Beatitude #8 - Blessed are those who are persecuted

Intro [1-1]

Welcome

Prayer

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Recap [3-4]

Jesus popular

Large crowds following Him

Jesus goes up on the side of the mountain to teach

What follows is the Sermon on the Mount

Jesus starts with a lesson in the Beatitudes

Be-Attitude

Be-Attitude = Supreme Blessing

Characteristics, attitude, spiritual attribute of the Jesus Follower

Not a lesson in Salvation

Beatitudes describe how we should live (Daily Living)

8 x Blessings, with attributes and reversal rewards

Like a Ladder

Beatitudes are like a ladder (2-piece ladder)

Ladder has to have all rungs, not only some

It is NOT climbing up and getting closer to God,

but it is moving away for your comfort zone, your default, your old sinful ways (FEAR of HEIGHT)

Like a 2-piece extension ladder

RUNGS 1-3

Poor in spirit — I bring nothing to God; I depend entirely on Him.

Those who mourn — I grieve my sin and the brokenness of the world.

The meek — I surrender my strength to God’s control.

Our position before God

[These are receptive — they describe what we lack and what we receive.]

Receiving: what I lack, I receive

God empties us

God creates a hunger

RUNG 4

The 4th rung is actually part of the 2nd section: its actual 1st step

So last week we have been on both parts of the ladder

4. Hunger and thirst for righteousness — I long for God Himself to fill me.

Our position before God

Receiving: what I lack, I receive

THE TURNING POINT

God FILLS US

Theme: 1st four

Beatitudes empty us of self‑reliance and awaken deep desire for God’s righteousness.

As we moving up on the ladder, we may experience a sense of Fear of Height

RUNGS 5-8

Merciful — Because God showed me mercy, I show mercy to others.

Pure in heart — Because God cleansed me, I walk with integrity and single devotion.

Peacemakers — Because God reconciled me, I become an agent of reconciliation.

Persecuted for righteousness — Because I now live out God’s righteousness, the world resists it.

Our position before Others

[These are active — they describe what we give because of what we’ve received]

Giving Reaction: I give, because of what I received

flows from being filled

then sends us out as His disciples

Theme: last four

Beatitudes express the outward fruit of the inward transformation.

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Introduction to Today’s text [2-6]

Today’s text:

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.

RUNG 4 & 8

1 - 5 : Knowing my spiritual poverty makes me compassionate toward others’ poverty. Mercy - Poor Spirit

2 - 6 : Grieving sin leads to a desire for purity and integrity. Pure Heart - Mourning

3 - 7 : A meek person does not fight for self, so they can work for peace.

4 - 8 : Those who crave righteousness will live it — and suffer for it.

This pairing shows that the Beatitudes are not random; they are intentional spiritual formation.

In B#4 they crave for R

While in B#8, this same people will suffer for it - Persecuted

Even today

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Persecution is Real [6-12]

World Watch List 2026 [1.5]

World’s most dangerous - North Korea [1]

Most persucuted in Sub-Saharan Africa - Somalia [0.5]

Most Violent places for Believers - Sudan, Nigeria and Mali [1]

5 May - DRC 24 dead [0.5]

Last Sunday - 2 arrested - 9 year sentence [1]

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The 1st Martyrs for Christ [3-15]

[BLANK]

How the disciples died

Peter and Paul

Both were martyred in Rome about 66 AD, during the persecution under Emperor Nero.

Paul was beheaded.

Peter was crucified upside down at his request since he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

Andrew

He went to the "land of the man-eaters" in what is now the Soviet Union. Christians there claim him as the first to bring the gospel to their land. He also preached in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, and Greece, where he is said to have been crucified. Andrew’s cross was X-shaped, a detail reflected in the Saint Andrew's Cross known today.

Philip

He possibly had a powerful ministry in Carthage in North Africa and Asia Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. In retaliation, the proconsul had Philip arrested and cruelly put to death and crucified upside down.

Matthias

He was the apostle chosen to replace Judas. Tradition sends him to Syria with Andrew and to death by burning.

James

He was the son of Alpheus and is one of at least three James referred to in the New Testament. There is some confusion as to which is which, but this James is reckoned to have ministered in Syria. The Jewish historian Josephus reported that he was stoned and then clubbed to death.

Thomas

He was probably most active in the area east of Syria. Tradition has him preaching as far east as India, where the ancient Marthoma Christians revere him as their founder. They claim that he died there when pierced through with the spears of four soldiers.

Bartholomew

He had widespread missionary travels attributed to him by tradition: to India with Thomas and back to Armenia, Ethiopia, and Southern Arabia. There are various accounts of how he met his death as a martyr for the gospel. Whether he was flayed alive or beheaded remains a subject of debate among scholars.

Matthew

He was the tax collector, and writer of a Gospel ministered in Persia and Ethiopia. Some of the oldest reports say he was not martyred, while others say he was stabbed to death in Ethiopia.

Simon, the Zealot

As the story goes, he ministered in Persia and was killed after refusing to sacrifice to the sun god. According to several historical accounts, Simon the Zealot was crucified.

John

The only one of the apostles generally thought to have died a natural death from old age. He was the church leader in the Ephesus area and is said to have taken care of Mary the mother of Jesus in his home. During Domitian's persecution in the middle '90s, he was exiled to the island of Patmos. There he is credited with writing the last book of the New Testament--the Revelation. An early Latin tradition has him escaping unhurt after being cast into boiling oil in Rome.

Even though Christians were persecuted until the 4th century, the faith continued to spread like wildfire.

Why did God not protect them?

They were doing the right thing

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Canterbury Martyrs 1555 [6-21]

January 1555 was an ominous month for Anglican clergy in England.

After several years of separation from Roman worship and governance,

the accession of Mary I in 1553 and

her immediate reversion to Roman Catholic rule

In obedience to the Pope (an attempt to turn back the Reformation of the English church)

led her to unleash her wrath upon those

whom she defined as treasonably minded heretics.

Anglican clergy were executed for heresy in Canterbury, Kent

and were burnt during this reign of Mary I.

This is what Dr Rowland Taylor said at his execution:

(1510–1555) was an English Protestant pastor

Why He Was Arrested

He rejected the Catholic Mass as a sacrifice

He taught Scripture publicly despite bans

He opposed clerical celibacy and defended biblical marriage

He refused to recant his Protestant convictions

I say to my wife, and to my children, The Lord gave you unto me, and the Lord hath taken me from you, and you from me: blessed be the name of the Lord! I believe that they are blessed which die in the Lord. God careth for sparrows, and for the hairs of our heads. I have ever found Him more faithful and favourable, than is any father or husband.

Trust ye therefore in Him by the means of our dear Saviour Christ's merits: believe, love, fear, and obey Him: pray to Him, for He hath promised to help

Look what this man is saying. Does he know he is going to die in a few minutes? He says God is going to help. He is not refering to his own life. He knows that he had an option to live, but he chose God and still believe that God will help his family.

He wants them to believe, love, fear, and obey Him: pray to Him

God gives us free choice. The disciples, in this period where Christians were prosecuted, could have said “NO, this is too dangerous”, and they would have survived, but as Jesus, they knew that their mission would end in death. Emperor Nero was killing Christians for the fun of it.

Count me not dead, for I shall certainly live, and never die. I go before, and you shall follow after, to our long home.

You see, they not only knew the reward was great, (Kingdom of God)

but also we filled by the Spirit.

Filled with faith and conviction to spread God’s word faithfully (Good News).

They had to make a decision to stay true to Christ and God.

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We don’t have to die to receive the Kingdom of God [3-24]

Matthew 5:11 NIV

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

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.

We also receive the kingdom of heaven when mocked and lied about

How are things in this world for Christians

At work, in sport, in School, in politics

Here we get our opportunity to be mocked, insulted, lied about.

Teacher Guilty

I am lucky in my job (so far)

What about you in your job.

My previous job I could be fired.

How do we do it then? [BLANK

We don’t always have to be at war.

All we have to do, is keep living for Christ.

We don’t have to be a pain, or be judgemental,

but we can live our lives for Christ and stand-up for Him.

When we deal with the world, in our quest for what is right, (Righteousness)

we have to be meek, merciful, pure of heart, and be peacemakers.

This means to be NICE.

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The 1st and last beatitude [2-26]

Even when we did not get the opportunity to die for Christ,

or to be mocked because of Christ,

there is a 3rd way to earn the Kingdom of Heaven.

The 8th and last beatitude give us 2x opportunities.

Matthew 5:10 NIV

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:11 NIV

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

And the 1st beatitude gives us the same opportunity.

Matthew 5:3 NIV

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

God blesses those who are poor in spirit and poor of life the same

When we rely on God to provide the Spirit, to provide eternal live (because we can’t),

we don’t care to lose our lives for Him.

A greatest rewards you can receive – the Kingdom of Heaven

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Rejoice & be Glad [4-30]

In this 8th Beatitude, Jesus is saying to His disciples and to us today,

YOU WILL BE PROCECUTED, MOCKED, INSULTED,

and when this happens I want you to be glad. (there is great reward)

Matthew 5:12 NIV

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.

Matthew 5:12 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.

Is Jesus saying we should be glad if we have the opportunity to suffer due to Him?

Examples of Canterbury Martyrs 1555

These are just 3 examples of rejoicing, being happy for being persecuted.

These men were exceedingly glad when persecuted

Lawrence Saunders, (8 Feb 1555) with a smiling face embraced the stake of his execution and kissed it saying, “Welcome the cross of Christ, welcome everlasting life.”

Doctor Taylor (9 Feb 1555) leapt and danced a little as he came to his execution, saying when asked how he was, “Well, God be praised, good Master Sheriff, never better; for now I am almost home…I am even at my Father’s house.”

George Roper (30 Nov 1555) came to the stake leaping for joy, and hugged the stake he was to be burned at like a friend.

The three: Cold, Lukewarm, Hot for Christ

These men - RED HOT

WHY rejoice & be glad?

because great is your reward in heaven

For a great reward awaits you in heaven.

It is all about the end game –

the reward - treasure in Heaven

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God’s Promises [8-38]

God’s promise - life itself [3]

Revelation 2:10–11 NIV

10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. (crown of life) 11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

James 1:12 “12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Crown is worn on the head to signify victory, glory, or prestige (and sometimes sovereignty).

They may lose their earthly life

But they will receive true life from Him

The crown is the victory of faithfulness, even in suffering

It is not about status.

It is not about hierarchy in heaven.

It is about life itself — the fullness of life that only God can give.

It is not a reward, it’s a promise

Revelation 2:10–11 NIV

the second death

Hell, permanent punishment

Revelation 20:14 NIV

14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Revelation 21:8 NIV

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

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God’s promise - White Robes [3]

Revelation 6:9–11 NIV

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. He = The Lamb (NLT) “under the altar” emphasizes that their life blood was poured out as an offering to God. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.

Revelation 6:9–11 NIV

white robe

Revelation 3:4–5 NIV

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

My dear friends, there is a very special place for these people, a very special reward.

It gets better:

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God’s promise - Reign with Christ [2]

Revelation 20:4–6 NIV

4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

beheaded - Those of Revelation 6:9 - I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.

rest of the dead - Those who do not have part in the first resurrection are not blessed, they are under the power of the second death, and they are without privilege.

those who share in the first resurrection - Auth to judge, Persecuted - Blessed and Holy - Reign with Christ

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The Beatitudes summarised [1]

We are Blessed

When we are poor in spirit and realize our need for him.

And we then mourn when we realise, we are spiritually bankrupt,

we put ourselves under God’s control when we become meek

(like a wild horse being tamed, still has its power, but under control)

In our quest for righteousness, to quench our thirst and hunger for what is right

in this quest, we will be merciful, operate with a pure heart, and be the peacemakers.

In our quest for righteousness, for what is right

people will insult us, persecute us and falsely say all kinds of evil against us.

And when this happens, we will be happy about it! We will be very glad!

For a great reward awaits us in heaven.

Beatitude as Tool for new Christian

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I want to close with a final word from Paul [1]

2 Timothy 1:8–9 NLT

8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

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