The Blessings of Being Persecuted for Christ’s Sake
Matthew 5:10-12
February 17, 2019 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Matthew 5:10-12)
A. We now come to three little sentences that pack a whollop of two opposites: Blessed and Rejoice, compared to Suffering and Persecuted!
1. Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
3. Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
B. Word Meanings:
1. Blessed
a. The state of being blessed by God
b. Happy, fortunate, well-off, well-to-do, helped, encouraged, “rich”, thriving, successful
c. A good way to be – who wouldn’t want to live that way?
d. But now comes the cause of being blessed by God…
2. Persecuted
a. To be persecuted is to be punished, stopped, hindered for what you believe – for how you are living
b. Seek to injure, afflict, block, punish, harass someone unjustly simply because of a difference of opinion – so common today!
c. It used to be law-breakers and criminals were chased and convicted and put behind bars – now is it Christians! Simply because we follow different rules
C. THIS is THE hardest attitude of all the Be-Atitudes!
1. Eight concepts, attitudes, ways of living IN the kingdom of God
2. I don’t know if you noticed, but Each one being harder than the previous
3. But THIS beatitude is hardest because it is the MOST unfair!
4. Notice the progression:
a. Poor in Spirit – humbling yourself – it really is the easiest to start with!
b. Able to Mourn
c. Meekness
d. Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
e. Merciful
f. Pure in Heart
g. Peacemakers
h. Persecuted – you don’t START here! This is the ability to put up with suffering as a Christian when persecuted for just following and obeying Jesus Christ in your life!
II. Message
A. Persecution is the Normal Life of the COMMITTED Christian (2Tim 3:12)
1. All eight of the beatitudes are supposed to be the normal way a Christian lives
a. Just like Humility is supposed to be normal, and living right, and staying pure in heart, and being peacemakers instead of warmongers
b. So should we expect it to be hard to stay the course as a Christian in an unChristian world!
2. The normal Christian should NOT be nominal, comfortable, minimal, gutless, cowardly, fainthearted like what is seen today amongst Christians!
3. Don’t get me wrong… We WANT our lives, our homes, our our jobs to be a “blessed” experience – and it IS – better than it ever was before we were born again if we would be honest
4. But the Bible promises that all they that live GODLY shall suffer persecution (2Ti 3:12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
5. It is a “badge of honour”
6. And as they say, It goes with the territory
7. Because God calls us to STAND, and NOT give in, or compromise, or change with the age – and THAT means, we will face head on attacks from all sides (Eph 6:13) and will suffer for it (Philp 1:27-29)!
a. Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
b. Php 1:27-29 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake
B. Types of Persecution (Matthew 5:11)
1.
Did you notice Matthew 5:11?
Blessed are ye, when… men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say
all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
a. Reviling
1) To revile is to speak to someone abusively, to blame, to slam, to verbally hate
2) To blame and yell at
b. Say all manner of evil against you falsely – libel
c. Despitefully use us (Mat 5:44) 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
d. Scourge us (Mat 10:17) – whipping and beating
e. Chase us from city to city (Mat 10:23) But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
f. Kill and murder (Mat 10:28) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
g. Bring us before the highest courts and kings (Luke 21:12) But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
h. Imprison us – quite common in the rest of the world, but coming HERE soon!
2. QUITE A LIST OF TROUBLES JUST FOR TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING as a Christian!
3. Just like people persecuted and killed the prophets before
4. But… this is what it is like living in the Kingdom of God, in the midst of the kingdoms of this world and of the devil! (I WILL TEACH YOU ABOUT THAT SOON)
C. Examples of Persecutions of Christians throughout history:
1. There have been MANY genocides throughout history (Stalin in the Soviet Union, Mao tse Tung in China, Hitler attempting to exterminate all Jews in Europe)
2. But there have been times of intense persecution Specifically against Bible believing Christianity.
3. From its very start!
a. Does anyone realise that the primary symbol of Christians is taken from the wooden frame that Jesus Christ was crucified on by the Romans? The cross!
b. Shortly after Christ's crucifixion, his followers, taking the name 'Christians,' were persecuted by Jewish religious authorities and then by Roman magistrates. Even though many Christians today enjoy great religious freedom in many Western countries, Christian persecution remains a fact of life in most places in the world.
c. One of the first Christian martyrs was a young man named Stephen, who was brought before the Sanhedrin council, on charges of blasphemy. Simply because he preached that Jesus was the Son of God. Stephen was taken and stoned, touching off a wide-spread persecution of Christians led by Saul of Tarsus. Saul was even expanding his terrorism into Damascus and Lebanon.
d. But, one marvellous day, Jesus Christ stopped Saul dead in his tracks, and spoke directly to him and humbled Saul, and won him to faith! Saul changed his name to Paul and became a convert to Christianity. His new faith would subject him to various imprisonments and beatings, some of which he recounted in New Testament writings.
4. Later, Emperor Nero turned his people against all Christians…
a. The first organized Roman persecution of Christians was ordered by Emperor Nero in 64 A.D. Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome, although it is pretty well known by many historians that Nero was responsible for setting the fire in the first place. He certainly took advantage of the resulting devastation of the city, building a lavish private palace on part of the site of the fire. Because Christians did not worship the Roman gods, they were blamed for calamities that befell the empire, such as famines or pestilence.
b. Nero ordered that Christians should be rounded up and killed. Some were torn apart by dogs, others burnt alive as human torches.
c. The last Roman persecution was the Diocletianic or Great Persecution starting in 303 A.D., when Roman Christians were systematically stripped of legal rights and commanded to worship Roman gods. Finally, with the passage of the Edict of Milan in 313 A.D., Roman-sponsored persecution was put to an end.
5. Muslims later began to persecute Christians
a. Constantly driving Christians from all Muslim lands – for the past 1,400 years
b. Taxing them out of their lands
c. Killing any of them that attempt to convert Muslims to faith in Christ
6. Roman Catholic Church
a. Probably THE second largest persecutors of Biblical Christianity is the Roman Catholic Church
b. For over 1,300 years the Catholic Church has slaughtered Bible believers simply because they did not attend Mass, or baptize their babies, or agree with Transubstantiation of the Eucharist.
c. The Catholic church denied anyone access to the Scriptures and tortured and burnt at the stake anyone caught teaching the Scriptures or translating them into the common language of the people!
7. Modern Persecutions
a. In the Western World…
b. Some persecutions are subtle
1) Not associating with you, ignoring you, slandering you
2) Embarrassing you
3) Using profanity and wicked jokes around you
c. Some are quite Blatant
1) Opening laughing at you
2) Pushing you down at school, playing tricks on you – bullying you
3) Others are “let go” from jobs because the boss sees the Christian as a threat
4) Some are not hide on permanently when they see you are a Christian
5) Some have their car tyres slashed, windows broken
6) Others are stoned
7) Church buildings are burned down
8) Pastors are beaten
9) Pastor’s daughters are raped
10) The list goes on and on
d. Most of Christianity outside of Europe live under constant persecution
e. There are tens of millions of Christians world-wide, right now, living in fear and fleeing from constant persecutions and beatings and raping and starvation – simply because they will not bow to a cultural idol, or deny their faith in Jesus
f. Just remember… Most of the freedoms that we have today were paid for with blood by godly lawmakers and preachers of the past 300 years (John Wilberforce,
8. Future Coming Persecution (Rev 13:11-15)
a. Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
b. Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
c. Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
d. Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
e. Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
D. There are Some Good Reasons for Persecution
1. Not because we Christians commit crimes
a. If you DO do a crime, then you should do the time… in prison
b. Make sure that what people say about you is false if they are calling you a criminal!
c. It is interesting, that people have to MAKE up crimes to be able to convict Christians of wrong-doing – like in Daniel’s day
1) Like the Asher’s Bakery case up in Northern Ireland – a law against your conscience and Biblical conviction. No person should be FORCED do the bidding of a paedophile or a Queer or a Necromancer or a Fortune Teller or a Witch
2) Lawmakers are now making calling out sexual sins a hate crime – I will be in trouble real soon folks – and so will you if you speak up!
a) Like calling Muslim extremists terrorists is considered a hate crime and will get you put in Facebook Jail for a month
b) Like calling Abortion MURDER – it will get you put in jail if you say it in front of an abortion clinic
c) Like calling the lifestyle of homosexuals sinful and wrong
2. But because we are LIGHT in a dark world
a. Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
b. Joh 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
c. Php 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world
3. So, you WILL be persecuted for Living Right – for righteousness sake - Just because of living right
a. Just living like Jesus did towards people you would THINK would be welcome
b. But men love DARKNESS better than light (Joh 3:19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
4. For Preaching Right
a. For preaching the cross mainly (Gal 5:11; 6:12)
b. For preaching the truth – the Gospel, and the Bible’s own words (Gal 4:16) – not the words of man that keep changing (used to be millions and millions, and now it is billions and billions of years ago)
1) Exposing people’s sins
2) Like John the Baptist did of Herod – upset Herod’s wife and cost his head
c. Expecting righteousness in people’s lives – not dumbing down expectations
d. For exposing FALSE hopes and FALSE Gospels, and FALSE Jesus’ and FALSE religions
e. All of that will get us in trouble!
5. All For Christ’s Sake – not for anyone or anything else!
a. To bring attention onto Him – to glorify Him
b. In general, JESUS is the main reason for the persecution of His followers throughout history (Acts 9:4,5; John 15:18,20,25)
c. Just because of following and loving Jesus Christ instead of Beyoncé and George Clooney and Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber
d. Mar 8:34,35 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
e. Act 5:40,41 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
E. Where Will Persecution Come From? From four directions…
1. From the world – culture (John 15:19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Atheistic, anti-god
2. From Satan (Rev 12:12) Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
3. From Religious People even
4. From your own family (Mat 13:53,54,57)
a. Mat 13:53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
b. Mat 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? …
c. Mat 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
d. Luk 21:16,17 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
5. That is no reason to disown your family, or turn against them, or hate them – quite the opposite! Remember, we are commanded to get over it when EVEN THEY hurt you and love them and bless them and do good to them!
6. It also is no reason to hate your nation – but rather to PRAY for our leaders, and rightly influence them – because God wants to SAVE them (1Tim 2:1-4)
a. 1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
b. 1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
c. 1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
d. 1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
e. NOT that the whole world should be judged and damned!
7. But it IS a great reason to hate the devil – THAT IS OKAY!
F. Right Responses to Persecution
1. Love your persecutors (Mt 5:44)
2. Bless your persecutors – do something GOOD for them
3. Pray FOR your persecutors
4. Suffer at the hands of persecutors (1Cor 4:12; 1Peter 2:19-22). Choose to suffer with God’s people (Heb 11:25)
5. God considers the needs of this world – of the wicked, of the lost - more important than our HEALTH, our comfort, our possessions, our liberties, etc!
6. Stay peaceful – not vengeful (Rom 14:19)
7. Rejoice – you WILL win in the end (Isa 66:5)
8. Sing while being persecuted (Acts 16:25)
9. Sometimes, Flee (Mt 10:23)
G. The Purpose of Persecution
1. To identify Christians!
a. Persecution, hard times, trials drive away fakers and frauds
b. It is a good thing to be identified as a Christian (1Pet 4:12-16)
c. Allowing Satan to open up on you will tell if you are the real deal or not
2. To Use Us as an Awesome Testimony that works
a. Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
b. Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
c. Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
d. Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
e. Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
f. It converted Saul of Tarsus, watching the testimonies of countless believers whom he tried so hard to break and force to recant!
g. Paul in chains ALMOST convinced Agrippa to become a Christian
h. Some if not most “religions” require their followers to KILL their enemies
i. Jesus requires of us to yield to them and suffer at their hands – WHY? So that they see Christ in us, and get convinced of HIS grace and kindness and love and suffering for THEM!
3. To Scatter His People into ALL the world (Acts 1:8; 8:1) – what a thought
4. To Bless His People – He uses troubles to get us to rely upon His presence and grace and strength (2Cor 12)
H. The Rewards of Persecution (Matthew 5:10,12)
1. Matt 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
3. Real, solid, powerful JOY! Look at the difference the Kingdom of God offers…
a. REJOICE – leap and shout for joy
b. Be exceedingly glad! When was the last time you did that when someone mocked you, spit upon you, disowned you?
4. Whatever it costs us to follow Jesus WILL be worth it in the end!
a. Matt 10:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
b. Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
5. Treasures in heaven – rewards
6. Souls getting saved – by your testimony in the BAD and HARD and TERRIBLE times
7. Strengthened faith – strong faith – forged in the fires of troubles!
a. Persecution does not create faith in someone – only the BIBEL does that
b. But it sure strengthens the faith of God’s people!
c. We are far too lax, lazy, soft, comfortable
8. Watching God be honoured by your life! God is truly honoured because you have come out of the closet and started shining like a LIGHT instead of hiding who you are now and who Jesus is!
III. Conclusion
A. THIS is THE hardest attitude of all the Be-Atitudes!
B. I hope you see it now!
C. Christian, if you truly are a CHRISTIAN, a follower of Jesus and not Mary or the Pope or the Church, or Rome, but a Christ follower – well then, you are in God’s kingdom now
D. And you WILL be hated for it!
1. Persecution, and hardship, and loss is the life of the committed Christian (2Tim 3:12)
2. Have you ever lost anything following Christ? If not, then I doubt you are very much out of the closet as a godly Christian!
E. There are some good Reasons for Persecution
1. Make sure it is not because you are just plain obnoxious
2. Or that you are actually a criminal
3. But that you are doing the right thing, constantly
4. That you are speaking up for God and Jesus Christ!
5. That you expect righteousness of our Leaders and of our Teenagers and of our Garda and our Doctors and our Lawmakers
F. Right Responses to Persecution are always going to be hard
1. It will always be easier to just yell back, fight back, strike back
2. But in the Kingdom of God, we are supposed to do just about everything differently
3. We leave the vengeance to God
4. Why? Because there is great reward for shining under pressure!
G. The Rewards of Persecution are the best
1. Treasures in heaven – rewards
2. Souls getting saved – by your testimony in the BAD and HARD and TERRIBLE times
3. Strengthened faith
4. God honoured by your life