Beatitudes 4

This is the fourth and last part of what we have heard about the beatitudes. Tonight we are going to hear something a little different from what we have been given so far!

Matthew 5:10-12KJV

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

They know they have great spiritual needs and must rely on God.
They don’t just say their prayers they truly mourn when they pray.
They are now gentle but more than that they are now humble!
They truly hunger and thirst after God’s righteousness.
They are now merciful to others.
They are now pure not just in mind but in heart.
They have become peacemakers

Those are all fruits which come from us because of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, if we allow Him to change us. They may be traced back to the fruits of the Spirit.

Tonight we cover something which happens when the devil sees God active in us. Something he has tried to use on the church every since anyone has ever taken a stand for God, even in the Old Testament.

Persecuted for righterousness sake!

Not just persecuted,

Romans 8:35-39KJV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Men shall revile you persecute you say all manner against you falsely. For Jesus sake.

Psalm 118:6KJV

6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

When this happens don’t be sad rejoice and be exceedingly glad!

1 Peter 4:14KJV

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Acts 5:41KJV

41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

James 1:2KJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;