#Blessed beyond measure #8

Northside Christian Church 12/13/2020

Blessed Beyond Measure #8 Jamey Mills

My name is Jamey Mills and I am the lead pastor here at Northside… it’s great to have you all here or following us online.

Can you believe it… here we are just over 10 days from Christmas… that’s nuts!

Before we get going too far, I wanted to remind you that there are sermon notes in the bulletin for you… I’d encourage you to use them. I think it helps engage in a deeper way… I also want to make sure you know that there are daily bible readings. You can get them on our website

www.northside-albany.com or they are in your bulletin. They go along with what we talk about here… and the goal is that each and every one of us are engaging with it throughout the week. Continuing to look at, pray into, and those things that we talk about here on Sunday.

Favorite Christmas movies of all time? Shout em’ out?

I have a few I really like. I accidentally showed Christmas Vacation (Picture) (the non TV version) to a youth group once… turns out there is a big difference….

I have always loved ELF (Picture)… it helps us understand you're never too big to do little things.

But one that's grown on me the last few years is Home Alone (Picture)… Little Kevin Macalister… always feeling like the odd guy out, and to be sure he sort of brings it one a bit… but people are mean to him… they isolate him, pick on him, eat his cheese pizza, and forget him on overseas family vacations… at one point his uncle gets in his face… Matt Kimmell does a mean impression of the guy, you all wanna see it?

If I had a dollar for everytime I hear that in the office… anyway, at one point Kevin has enough and steps back and says… I HATE ALL OF YOU!

Nothing says happy holidays more than a comment like that right…

Those people were hard to love… and we all have people like that. People that are hard to love…

Sometimes those people in life that are just good at everything they touch… right… I mean… you work so hard at something for years, and then someone walks in and picks it up in 30 minutes or something… is it okay to punch them? Asking for a friend.

Fit people… what's the deal with fit people… am I right! Have a taco already! Have you ever found yourself wandering away from photo opps with fit people? God bless you all, we are just jealous, and that's the truth.

More seriously though… negative people, complainers, pessimists that call themselves realists…

From there I started thinking about the kinds of people I enjoy spending time with… you know the kind of people you can never get enough time with…

And for me… a loving person is huge. They care about others… and bring the best out of others… Caring people rock.

Another one is a joyful person… not pretentious… over the top grab them by the ears and tell them settle down joyful, but honest from the inside out kind of joy.

I think people who are peaceful… not frantic or overreacting. Not arrogant but confident.

I think patient people are important… who doesn't like patient person? That means they will be patient with you… and I have met you… you need that.

Kind is a big one.

Man, no wonder people don’t want to hang out with me…

It reminded me of this passage…

Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The fruit of the spirit… means the result of or what the spirit produces in you…

And the very end of that verse has always stood out to me… against these things there is no law. I feel like it's saying that even the lawless, even the rebellious, even the godless… have a hard time finding fault with these things… Who would want friends like that… who wouldn’t want their kids to embody those things…

Isn’t it crazy… that what God desires and produces in us, is something that not only the world needs… It's also something the world admires.

Which puts such an odd twist on our passage today…

Matthew 5:10–12 (NLT)

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

How does this happen… Even though what God desires and produces in people is commendable… those who are supposed to be marked by these things meet resistance all around the world…. And according to every modern study I can find, it's getting worse.

The truth is… you could live out every single one of these “blessed” statements that Jesus is making...perfectly. You could wake up in the morning and spend time in God’s Word and in prayer… you could consult Him and try relentlessly to honor Him with every decision… and the truth is… Life will still probably be difficult. I would say… more difficult.

One of the greatest misconceptions people have is that following Jesus makes life easy. In some ways it does… or at least it has for me. But overall, my experience has been that it makes life better, not easier. There is a fullness and freedom… a sense of purpose and peace found in God… but it’s not easier.

And that’s not even what God teaches us… Jesus himself said in

John 16:33 (NIV)

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus told them… prepared them… and us… to know that trouble would come.

For those who authentically follow Jesus, persecution is inevitable.

repare yourself. But also know it’s not all bad news.

It’s another one of those upside down statements right… blessed are the persecuted.

Don’t you wish it said something like this instead… blessed are those who follow Jesus, because life will be easy. Bills will be paid, everyone will agree with you, your marriage will be easy and your kids will turn out exactly the way you want.

The question I can’t get away from is right here…

If what God desires for us and produces is us is so commendable even by the lawless, why does persecution happen?

And I think there is an honest answer… and an easy way to avoid it.

The answer is simple. It might surprise you. It’s not your loving nature or joy… it’s not peace or kindness or any of those other things…

It’s the presence of God in your life.

Several times Jesus told people that others will hate, look down at, and walk on them… because of Him. Jesus invited the whole “It’s not you, it's me” thing. It’s God’s presence in your life that people don’t know what to do with.

In fact, throughout history it's been true. Knowing what to do with God has been the most contentious issue in all of history.

And a big reason that persecution happens is spiritual warfare.

The bible talks a lot about a battle that rages in you and in everyone else… all day everyday. Between our sinful nature and the spirit of God in us… Gal 5 says that these two things are constantly at war within us, they don't rest.

In every heart and in every community… I hope we have eyes to look unbiasedly and honestly… Do you see in you and around you?

It reminds me of the passage we talked about last week.

Romans 8:5–8 (NLT)

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Persecution is the result of this conflict being lived out in the hearts, minds, and hands of humanity.

People struggle… those who saw Jesus and talked to him… who saw his miracles didn’t know what to do with him. In Matthew 11 it says people accused him of being friends with traitors and the worst of sinners… of sleeping all day and partying all night… in the face of that Jesus said… “wisdom is shown to be right by its results”. Jesus was basically saying… just watch and see for yourself what I am about.

For so many then and now… denying Him was easier than embracing a reality they didn’t completely understand.

The easy way to avoid persecution, even in our culture is right there.

People struggle with Jesus… and with what He said. One big example is Jn. 14:6… its where Jesus says that He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE and that NO ONE comes to the father but through Him. and for so many, that's just not going to work.

In their culture and in ours… it’s offensive to say there is only one way. We struggle with it because it's not our way, and believe it or not that is Jesus’ point. Your way… doesn't lead to God, it only demonstrates your need for Him.

Religions have been invented over this… this “all ways lead to God kind of mentality”. It’s not what Jesus taught. Might be worth weighing out.

Our culture believes in many forms of truth… yours, mine, but mostly theirs. What's true for me, might not be true for you… and if truth is dependent on what we think… we would have all aced Math… but it would also explain why truth has become the most elusive thing on the face of the planet. Jesus says HE is the truth. The truth is found in Him. And people everywhere get mad.

Through centuries life has been defined in so many ways… our culture tends to be status related. Life is found in what we do. What we earn. Who we know. Jesus says you can have all of that, you can have all of that and miss out on the life that He has for you.

This idea of being right with God and reflecting God’s nature… is a huge part of what it means to follow Him... but in that, you’ll also find yourself in the crosshairs of public opinion.

Persecution is more about Jesus than it is you. Which makes it easy to avoid… well… for now at least.

It’s not a sign of God’s judgment or displeasure…

Jesus tells us and prepares us for persecution.

When Jesus sat on the mountainside and began teaching… there were many who had already tasted it.

They had been kicked out of the synagogue, which meant the loss of friends, of family, of family business or work, and of income.

McAuthor connects this reality… to passages in Corinthians and in Romans where you see other churches taking up offering to send to the poor christians in Jerusalem… this is why they were poor…

Jesus gave three ways, that we will face persecution.

Mocking… literally to your face, public rage and insults.

People lying about you… behind your back.

Arthur Pink said this… “It is a strong proof of human depravity that men’s curses and Christ’s blessings should meet on the same person”.

People looking to actively destroy you and your reputation. Physically, socially, spiritually… ending you.

Not because you are rude. Not because you are thoughtless and careless. Not because you make people feel stuipd…

But because of His presence in your life. HUGELY important. If you are offending people for other reasons… you probably need to look at that. You’ve missed the point and the blessing that comes with it. I think the last thing that the world needs Christians out there trying to stir up trouble. Making themselves out to be victims when they are not. It’s not a good look.

Even now its happening all around the world…The church is under attack… between 2018 and 2020 they are saying there is a 500% increase in it.

50 countries are listed as high or extreme when it comes to risk for Christians… places like North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, India, and Syria… deadly climates for christians. Over 260 million christians today face extreme risk because of real faith in Jesus in those countries.

I don't want to be an alarmist… but it feels like it is getting more and more acceptable to look down at and ostracize God and His church right here in our own backyard.

For now, persecution might look like social distancing… before social distancing was cool.

People find out… because of stands you’ve taken… maybe they notice you're not getting drunk, or you're waiting until marriage or maybe that you aren’t participating in every movie or TV show that comes on…

I’ve had it happen… even from other Christians. They begin to pull away, univite… you start to see your friends hanging out on social media without you…

family members don’t know how to take you, throw soft jabs at you, have unrealistic expectations of you... I have even heard of people missing out on jobs and promotions here… over it.

And in sure… upside down thinking form… Jesus does it again. He says… be glad about it…

in Luke 6 Jesus tells us to leap for joy… be happy… There is a reason to embrace it. It is not without its purpose.

5 reasons to embrace persecution.

Refined focus. It is so easy to get focused on the wrong things… what am I gonna eat, what am I gonna wear, does Kate know how many people are coming for Christmas, can we afford to move into a neighborhood where people mow and use edges… good Lord, what kind of monster doesn’t edge...(thats me… my neighbors say that of me.. MARC DUDE I am trying).

But know this… persecution for the right reasons has a way of refining your focus on what really matters like no other thing… and frankly… it's a massively needed thing in our culture.

We realize our faith is real.

Our decision to follow Jesus brings what the Bible calls New Life, a life that reflects God and his nature. Persecution is the powerful reminder of God's presence in us that people don't know how to deal with.

With that there is a hard truth right. I mean if we are not facing persecution in our life it's likely for one of two reasons.

One is that we have completely fortified ourselves with other Christians who agree with us or who at the very least tolerate us. And while having strong Christian people who encourage us in the right ways is incredibly important, we will never live out the mission and purpose of Christ that way if this is our reality.

The other possibility is that there’s nothing in your life that would cause anyone to ever accuse you of God's presence there.

Either way, a lack of persecution could and probably should be a major wake-up call for us.

It preaches Jesus.

persecution preaches the reality of Jesus. Those who watched the end result of Jesus' persecution didn't know what to do with it. We see it in the Bible and in recent history… WHen persecution happens, when God’s people are found faithful in the midst of the fire… it has a way of ministering to the world around us as to the reality of God's love and grace purpose and Hope.

The rewards are legit.

Both now and in eternity. There are Lessons Learned and growth that happens that is unique to persecution. But overall, its marked by the promise of living out eternity in the presence of God almighty.

It reminds me of a trip to the lake… the stress of packing, planning, and the trip itself… but once you're there… and the campfire is lit… in the still and in the calm, you realize why you faced it.

Lastly,

You're in good company.

Jesus mentioned the prophets… but the list continues to this day of bold men and women that have faced persecution for the sake of Jesus. Even Jesus Himself. There is a special blessing that God has in mind for those who face persecution for being right with Him and for reflecting His character.

It's an honor… to suffer for the name and sake of Jesus. Do people see Jesus in you? One way you can tell is persecution. It’s a reality for those who honestly follow Him. Not that persecution will mark every aspect of your life, but it will be a reality in it. Are you prepared for it? Are you ready to respond with strength and courage… in kindness, gentleness and honesty?

To give a reason for your faith.

Communion:

The ultimate persecution… and the reason we face is what the elements of communion resemble… the body and blood of Jesus that brought Him pain and us freedom. Communion is a time where we think deeply… about Jesus and who He is. And what it is we do with Him… Do we mock, lie about Him, seek to destroy Him or do we embrace Him.

Communion is something we do weekly… remembering Him and embracing Him all over again.

If you’d like to take communion it's at the back table… over the next two songs I’d invite you to get it and take it whenever your ready.