Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake

Matthew 5:10–12 ESV

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Thanks for WorkBee last Sunday

Did you ache the next day? My aches had aches.

Plans - Painting the outside at front. New sign. Grounds clean up.

Celebration Weekend around August? Special Sabbath and Community Sunday.

Pray about it.

The 8th and Last Beatitude

Number 8 of 8

I hope you have been blessed by the series.

We will continue starting next week through the Beatitudes.

(Slide) We live in the Land of Giants

Do you remember the series?

We live in the Armpit of the Universe.

Set fifteen years in the then future year 1983, the series tells the tale of the crew and passengers of a sub-orbital transport ship named Spindrift. In the pilot episode, the Spindrift is en route from Los Angeles to London, on an ultra fast sub-orbital flight. Just beyond Earth's boundary with space, the Spindrift encounters a magnetic space storm, and is dragged through a space warp to a mysterious planet where everything is twelve times larger than on Earth, whose inhabitants the Earthlings nickname "the Giants."

We live among Giants, in the Armpit of the Universe.

The Giants are not named in the TV series. Some are friendly, some are not.

We live in the Armpit of the Universe. And We live among Giants.

(Slide) Honey, I shrunk the Kids

1989 Movie. It tells the story of an inventor who accidentally shrinks his and his neighbour's kids to a quarter of an inch with his electromagnetic shrinking machine, then throws them out into the backyard with the trash, where they must venture into their backyard to return home while fending off giant insects and other obstacles .

We are all on a journey home and the path is thwart with danger.

But the path is thwart with danger.

Do you feel sometimes that you are on a journey, with very little control, surrounded on all sides by forces, hidden and visible, much bigger than yourself?

One side trying to get you back home with God, the other side trying everything to ruin that.

And Sometimes we are our worst enemies

That is the Great Controversy in a nutshell!

We can feel so tiny, stuck, while this whole thing plays out around and in us.

Or we can be so self deceived and actually think we are in control.

y feel we are in control :)

Here is the promise...

Matthew 5:10 ESV

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

We will make it home! That is God’s promise.

That is God’s promise,

John 10:28 ESV

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

None that are His shall be plucked out of his Hand

(Slide) We must Name our Giants, our Enemies

The Big Three - The World, the Flesh and the Devil.

They are all enemies. They are at enmity with God.

This is what the great controversy is all about.

1 John 2:16 ESV

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

The Big Three - The World, the Flesh and the Devil.

We live in a World that is at enmity (hatred) with God.

The values in the world are the complete opposite of the Sermon on the Mount.

The true God not really acknowledged and followed in this world!

It is a battle every day in this world to walk as a believer.

We live in a body where our Old Self or Flesh is still very much alive and at enmity (hatred) with God.

The Old Person vs the New Person.

There is a constant war and struggle within. Read .

And We have an Intelligent Spiritual Foe, the Devil, and his fallen hosts, that are constantly at war and enmity with God and Believers.

Eventually in Christ, we will Win! That is a promise. It is a fact.

We need our spiritual eyes opened everyday to the clear and present dangers we face.

But now is the time of the fight of our lives. We are (present tense) living in the land of Giants.

But now is the time of the fight of our lives.

We are (present tense) living in the land of Giants.

But now is the time of the fight of our lives.

We are (present tense) living in the land of Giants.

(Slide) All who live for Jesus will face Persecution

It is a promise of God.

Full stop, it will happen! You can take it to the bank.

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

The Bible is very clear. ALL will face Persecution, who live a godly life.

I hope that is clear already, ALL will face Persecution.

But then we are surprised when it happens?

But ALL will face persecution of various Kinds!

It is a promise of God. Full stop. You can take it to the bank.

Full stop, it will happen! You can take it to the bank.

Here Christ refers primarily to persecution suffered in the process of forsaking the world for the kingdom of heaven.

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

ALL!

ALL!

There it is, our response should be Peace, Joy… How are you doing?

Come back to that.

(Slide) The 8th Beatitude (like all before) is Progressive and Perpetual

The 8th and final beatitude is Personal. They All are characteristics of All Believers.

This 8th and final beatitude is Progressive.

It is a direct result of living out the previous 7 in everyday life.

It is in the context of the previous 7.

It is a direct result of living out the previous 7 in everyday life.

It follows Peacemaking.

It may seem strange that Jesus should pass from peacemaking to persecution, from the work of reconciliation to the experience of hostility.

The 8th and final Beatitude is also Perpetual.

It is a characteristics of All believers for All their remaining earthy life.

It is part of the “Already, Now and Not Yet” for the Believer.

Jesus here is not talking about persecution in the context of some “end end time period”.

Jesus here is not talking about persecution in the context of some end end time period.

It is persecution that is happening every today.

It is persecution that is happening every day as we live for Christ.

Living for Jesus is more clearly defined by the Sermon of the Mount and the Beatitudes.

This is Now and Not yet persecution.

We look at our life in this world and our time in this world. God's perspective is eternity. His work in us and others is in the light of eternity.

We look at our life in the light of this world and our time in this world. God's perspective is eternity. His work in us and others is in the light of eternity.

We need to focus on Now Times, over and above, End Times.

Fixation on Now times over and above End times.

(Slide) The “You” of Persecution

Then did you notice something in the 8th Beatitude, not in the previous 7, we read this :

Matthew 5:10–12 ESV

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

v.11-12 repeat, amplify, and personalize v.10 by shifting from third-person to second-person . From “Those” in v10 to “You” in v11 and 12.

The switch from “Those” in v10 to “You” in v11 and 12.

So lets add another “P”. This 8th and final beatitude is Personal (like the previous 7).

Jesus makes this very this Beatitude very Personal.

Jesus makes this very Personal for us.

repeat, amplify, and personalize v. 10 by shifting from third-person to second-person address.

The switch from “Those” in v10 to “You” in v11 and 12.

Theirs to You

Persecution is very personal and very real! Today!

It can affect us Spiritually, Emotionally and/or Physically.

Everyone suffers the first two, some will directly suffer the last.

So lets add another “P”. This 8th and final beatitude is Personal (like the previous 7).

Progressive, Perpetual and Personal (The Three Ps of the Beatitudes).

(Slide) What is meant by Persecution for Righteousness Sake?

It is Identification with Christ!

It is the same as saying “On my Account”.

It is identification and living for Jesus, each day, each hour, each minute. And letting the consequences be what they may!

Obey God and all with go great! It is such a lie.

And let the consequences be what they may!

Surely on my account is following the words of Jesus.

I worked for HP for many years. I represented HP. I was a HPer. In one sense I lived for HP, it was an essential part of my identity. I followed their rules for business and promoted and sold their products. If a HP competitor said something against me as a HP Representative, it was not personal as such, it was really against the HP company.

Jesus is saying, when they persecute you, because of identification with me, they persecute me.

Just as Jesus identifies with us in good works performed to others in His name, (verse below), so he also identifies with us in Persecution in His name.

Just as Jesus identifies with us in Good works performed to others in His name, (verse below), so he also identifies with us in Persecution against us because of His name.

English Standard Version Chapter 25

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:40 ESV

40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

We could say that if persecution is missing to some degree, there may well be a problem.

Luke 6:26 ESV

26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Story Jeremiah. Surrender and Submit to God and to the Babylonians. Spiritual, Emotional and Physical.

Obey God and all with go great! It is such a lie.

It is more clearly revealed to us by the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount.

Just as Jesus identifies with us in Good works performed to others in His name, (verse below), so he also identifies with us in Persecution against us because of His name.

Persecution can be Spiritual, Emotional and/or Physical. It can be caused by Word and/or Deed.

It the context of living out the sermon of the mount everyday, persecution will happen all ALL but can be under the cloak of many isms.... racism, gender-ism and agism … needs more thought. Any thing that says the grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to one group over another is playing favorites.

Common things listed, Revile you, Utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Common things listed, Revile you, Utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Blessed Persecution / Suffering vs Reaping what you Sow

1 Peter 4:14–16 ESV

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Blessed Persecution or Suffering vs Reaping what you Sow

I believe God does mitigate and work even in justified consequences when we repent and commit ourselves to Him.

The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 5 10. Persecuted

This conflict will go on until “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ” (Rev. 11:15; cf. Dan. 2:44; 7:27).

(Slide) Three kinds of Persecution - Spiritual, Emotional and Physical

Look at three types of Persecution. Spiritual, Emotional and Physical. Of-course they overlap.

Matthew 5:11 ESV

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

We face spiritual and emotional every day.

Spiritual Persecution

1 Peter 5:8–9 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Remember we live in the Land of Giants. We are on a journey home and there is a roaring lion out there.

Be Sober minded, Be Watchful. Two imperatives.

Resist, Stand Firm, Fellowship.

This is why Christian fellowship is so important!

An isolated Christian is a victim waiting to happen.

Emotional Persecution

We face emotional persecution every day as we live for Christ.

One of the most subtle and hardest things to bear!

Emotional Persecution

One of the most subtle and hardest things to bear!

Especially when for no reason and by those whom we acted towards with love and sincerity of heart.

Especially when for no reason or by those whom we acted towards with love and sincerity of heart.

Physical Persecution

Physical- Prayer Meeting

, “revile you - reproach, mock”. It is the same greek word used of the crowd and thieves who reviled or mocked Jesus as He was hanging on the cross.

Utter, say, tell, ----- evil, wicked. ----- about you ----

“Stick and stones will break by bones but words will never harm me” What utter rubbish.

2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Physical Persecution

Utter, say, tell, evil, wicked.

On My Account

It is happening all over this world in various degrees.

On my account. For who we are, what we do or say in the name of Christ, as we live our everyday life in this world.

Who we are, what we do and what we say say in the name of Christ,

As we work out everyday in everyday life, what God has put in us.

It is estimated that every month 255 people are killed for their Faith and 66 Churches attacked.

The business person who calls for and insists on treating others like themselves because of Christ. And so is by passed for advancement.

In some parts of the world what we describe as the “end times persecution” is actually happening!

My only minor experience. Prayer Meeting

The student who refuses to compromise with so many temptations because of Christ. It can get lonely.

The person that refuses to join in the mocking or gossiping of others, because of Christ, but reaches out to that person. Suddenly they are not part of the in crowd.

The List just goes on and on. It is in the little things, everyday, but so important.

(Slide) When I am Weak, I am Strong

2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

To be content in Christ, when such is happening to us. Wow!

When I am weak, I am strong.

What about Believer Persecuting Believer?

Is that possible? Sobering thought. And it is just tragic!

The New American Commentary: Matthew 2. Paradigmatic Preaching: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)

What is even more tragic is when one Christian persecutes another, allegedly “because of righteousness,” when the persecution actually stems from too narrow a definition of Christian belief or behavior.

Church as a Judgement free zone.

We do not know the heart of a person. And all they have been through.

Point people to Christ and be the sermon.

Let Christ do the work in others in His time and way.

Persecution will happen to ALL believers, but can be manifested under the cloak of many “isms”.... racism, gender-ism, religion-ism, agism, favouritism..... Any thing in thought, word or action that limits the grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit due to isms is in my view dangerous and portrays God playing favourites and “persecutes” a particular group. it is a self imposed, too narrow definition of God and His grace through Christ, that is projected onto others.

Any thing that limits the grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit due to isms is something where we need much care, thought and prayer.

favoritism. Any thing in thought, word or action that limits the grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit due to isms is in my view dangerous and portrays God playing favourites and persecutes a particular group. it is a self imposed, too narrow definition of God and His grace through Christ, that is projected onto others.

Make judgements on another, we do not know the heart of a person.

Jesus broke through every barrier and invited All to come to Him, ALL to take up the cross and follow Him, and ALL to have life in abundance in Him through the Holy Spirit.

Church as a Judgement free zone. We do not know the heart of a person. And all they have been through.

We do not know the heart of a person. And all they have been through.

Point people to Christ and focus on being the sermon.

Let Christ do the work in His time and His way.

(Slide) What is Our Response to Persecution- When I am Weak, I am Strong

Spiritual Persecution

We face spiritual persecution every day.

Trials and Temptations

Emotional Persecution

Emotional bullying or persecution is one of the hardest things to bear!

Especially when done for no reason and by those to whom we acted towards with love and sincerity of heart.

Physical Persecution

Physical, incident at prayer meeting

2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

To be content in Christ, when such is happening to us. Wow!

When I am weak, I am strong.

(Slide) What is Our Response to Persecution - Rejoicing and being Glad

Matthew 5:12 NKJV

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Not just glad, but exceedingly glad.

Jesus turns what we think and feel upside down.

We want to withdraw, sulk and generally feel sorry for ourselves. Or retaliate in some way. Jesus says be the very opposite.

Philippians 4:4 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Rejoice because God will work out all things together for good.

The very last human emotion you would associate with persecution, he calls out.

Persecution - God’s method to refine our Faith

In good times and in bad.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

This life is a fraction of eternity. Best ever holiday you ever had. Way better. Forever.

Persecution, trials and temptations are one of the most common means and methods ordained by God towards developing Christian patience and maturity.

Luke 10:20 ESV

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

We see a person going through a difficult time and we try and leap in to “solve” the situation.

But what is God trying to do here? We need to avoid amateur providence making.

But what is God trying to do here? We need to avoid amateur providence making.

Putting on the Full Armour of God

Star Trek.

Persecution calls for Perseverance

Never, never, never Give Up!

(Slide*2) The Great Reward - The Double Blessing

We end where we began.

Present tense. For there is.

No accident.

This Beatitude comes with a double blessing.

Matthew 5:10 ESV

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

Matthew 5:3 ESV

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

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

It is the same reward in the first and last Beatitude!

Is, in , . Present tense, Indicative. Actual vs possible or contingent.

Is, in , . Present tense, Indicative. Writer says this is actual vs possible or contingent.

It is appropriate that the first and last beatitudes should contain the assurance of membership in the kingdom. Those who experience the eight qualifications for citizenship here enumerated are worthy of a place in the kingdom.

We live in the Land of Giants but our Lord and our reward is so much Bigger!

In our affliction he is afflicted.

Isaiah 63:9 ESV

9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

There is no comparison here between those with a lesser reward and a greater reward. So the reward should be thought of as heaven itself and not some particular status in the life to come. Jesus offers a poignant reminder that the great men and women of Old Testament times often suffered a similar fate. The prophet Jeremiah provides the classic example. The same is true of Christian history. When we suffer, we must avoid the trap of thinking that we are the only ones who have ever experienced such problems.

Christ is our reward. If Christ were in Hell it would be Heaven. If Christ were not in heaven it will be Hell. He is our ultimate reward!