Blessed are the Persecuted

Want to be Happy? Be Persecuted.

Matthew 5:10-12

TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH Dr. Viktor Frankl, author of the book Man’s Search for Meaning, was imprisoned by the Nazis in World War II because he was a Jew. His wife, his children, and his parents were all killed in the holocaust. The Gestapo made him strip. He stood there totally naked. As they cut away his wedding band, Viktor said to himself “You can take away my wife, you can take away my children, you can strip me of my clothes and my freedom, but there is one thing no person can ever take away from me—and that is my freedom to choose how I will react to what happens to me!” Even under the most difficult of circumstances, happiness is a choice which transforms our tragedies into triumph.

What an outlook on life Dr. Frankl had. I'm not so sure, in his place, I would have responded quite the same way. Yet in these type of circumstances Jesus tells us this is exactly how we should respond. Look with me at Matthew 5:10-12…

When we are being treated the worst, for Christ's sake, is when we should rejoice the most.

Here are some reasons to be happy when you're facing persecution, first...

Persecution Follows Righteous Living v. 10

No one has ever been persecuted for speaking lies

To persecute means to follow or pursue

Paul did this in Acts 9:1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Why should we be happy to be persecuted?

Because righteous living gains the attention of the world

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Those who live righteously should rejoice in persecution

They will inherit the kingdom of Heaven

No one "earns" the kingdom of heaven by righteous works

Righteous works prove one's salvation

If you don't want persecution, then simply don't live a righteous life. But if you're a child of God, then righteous living should be your only desire. Another reason to be happy when facing persecution is…

Persecutors Bring False Accusation v. 11

Be happy when you're reviled

Reviled means defamed

Defamed means to "Have your reputation, character, or good name damaged"

Another word is slander

When someone is slandered, it is always done falsely

Why would someone defame, slander, or persecute a child of God? Because they are a child of the devil!

When you take a stand for God, you are taking a stand against the world

When you stand for God everyone and everything else stands against you

Again, one thing to remember is that happiness comes from the fact that you are standing in righteousness for the cause of Christ. "For my name's sake." John R. Rice said:

The highest blessedness of a Christian is to suffer as Jesus suffered, and for His sweet name's sake and for no sins of our own. There is no blessing in suffering for our own sins (1 Peter 2:19, 20), but when we suffer for Jesus' sake, what wonderful reward is to be ours.

The thought of reward leads us to our final reason to be happy…

Persecution Leads to Reward v. 12

The Reward may be in the future, but it is certain

Receiving the word may be difficult, but it will be worth it

Difficult because the cost of righteous living is persecution

Worth it because the reward is Heaven

When persecution comes our way we should not react, but rejoice.

Conclusion: When we look at these beatitudes listed in Matthew 5 we see a picture of how we all should live our lives. We should be:

1. Poor in spirit, understanding it is not our merit that saves us, but Christ's sacrifice for us

2. Have a heart of mourning, over our sinfulness

3. Possess a meek spirit, yielded lives living for God

4. Have a hunger and thirsting for righteousness

5. Be merciful

6. Pure in heart

7. Be peacemakers

8. Rejoice in persecution the point we are exceeding glad

These beatitudes, if taken together, and put into practice, are examples of righteous and godly living. To live them to their full potential will take a lifetime, and even then, will be difficult due to our sinful nature. But with God all things are possible, but none of these are possible without first taking Christ as your Savior.