The passage that
we are about to look over now is one that is seldom even talked about here in
America. We still live in a country that as a whole allows us religious
freedoms. It is one of the great things about living here that I appreciate the
most. Like many I do believe that we are seeing some of these freedoms slip
through our hands at an amazing rate here of late. We do not though suffer the
persecution that many of our brothers do around the world and have no comprehension
of what they face daily.
We are also told
in the scriptures that, “ALL WHO LIVE godly will be persecuted.” As believers
we must face this truth no matter where we live. Quite often I fear that we, including
myself, try to fit into our culture to closely, to the point to where the
unsaved world does not see the difference. Please, don’t misunderstand me; I do
not believe that we are to be obstinate or pugnacious with our faith. Yet, we
are a people who are not of this world. We are strangers and aliens who do NOT
FIT.
The problem is
when we as a group of people see the beatitudes play out in our lives here on
earth we will stand out. Our world as a whole is not seeking peace, not
sorrowful over sin, or any of the above things that we saw at the beginning of
chapter 5. Jesus would always tell His disciples truth and he lets us know that
persecution will come, but here is the wild part when we are persecuted for His
namesake we will be BLESSED. Those who seek their own glory will face the WOES
of Luke 6.
Matthew 5:10 ( ESV )
10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
·
The ones who are truly blessed are the ones who will be willing to
pay the price. They are those who value their names as nothing compared to
giving all the glory to Jesus.
·
I believe that to the level that we live out the beatitudes with
the Spirit’s help we will be afflicted with persecution. Philippians 1:29 has a different twist on
this whole issue. “For it has been granted for you for the sake of Christ you
should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake.” When we suffer
for Him we have received a gift to honor Him. Now if He gifts us in this area
then He as well will give us the Spirit’s strength to go through it. This
persecution is not just dealing with our earthly hardships but as a result of
our godly lifestyle.
·
When we live righteously before others this type of lifestyle is
automatically confrontational by nature. The world loves its sin and its vice.
When the world sees that we live opposite of it in its views of what is morally
wrong or right it WILL become opposed to us. The question like my daughter
stated awhile back is not how close can I get to the world, but rather how much
closer can I get to God.
·
A kingdom awaits us in Heaven. In the words of Building 429, “All I
know is I’m not home yet, this is not where I belong, Take this world but give
me Jesus, This is not where I belong.” What does this world have to offer me?
Riches, Temporal Pleasures, the applause of men. There is NOTHING in comparison
to the hope of Glory which is Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Matthew 5:11 ( ESV )
11“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter
all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
·
The idea of the passage is that they will pursue
us with their hatred. (Think how even in the United States how we are seeing
verbal persecution becoming more tolerated towards us. While the same world, “preaches
Toleration of all.” Oh, the hypocrisy of it all.) To revile means to throw out
abuses with words in the face of one’s opponent. I am reminded of a boxing match in which a
person is being pounded to the point of exhaustion or great physical harm.
·
We will be persecuted with words, deeds done
towards us or even violent actions.
·
They will utter all kinds of evil. People spoke
falsely of our Savior; they will slander us as well. The word for evil is like
that of a disease that is foul and loathsome.
WHEN ALL OF THE ABOVE HAPPENS, HOW
SHOULD OUR HEARTS RESPOND?
Matthew 5:12 ( ESV )
12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they
persecuted the prophets who were before you.
·
Look up the following verses, Acts 5:29-42 “They
rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer.” (41) I Peter 4:12-14 “Don’t
be surprised when fiery trials come.”
·
We can look forward to a day of great reward.
Our present life is but a vapor but Heaven is ETERNAL. II Thess. 1:5-7. Not
only will it be rewarded but I love what Jesus says, it will be “great.” It
will be beyond what we could have ever dreamed. Eph. 3:20
·
Think about the company that we are in when we
are persecuted. Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Joseph, Moses, the Martyrs. We
are not alone there are and have been others who have went on before us. What a
blessing it will be to join these others around the throne.
·
Please read Hebrews 11:32-12:2 again and may
verse 38 especially speak to your heart if you are being persecuted. THE WORLD
IS NOT WORTHY of them or YOU.
Hebrews 11:32-12:2 ( ESV )
32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—
33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were
made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to
flight.
35Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were
tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better
life.
37They were stoned, they were sawn in two,£ they
were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats,
destitute, afflicted, mistreated—
38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and
mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
40since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us
they should not be made perfect.
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
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