11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you peace/hope and a future.”

He is called the God of peace. He is called Jehovah Shalom—Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our peace. Peace, was planned by the Father.

John 14:27 (Jesus) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”

It is the Holy Spirit who brings this to our hearts and minds. He is the one who gives us this peace in our hearts, which tells us we are at peace with God.

He said to you, "My peace I give to you." That is what He left you. This is His legacy// His peace.

He said, "I do not give as the world gives."

The world did not give it to me, and the world cannot take it from me.

It is the peace that surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) No psychologist, no psychiatrist, without Jesus Christ, can have any understanding of this.

And he ends “The Beatitudes”with this:

Matthew 5:10–12 NIV

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.

Wait, *what?* vs.11

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you?”

*Rejoice and be glad,* when you’re getting dragged online or excluded from the group chat?

That’s the opposite of everything our world tells us. Our world says: Avoid pain at all costs. Seek comfort. Pursue approval.

But Jesus flips the script. He says the ultimate sign that you’re living right isn’t popularity; it’s persecution.

Not because suffering is good, but because

**what you’re suffering *for* is priceless.**

Let's break this down. Jesus gives us three things here: The Reason, The Reaction, and The Reward.

I. The Reason: "Because of..."

Did you notice the phrase that repeats?

"Because of righteousness..."; "because of me."

The persecution Jesus promises is specifically linked to two things:

A. “Because of righteousness”

The word righteousness comes from a Greek word meaning "to divide."

The reason Christians are persecuted is that, in a very real sense, they are divisive; they divide. They are different.

Christians are different.

That means because you are doing the right thing in a world that often celebrates the wrong thing.

Because you choose integrity over cutting corners at work.

Because you choose purity in a hook-up culture.

Because you speak up for justice when it’s easier to stay silent.

Because stand out like a diamond in a coal mine,

You are like a beautiful flower in a swamp.

Christians are different.

We live by faith. They walk by sight.

And Jesus, after speaking about being persecuted, said:

"You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-14).

Salt burns when it is poured into a wound, and the light reveals secrets hidden in the darkness.

And I'm telling you that the gospel of Jesus Christ is like salt for the festering wounds of this world, and the gospel of Jesus Christ is revealing light to the dark things of this world.

And therefore, they say, "Remove that salt and turn off that light."

Now, when we are persecuted let it be for “righteousness” sake, because you are doing the right thing in a world that often celebrates the wrong thing.

This is the most important part.

Jesus is *not* saying, “Blessed are you when you’re a jerk and people understandably don’t like you.”

He’s not talking about the backlash you get for being self-righteous, obnoxious, or just difficult to be around.

We must be very, very careful no to confuse persecution, with punishment.

Many Christians confuse persecution with punishment.

Very frankly, there are many people who think they are being persecuted when, in fact, they are receiving the punishment they should receive.

Let me show this verse

1 Peter 4:14–16 MSG

14 If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. 15 If they’re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that’s a different matter. 16 But if it’s because you’re a Christian, don’t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name!

Many Christians think they are being persecuted.

They are not being persecuted; they are just receiving punishment because they are “putting their nose in other people’s matters; - because they broke the law or disturbed the peace”

They're just people with bad manners, bad breath, arrogance, egotistic, and all that.

And they say, "Oh, people don't like me! I'm being persecuted!" You're not being persecuted. -”You gossip” - Always complaining… Always late to work - Underperforming - …

My dear friend, you're not living for the Lord Jesus Christ. That's just what you got because of what you did.

You say, "Well, I'm a witness." But the problem is, you're not a witness; you're more like a district attorney. Full of self-righteous, obnoxious.

You say, "Well, I want to be different." But the problem is, you're not different; you're strange.

Now, my dear friend, when Christians are filled with the Spirit, they will be supernaturally natural.

They will be naturally supernatural. They will be different. And they will be persecuted.

But don't go around saying you're persecuted if you're not living for the Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage of Scripture, in the Beatitudes, says, first, that what they say about you must be false; and second, that it must be because of Him.

B. ”Because of me"

First, the persecution has to do with your life style, righteousness. - You are doing the right thing in a world that often celebrates the wrong thing.

Second, persecution has to do with your loyalty to Jesus. ”Because of me".

This is the core.

This is when your identity with Jesus puts you at odds with the culture.

Because You love the Lord— you are on the Lord's side no matter what. This will bring persecution.

when you stand with the Christ of the Bible—when you stand with the Christ of the Bible...

I'm not talking about the baby Jesus.

The world doesn't hate baby Jesus. Some people may hate it. But, in general, The world doesn't hate baby Jesus.

baby Jesus - “it's good for business."

You got days off work because of baby Jesus…

Soon, Christmas will come, and everyone will love a baby in a manger.

But, in general, the world, the euphoric crowd goes to the mall, eats and drinks around the manger, and the merchants make millions—"baby Jesus is good for business."

Most christian won’t be persecuted if you celebrate Christmas.

I'll tell you something else.

The world doesn't hate the Jesus who healed the sick and fed the multitudes.

The world doesn't hate this Jesus—not at all. That's not why the world hates Jesus. And if that's all you know about the Lord Jesus Christ, then you might think the world doesn't really hate the Lord Jesus.

Do you know why the world hates Jesus?

Jesus said, "I have come to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).

And that's why, my dear friend, the world hates Jesus.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. What are they?

Abortion, injustice, corruption, immorality, pride, racism, and greed.

And Jesus Christ opposes these, and the world opposes Him. And, my dear friend, when you stand with the Christ of the Bible—

Listen to what Jesus Christ said in John, chapter 15, verse 19 onward. Jesus said to His disciples.

John 15:19–20 NKJV

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

My dear friend, the only reason the world hates Jesus is because Jesus is not of the world.

And the Bible says, in Philippians 1, verse 29:

Philippians 1:29 MSG

There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting.

My dear friend, when you receive Jesus Christ, you receive the gift of “suffering for him”.

2 Timothy 3:12 MSG

Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it.

The apostle Paul said, "Anyone” not some,… not maybe…- “there’s no getting around it”

Now, if you're not suffering any persecution because of Jesus. Frankly, you're probably not doing a good job as a Christian.

“Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it.”

When your hope is in Christ, it confronts a world that says hope is in your career, your relationships, or your financial portfolio.

The backlash isn't because you're weird; it's because you're a reflection of Christ, and sometimes that light exposes things people would rather keep in the dark.

II. The Reaction: “Rejoice and be glad!”

Matthew 5:12 NIV

Rejoice and be glad…

This is the part that feels humanly impossible.

Jesus doesn’t say, “Grin and bear it.” He doesn’t say, “Just endure it.” He says, “Rejoice! Be glad!”

How? How can we possibly do that?

Do you know what this word means?

It literally means "to leap and jump." It means "to dance."

You're so happy you can't keep your feet on the ground.

Why? Because you were persecuted!

You say, "That doesn't make sense." But, friend, when you realize they finally see the difference, when you realize someone has discovered I'm a Christian...

Someone said, "If most people in the US/BR were arrested for being Christians, there wouldn't be enough evidence to convict them."

"Rejoice and be glad" because somehow they identified you with the Lord, and this should be a time of great joy.

I was reading the other day in Acts, chapter 5, verse 41, about those early apostles who were persecuted, and the Bible says,In Acts, chapter 5, verse 41, after they were judged, the Bible says:

Acts 5:41 NIV

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Wow, isn't that an amazing verse? Have you ever said, "Oh, thank you, Lord, thank you, thank you, I am worthy to suffer shame for your name"?

"Rejoice and be glad" in the Lord. Our Lord commanded you to rejoice and be glad greatly.

The Bible says, in 2 Timothy, chapter 2, verse 12:

2 Timothy 2:12 MSG

12 If we stick it out with him, we’ll rule with him; If we turn our backs on him, he’ll turn his back on us;

Illustration: The Ultimate Team

Imagine you’re trying out for an Olympic team. The training is brutal. It’s 5 AM workouts, it’s sore muscles, it’s saying no to parties and desserts while your friends are having fun. They might even make fun of you: "Why are you doing this to yourself? Come live a little!"

But you endure it. Why? Because you know the pain has a purpose. It’s not meaningless suffering. It’s productive pain. Every drop of sweat is a step closer to wearing that jersey and representing your country. The hardship is proof that you’re in the running for something incredible.

The persecution Jesus talks about is like that. It’s not meaningless hate. It’s a sign that you’re on the right team—the team of the prophets, the apostles, the martyrs, and Jesus himself. He says, "they persecuted the prophets who were before you." You’re in legendary company! The hardship is proof that your life is so aligned with God’s kingdom that it’s making the kingdom of darkness nervous. So you can rejoice, not in the pain itself, but in what the pain *means*.

III. The Reward: "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven... great is your reward in heaven."

Jesus bookends this entire passage with a massive promise. He started in verse 3 with "theirs is the kingdom of heaven," and he ends with it here.

He’s saying that those who are persecuted for him are given the ultimate assurance: they are citizens of God’s kingdom. Right now. And that citizenship comes with a future reward that is so great, it makes the present suffering fade in comparison.

2 Corinthians 4:17 MSG

17 These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.

This is the eternal perspective. The insults on Earth are temporary. The exclusion is temporary. But the reward? That’s forever.

Application: So What Does This Mean For Us?

This isn’t just ancient history. This is a reality for many of our brothers and sisters around the world right now, and it’s becoming a reality for us in more subtle ways. So how do we live this out?

1. Check Your Source.

Ask yourself this week: "Am I experiencing friction because of *Jesus*, or because of *me*?"

Let’s do a heart check. If people are annoyed because you’re prideful, judgmental, or unkind, that’s on you.

Repent and ask for grace to reflect Jesus better.

But if the friction is because you gently turned down compromising situation, because you served someone everyone else ignores, or because you named Jesus as your hope… that’s a sign you’re living the Beatitude life.

2. Reframe the friction.

Next time you feel that sting of being left out, or that anxiety before posting something about your faith, or that hurt from a misunderstanding because of your beliefs—pause.

Don’t just see it as pain. See it as a confirmation. Remind yourself: "This is evidence that my life looks different. This is a sign that I belong to Jesus." Reframe it from a curse to a credential.

3. Lean into Community.

We cannot do this alone. This is why we have a church, why we have small groups. When one of us is feeling the weight of persecution—whether it’s a big thing or a subtle social cost—we need to be there for each other.

We need to be the ones who say, "I see you. I’m with you. Let’s rejoice together that we’re on the right team."

Your community is your locker room where you get encouraged to get back in the game.

4. Live a Life Worth Persecuting.

This is the big one. If we never experience any pushback for our faith, we have to ask: Is our faith even visible?

Are we blending in so well that no one can tell we belong to Jesus?

Let’s challenge each other to live lives of such radical love, such genuine integrity, and such courageous hope that it *inevitably* creates a beautiful, holy friction with the world around us.

Jesus doesn’t promise a safe life. He promises a significant one. He promises that when the world pushes back against the Him in you, you are, in that very moment, profoundly and eternally #Blessed.

Let’s pray.