• The Beatitudes - Day 10

    <br />Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake

  • What is the eighth characteristic of the one who is approved by God?

  • Matthew 5:3-12

    Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

    Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

    Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

    Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

    Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

    Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

    Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

  • The Beatitudes - Day 10

    <br />Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake

  • 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

  • Why do you think people would persecute you for being righteous?

  • John 15:18-21 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 

  • The Beatitudes - Day 10

    <br />Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake

  • How does Jesus say we should respond to persecution?

  • Matthew 5:10-12

    Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

  • This is an absolultely amazing thing for Jesus to say, but before you say it can't be done, listen to these stories from Acts.

  • Acts 5:40-41 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

    Acts 16:22-25 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

  • I think it’s important for us to see that our emotions are not caused by our circumstances. We will be happy or sad, depressed or anxious because of how we respond to our circumstances.

  • The Beatitudes - Day 10

    <br />Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake

  • Jesus doesn't just leave us with the command to be glad in persecution. He also gives us reasons to help us be this kind of person. So why in the world should we rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted on Jesus’ account? What is His first reason?

  • Matthew 5:11-12

    Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

  • This argument implies three things that must happen for it to take effect in our lives:

  • 1. We need to focus our minds on the reward.

    Joy in persecution doesn't happen automatically. You need to fight for it, and the battle takes place in your mind.

  • Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

  • We live in a culture that is focused on the now. Jesus wants us to be focused on the future.

  • The Beatitudes - Day 10

    <br />Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake

  • 2. We need to realise that our reward in heaven is far better than what persecution takes from us now on earth.

  • Hebrews 10:32-34 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

  • What are the two ways in which our reward is better?

  • Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

  • Jim Elliot, a missionary who was speared to death, said these famous words: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

  • 2. We need to realise that our sufferings now for Christ are actually in some way enlarging our reward in heaven.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

  • The Beatitudes - Day 10

    <br />Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake

  • What is Jesus' second reason for why we should rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted for His sake?

  • Matthew 5:11-12

    Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

  • Suffering has always been a mark of God’s people and is their badge of honor. You are in good company when you are persecuted. Rejoice and be glad.

  • The Beatitudes - Day 10

    <br />Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake

  • In this meditation we have seen the final characteristic of the one who is approved by God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.

    May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you to make you the blessed person. 


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