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The Blessings of the Persecuted ( Matthew 5:10-12) April 24, 2022

D A OLIVA / 2022-04-24

" Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of ME. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your REWARD in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you," Matthew 5:10-12 ( NIV)

Introduction

 A. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not         " sugar coat" the cost of following Him

  1. From the start of His ministry, He told His followers the cost of discipleship, Matthew 16:24 

  - deny self, take up cross, follow Him

  2. In the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12, Jesus enumerated the blessings of following Him

 B. In this lesson, we shall discuss the Blessings of the Persecuted as follows: 

  1. Reasons for Being Persecuted

  2. Reactions to Persecutions

  3. Blessings of the Persecuted

Discussion

 A. Reasons for Being Persecuted

   1. Christians are persecuted because of righteousness and because of Jesus, Matthew 5:10-11

   2. In Psalm 37:32, David wrote          " The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death."

  3. But why does the wicked persecute the righteous?

  4. In John 15:19, Jesus gives the answer " because you are not of the world...therefore the world hates you," ( NIV)

 5. Apostle John wrote, " Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.. for all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is NOT of the Father," I John 2:15-16

 B. Reactions to Persecutions

 1..Again Jesus said, " Rejoice and be glad," Matthew 5:12

 2. " Consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds," James 1:2 ( NIV)

  3. " Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse," Romans 12:14

  4. In Romans 12:17- 21, Paul gives the following rules:

   a. Do not repay evil for evil

   b. Do what is right in the eyes of everybody

   c. Live at peace with everyone

   d. Do not take revenge

   e. If your enemy is hungry, feed him

   f.  Overcome evil with good

  5. When Christians were persecuted and scattered, they preached the WORD wherever they went, Acts 8:1,4

 C. The Blessings of the Persecuted

  1. " Great is your REWARD in HEAVEN," Matthew 5:10, 12

  2. " Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the Crown of Life," Revelation 2:10

  3. "...The testing of your faith develops perseverance, maturity and completeness," James 1:4

  4. The church of the Lord will continue to grow,Acts 8:1,4

Conclusion

 A. Jesus will not call us " blessed," but will pronounce a "woe" upon us for pleasing men and not God

  1. " Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets," Luke 6:26

  2. He now invites all to come to Him for forgiveness of sins and salvation, Matthew 11:28-30

 B. Let us be truly blessed or spiritually rich ( Greek " makarios")

  1. Accept Him now as your Lord and Savior, 2 Corinthians 6:2

  2. Death or Christ's coming may come soon

    - Hebrews 9:27 death/ judgment

    - Mark 16:16  believe/be baptize