Fortunate Are The Persecuted
Written by Ed Allen
Saturday, 08 June 2002 19:00
Matthew 5:10-12
"(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."
PERSECUTION IS NORMAL FOR CHRISTIANS
1. Scripture:
a. Matthew 10:25; John 15:20; 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:2
2. History:
a. Jesus
b. The prophets before us
c. a. James, the son of Zebedee, was beheaded. It is said that on his way to be martyred, James' accuser was so impressed by his courage and conviction that he repented of his sin, professed himself to be a Christian, and was beheaded along with James.
b. Philip was thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, A. D. 54.
c. Matthew was killed with a sword
e. Matthias was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.
f. Andrew, the brother of Peter, was crucified on a cross, two ends of which were in the ground. Hence, St. Andrew's Cross.
g. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.
h. Peter, it is thought, was crucified upside down at his own request because he did not feel worthy enough to be crucified in the same manner as His Lord.
i. Paul was beheaded.
j. Jude was crucified.
k. Bartholomew was cruelly beaten and then crucified.
l. Thomas was martyred by being thrust through with a spear.
m. Luke, it is believed, was hanged on an olive tree.
n. Simon was crucified, A. D. 74.
o. Barnabas was put to death about A. D. 73.
3. Somebody is thinking this doesn't happen today.
(Read from extra page)
4. What does persecution look like?
a. Jesus said they will insult you - taunt, denounce, revile
b. Persecute you - pursue in order to harm, drive you away
c. Say evil - malicious talk, defame
5. Why would persecution be normal for Christians?
a. Result of a lifestyle conflict
b. This is the point of the beatitudes!
NOT ALL SUFFERING IS PERSECUTION
1. commends those who suffer for righteousness
a. define righteous
b. equated with doing things because of Jesus (v. 11)
2. Peter makes this point even more clearly - 1 Peter 4:12-16
3. Not all suffering is persecution so we should not seek persecution.
PERSECUTION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION, WHICH ALLOWS FOR A FULL EXPERIENCE OF GOD.
1. illustration: If you want full "movie" experience, you have to go to right theatre.
2. illustration: If you want full soccer experience, you have to understand the game and then be interested in the players. Really you've got to be in the right condition to play it.
3. So if you want the full experience of God you have to be in the right spiritual situation. You have to have the right heart and mind; you have to be in the right place; you have to be in the right condition. What is that right situation? THE BEATITUDES!
4. I like J.B. Phillips' version of the Beatitudes for the non-Christian world.
a. Happy are the "pushers": for they get on in the world.
b. Happy are the "hard-boiled": for they never let life hurt them.
c. Happy are they who complain: for they get their own way in the end.
d. Happy are the blase: for they never worry over their sins.
e. Happy are the slave-drivers: for they get results.
f. Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world: for they know their way around.
g. Happy are the trouble-makers: for they make people take notice of them.
h. And if we're honest this kind of spirituality makes sense to all of us. We understand being pushy, that's the way the world around us operates. We understand being blasé. We often see that as the key to not worrying. We understand the desire to be knowledgeable and worldly. This makes us seem more sophisticated.
5. But if Jesus is to be believed, the kind of spiritual condition that produces this worldview will eliminate any experience of God. So what is the spiritual condition that allows for a full experience of God
a. It includes poverty of spirit for then you experience God as sovereign.
b. It includes mourning for then you experience God as your comfort.
c. It includes meekness. In this case you experience the generosity of God.
d. The kind of spiritual situation that allows us to experience the fullness of God includes deep passionate longing for righteousness because then you experience the filling of God.
e. It includes being merciful for then you experience the mercy of God toward you.
f. It includes being pure in heart because then you experience the awesome holiness and grace of God.
g. It includes making peace with others because then you experience the Fatherhood of God.
h. And the spiritual situation that allows you to experience the fullness of God in your life includes persecution.
RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION
1. Rejoice and be glad
a. James 1:2,3
2. Notice what he doesn't say:
a. Not fight back
b. Not protect yourself
c. Not run away
d. Not play martyr
3. Are we to be gluttons for punishment? NO. Already said don't seek out persecution
4. So how can we be glad? What good is persecution?
a. It deepens our faith! 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
b. Deepens our holiness. 1 Peter 4:1-2
c. Seems to suggest "by enduring suffering with patience the reward of our experience of God's glory in heaven increases." (see also 2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
d. Emboldens others (Philippians 1:14)
e. Opens the heart of some to the gospel 2 Corinthians 1:5-6, Colossians 2:24
f. Puts you in good company and puts you in the right place - the place of God's blessing.
HOW DO WE RESPOND TODAY
- Some of you need to be encouraged. Blessed are you when you are persecuted.
- Some of you need to be challenged. Piper p. 97-98 We are leading lives that Jesus would not recognize.
- Some of you have not logged on completely to Jesus' network. You need to be warned to count the cost. Exciting adventure, but costly.
Happiness of heart can no more be attained without God than light and sunshine can be had without the sun. Happiness is heavenly born; its aroma is of heaven; it leads to heaven and its emblem is heaven. On every side, in every part of the universe men and women are seeking happiness and cannot find it because they do not seek it from God.
Citation: The Notebooks of Father Bernard Vaughan. Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 1.
Living for his own pleasure is the least pleasurable thing a man can do; if his neighbors don't kill him in disgust, he will die slowly of boredom and lovelessness.
Citation: Joy Davidman in Smoke on the Mountain. Christianity Today, Vol. 38, no. 5.
What I am anxious to see in Christian believers is a beautiful paradox. I want to see in them the joy of finding God while at the same time they are blessedly pursuing Him. I want to see in them the great joy of having God yet always wanting Him.
Citation: A.W. Tozer in Men Who Met God. Christianity Today, Vol. 31, no. 1.
In his autobiography Just As I Am, Billy Graham recalls a story demonstrating that true greatness is not defined by wealth or fame, but by character.
Some years ago Ruth and I had a vivid illustration of this on an island in the Caribbean. One of the wealthiest men in the world had asked us to come to his lavish home for lunch. He was 75 years old, and throughout the entire meal he seemed close to tears. "I am the most miserable man in the world," he said. "Out there is my yacht. I can go anywhere I want to. I have my private plane, my helicopters. I have everything I want to make my life happy, yet I am as miserable as hell." We talked to him and prayed with him, trying to point him to Christ, who alone gives lasting meaning to life.
Then we went down the hill to a small cottage where we were staying. That afternoon the pastor of the local Baptist church came to call. He was an Englishman, and he too was 75-a widower who spent most of his time taking care of his two invalid sisters. He was full of enthusiasm and love for Christ and others. "I don't have two pounds to my name," he said with a smile, "but I am the happiest man on this island."
Billy Graham relates how he asked his wife Ruth after they left, "Who do you think is the richer man?" She didn't have to reply because they both already knew the answer.
Citation: Billy Graham, Just As I Am (Harper Collins, 1999); submitted by David Holdaway, Stonehaven, Scotland
To love God wholeheartedly, we must be convinced that our only happiness is in him alone. We cannot believe this until we renounce all other efforts at happiness. If we look to God to supply half our happiness, we can only love him with half our hearts.
Citation: William Law in Christian Perfection (a contemporary version by Marvin D. Hinten). Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 9.