A Disciple's Be-Atitudes - #8 The Persecuted

#8 The Persecuted

Matthew 5:10 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. (NIV)

There is report out of the Vatican that states that more than 100 thousand Christians are persecuted throughout 50 countries in the present day world. Are you listed among the 100+ thousands of martyrs?

The eighth and final beatitude is “blessed are those who are persecuted.” I am careful when dealing with this text. I have had various saints discuss their pains and sufferings. Some wear their pains and sufferings like badges. They will voice, “No pain, No glory!” This is not what Jesus had in mind. The persecuted in the text are those who have suffered for righteousness sake.

Biblical history accounts the following saints that suffered because of righteousness. Abel was the first martyr for righteousness. Saul pursued David. Jesus was betrayed, judged, and crucified. The Apostles were persecuted by the religious system. St. Paul accounted it a blessing for all his sufferings for the faith. The early Christians were persecuted.  In today’s world, Christians are called judgmental, out of touch, mean, and dogmatic.

Are we suppose to be happy when we are persecuted or suffering for the faith? No. You should feel disappointed and sadness that there are people willing to reject the witness of the Gospel and respond by hate and/or violence. Yet, we should rejoice and be glad that we are counted among those worthy to be attacked because of the Message we proclaim. St. Peter instructs us: “For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.” (1 Peter 2:19-20)

For those who have suffered and had been persecuted, Jesus proclaims, “great is your reward in heaven.” Wow! You faced danger and you suffered and were mistreated and you will receive a heavenly reward. That sounds so futuristic but it isn’t. Your heavenly reward starts right now by faith and then in eternity when you see our God face to face. Earthly rewards cannot match God’s. He is a Kind and Awesome God!

Questions:

1. What type of persecution are you facing as a witness for the Lord?

2. Why do you think Jesus gave his disciples this warning?

3. Can you describe what you do only for His sake?

Applications:

1.    Our sufferings for righteousness sake lead to great rewards now and in eternity.

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Psalm 18:20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

Proverbs 10:2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.

Ezekiel 14:14even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.

Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Romans 1:17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

2.    Our trust in God will lead us to do the right things in our lives.

Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Proverbs 28:25 The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

Revelation 7: 9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.

16 

‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’nor any scorching heat.

17 

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

3.    Practice to live without wanting credit for every little thing that you do.

Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Matthew 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’