Blessed are the Persecuted

First Baptist Church Laredo

Bless This Home • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago • Presented 5 years ago

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Blessed are the persecuted. https://youtu.be/c6h3T0APiS4

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Today is the last message in the series entitled “Bless This Home”. If you have missed the other weeks, you can view them or listen to them by going to our website or our YouTube channel. We have been looking at Jesus’ teachings when he gave the Sermon on the Mount. The section we have been looking at is called the Beatitudes. Jesus gave eight different qualities of those who would be blessed.

What we are doing, for the purpose of this series, is taking what Jesus said and applying it to our homes. We want our homes to be blessed, but the reality is, if you look around today, so many homes are not being blessed. If we want God’s blessing on our homes, we need to do what God has said. We need to be Christ-centered homes. We are not just Christian homes in a cultural sense, but we are Christ-centered in all we do. In other words, Jesus isn’t just a convenient part of our life or the guy we call on when we need him. It isn’t just a going to church thing. He is to be the center of our lives.

If Jesus is the center of our lives, then there will be a difference in what we do. If Jesus is the center of our lives, there will be evidence others will see. Our values will be different. The way we raise our children will be different. The way we use our resources will be different. How we spend our money and use our time will be different. Jesus isn’t just a part of our lives. He is the center of our lives.

Here is the reality, if you live a Christ-centered life, you are going to run into people who will mock you. You might get made fun of and be the butt of the joke. People will ridicule you or maybe even do worse because you are striving to live a Christ-centered life.

In week one, we talked about “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.” If you are hungering and thirsting for righteousness in an unrighteous world, people are probably going to look at you like you are strange.

In week two, we talked about “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.” If you are trying to live with a pure heart in a world that promotes impurity, people are probably going to ridicule you.

Last week, we talked about “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” If someone hurts you and you do not retaliate, people might think you are weird. If you go the extra mile for someone who doesn’t even like you, people are probably going to think you are stupid. If you forgive what seems unforgivable, people might think you are acting like a doormat. Look at what Jesus said in the eighth beatitude.

Matthew 5:10

Matthew 5:10–12 CSB

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You might be thinking, “Okay, this is weird. How can I be blessed when people are hurting me for doing the right thing?” Well, let’s go back to the very first illustration we have in the Bible of someone being persecuted for doing what was right. The very first illustration of persecution in the Bible is Abel way back in the book of Genesis.

Do you know the story? Cain was angry at Abel because Abel’s heart was right before God and Abel’s sacrifice was accepted while his was rejected. Cain didn’t have the right heart attitude before God and his sin convicted him. He got angry about it, he lashed out, and he killed his own brother. Abel had done nothing wrong. Abel had done what was right and he was killed for it. Cain took out his feeling of conviction on his brother.

I don’t know how this will play out in your life, but if you are a Christ-centered family, you are going to have different values. Maybe you are a teenager or a young adult and you are committed to sexual purity. You are committed to not having sex until you are married. All of your friends think you are weird and stupid. Maybe you have been invited to certain movies by your friends, but you make the decision not to go because of the content in the movie. Maybe they even pressure you and make fun of you. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.”

Maybe you say, “You know what, we aren’t going to put our kid in that sport league because they play games during worship times.” People think you are strange because you put worship and Bible study as a priority before your 5 year old’s football career.

Maybe you are seeking God and striving for purity. You are serving God and things are just hard in your life right now. You can almost hear people saying, “Where is your God when you need him?” Maybe people think you aren’t doing something right in your life and God is punishing you for it. People are accusing you of having “hidden sin” in your life and God is getting you for it. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.”

Some of you have family who won’t talk to you because you became a follower of Jesus. Some of you have family who have rejected you because of the stand you have taken for God. In other countries and other lands, standing for Jesus can mean imprisonment and even death. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.” If you are living for Jesus, if Jesus is the center of you life, you can expect some form of persecution. Look at what Jesus said in John 16:33.

John 16:33 CSB

33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Here is a question we should be asking ourselves. How do we prepare our families for persecution? How do we prepare our family to have roots in their faith in Christ so they can handle the inevitable persecution that will come. This morning, I want to give you three different thoughts to help build your faith.

First, teach your family to expect persecution.

Teach your family to expect persecution. ()

2 Timothy 3:12 CSB

12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Notice, Paul said “all”. Everyone. No one can escape it. It is inevitable. If you want to follow Jesus, you will be persecuted. If your family is Christ-centered, in some way, you will be different. People will not understand it and they will criticize you. You won’t be like everyone else. You are seeking God and you are following Jesus. I don’t know what this is going to look like for you, but when you are Christ-centered, you’re going to be different. It may be at a family dinner. You want to pray over the meal and give thanks to God for his provision, but your family doesn’t get it and they poke fun at you. You may not get invited to certain parties and you are the odd person out in the office. During your break, you are reading your Bible and that guy makes all of those comments about you. The point is, prepare for it. Expect it to happen. Teach your children to expect it.

This is important to understand and you need to hear this. The persecution in our country has been relatively light. It is increasing, but we have not been called to suffer as others have in other countries, like our Chinese brothers and sisters. There is a growing hostility towards Christianity and you will need to learn to stand strong. You are going to need to teach your children to stand strong because it is going to increase. You will need to have your roots planted deeply in the Word of God. Look at what Jesus said in .

I don’t know what this is going to look like for you, but when you are Christ-centered, you’re going

John 15:18 CSB

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.

Teach your family to expect persecution. Second, teach your family to endure persecution.

Teach your family to endure persecution. ()

1 Corinthians 4:12 CSB

12 we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

We don’t whine about it. We don’t cry about it. We don’t gripe about it. You don’t vent on social media about it, you endure it. Remember, what we are asked to endure in this country is relatively light, you might say, incredibly light to what does on around the world.

So what if someone makes fun of you for going on a mission trip on your spring break instead of partying. Is that a big deal? No, you take it like a man or woman of God. When people make fun of you because you have different values, you take it. You endure it with a smile on your face. When you endure persecution, your spiritual roots grow deeper and your faith grows deeper. Your intimacy with Christ increases and your spiritual resolve is strengthened.

Throughout history, when believers are persecuted, the church grows stronger. It builds a sense of unity, passion, and boldness for God. It weeds out those who really aren’t believers. It makes the church’s message clearer and even more attractive.

When your family stands together for Jesus, it will draw you together. You will have a sense of strength and identity that comes from being in Christ. You have a mission. You have a calling. You are living for something higher than the simple fleeting pleasures of this world.

Teach your family to expect persecution. Teach your family to endure persecution. Third, teach your family to embrace persecution.

Teach your family to embrace persecution. ()

You thank God that he counts you worthy to suffer in some small way like his Son, Jesus, who gave it all for you. In 1 Peter chapter two, Peter was talking to a group of Christians who were suffering and being persecuted beyond anything that we have been asked to endure. They weren’t getting unfollowed on Twitter or unfriended on Facebook. They weren’t carrying their little cross at the office. They were being stripped of everything and put stark naked in coliseums in front of huge crowds. Then, they would release wild animals on them to tear them to pieces. They were being killed in brutal ways for their faith in Jesus. This is what Peter said to them.

1 Peter 4:12–16 CSB

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. 13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. 16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.

It shouldn’t be thought of as a strange thing if you are persecuted. You should be surprised or shocked by it. You should rejoice. You should praise God that you bear the name Christian, little Christ. Blessed are you when you walk away from a business deal that was profitable, but unethical. Yours is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when you refuse to go to the all male review or the strip club with your friends. Yours is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when you uphold biblical values protecting the life of the unborn and refuse to vote for people who profit from and support the slaughter of babies. Yours is the kingdom of heaven. You are being trusted with the opportunity to suffer in some small way for the name of Jesus. Blessed are you when you’re persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is yours.

Some of you feel like you must be doing something wrong because of all the opposition around you. Someone might even be thinking, “Pastor, you have no idea. It feels like all hell is breaking loose against me.” May I remind you that things may be going wrong, not because you are doing wrong, but because you are doing something right. This is a spiritual battle and it is a very real battle.

Expect persecution. It is going to happen. Endure persecution. Don’t strike back. Don’t get defensive. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the humble. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. We aren’t going to just blend into the culture. God has called us to be something more. We are to be Christ-centered in all we do because we are created for his glory. God, bless our homes. May our homes make a difference eternally for your name sake.

Pray.

Father God, I ask that the Holy Spirit would minister to your church this morning and that we would be Christ-centered in all we do. Thank you for all of those families, who by your grace, are committing to being Christ-centered in all we do. I pray that even now you would lead our minds and our hearts to be conformed to the image of Christ and that we would influence those around us.

Father, I pray for those who may be the only Christians in their family. Give them favor and wisdom as they follow you.

Father, I pray for homes that are Christian in name only. Give them strength to rise up to a higher calling, a calling to be Christ-centered and to make a difference in this world for your glory, In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

As Christian continue to pray with your heads bowed and eyes closed, no one is looking around.

Before we close, I need to talk to those of you who are here today and you are in a place where your sin has caught up to you. You’re in the storm because of what you did. You have gotten yourself into massive trouble. Your sin is catching up with you. You may have even tried to change, but you can’t do it. You can’t be good on your own. It is in your very nature. Your nature causes you to rebel against God. Your sin separates you from God. The good news is that God loves you so much that he sent his son Jesus into the world. Jesus, who is God, took on flesh and became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus died for the forgiveness of your sins. On the third day, Jesus raised from the dead to prove that everything he claimed was true. The Bible says,

CSB

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

When you call on the name of Jesus, he will hear your prayer, forgive you of your sin, and make you new. Will you call on his name this morning and receive the forgiveness he offers. He wants to be your Emmanuel; your “God with Us.” Will you let him in your life and save you?

Please bow your heads and close your eyes. Confess Jesus by praying this prayer with me,

“Heavenly Father, forgive me for my sins, make me new. I ask Jesus to be my Savior and to be the Lord of my life, first in every way. My life is not my own, I give it to you. Thank you for new life. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, would you raise your hand?

With heads bowed and eyes closed, if you just prayed that prayer for the first time, would you raise your hand?

Pray.

If you prayed to receive Jesus, please come to the front of this worship center and let us pray with you and celebrate your new life in Christ. If you want to pray for someone you know who needs to receive God’s gift of salvation, you come and get on your knees asking God to reach into that person’s life. Maybe you need to come in rededication of your life to God as we are on the verge of a new year. This is a time for you to respond to the call of the Holy Spirit in your life.

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