The Beatitudes Part 6

Introduction

Review: Last time we talked about Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God. While some feed on contention and the latest crisis, as God’s children, we will strive to live peaceably with all men as much as it depends on us. We will promote peace in the home, at work, at school and we will take the gospel of peace to the enemies of almighty God. We will go out as ambassadors and lovingly tell them that the terms of peace is total surrender and that God loves them and laid down His life and rose again so that they could eternal life.

Today I want you to develop a mental picture of this. The sixties were troubling times with social and political unrest and Christians were facing widespread persecution. You may have pictured the 1960s [show image].

No doubt those were troubling times with a lot of unrest but I am literally talking about the 60s [show image]. The time of the early church and when the book of Matthew would have actually been written. It was written to strengthen the faith of Jewish believers as well as equip them to lead their Jewish family, friends and neighbors to Christ. In addition it was intended to give them strength and hope while living in an environment hostile to Christianity. Christian persecution was a part of everyday life for many of the early Christians.

Today we are going to gain a better understanding of persecution. Should we expect it? Why does God allow it? What should be our response?

Blessed are the persecuted

Matthew 5:10–12 NASB95

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Prayer

The risk

You don’t hear much about about the risk of becoming a Christian. Probably because in the West there hasn’t been much of a risk. However that could very well change. But when we are trying to lead people to Christ we don’t usually warn people of persecution and hardships. I think we should. Jesus did. “If you are not willing to give up all that you have you are not worthy to be My disciple.” “Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me”. The Bible clearly tells us that “all who desire to live godly will suffer persecution”. But instead what to we do. We just tell people that Jesus loves them, and has a wonderful plan for their life. And that is certainly true but it’s not the whole truth. Some churches get a room full of VBS or church camp kids and say, “Who wants to go to heaven? You want to go to heaven don’t you?” A group of them raises their hand, the others who were totally off in space sees hands raised so they raise their hands to. Before you know it you have the whole herd of them agreeing to something they don’t fully understand. But we are happy to report we had 30 kids “saved”. But what we might have done is create a lot of false converts who will fall away at the first sign of trouble in their lives because if God really loves them then why are they feeling pain? Why are they being insulted, ridiculed, and mocked? No thank you church. Who needs that? And gone is another group of souls who are now harder to reach than ever, no longer open to the Gospel.

Now I believe that kids can get saved in VBS and church camp because I’ve seen it. But it is done very differently that what I described earlier. It takes someone that spends time with those precious souls and gives them the whole counsel of God.

This is one reason why the principles laid out in these verses are so important for us to understand but for us 21st century Christians it is harder to fully grasp or relate to this passage. But the early church, especially in the 1st and 2nd centuries could relate all too well as we will see in just a moment. But persecution is not just something that happened to the early church. It is happening now around the world on an ever increasing scale.

Statistics

260 Million: In the top 50 World Watch List countries alone, 260 million Christians in the world experience high levels of persecution for their choice to follow Christ.

1 in 9 Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution

6% The rise in the number of Christians in the top 50 countries on the 2020 World Watch List (WWL) who experience high levels of persecution (from the 2019 reporting period to 2020’s).

2,983 Christians killed for faith-related reasons in the top 50 WWL countries

3,711 Christians detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned in the top 50 WWL countries.

9,488 churches or Christian buildings attacked in the top 50 WWL countries.

6 out of 7 In seven of the countries in the World Watch List’s top 10, the primary cause of persecution is Islamic oppression.

11 countries scoring in the “extreme” level for their persecution of Christians. Six years ago, North Korea was the only one.

19 Consecutive years North Korea has ranked No. 1 as the world’s most dangerous place for Christians.

The reason

So the question naturally arises, “why does God allow this to happen?” Let me give you a few illustrations that can help and then I will lay it out the reasons very plainly.

Latimer and Ridley - Unquenchable Light

The sixteenth-century English bishop, Hugh Latimer, was one of the first preachers of social righteousness in the English-speaking world. He was imprisoned for his courage and enunciations. While in the Tower of London, he wrote, “Pray for me, I say pray for me; at times I am so afraid that I could creep into a mousehole.” This was the same Latimer who later walked bravely to the stake in Oxford, saying to his companion, Nicholas Ridley, as he went, “Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”

Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (p. 80). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

That event only fanned the flames of the reformation and six centuries later we are proof that candle is still burning.

Bishop Polycarp, an older man at the time, was put to death for his faith in Smyrna in the year 167. He had tried very hard to escape arrest, but was eventually tracked down. When apprehended, he was ordered to curse Christ.

Polycarp replied:

“Six and eighty years have I served him, and he has done me nothing except good. How then can I curse my Lord and Savior?”

Other Christians died as Polycarp did during the 2nd Century, and their heroism had a positive outcome in making Christians of that time nobler, purer, and vigorous in their walk with God. The persecuted became, as Tertullian said, “a fan which cleanses the Lord’s threshing-floor.”

Moreover, Christianity began to sweep the land.

To quote Tertullian again:

“We conquer in dying; we go forth triumphant at the very moment we seemed subdued….The oftener we are mown down, the more do we grow in number. The blood of Christians is the seed of the Church!”

Brunson is the evangelical Presbyterian missionary to Turkey, who spent two years in a Turkish prison. He said he was “astounded at the speed with which the U.S. is imploding” and he predicts persecution of Christians will follow.

2019 Christian Post article - Rev. Mark H. Creech, executive director of the Raleigh-based Christian Action League of North Carolina Inc.

Tortured for Christ - Pastor Richard Wurmbrand

There are those that sincerely believe and those that believe they sincerely believe. For Richard Wurmbrand and many others they were put to the test and there was no doubt that they sincerely believed, enduring imprisonment, hard labor and torture while faithfully serving and worshiping God and showing the love of Jesus.

Jesus said to rejoice when we’re persecuted. Four reasons that persecution can be good: (1) It can take our eyes off earthly rewards, (2) it can strip away superficial belief, (3) it can strengthen the faith of those who endure, and (4) our attitude through it can serve as an example to others who follow

Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew (p. 83). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

The reward

How can a person that is persecuted, insulted, harassed, mocked and discriminated against be blessed? So contrary to the world’s logic. A paradox.

The passage plainly explains how. Three reasons you can rejoice in persecution: (1) You will inherit the kingdom of heaven, (2) your reward is great, (3) You are in good company (prophets, disciples, and most importantly Jesus)

What an honor to be counted worthy to suffer for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Conditions: This beatitude doesn’t apply to every sort of suffering and persecution. Only suffering when evil is done against you falsely and for Jesus’ sake. That’s the two qualifications here.

Conclusion

I leave you with a passage from Peter.

1 Peter 4:12–16 NASB95

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.