In the Beatitudes, Jesus describes the qualities found in the lives of those who are truly happy. Not in the temporary, circumstantial sense which the world talks about, but in the eternal, ultimate sense which the world knows nothing about.
He tells us that true happiness comes when one gains the proper perspective on salvation, sin, self, spirituality, service, sanctification and society. He tells us that one who is truly happy has recognized his spiritual poverty, the seriousness of sin, and the emptiness of self. He desires to be right with God and to do right for God, and therefore, seeks to demonstrate mercy toward others and to lead others to peace with God, as he seeks to walk in purity before God.
All of these virtues, of course, are intolerable to an evil world. The world cannot handle someone who is poor in spirit because the world lives in pride - in a state of self-promotion & self-absorption. The world doesn’t want to mourn over sin, but justify its sin. The world wants nothing to do with purity, righteousness, mercy or peace.
Therefore, the world will always lash out at those who would live as Jesus has described here in the beatitudes. Which brings us to the conclusion of our Lord’s teachings here and the final Beatitude.
(READ TEXT)
Notice how Jesus says that the one who suffers as He describes here is doubly blessed. This is the only Beatitude where Jesus uses the word “blessed” twice.
But in order for us to be doubly blessed in the midst of suffering persecution, we must gain the proper perspective on it. Notice what Jesus tells us here. He tells us that if we suffer persecution . . .
1. Let it be for the right reason - vs. 10-11
Jesus speaks here about being persecuted because of righteousness (v. 10) and because of Him (v. 11). Indeed, if we would live for Christ, we will suffer persecution.
“Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” - 2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV)
But it is also possible to suffer persecution for others reasons that are not so noble.
“If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” - 1 Peter 4:15-16 (NIV)
There is an interesting contrast between believers today and believers in the time of the early church. Today, we take on the title of “Christian” once we trust Christ as our Savior and begin to follow Him. If we commit ourselves to growing more like Christ, we then take on the title of “Disciple.”
Now the word “Disciple” means, “follower.” With respect to Jesus then, a Disciple is one who has chosen to follow Him. The word “Christian” means, “little Christ.” This is most interesting.
While believers today take on the title “Christian,” believers in the early church preferred to call themselves “Disciples.” They never referred to themselves as “Christians.” That was, instead, a name given to them by those outside the church who observed the lives of the “Disciples,” these followers of Christ, when they recognized their Christ-like way of living.
“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” - Acts 11:26 (NIV)
It was only as the Disciples had grow in their walk with Christ to the point where others began to recognize their Christ-like ways that they were called “Christian.” They didn’t take this title on themselves, but it was a title given them by those OUTSIDE the church who recognized that they were living like “little Christs.”
This helps us better understand what Peter is saying then in 1 Peter 4:15-16, when he speaks of suffering “as a Christian.” To be persecuted as a “Christian” is to be persecuted for being like Christ!
Oh that outsiders might recognize Christ-likeness in us today as they did in the lives of the Disciples in the days of the early church!
What this means then is that I can choose to avoid persecution if I desire, but simply refusing to grow in Christ-likeness. But refusing to mourn over sin, to walk in meekness, to seek after righteousness, to pursue purity, to demonstrate mercy to others, or seek lead others to have peace with God, I can avoid persecution.
In other words, I can avoid persecution for my faith by choosing to compromise my commitment to following Christ. Some of you today are making that very choice.
“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” - Luke 6:26 (NIV)
“There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.” - Luke 6:26
(The Message)
As followers of Christ, we are called to remain true to Him. In fact, it would appear that our Lord is warning us that if we deny Him in order to avoid persecution, we had better examine ourselves to see if we have truly given our lives to Him. Notice how He compares the person who professes to be his follower, yet compromises his commitment to “false prophets.”
Strangely enough, persecution that results from my living a Christ-like life is a blessing, for it reassures me that I am being an effective witness for Jesus.
“A man’s character is often revealed by those who oppose him.”
John Wesley was riding along a road one day when it dawned on him that three whole days had passed in which he had suffered no persecution. Not a brick or an egg had been thrown at him for three days. Alarmed, he stopped his horse, and exclaimed, "Can it be that I have sinned, and am backslidden?"
Slipping from his horse, Wesley went down on his knees and began interceding with God to show him where, if any, there had been a fault.
A rough fellow, on the other side of the hedge, hearing the prayer, looked across and recognized the preacher. “I’ll fix that Methodist preacher,” he said, picking up a brick and tossing it over at him. It missed its mark, and fell harmlessly beside John. Whereupon Wesley leaped to his feet joyfully exclaiming, “Thank God, it’s all right. I still have His presence.”
During the Watergate scandal, some people regarded it as a compliment to be on Nixon’s “enemies list.” They took it as a credit to them that people in the administration opposed them.
In the same way, if you have enemies because of your righteousness, it will be a credit to you. You should be glad that you have that kind of enemies, and that they are persecuting you, because it means that you are not doing what they do and instead are doing what unrighteous men hate.
Are you on the Devil’s "enemy list?" it has been said that if, in your daily walk, you don’t, on occasion come face to face with the evil one, then you are probably walking in the wrong direction. Which direction are you walking? Are you walking in a direction that makes the Devil ignore you or in a direction that makes the Devil infuriated with you? May we each live in such a way as to please God and displease the Devil.
If you do suffer persecution, let it be for the right reason, and . . .
2. Meet it with the right response - v. 12
Jesus says we are to rejoice.
A. Because we will be awarded a good commendation - v. 12a
“Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.” - James 1:12 (Amplified)
The fact is that there are no crown wearers in heaven who were not cross bearers on earth.
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” - Luke 9:23-26 (NIV)
It is far better to know the condemnation of this world than to miss the commendation of the Lord.
“And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we’ll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives.” - 1 John 2:28 (The Message)
If we stand with conviction for Christ today, we will be able to stand confidently before Christ tomorrow. We can rejoice when we face persecution, knowing that as we remain faithful to the Lord, we will one day be commended by Him. But we can also rejoice . . .
B. Because we are among good company - v. 12b
The word “persecution” is the Greek word, “dioko,” which means, “to pursue, drive, or chase away.” In other words, loneliness is often the lot of the child of God who lives for Christ in this Christ-less world. But when we are in such circumstances, take heart! You’re really not alone. In fact, you’re in good company.
Consider the way the writer of Hebrews concludes the “role call of the faithful.”
“Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated--[Men] of whom the world was not worthy--roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth.” - Hebrews 11:36-38 (Amplified)
Indeed, when we are persecuted for Christ’s sake, we are in very good company.
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you.” - John 15:18-20a (NIV)
There is a story told about the famed American transcendental philosophers, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Because he detested slavery and because tax revenues contributed to the support of it, Thoreau decided to become a tax rebel. He declined to pay the tax and so, in July 1846, he was arrested and jailed. He was supposed to remain in jail until a fine was paid which he also declined to pay. Without his knowledge or consent, however, relatives settled the “debt” and a disgruntled Thoreau was released after only one night.
But according to the story, the night Thoreau was put in jail, Emerson came to visit him. Emerson asked him, “Henry, what are you doing in there?” To which Thoreau supposed replied, “Ralph, what are you doing out there?”
The same question could be asked of many of us by the saints of the past and the present who have suffered persecution. What are you doing out there? Out there in the world? Out there, compromising your faith endeavoring to avoid ridicule, conflict and persecution? Out there, beyond the blessings of God?
“The Fellowship of the Unashamed”
“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ.” - Romans 1:16 (NLT)
I am a part of the “Fellowship of the Unashamed.” I have the Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight-walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving and dwarfed goals!
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, plaudits, promotions or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power.
My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear.
I cannot be bought, deterred, compromised, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, back up, let up or shut up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know and work until He comes.
And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear.
