Persecution Is A Blessing

Persecution For Righteousness

The final blessings of the Beatitudes was for disciples that suffered persecution because they chose to live a Godly life. Remember this is only the beginning of His sermon. It’s the introduction to following Jesus and living a life that is transformed by and conformed to the Kingdom of Heaven. They are aware of the prior blessings however none of them sounded hazardous like the final two. The poor, the mourner, the meek, hunger and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, peacemaker I can do those. Persecuted and reviled well that would give anyone pause. Follow me I will make you fish for men oh and by the way you will be persecuted and lied on and pursued because you decide to live a righteous life.

THE WHOLE STORY OF DISCIPLESHIP was given by JESUS

A. He let them know things will change in your life when you decide to live a life dedicated to holiness and for His name sake. We sing in the name of Jesus we have the victory but the truth of the matter we need to sing in the name of Jesus I will live Holy, walk by faith not by sight, in the light of his word and I’m okay with being persecuted and lied on for His name sake.

Jesus kept it real that’s why he told them later Matt. 10:22

“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

B. He made them aware of lies and false statements that people would speak against them because of their righteousness for His namesake. If you live a life of holiness because you follow Jesus get ready to be reviled. He has said that he who endures to the end will be saved.

So Jesus tells his disciples this Matt. 10:28

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”

Understand this in the context of Church history.

During the first three centuries of its existence, the Christian church was subject to outbursts of violence and persecution by the Roman authorities. Later Christians looked back on the “ten great persecutions” beginning with the emperor Nero in the first century and culminating under Diocletian in the fourth. Tertullian regarded martyrdom as the highest accomplishment of the Christian life and referred to it as the “second baptism.” No doubt, martyrdom was also a great tool of evangelism in the early church, for Tertullian also remarked that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

Dockery, D. S. (Ed.). (1992). Holman Bible Handbook (p. 860). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Persecution is a blessing but we need the power of God to endure the reviling and persecution we may face in this life. Jesus was preparing them for what was on the horizon of their spiritual journey. They were educated to the persecution for righteousness secondly

Persecution Is A Call To Rejoice

It would seem logical in our human understanding to be sad, dismayed and depressed when we are persecuted. In Acts 16 after Paul and Silas had intervened on behalf of a young girl who was being exploited for financial gain, the town was unimpressed by their moral intervention and they were taken to court found guilty of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ beaten and thrown in jail. All for righteousness for His namesake but in Jail at midnight they were singing and rejoicing that God shook the prison and set everyone free. They were beaten but they rejoiced, lied on but they rejoiced, locked up still rejoicing, put in the worst part of the jail but they rejoiced. You will only be blessed when you learn to not only endure the persecution but rejoice while enduring it. Paul had this part of discipleship down and in His DNA that he wrote in Romans 5:3-5

“but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance character and character hope. Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Our Persecution and Reviling is not how it ends the culmination of it is A GREAT REWARD IN HEAVEN

Jesus was preparing them for what was on the horizon of their spiritual journey. Be prepared for Persecution For Righteousness secondly, Understand That Persecution Is A Call To Rejoice, finally Never Forget Persecution Is Part Of The Mission.

Persecution Is Part Of The Mission

Matthew 5:12 NKJV

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

THEY PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS WHO WERE BEFORE YOU IF YOU GO THROUGH IT CONSIDER IT AN HONOR TO BE IN GOOD COMPANY