A Texan billionaire w/ a beautiful daughter loved having parties at his pool which was home to a 20 ft. great-white shark. Every night he’d issue a challenge to the men: “½ my fortune or my daughter’s hand in marriage to the man who swims across the pool!” He never had a challenger. Then one night, after the dare was issued, a tall, muscular guy hit the water. W/ arms churning he raced across the pool and just as the shark was about to get him, he reached the other side of the pool safely. The guests cheered. “Bravo!” cried the Texan, “That’s the greatest act of courage I’ve ever seen. Half my fortune is yours!” “No thanks,” replied the guy. “Then, I’d be proud to call you son, you can marry my daughter.” “I don’t want her either,” he replied. “What do you want?” He replied, “I just want the guy who pushed me in the pool.”
Some might call this a kind of persecution, but unless the guy was singled out for his race, religion, nationality, or creed, it was just a prank. Persecution is when someone comes under physical and verbal attack for what they believe and for how they live their life.
Adam is a young Christian in India. In his Hindu village, people were opposed to the gospel. One day Adam’s brother and wife became the first believers in the village. Although Adam wasn’t willing to follow, he observed their changed lives. They began to share the gospel w/ other villagers, but no one would listen. Then the beatings began. Every time the Hindus beat Adam’s brother, someone in the crowd believed in Christ. Eventually, Adam believed in Christ, too, and began to suffer the same persecution as his brother. One day the villagers surrounded Adam, his brother, and the small group of new Christians. In rage they had prepared a huge pot of boiling water and were preparing to cook the Christians alive. Then one of the Hindus calmed the mob and said, "If we do this even more will become Christians," so they agreed to just beat the believers. As a result, others came to Christ and now there is a church of more than 35 families in the village.
Can you imagine? You’ve just been beaten for your faith and you see the mob preparing to throw you into a pot of boiling water to extinguish your witness. Persecution comes in many forms - but it’s very real.
Tonight we finish this portion our series on the (8) attitudes Jesus said we’re to have as His disciples by looking at the one beatitude no one wants – persecution.
In September 1999, Larry Ashbrook walked into the Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX and opened fire during a Wednesday night service & killed (7). I remember this well and one of the girls that was killed would have graduated seminary in my class. Her name was Joy. Persecution is very real.
In April 1999, two teenage gunmen walked into at Columbine High in Littleton, CO, and shot the students they knew were Christians. Cassie Bernall was in the library when the gunman burst into the room and asked her, "Do you believe in God?" Among her final words she said “Yes!” and stepped into God’s arms. Also on that day, Rachael Scott stepped into eternity for her faith. What’s interesting is that a year earlier, Rachel penned these words in her diary: "I’m not going to justify my faith to them, and I’m not going to hide the light that God has put into me. If I have to sacrifice everything, I will. I will take it. If my friends have to become my enemies for me to be w/ my best friend Jesus, then that’s fine w/ me.
It’s a certainty, someone here today in this room will face life threatening persecution. Are you ready? Are you ready for God’s promise? READ Matthew 5: 10-12. It’s a simple promise – those who undergo persecution will inherit the kingdom. The persecuted are those believers who live out the first (7) attitudes. You could say that to the degree you fulfill the first (7) beatitudes you will experience the eighth. Paul wrote, ”All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Tm. 3:12
In verse 11, it says blessed are you WHEN men shall revile you. That says that at some point in time all Christians can expect some kind of persecution because their righteousness exposes or frustrates the sinful. This doesn’t mean we seek it, but we shouldn’t be surprised when it comes.
James was beheaded. It is said that on his way to be martyred, his accuser was so impressed by his courage and conviction that he repented of his sin, committed himself to Christ, and was then beheaded along with James.
Phillip was scourged, thrown into prison, and then crucified.
Matthew was slain with a sword.
James the Lesser was stoned to death.
Matthias was stoned and then beheaded.
Peter was crucified upside down at his own request because he didn’t feel worthy enough to be crucified in the same manner as the Lord.
Andrew, Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot were crucified. Andrew was left hanging on the cross for (3) days.
Bartholomew was beaten with clubs, filleted alive, and crucified.
Thomas was speared to death.
John was exiled to an island called Patmos where he died as a prisoner.
The point is, Jesus never taught a “prosperity gospel,” but rather a “persecution gospel.” He didn’t teach that following Him was going to be a picnic or a religion of convenience, rather He taught that to follow Him we’d have to deny ourselves and take up our cross. The cross was an instrument of torture and persecution.
The focus of Lk. 9:23 isn’t that we take up and carry Jesus’ cross, but that whatever persecution we face because of following Christ, we’re to bear that burden in such a way to point others to the cross of Christ which can save their souls.
Did you know that Persecution is a GIFT? Most of us can agree that persecution is a given, but to say that it’s a gift is a stretch. We find it hard to believe that we’re blessed when people mess with us because of our faith. Yet the Bible says that we will receive the kingdom of heaven in four ways.
First, Persecution AUTHENTICATES Relationship. Persecution confirms our relationship with God. Someone has said that persecution is a certificate of Christian authenticity. We should rejoice that people see Jesus in us.
”If you suffer as a Christian, don’t be ashamed, but praise God that you bear his name.”(1 Peter. 4:16) Jesus thinks enough of you to let you share in some of what He went through. He thinks enough of you that He gives you the gift of His name to bear.
Second, Persecution AFFIRMS Reliance. In other words, persecution causes us to trust God more. When we suffer we are more likely to examine our lives and to lean on God in ways that we never have before.
Third, Persecution ADVANCES Readiness. It cultivates maturity. One of the best ways to grow is to go through grief. Just as resistance builds muscle, persecution brings maturity in Christ.
Fourthly, persecution brings Reward. Persecution grants a reward and the crown of life. Sometimes when we suffer, all we can do is focus on what’s to come in heaven. We can be excited about what lies ahead. We may lose everything on earth, but we shall inherit everything in heaven.
Why are we persecuted? We are persecuted because of righteousness. To be righteous means to genuinely look and act like Jesus. For some reason, many people are so upset with Jesus that they take it out on those who love Him.
We are persecuted because of the Lord. It’s simple. Because of your affiliation with Jesus you will face persecution. People will either receive God’s love and love Him, or they will reject God’s love and hate Him. And ifthey reject His love, they will reject those who love Him, too. Jesus said, “Remember the words I spoke to you: ’No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (Jn. 15:20) That’s why we are persecuted.
How are Christians persecuted today? Christians will be persecuted because of the life they live and because of the Lord they love. There are 3 ways you will be harrassed – insult, persecution and false accusations.
You will get VERBAL Insults. That is, they will try to defame your reputation through verbal abuse and insulting language. It’s a shame when so-called Christians did that to Linda Willeford and I 1 ½ years ago.
You might get PHYSICAL Attacks. In Christian history, Christians were flung to the lions or burned alive at the stake. Roman emperor Nero poured tar on the Christians and set them on fire. He used their burning bodies as living torches to light his gardens. He sewed them into skins of wild animals and set his hunting dogs on them to tear them to death. They were tortured on the rack, scraped with forceps; seared with hot brass plates affixed to the most tender parts of their bodies; their eyes were torn out, parts of their bodies were cut off; their hands and feet were burned while cold water was poured over them to lengthen the agony. These things are not pleasant to think about, but these are the things a man had to be prepared for, if he took his stand with Christ.
As a Christian you might be persecuted by FALSE Accusation. People might say all kinds of evil– abusive and slanderous words made behind your backs. Slander is often more difficult to deal with because it is harder to defend against than direct accusation. It has the opportunity to spread more quickly before it can be corrected.
As a Christian, how should we respond to this persecution? You can REACT in the flesh or RESPOND in the Spirit. In the flesh you might Seek REVENGE. You can defend yourself by retaliation. In the flesh, you can Show RESENTMENT. You can become bitter, but then who is really getting hurt?
In the flesh, you can become Self RIGHTEOUS. You can become so heavenly minded that you develop a “holier than thou” attitude. Obviously not one of these is appropriate. At the same time, I don’t think we should go looking for persecution or stay and endure it if we don’t have to.
So how should we react? What is the HOLY Response? WALK away from Evil.
Sometimes, just like with temptation, we need to look for the exit. Jesus knew when it was time to get out of a hot spot. On one occasion a mob wanted to stone Jesus to death, but He left (see Jn. 8:59). Another time Jesus knew the Pharisees were plotting to have Him killed so He left withdrew to another area (Mt. 12:14).
Unless God has determined that you must stand for Him in persecution, if there is a way to escape, take it but without compromising your convictions.
GUARD against Compromise. The easiest way to avoid persecution is to live like the world. If you mimic the world you can be sure the world will not criticize you; although they might consider you a hypocrite.
The story is told of the daughter who moved off to go to college. Her mother warned her to remember her Christian upbringing but was concerned that the other college kids would tease her. When she came home for break, her mom asked her if the other kids teased her about being a Christian. She said, “Don’t worry mom. They didn’t even suspect that I was a Christian.” Guard against compromise.
LOVE your Enemies. Easy to say, not so easy to do. It’s easy to think of ways to get even when someone has hurt us or those we love. We can be quick to begin to scheme our retaliation. Unfortunately, revenge is bitter sweet. We may feel better for a moment, but in the end it doesn’t satisfy. God wants us to love our enemies and break the cycle of revenge. Instead of lashing out with anger, we are called by God to love those who mistreat us. Let God fight that battle for you.
Another thing we can do about persecution is to PRAY for Your Persecutors. HURTING PEOPLE HURT OTHER PEOPLE. They attack others in the same way they have been hurt. Keep in mind, many who may be the source of persecution are not believers; they are people who need Christ.
Prayer helps us to love the unlovable in our lives. Prayer changes people. So, we must love and pray for those who mistreat us because they’re not our real enemy.
Our real enemies are the demons in this world. “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” Eph. 6:12
So to overcome the persecution that we, as Christians are bound to receive, walk away from evil, guard against compromise, love your enemies, pray for your persecutors, and lastly take a STAND. With boldness we have to stand in the face of persecution and declare the goodness of God in word and in deed.
No matter what the persecution, “We need to be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58)
Why do we do these things? What do we get out of it? Jesus says we will received the kingdom of heaven.
Why is that? Because when we are being persecuted, we are closer to Jesus than ever before and the persecutors see it.
- Persecution is a gift.
- It authenticates your relationship with Christ.
- Persecution affirms your reliance on God and causes you to trust Him more.
- It matures you spiritually.
- And it brings you reward.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The next time your are persecuted for your faith in Christ, thank the Lord that they see Jesus in you.
