Living In The Kingdom Part 4
Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12; Second Timothy 3:10-14
This morning we are going to be looking at what Jesus said about those who are persecuted and what our response should be when that happens. In Matthew 5:10-12 Jesus says, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” Have you ever been persecuted? Have you ever been persecuted for righteousness? The term “righteousness” means “the revealed will of God and man’s willingness to obey it.” When we are persecuted for righteousness (trying to obey and activate the will of God in our lives), we have been promised the kingdom of heaven (here on earth and ultimately when we depart this life for the next one.) Jesus follows this by saying that we will be blessed when people revile (insult and/or berate us) falsely for His name’s sake. In each of the statement the focus of the blessing is our standing firm in our belief in Jesus and what He said when people demean and talk about us for doing so. It is important to remember why we are being blessed.
We all know that not every persecution we experience is because of our being righteous. No, a lot of our persecutions are because of something we have done that was not righteous at all. I want us to understand the difference. Persecution is persecution, but the reason for the persecution is the issue. To persecute someone means to torment, wrong, afflict, annoy, physically hurt, them. There are many additional words/actions that can describe our persecuting someone which would include how we tease someone (innocently) which might get on their nerves and cause an offense. In its truest definition, persecution is not something that is done for fun or in love. Persecution is done, on purpose, with the intention of causing harm to the person who is subjected to it. If we are being persecuted for something that we started or for something we did wrong, that is one thing. But when we stand up for righteousness – when we stand up for Jesus – and we suffer persecution that is what these verses are talking about.
Our being willing to be persecuted for righteousness conflicts with the world because, by its standard, we only have to be committed until the going gets tough. There is a saying that really applies to most Christians and it goes like this: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Depending on how you read this statement, it could mean that the tough person flees when the going gets tough or you could read it as the tough person starts taking action when the going gets tough. Based on your personal reaction, you can read this any way you choose, but if you land on the view that you are the one who flees when times get rough, then you will land on the world’s view. In our world today, you do not get much credit for staying in the fight. When you look around, you will find that when things get tough in a relationship, people leave. When things get tough on the job, people leave. When things get tough in the Church, people leave. When things get tough at any point in time and it looks like the ship is sinking, we will jump ship. After all, we are not the captain who is supposed to go down with the ship. This is what the world teaches us. I used to say all the time: “Life’s too short to have to put up with some things” and I truly meant it. There were some things that I believed I did not have to put up with because life was too short. When I look back on it, those things were generally things I did not want to deal with anyway – so I had an excuse to just walk away. How many of you know that we cannot walk away from being righteousness and defending it if we want to be blessed? In this life there are some things that we will experience that we will need to deal with, especially when it comes to being persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake will inherit the kingdom of heaven. Although this may sound crazy, it is expected that we will suffer sometimes for standing for righteousness. Listen to what Paul told Timothy in Second Timothy the third chapter. Let’s start at verse twelve.
“But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, 11persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13But evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them.” (Second Timothy 3:10-14)
There are a couple of things I want us to see as it pertains to being persecuted. Paul reminded Timothy of the persecutions that he had experienced in the cities where he preached Christ Jesus. Then he told Timothy that those who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted – just as he had suffered persecutions. You don’t hear this taught today in most US churches, but it comes with the Christian faith. This persecution will come in many forms, from people talking about us because of our faith to people turning their backs on us for the same reason. The day will come, and is already here in some areas, when it will be very unpopular to be called a Christian in our country. However, the world has not changed much since Paul made this statement to Timothy. One of the key points from these verses pertains to evil men. Paul states that evil men will continue to get worse. They will continue to deceive others as they are being deceived. It is important for us to recognize that these evil men are truly being deceived by the great deceiver – Satan. In some cases they do not know that they are deceived. The truly “evil man” might not know that they are being deceived, but neither do they care.
In the 19th and 20th chapters of the book of Revelation, John talks about the beast and Satan and how they are deceiving their followers. Of course we know Satan’s end and his followers will have the same end because they were deceived. Imagine being so deceived that you actually believe you are going to win a showdown with God! I read a story a few years ago about a minister who had a dream or vision one night of going to hell. For some reason, his dream has stayed with me for many years. I am not sure if it was a dream or a vision, but it changed his life. In the dream he went to hell and he saw vividly what was there. There were different levels based on how sinful the person was. In his dream he talks about being tormented day and night. He said he was in what looked like a jail cell and demons were outside of the cell just laughing and making fun of him. He said the demons called him names, but that was not the worst of it. He stated that the demons said they had been deceived and/or tricked into following Satan but everyone else in hell had had plenty of opportunities to be saved. Everyone else had a chance before they died and did not take it and therefore where they (the demons) had been deceived, those going to hell without accepting Christ was just stupid. Again, I do not recall if this was a vision that God allowed him to see or if it was just a dream, but what if? What if it was not a dream and was a vision and therefore real? How would you like to endure that type of torment until the Day of Judgment and then be cast into the lake of fire for all of eternity? Have you ever considered what eternity would be like? Everything here on earth that we experience is temporary. Love, hurt, joy, pain, physical and mental abuse, it’s all temporary. We have no concept of something lasting forever. But that will be the case for all who live in God’s kingdom and those who will reside in Satan’s kingdom. It’s forever. The difference is one is filled with peace and joy while the other will be filled with torment and hatred.
As Christians, we must accept the fact that our world (as a whole) is on a path of destruction. It is not going to get better before Christ’s return. Jesus said that it is going to get so bad in the last days that, “…..except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:22) Jesus was talking about the days in which we are currently living in. Things are going to continue to get worse and we must understand this fact. When you read the book of Revelation, you see that the rise of the Beast and the Antichrist come on the scene based on the world’s condition. The Antichrist will be a world leader and deceive the world into believing he is the savior of the world while pointing people to worship the beast. That is why it is so critical that we are actively trying to tell others about Christ. Our lives are not going to be easy as Christians and we need to recognize that and come to grips with it if we are to truly going to be Disciples of Christ.
Jesus closes out this part of His sermon with the following: “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12.) In these two verses lies the reason we can walk with our heads held high even though we might be walking through a valley of the shadow of death because of our desire to follow Christ. We live in a very cruel world where we will be talked about daily because we are different from the world’s standard. We cannot, as a disciple of Jesus, try to conform to this world because to do so means we must turn away from the righteousness we have been called to. In John chapter 15 verse 20, Jesus said “Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:20)
Someone said the definition of Christianity that fits most Christians is this: “Christianity is like a guy telling a girl that he loves her. He wants to get as many benefits as he can without marrying her. As Christians we want everything the Bible promises to us but we don't want to do what the Bible says we have to do to get the promises. We'd prefer a casual relationship (friends with benefits) rather than an intimate one defined as a lifetime commitment." Does this sound like what we are seeing today as it relates to Christians making a commitment?
If I am not committed to the relationship I will take no pleasure in being talked about, mistreated, lied on, rebuked, scorned or cheated. If I am not committed, when these things start to happen my mind will shift to what is easier for me. I will think that “life is too short to deal with this stuff” when I could have peace by simply walking away and enjoying my life. But Jesus said that we should “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Vs. 12) Remember what I said earlier about eternity? It is something that we do not have a concept of here on earth. But I want you to pay close attention to what Jesus said. He told us to rejoice when we are mistreated for His name’s sake because great will our reward be in heaven. Let’s say you turned your back on righteousness for ten million dollars. Let’s say you enjoyed the money for thirty years while you were on the earth. You had thirty years of a worry-free life as it pertained to money and being able to buy whatever you desired when you desired it. You knew that one day you would die so you made sure you lived the best you could and got the most out of your money. You lived to be a hundred and then you died. When you died you went to hell. While in hell you were tormented because you walked away from righteousness for money. Then you found yourself in God’s presence, standing before a crowd of people too many to count, as the angel searched for your name in the Book of Life. When your name was not found in the book, you were escorted to the Lake of Fire. When you entered the Lake of Fire it was for all eternity. Not 30 years, not 100 years, but for all eternity! This will be where you will reside forever. This will never end. Can you see this?
But, if you accepted Christ and persevered through all of the persecutions and torment for standing for righteousness, then you will be rewarded. And your reward will last, say it with me, FOREVER! Think about what the Bible says about rewards for those who are faithful and persevere:
Revelation 22:11-12: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
First Corinthians 3:13-15: “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall test every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
First Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, since you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Second Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may be recompensed for the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad.”
Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
James 1:12: “Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him.”
Jesus said, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” Have you taken a stand for righteousness to the point that you are being persecuted for your stance? Are people talking about you because of your relationship with Christ? Are people withdrawing from you because you refuse to accept what the world tells you you should be fine with? Are you known as a Christian who does not bend what the Bible says, or are you known as a Christian who believes in inclusiveness and Jesus will welcome everyone? If you are not being talked about, mistreated, lied on, and cheated or any of the other words that define a Christian who is being persecuted, ask yourself why not? A Christian who is truly living in the kingdom here on earth will be persecuted for their stance at some point in their walk with Christ because at some point you will have to make a stand on something.
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
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