Persecution

Happy Sunday! Today we've made it to the last beatitude. Our study of The Sermon on the Mount is not over; we still have a long way to go. I love the last beatitude, and when you hear it, you may ask why. Let me read it first and then tell you why I love it so.

These words are found in Matthew 5:10 to 12. Jesus gives us the beatitude, and then he seems to give it again. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." But Jesus continues. He says, "Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Now, it's important that we remember the context here. Jesus is talking to his disciples. There also happens to be a large crowd gathered there that are eavesdropping on this great teaching. I bet as he said these words about persecution, persecution, Jesus was looking the disciples in the eye.

Here Jesus promises that they'll be persecuted. Why would I love that? I love that because it's the truth. Jesus is honest. The disciples did suffer persecution.

They were reviled, they were lied about, they were jailed and beaten. In fact, all of the disciples were killed for their faith except for John, and he was exiled to the island of Patmos. Jesus's teaching is always consistent. The disciples were warned that there would be trouble. They were also promised great reward, as we are.

Paul, who was not an original disciple, wrote these words in Romans 8:18. I'm sure all of the disciples there that day at the sermon of the mount would agree. Paul wrote, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us."

When Jesus spoke those words that day, he reminded the disciples and the crowd gathered there that the prophets were persecuted. If you read the Old Testament, you'll, you will see that that is very true. In Acts chapter 7, verse 52, one from the early church who was persecuted, even killed, Stephen, said this as he was about to be killed for his faith. Stephen said to the crowd of authorities there, "Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, and now you've become his betrayers and his murderers."

It's interesting to note that Jesus warns the disciples as they were beginning their walk with him, and Jesus also warned them as he was headed to the cross and about to leave them. In John 16:33, Jesus said, "These things I've spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Not long before that, Jesus said this in John 15, chapter 15, verses 18 through 20. To the disciples Jesus said, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." Jesus goes on to say, "Remember the word I said to you: a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you."

And indeed Jesus was persecuted, as were his disciples. Another thing to notice is that in his teaching, Jesus was always preparing his followers that he'd be killed on the cross. They knew he would be persecuted.

So how do we apply this 2000 years later? First, it's important to have faith that is Bulletproof. We need to know that when persecution comes, and it was promised, it's not a sign that we're doing something wrong; it's a sign that we're doing something right. The world will be against us.

Persecution takes many forms. In recent history, School shooters have targeted Christians because of their faith. Church shootings have become almost commonplace. Perhaps the persecution that you mostly faced, it faces rejection.

As a pastor, I've spent most of my life safely within the fellowship of other believers, yet there have been times outside of that environment when I just don't fit in with the world. If we're vocal against this world's norms and stand on the word of God, we will be rejected and ridiculed. The disciples were, the prophets were. Look what they did to Jesus. Please know that when you're persecuted, you are in great company, and there is a great reward.

Pray with me. Father God, I have grandchildren that are learning about you and are going to be strong in their faith, and it's a different world that they grow up in, and I pray for them as they stand for truth. We pray for the generation behind us that have struggles, and we just asked for their protection.

Father, thank you for the great reward. Thank you for your example. Thank you for being honest with us. And when those things happen, when we are persecuted, let us hold strong to you. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, amen.

God bless you. Thanks for joining me today.