“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness”
Matthew 5:1-5:12
This sermon came from prayer and ideas from my colleagues at sermoncentral
Introduction-
Mt 5:1-5:12
This morning we are winding down the series from the Sermon on the Mount.
The character building sermons of Jesus Christ . Today looking at the persecuted church.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you”
Prayer
One of the greatest things about Jesus is His honesty. He never let people in any doubt what would happen to them if they choose to follow him.
He made it clear that he came not to make our lives easy, but to make us great, and in His image.
History of the church:
When they came to Christ, every aspect of their life was disrupted. Not just changed, altered, inconvenienced, it was disrupted!
(1) Their work was disrupted. He asked some to change jobs, and to follow him to a new place.
Example- Suppose a man was a stone mason, and his work was making idol temples.
God expected him to change jobs.
If he was a tailor and was making robes for false priest.
He was expected not to take the jobs.
Tertullian, a church historian told of some of the early church people who said “What can I do, I must live” Tertullian said, must you?
If it came to a choice between loyalty and a living, the Christian is expected to choose loyalty to Christ.
(2) Christianity would certainly disrupt their social life
In the Ancient world, feast were held in temples of idol gods.
Few sacrifices burned the whole animal., part of the meat went to corrupt priest and the rest went to the worshippers.
A common god was Serapis.
Invitations went out- “we invite you to dine with me at the table of the lord Serapis”
Could a Christian share in the feast of a pagan god?
Drink wine and celebrate in pagan worship?
Christians had to cut themselves off from the social circles that were not appropriate.
(3) Christianity disrupted their home life.
One came to Christ and it caused division in family.
Husband, wife, children.
Often the door was closed to the family members that came to Christ.
Question-
Has coming to Christ (If you have come to Christ) changed all aspects of your life?
Work?
Social life?
Family ?
Christianity truly meant that you had to love Christ more than anything else because it was met with resentment and hatred.
All the world knew Christians had to suffer.
Flung to the lions (for entertainment)
Burned at the stake (Nero used them as human torches)
Sewed skins around them and let wild animals tear them apart and kill them.
You ask why would the Romans do these terrible things to people who followed Christ?
More, why would anyone let these things happen to them for Jesus sake?
For the Christians
They knew what they were getting into. These men and women were prepared for it. They took their stand for Christ.
To the Romans
Romans accused Christians of being cannibals, because of their words of the last supper. “This is my body, and this cup is the New testament in my blood”
They were falsely accused of eating children and immoral practices.
Because they greeted each other with a kiss, they were accused of lustful things.
Christians are trouble makers. They talked about end times that was not nice.
Accused of destroying family relationships.
Romans attack was political .
Caesar unified the Romans, and Jesus was dividing it.
When Christians did not bow, it was seen as treason against Rome.
The only crime of Christians was they set Christ above Ceasar.
For that loyalty, they were tortured and killed.
To suffer for Christ was an opportunity to show our loyalty to Jesus Christ.
What about today? What does God expect out of you and I? Are we doing it?
Persecution by definition is when someone comes under physical or verbal attack for what they believe and how they live their life.
Jesus never taught a prosperity gospel.
He taught a persecution gospel.
He never taught that it would be easy, or convenient. He always said, you have to deny yourself and follow him.
The focus is not carrying Jesus cross. He carried and completed all work on the cross. It says that we should carry our cross. “Deny yourself and take up the cross” bearing the burden in such a way that others would come to the cross of Christ.
Matthew was killed with a sword.
James was stoned to death.
Peter crucified upside down.
Bartholomew was beaten to death.
John was put on an island and died a prisoner……all died believing to the point of death for their faith.
(Read slowly)
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. Perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed.”
We don’t look for it. We don’t beg people to punish us for following of Christ. But suffering is a gift we give back to God.
Quote-
When a man encounters Jesus, he must do one of two things. Either he must die, or must put Christ to death- Bonhoeffer
People either receive God’s love and love Him, or they reject God’s love and hate him. When they reject his love, they will reject those who love Him too.
“If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”
Hurting people hurt people! They attack the same way they have been attacked.
They are people who need Jesus!
People who attack the church- heart problem.
People who attack men and women for their fauth- heart problem.
Rejection of Christ and His love- heart problem.
Billy Graham
“Were suffering from only one disease in the world. Our problem is not a race problem. Our problem is not a poverty problem. Our problem is not a war problem. Our problem is a heart problem.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind. To reward a man according to his conduct, according to what deeds deserve.”
Only God can fix a deceitful heart!
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
Let me bring this home-
No one enjoys persecution. If you did, I would think something is wrong with you.
“rejoice at such a moment”, says Jesus- thankful that you have an opportunity to make it easier for others to meet your Jesus!
One question to ask- why is persecution so inevitable?
Because when the church is the church. It is bound to the things of God.
Where there is good- the church must praise.
Where there is evil- the church must condemn.
And inevitably people will try to silence the voices of God’s people.
You may not be killed for your faith- yet!
But insult awaits you.
Mockery awaits those who practice love and forgiveness.
Persecution awaits those who insist on being honest and hard working.
The church has to be the church, and some will not like it!
As followers of Christ, we must maintain our walk with God. Some will insult you, because they see their need for God and they are not willing to follow.
The church of God is under attack, and the people of God must remain faithful to getting the message of Christ out.
Close
