Prevailing over Persecution

Introduction

Good morning Church!

Today we will be finishing out our journey through Jesus introduction to His all famous, time tested, never aging, forever contemporary, all encompassing, Sermon on the Mount.

This sermon spanned 3 chapters, was spoken to multitudes of people and has been handed down from age to age as the guidebook to practical, Godly Christian living.

It covers everything from anger and malice, to our actions towards others. It covers relationships and religion. It covers forgiveness and feelings. It covers desires and detriments. From worry and anxiety, to calming confidence. Anything and everything a Christian needs, to become more Christlike, is found right here in Matthew 5-8.

It could be and probably would be better referred to as The Christian’s guidebook to Saintly living.

But over the last seven weeks now, we have been making our way simply through the introduction of this great sermon in what is referred to as “The Beatitudes.”

One final time, these are “Attitudes that Ought to Be” found in every born again believer.

They can be a road map to the lost soul on how to be saved and what is to follow after salvation but mainly, they are guidelines, character traits for the Godly, the born again believer.

They teach us how live set apart from the world we’re in.

They teach us how to be in the world and not of the world.

They teach us how to live godly in a world full of sin.

They teach us how to be lanterns in a world of darkness.

They teach us how to draw others to the light of the gospel we preach which is the Lord Jesus Christ!

These beatitudes aren’t just good reading material, they are to be material to our being for the world to read!

They are to be part of our everyday lives in order that some other wayward soul might see our lives and be drawn to the same Savior that set us free from this world and set our sights on the world to come!

That’s why these attitudes ought to be found in every born again believer. They’re not a set of rules and orders for the believer to follow but rather caution signs to to the world to say, “hey, you’re going the wrong way!”

They’re not for you but for those around you!

And when these “Be-attitudes” are found in the born again believer, there is no doubt whatsoever; it is absolutely, totally, guaranteed that someone you are around will notice and one of two things will happen…they will be drawn to you because of these attitudes and want to know more about them or as we are going to see here today in our final beatitude, they will shun you because it is so radically different from anything they want to be or be around.

So, with no further ado, let’s look at our final two beatitudes here today and some classify them into one which is neither here nor there because they fit together like a hand in a glove.

Matthew 5, for sake of context we will be starting in Verse 1. If you have it would you say, Amen!

The Problem of Persecution — (Vs. 10-11)

The first thing I want us to look at this morning is The Problem of Persecution.

What does it mean to be persecuted?

The Greek word used here is (diōkō) and it means… to put to flight or to drive away but at the same time it can mean to pursue in a hostile manner and systematically oppress or harass.

Dr. Rod Mattoon said, The Greek verb "persecuted" is a passive perfect participle, and could be translated "allow themselves to be persecuted." The perfect form indicates continuousness, in this case a continuous willingness to endure persecution if it is the price of godly living. This beatitude speaks of a constant attitude of accepting whatever our faithfulness to Christ may bring into our lives.

Persecution in any form is never easy but the Lord Jesus warned us in...

John 16:33 KJV 1900

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

And then our beloved Bro. Paul wrote to young Timothy in...

2 Timothy 3:12 KJV 1900

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Paul didn’t say some, he said all!

All that live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution!

Countless men and women, boys and girls have been persecuted and killed down through the ages for righteousness sake!

One of the most famous was the overseer of the church in Smyrna and a student of the beloved Apostle John named Polycarp.

Soldiers were sent to capture him and upon hearing of their coming he tried to escape but was discovered by a child. After feeding the guards who captured him, he asked for an hour in prayer, which they gave him.

He prayed with such fervency, that his guards said they were sorry they were the ones who captured him. Nevertheless, he was taken before the governor and condemned to be burned in the marketplace.

After his sentence was given, the governor said to him, “Reproach Christ and I will release you.”

Polycarp answered, “Eighty six years I have served him and he never once wronged me. How then shall I blaspheme my King who has saved me?”

In the marketplace, he was tied to the stake rather than nailed, as was the usual custom, because he assured them he would stand immovable in the flames and not fight them.

As the dry sticks placed around him were lit, the flames rose up and circled his body without touching him. The executioner was then ordered to pierce him with a sword. When he did, a great amount of blood gushed out and put out the fire.

Although his Christian friends asked to be given his body as it was so they could bury him, the enemies of the gospel insisted that it be burned in the fire, which was done. — Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

Under the rule of Roman Emperor Adrian, A man by the name of Eustachius, a successful and brave Roman commander, was ordered to join in an idolatrous sacrifice to celebrate his victories, but his heart felt faith in Christ was so much greater than his vanity that he refused. Enraged at this, Adrian forgot Eustachius’s noble service to Rome and had him and his entire family martyred! — Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

Under the rule of Roman Emperor Marcus Clodius Pupienus Maximus a Roman senator, Pammachius and his family and forty two other Christians were beheaded the same day and their heads displayed on the city gates! — Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

One of my favorites was a man in the Church of Rome named Lawrence, who was a minister of the Gospel and in charge of distributing the church’s goods.

Marcianus greedily demanded that Lawrence tell him where the church’s riches were hid, thinking he could take them for himself. Lawrence requested three days in which to gather the riches together and present them to the governor.

When the third day came, Marcianus demanded that Lawrence keep his promise. Whereupon Lawrence stretched out his arms over some poor Christians that he had gathered in the place with him and said, “These are the precious riches of the Church. They are the treasure in which faith in Christ reigns, in whom Christ has His dwelling place. What more precious jewel can the church have than those in whom Christ promised to dwell?”

Upon hearing this, Marcianus raged in the fury and madness of devils, and screamed out his anger: “Light the fire, do not spare the wood! This villain has tried to deceive the emperor. Away with him, away with him! Whip him with scourges, jerk him with hooks, buffet him with fists, brain him with clubs. Does the traitor joke with the emperor? Pinch him with fiery tongs, wrap him in burning plates, bring out the strongest chains, and the fire forks, and the grated bed of iron. Pu the bed on the fire and when it’s red hot, bind the traitor on it hand and foot and roast him, broil him, toss him, turn him. Torment him every way you can or you will be tormented yourselves.”

No sooner had he finished ranting than the tortures began. After many cruel torments, the meek slave of Christ was laid on his fiery bed. But in God’s providence, it was as a bed of soft feathers, and the godly Lawrence laid there and perished as if taking a nourishing rest.

These, dear church, are but a few stories of men and women who have hazarded their lives for the gospel of Christ. This Book right here, speaks of thousands upon thousands, possibly even hundreds of thousands, of men and women who gave it all, that they might gain it all!

And this is but a fraction of the millions down throughout history who have been persecuted for righteousness sake.

All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution!

Jesus gives us a small glimpse into some of the persecutions that may come our way here in Verse 11.

He said, “blessed are ye when men shall revile you”…that means to insult or denounce. It can also mean to reprimand or reproach. Blessed are ye when men shall insult you, denounce you, reprimand or reproach you! Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you…shall press on you, shall pursue you with hostility, shall harass or oppress you!

“Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all manner of eavil against you falsely, for my sake!”

It’s bad enough when someone is speaking evil about you behind your back because of something you’ve done but it’s even worse when they’re speaking evil against for something you haven’t done and it’s all because of your belief in Christ !

Over and over and over, down through the ages, people have been persecuted falsely for the cause of Christ simply because they didn’t like that person!

Dear friend, here in the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, even here, if you stand up for what this Book right here says and you live according to it’s instructions and you let your light shine enough, you too shall suffer persecution!

It hasn’t been too many years ago, I suffered ridicule and harassment on Facebook for something that I had posted about homosexuality.

And right now, even at this very moment, governors all across the land are facing persecution because they are standing up for what is right and dialing back the liberalistic ideologies that have been ushered in over the last few decades.

Abortion bans are being placed in many states and because of their stance, these governors are getting backlash because they are standing for what is right!

This woke ideology that children can choose a different gender at a young age if they don’t like who they are, this junk being pushed on our kids by the far left is heinous in the eyes of God and I thank God this morning that there are some governors in place right now that see this junk taking place and are standing up for what is right and pushing back the forward progress of the evil one!

Because at the end of the day friend, I assure you the advances of the far left are driven by Satan! I don’t care how you cut it or if you like it, the truth is the truth!

If it goes against the word of God, then dear friend it isn’t of God, Amen!

But rest assured, when you and I stand for truth, and righteousness and we stand for Christ, persecution shall come!

There’s The Problem of Persecution and the reason there’s the problem of persecution is because of The Premise of Persecution!

The Premise of Persecution — (Vs. 10b)

Notice why persecution comes!

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:”

The word righteousness used here means “the quality of being in accordance with God’s law.”

So when it says, “blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake:” it’s speaking of those who are living according to God’s instructions.

Those who are walking step in step with God.

Those who are living godly lives!

Those who are a spitting image of their creator!

That’s who is going to suffer persecution!

It’s not the half-baked Christian who wants to court the world and court God at the same time for fear of retaliation.

It’s not the lukewarm Christian who doesn’t know which side he wants to be on.

No, dear friend, it’s the Christian who’s sold out to God!

It’s the Christian that’s on fire for God!

It’s the Christian who has decided this world has nothing left for them and that death is actually exciting because it means they will finally get to see the one whom they care about most!

It’s the Christian who cares not, nor is afraid, what this world can do to them because they have decided to follow Jesus in life and in death no matter the circumstances surrounding either!

That my dear friend is who will suffer persecution!

Most Christians now days, if they were put on trial for being one, wouldn’t have enough evidence to even be convicted of such!

Listen, I’m not telling you that you ought to go out here and seek and search and beg for persecution but what I am telling you is that dear friend there ought not be a question in anyone’s mind who knows you that you are a Christian!

When you go out in town, people ought to look at you and be able to tell that there’s something special about you!

When you’re at work, those around you ought to be able to tell that you belong to the Lord!

When you’re hanging out with friends, they ought to know who you belong to and how to act around you!

Praise God, this world ought to know that you are a child of God!

They ought to see a man, woman, boy or girl who is poor in spirit (who is destitute of themselves), who mourns over their sin, who is humble in all their dealings with man and with God, who hungers and thirsts to be more like the one who died for them; they ought to see a man, woman, boy or girl is merciful to those around them, who is pure in heart and totally focused on God, who tries to make peace with those around them and lead the lost to God, and who smiles in the face of adversity for they believe and have taken to heart what Paul said in...

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

That my friend is The Premise of Persecution!

When the world sees something that stands in contradiction to it’s wants and desires; when men and women live Godly in a world chocked with sin; when we mimic the man who saved us, sanctified us and set us free; persecution is sure to follow!

So what are we to do and how are we to act when persecution comes our way?

That’s our next point....The Posture of Persecution.

The Posture of Persecution — (Vs. 12)

Jesus says when we are persecuted, we are to rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is our reward in heaven!

Now, that is right opposite of how the world should says we ought to react but it’s all about where your treasure lies.

Jesus says, “where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”

You see, when you get to the point in this life, that all you’re focused on is the life to come and you understand that everything you do on this side impacts your proximity to the Savior on that side, if you truly care about your relationship with Him, then you will care not what persecution comes your way here, because you know that will only help you there!

Jesus said on down at the end of this chapter...

Matthew 5:38–48 KJV 1900

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

When the Bible says here in that last verse, “be ye therefore perfect” that word “perfect” means mature, complete or fully developed.

You see, when we can look adversity in the eye and say you have no hold on me and as Jesus said to Pilot, “you would have no power over me except it be given you from the Father above”…when we can get to that point of perfection, that point of maturity, that point of completeness, then we will be able to find peace and joy in the face of persecution!

1 Peter 3:14 KJV 1900

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 Peter 4:13–14 KJV 1900

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 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.

This book, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, has been such a blessing to me already and I’ve only gotten through the second chapter so far!

The tortures and agonies these men and women faced in the face of peril are mind blowing but yet most faced them just as Jesus said to here.

Most looked forward to the persecution…not that they looked for it but looked forward to it, because they knew at the end of their dreadful demise stood their Savior with arms open wide and a crown of life that no one could take away!

They looked persecution and peril in the eye and rejoiced for they knew their reward would be great in heaven!

That my friend is The Posture of Persecution and it’s all for The Prize of Persecution!

The Prize of Persecution

This final beatitude ends the same as the very first one…

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“Great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Three prizes from persecution.

The prize of blessing…completeness and happiness are the result of persecution. In the eyes of the world that sounds counterintuitive but that’s the beauty of it. God’s ways are above man’s ways and past finding out!

The prize of heaven....an eternal home in glory promised to all those who are persecuted for righteousness sake! What more can a soul ask for than to dwell in the presence of the most high for all eternity! A prize fit for a King!

The prize of a reward…not only will we be complete, not only will we be in heaven, but for those who are persecuted for Christ’s sake, they will also receive a great reward.

The reward of eternal life is plenty but I’d dare say that the joys and rewards that God has in store for those who have hazarded their lives for the cause of Christ can’t be compared to anything this world has to offer!

Matthew 5:10-12 — 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.

This morning as we come to a close, I want to finish by reading you the testimony of the Christians during the time of the third persecution...

Pliny the younger a Roman consul and writer took pity on the persecuted Christians and wrote to Trajan, assuring him that there were many thousands of them put to death daily who had not done anything contrary to Roman laws. In his letter, he said:

The whole account they gave of their crime or error (whichever it is to be called) amounted only to this: namely, that they were accustomed on a stated day to meet before daylight, and to repeat together a set form of prayer to Christ as a God, and to bind themselves by an obligation, not indeed to commit wickedness; but, on the contrary, never to commit theft, robbery, or adultery, never to falsify their word, never to defraud any man: after which it was their custom to separate, and reassemble to partake in common of a harmless meal.