Blessed Are The Persecuted Series

Becoming (8)

Dustin Lee Boden / General

“Blessed are the Persecuted”

Matthew 5:1–10 ESV

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

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

Introduction:

Praise God, so happy to see everyone today!

Today we are continuing our series "Becoming," where we’ve been ascending this ladder, rung by rung, through the Beatitudes—a blueprint for becoming more like Christ.

Each Beatitude builds upon the last, guiding us in our journey to reflect His character and embrace His calling.

Here is a brief recap…

1. Poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3) - The journey starts with recognizing our spiritual poverty and need for God.

2. Those who mourn (Matthew 5:4) - This leads to mourning over our sin, seeking God’s comfort.

3. The meek (Matthew 5:5) - Mourning softens our hearts, creating meekness and a gentle spirit.

4. Hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) - With meekness, we crave righteousness and seek to please God.

5. The merciful (Matthew 5:7) - Pursuing righteousness helps us recognize our need for mercy and extend it to others.

6. The pure in heart (Matthew 5:8) - Mercy leads to seeking purity of heart and undivided devotion to God.

7. The peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) - A pure heart makes us peacemakers, working to reconcile others to God.

8. Those persecuted for righteousness' sake (Matthew 5:10) - As peacemakers, we may face persecution but remain firm, knowing the kingdom of heaven is ours.

Today, we come to a challenging but crucial part of our ascent: the reality of persecution.

As we climb this ladder of spiritual growth, we find that not all paths are smooth, and not every step is easy.

Jesus warns us that as we strive to live righteously, we will face opposition, we will face persecution, we will face evil resistance… this isn't just historical but a present-day reality.

But rather than discouraging us, this expectation of persecution becomes a crucial step in our journey in becoming like Christ.

Matthew 5:10 (ESV)

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

Today we will explore three essential aspects of navigating this difficult terrain:

1. Understanding the inevitability of persecution.

2. Maintaining a heavenly mindset amidst trials.

3. Embracing the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain us through these challenges.

Each of these points will help us remain steadfast on our climb, ensuring that our journey not only brings us closer to Christ but also transforms us into His likeness.

“Suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not above his master. Following Christ means suffering because we have to suffer.”

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

So, as we continue on this journey of becoming like Christ, we must understand that persecution is not just a possibility—it is an expectation.

With this in mind, let’s explore our first point:

1. The Expectation of Persecution

1. Persecution is not an indication that we are doing something wrong; rather, it is often evidence that we are living in alignment with God's will.

a. Persecution is an essential part of the Christian journey.

b. When you step into the calling God has placed on your life, it is often met with opposition and challenging times.

c. You will be met with spiritual warfare, and spiritual attacks on your life will increase.

d. The world will reject you, society will reject you, and this rejection may even come from within your own household.

e. The Bible makes it clear that following Christ is an invitation for suffering and persecution.

2 Timothy 3:12 NLT

12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

a. I fear that somewhere along the way, Christians have lost sight of the reality of persecution for the godly.

i. See, in our culture...there is a tendency to present Christianity in a way that emphasizes comfort and prosperity rather than the challenging aspects of discipleship.

ii. This “comfortable gospel” often downplays or ignores the reality of suffering, sacrifice, and persecution that can come with following Christ.