YOUTH GROUP: Blessed are the Persecuted

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Blessed are the Persecuted

Matthew 5:10-12

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Intro:

Chase Waldie Short Sermon for Fine Arts

Message:

Matthew 5:10-12

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What is persecution?

Persecution is the intentional alienation of someone, or a people group, due to their beliefs, actions, or personhood.

• Goal of persecution?

shame the victim, isolate them from the wider group, and make an example in order to shape the behavior of others within the community.

What are some modern examples of this?

• Stop Asian Hate
• Anti-Semitism.
• go hand in hand with persecution.

The Bible talks alot about slaves and how they were to obey their masters, and how their masters were to treat them kindly. Why? Because it was .

Persecuted for

There is a difference between persecution for our actions or even , and being persecuted for .

A martyr is someone that is killed for their . God has called anyone throughout scripture to be a martyr

A martyr is someone who stands on their faith, amidst persecution. They were killed because they lived righteously, not because they sought out to die.

Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

This is the exact same thing Jesus said about the poor in Spirit. Week one of the beatitudes. Without humility you can never endure persecution. It is . You will want to act up. You will want to insult them back. Where there should be brokenness there will be an excusing of your sin. Where there should be submission to God, there will be the desire to control. Where there should be a desire for righteousness, there will be a desire for revenge. Where there should be mercy there will be a heart full of judgment. Where there should be purity of heart, there will be a multitude of sins, and where there should be peacemakers, there will be doers of chaos.

You have got to realize tonight how important humility is. Everything in our walk with God is built upon humility. A realization that we cannot do it with Him! We have got to allow God to work in us and through us, because He is willing to work with us and for us!

2. Christ’s

11 “Blessed are people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you

Notice the wording here. It shifted. Jesus went from a statement to a statement.

2 Corinthians 12:10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am then I am s.

you

James 1:26 ESV If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

1 Peter 4:14 NIV If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.

We cannot afford to be reactive. The world around us is so reactive. The world preaches tolerance, but is getting less and less so. We cannot allow ourselves to be into responding harshly, negatively, degradingly, when it comes to being insulted.

Luke 23:34  Jesus said, “Father, them, for they do not what they are doing.” Remember the Charles Spurgeon quote I gave you last week?

“They not only are so, but they shall be called so. That is, even their enemies shall call them so; even the world shall say, “Ah! that man is a child of God.” Perhaps, beloved, there is nothing that so strikes the ungodly as the peaceful behavior of a Christian under insult.” ( Spurgeon)

What an it is to be insulted for the name of Jesus. That honor should then place a in our hearts for those who insult us, so that they too, can have the Holy Spirit reveal to them the fullness and glory of God through his son, Jesus Christ. Through whom we have all received grace, mercy, salvation and reconciliation. Blessed are you when people insult you, and because you are blessed when they do so. So in turn bless them, do not repay evil for evil. Do not give curse for curse. Repay them with what is good.

You

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

John 15:18-20 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 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. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also you.

I want you to know that the world hates Jesus more than it will ever hate . However, if you proclaim Jesus, you will be hated. That is how the devil works.

Children of God are of Christ. It is because of Christ that we are grafted into the family of God. If you are not a you cannot be a of God.

John 4:2-6 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Greater is the one in than the one who is in the ! God is greater than those who persecute you! Take courage! Find peace in knowing that God is in control! Don’t be scared! You are held in the hands of the living God!

John 10:27-30 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

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You

Psalm 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will . Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.

Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

1 Peter 3:16 Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Proverbs 10:18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a .

James 3:9-11 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

Don’t be the hypocritical Christian that worships God on Sunday but is swearing on Monday. Don’t be the Christian that prays over the food and then gossips at the table. Don’t be the Christian that tells other people about God by degrading someone else.

You are blessed, when people insult you, persecute you and slander you because you follow Christ. It may not seem like it in the moment. It may be hard. It may be the hardest thing you have ever experience, but God is with you. Those experiences grow you. Through those things you will be given wisdom, patience, and endurance. You will know Joy and know peace. You will God.

3. Our

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. . . . 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Our response through insults, persecution, and slander is to !

The world needs Christians that will endure persecution. The world needs Christians that are willing to stand up and proclaim the name of Jesus. The world needs Christians that are going to actually live righteously! If that’s you, would you raise your hand tonight and let me pray for you as we close?