HOW TO ENJOY GETTING BEAT UP

-Happy Are Those Who Are Persecuted-

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.  The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.  Not only that--count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me.. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable."  Matthew 5:10-11

_________minded: understands spiritual truths.  Conviction of the Holy Spirit.

_________minded: doesn't understand spiritual truths.  Defensive towards spiritual truths.

"Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about.  But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells--even though you still experience all the limitations of sin--you yourself experience life on God's terms."  Romans 8:9-10

I. Persecution Happens When...

1.  Your _____________ influences your life.

"If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me.  If you lived on the world's terms, the world would love you as one of its own.  But since I picked you to live on God's terms and no longer on the world's terms, the world is going to hate you."  John 15:18-19

2.  You ___________ your "enemies" and the "unlovely".

"I'm [Jesus] telling you to love your enemies...when someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer..." Matthew 5:44

3.  You ___________ good words.

"It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words.  A good person produces good deeds and words season after season."  Matthew 12:35

II. Persecution Results in...

1.  Honoring ________

"You can be glad when that happens [persecution] give a cheer...And all heaven applauds.  And know that you are in good company.  My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."  Matthew 5:12

2.  Influencing ___________

"As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn't take their eyes off him--his faces was like the face of an angel!" Acts 6:15

III. Action Step/Prayer

"Dear God, I want to be ___________, I want to live for you, I want my lifestyle to reflect godliness and be _________ enough to welcome persecution."

"Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us.  While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!"  2 Corinthians 4:9

HOW TO ENJOY GETTING BEAT UP

-Happy Are Those Who Are Persecuted-

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.  The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.  Not only that--count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me.. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable."  Matthew 5:10-11

HEAVENLY minded: understands spiritual truths.  Conviction of the Holy Spirit.

EARTHLY minded: doesn't understand spiritual truths.  Defensive towards spiritual truths.

"Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about.  But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells--even though you still experience all the limitations of sin--you yourself experience life on God's terms."  Romans 8:9-10

I. Persecution Happens When...

1.  Your LIFESTYLE influences your life.

"If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me.  If you lived on the world's terms, the world would love you as one of its own.  But since I picked you to live on God's terms and no longer on the world's terms, the world is going to hate you."  John 15:18-19

2.  You LOVE your "enemies" and the "unlovely".

"I'm [Jesus] telling you to love your enemies...when someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer..." Matthew 5:44

3.  You SPEAK good words.

"It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words.  A good person produces good deeds and words season after season."  Matthew 12:35

II. Persecution Results in...

1.  Honoring GOD

"You can be glad when that happens [persecution] give a cheer...And all heaven applauds.  And know that you are in good company.  My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."  Matthew 5:12

2.  Influencing OTHERS

"As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn't take their eyes off him--his faces was like the face of an angel!" Acts 6:15

III. Action Step/Prayer

"Dear God, I want to be DIFFERENT I want to live for you, I want my lifestyle to reflect

godliness and be BOLD enough to welcome persecution."

"Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us.  While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!"  2 Corinthians 4:9