Series: Shining Series: Shining ThroughThrough

““The Beatitude of The Beatitude of Persecution”Persecution”

Matthew 5:10-12Matthew 5:10-12

I.I. RealityReality of Persecution of Persecution

The Bible says, The Bible says, “If the “If the world world hateshates youyou, you , you know that it know that it hated Me hated Me before it hated you. If before it hated you. If you were of the world, you were of the world,

the world would love its the world would love its own. Yet because you own. Yet because you

are not of the world, but are not of the world, but I chose you out of the I chose you out of the world, therefore the world, therefore the world world hates youhates you. .

Remember the word Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A that I said to you, ‘A

servant is not greater servant is not greater than his master.’ If than his master.’ If

they they persecutedpersecuted Me, Me, they will also they will also persecutepersecute you…” you…” John 15:18-20John 15:18-20

Paul said to Paul said to Timothy, Timothy, “All who “All who

desire to live godly desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will in Christ Jesus will

suffer suffer persecutionpersecution.” .” (Timothy 3:12)(Timothy 3:12)

I.I. RealityReality of Persecution of PersecutionA. SlanderA. Slander

The Bible says, The Bible says, “the people “the people passing by passing by

shoutedshouted abuse, abuse, shaking their shaking their

heads in heads in mockery.”mockery.”

(Matthew 27:39)(Matthew 27:39)

The Bible says, The Bible says, “Blessed are you “Blessed are you when men when men hatehate you, when they you, when they exclude you & exclude you &

iinsultnsult you & you & rejectreject your name as evil, your name as evil, because of the Son because of the Son

of Man.”of Man.”(Luke 6:22)(Luke 6:22)

I. I. RealityReality of of PersecutionPersecutionA. SlanderA. SlanderB. HarassmentB. HarassmentC. DistortionC. Distortion

The Bible says, The Bible says, ““False witnesses False witnesses did rise up; they did rise up; they laid to my charge laid to my charge things that I knew things that I knew

not.”not.”(Psalms 35:11)(Psalms 35:11)

I.I. RealityReality of of PersecutionPersecution

II.II. ReasonReason for for persecutionpersecutionA. Confirms A. Confirms RelationshipRelationship

The Bible says, The Bible says, “if “if you you suffersuffer as a as a

Christian, do not Christian, do not be ashamed, but be ashamed, but praise God that praise God that you bear His you bear His

name.”name.”(1 Peter 4:16)(1 Peter 4:16)

The Bible says, The Bible says, “The “The apostles left the apostles left the

Sanhedrin, rejoicing Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had because they had

been counted been counted worthy of worthy of sufferingsuffering

disgrace for the disgrace for the Name.”Name.”

(Acts 5:41)(Acts 5:41)

I.I. RealityReality of of PersecutionPersecution

II.II. ReasonReason for for persecutionpersecutionA. Confirms A. Confirms RelationshipRelationshipB. Causes B. Causes RelianceReliance

The Bible says, The Bible says, “...Therefore I will “...Therefore I will boast all the more boast all the more gladly about my gladly about my weaknesses, so weaknesses, so

that Christ’s power that Christ’s power may rest on me.may rest on me.

That is why, for That is why, for Christ’s sake, I Christ’s sake, I

delight in delight in weaknessesweaknesses, in , in

insultsinsults, in , in hardshipshardships, , in in persecutionspersecutions, in , in

difficultiesdifficulties. For when . For when I am weak, then I I am weak, then I

am strong.” am strong.”(2 Corinthians 12:9-(2 Corinthians 12:9-

10)10)

I.I. RealityReality of of PersecutionPersecution

II.II. ReasonReason for for persecutionpersecutionA. Confirms A. Confirms RelationshipRelationshipB. Causes B. Causes RelianceRelianceC. Cultivates C. Cultivates RighteousnessRighteousness

The Bible says, “the The Bible says, “the God of all grace, who God of all grace, who

called you to his called you to his eternal glory in Christ, eternal glory in Christ,

after you have after you have sufferedsuffered a little while, a little while,

will himself restore will himself restore you & make you you & make you strong, firm & strong, firm &

steadfast.”steadfast.”(1 Peter 5:10)(1 Peter 5:10)

I.I. RealityReality of of PersecutionPersecution

II.II. ReasonReason for for persecutionpersecution

III.III. ReplyReply to Persecution to PersecutionA. A. RecognizeRecognize Source Source

The Bible says, The Bible says, “For we “For we do not do not wrestlewrestle against against

flesh & blood, but flesh & blood, but against principalities, against principalities,

against powers, against against powers, against the rulers of the the rulers of the

darkness of this age, darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the of wickedness in the

heavenly places.”heavenly places.”(Ephesians 6:12).(Ephesians 6:12).

The Bible says, The Bible says, “Be “Be sober, be vigilant; sober, be vigilant;

because your because your adversary the devil adversary the devil walks about like a walks about like a

roaring lion, seeking roaring lion, seeking whom he may whom he may

devourdevour.”.”(1 Peter 5:8). (1 Peter 5:8).

I.I. RealityReality of of PersecutionPersecution

II.II. ReasonReason for for persecutionpersecution

III.III. ReplyReply to Persecution to PersecutionA. A. Recognize Recognize SourceSourceB. B. RespondRespond in Love in Love

The Bible says, The Bible says, “But I “But I say to you, love your say to you, love your enemies, bless those enemies, bless those

who who cursecurse you, do you, do good to those who good to those who

hate you, & pray for hate you, & pray for those who spitefully those who spitefully use you & use you & persecutepersecute

you”you”(Matthew 5:44)(Matthew 5:44)

I.I. RealityReality of of PersecutionPersecution

II.II. ReasonReason for for persecutionpersecution

III.III. ReplyReply to Persecution to PersecutionA. A. Recognize Recognize SourceSourceB. B. RespondRespond in Love in LoveC. C. RelyRely on the Lord on the Lord

The Bible says, The Bible says, “So “So then, those who then, those who

suffersuffer according to according to God’s will should God’s will should

commit themselves commit themselves to their faithful to their faithful

Creator & continue Creator & continue to do good.”to do good.”

(1 Peter 4:19)(1 Peter 4:19)

I.I. RealityReality of of PersecutionPersecution

II.II. ReasonReason for for persecutionpersecution

III.III. ReplyReply to Persecution to PersecutionA. A. Recognize Recognize SourceSourceB. B. RespondRespond in Love in LoveC. C. RelyRely on the Lord on the LordD. D. RefuseRefuse to Retaliate to Retaliate

The Bible says, The Bible says, “If it is “If it is possible, as far as it possible, as far as it

depends on you, live at depends on you, live at peacepeace with everyone. with everyone.Do not take revenge, Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will mine to avenge; I will

repay,” says the Lord.repay,” says the Lord.

On the contrary: ‘If On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is your enemy is hungryhungry, ,

feed him; if he is feed him; if he is thirstythirsty, give him , give him

something to drink. In something to drink. In doing this, you will doing this, you will

heap burning coals on heap burning coals on his head.’”his head.’”

(Romans 12:18-20)(Romans 12:18-20)

I.I. RealityReality of of PersecutionPersecution

II.II. ReasonReason for for persecutionpersecution

III.III. ReplyReply to Persecution to PersecutionA. A. Recognize Recognize SourceSourceB. B. RespondRespond in Love in LoveC. C. RelyRely on the Lord on the LordD. D. RefuseRefuse to Retaliate to RetaliateE. E. RejoiceRejoice in reward in reward

The Bible says, The Bible says, “The “The Lord will rescue me Lord will rescue me

from every evil from every evil attack & will bring attack & will bring

me safely to his me safely to his heavenly kingdom. heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for To him be glory for

ever & ever. Amen.”ever & ever. Amen.”(2 Timothy 4:18)(2 Timothy 4:18)