Beatitude Series # 8
Eric A. Snyder, Minister, Farwell Church of Christ
Matt 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Original date May 29, 1999
Revised June 17, 2001
Shark
A Texan billionaire with a beautiful, 22 year old Bay-Watch daughter, was fond of holding parties around his deep, opulent swimming pool. In the pool he kept a vicious 20 foot great-white shark. Every party night he would issue a challenge to all the young men present: “Half my fortune, or my daughter’s hand in marriage to the man who swims across this pool!”
Of course he could never get a challenger. Then one night, immediately the challenge was issued, a tall, muscular hunk hit the water. With arms churning he charged across the pool like a speed-boat. In a wink the shark sped after him closing in fast. The hunk reached the other side whipping out of the water just as the shark smashed into the concrete.
The pool guests screamed and applauded the incredible hero. “Bravo! Fantastic!” cried the Texan, “That’s the greatest act of courage I’ve ever seen. Half my fortune is yours!”
“I don’t want your fortune”, replied the hunk quietly.
With tears of pride in his eyes the Texan looking at his daughter who nodded excitedly, said, “I’d be so proud to call you son, you can have my daughter’s hand in marriage.”
“I don’t want your daughter either”, he replied.
“Well”, quizzed the Texan, “you don’t want my money or my daughter. What do you want?”
The hunk hissed through clenched teeth, “Just get me the name of the guy who pushed me into the pool.”
According to Fox’s Book of Martyrs, the following suffered persecution:
a. James, the son of Zebedee, was beheaded. It is said that on his way to be martyred, James’ accuser was so impressed by his courage and conviction that he repented of his sin, professed himself to be a Christian, and was beheaded along with James.
b. Philip was thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, A. D. 54.
c. Matthew was killed with a sword
e. Matthias was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.
f. Andrew, the brother of Peter, was crucified on a cross, two ends of which were in the ground. Hence, St. Andrew’s Cross.
g. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.
h. Peter, it is thought, was crucified upside down at his own request because he did not feel worthy enough to be crucified in the same manner as His Lord.
i. Paul was beheaded.
j. Jude was crucified.
k. Bartholomew was cruelly beaten and then crucified.
l. Thomas was martyred by being thrust through with a spear.
m. Luke, it is believed, was hanged on an olive tree.
n. Simon was crucified, A. D. 74.
o. Barnabas was put to death about A. D. 73.
That’s a real conversation starter Eric They were 2000 years ago when people were lead by their hatred and there was no government to stop them. Well then just listen to some of these stories.
1. In Africa, a young boy ten years old is made to gather wood by Muslin government soldiers. They then begin to pressure him to denounce being a Christian and become a Muslim. He refuses and they threw him on to the burning wood he gathered and leave him to die. By God’s grace he survived and I listened to him tell his story and saw the scars where he was burned.. He said they told him if he began a Muslin he would be released. The boy, James Zeda, refused saying that was not possible, because he was a Christian.
2. Rikka, a young teenage girl attends a Christian Bible camp in her country. Muslims attack the camp and she is taking in the bushes and a piece of broken glass held to her stomach. She is told to deny Christ. She cries out "Oh, Lord help me, I do not want to deny you!"
3, In China the pastor Li Di Xien of a house church is holding services. The police break in and drag him out. They find a Bible in his shirt and he is severely beaten. This is the fifth time he has been caught and they warn him if he is caught again they will kill him.
4. In Pakistan, Khalid Masih, and eight other Christians are awaiting their trials for blasphemy by their Muslin government. Twice groups of radical Muslims attacked the local Baptist church and the home of Pastor Yousef Masih. Everything they had of value was stolen. Because they are Christians they cannot get work.
5. Vietnamese Christians are still being persecuted throughout their country. At least 13 religious detainees were still being held in Vietnamese prisons without charge. Nguyen Thi Thuy spent eleven months in jail for holding a simply Bible study in her home.
6. In Nepal, Tajikistan and India Christians are regularly attacked. In India, Christian who are victims of the earthquake there are being denied help.
And thousands of others around the globe are suffering for the sake of Christ. (Source: Faces of Persecution at
1. (Mona Claren, The Washington Times, 1997) “LAI MAN PENG WAS A 22 YEAR OLD CHINESE CHRISTIAN EVANGELIST. IN 1994, AT A MEETING OF ONE OF CHINA’S HOUSE CHURCHES (A NON-GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED PRAYER MEETING), HE AND FOUR OTHER EVANGELISTS WERE SEIZED BY AGENTS OF THE PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU, CHINA’S KGB. IN FRONT OF THE CONGREGATION, MR. LAI & THE OTHERS WERE SEVERELY BEATEN. THE SECURITY OFFICERS NEXT HANDED THEM TO THE CHURCH MEMBERS & ORDERED THEM TO BEAT THE PREACHERS,
I am not sure I like all these stories on preachers being beaten
ON PAIN OF BEING BEATEN THEMSELVES. MR. LAI WAS SO BADLY INJURED THAT THE SECURITY TEAM FEARED HE WOULD DIE IN THEIR PRESENCE (LEAVING TOO MUCH TO EXPLAIN), SO THEY RELEASED HIM. HE CRAWLED & HOBBLED FOR SEVERAL MILES ATTEMPTING TO REACH HIS HOME, BUT FINALLY COLLAPSED & DIED ON THE ROAD. SUCH PERSECUTION IS COMMONPLACE IN CHINA. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORTS CASES OF CHRISTIAN WOMEN HUNG BY THEIR THUMBS FROM WIRES & BEATEN WITH HEAVY RODS, DENIED FOOD & WATER & SHOCKED WITH ELECTRIC PROBES.”
2. THE UNITED NATIONS REPORTS THAT THE MILITANT ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT OF CENTRAL AFRICAN SUDAN HAS DECLARED A SYSTEMATIC BATTLE AGAINST CHRISTIANS. SINCE 1982, 300,000 SUDANESE CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED. EACH YEAR HUNDREDS OF CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS ARE SOLD INTO SLAVERY & TAKEN WHERE THEY HAVE TO WORK AS SLAVES OR AS CONCUBINES FOR THEIR MUSLIM MASTERS. (Religious Liberty Commission of World Evangelical Fellowship)
But this is america
In October 1998, David and Diane Reiter of Denver were ordered by the city to stop their weekly prayer meetings in their home. They could only meet only once a month. Even though they are complying with all municipal regulations, a city administrator determined that he did not want any religious activities in their neighborhood. The Denver couple are presently appealing the decision in a federal court. (ReligionToday.com Aug. 4, 1999)
In Sept of 1999 Larry Ashbrook.walked into the wedgwood baptist Church in dallas fort worth texas. On a Wednesday night durring services and killed 7 people.
According to the editors of Religiontoday.com, the "Two teenage gunmen at Columbine High School shot students they knew were Christians." The news media widely circulated that they targeted athletes and minorities, but downplayed their thirst for Christian’s blood.
Everyone knew about Cassie Bernall’s faith. A member of West Bowles Community Church in Littleton. She was in the library when the gunman burst into the room and asked her a question, "Do you believe in God?" Among her final words was the word "yes." She said Yes! Then they killed her.
A year before the shootings, Rachel Scott wrote these words in her diary:
"I am not going to justify my faith to them, and I am 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 with my best friend Jesus, then that’s fine with me."
Rachel wrote these words exactly one year before she was killed for confessing her faith at Columbine High School, April 20, 1999. (Rachel’s tears)
Persecution could increase. Are you ready? Some of us may one day face life threatening persecution. Will you be ready?
Persecution does exist
We need to be prepared
Read Matt 5:10-12
Pray
1. The Reason for persecution
List the beattitudes
Jesus does a unique thing here and describes specifically how we are blessed
Blessed are the poor in Spirit, the broken before God Because they will be in Heaven
Blessed are those who moum and repent of their sins God will comfort them
Blessed are the meek, the humble, the one who submits their life to
They will inherit the new earth
Blessed are those who desire righteousness
Because Jesus will be in the center of their lives
Blessed are those who show mercy and forgiveness to others
They will be shown Mercy by God
Blessed are those who have let Christ purify their hearts They will see God in Heaven
This week Jesus says Blessed are those who are peacemakers They are part of God’s family
If we don’t obtain mercy, we receive judgment, If you don’t see God, you’re not in heaven. If we are not called sons of God, then we are not in the family. These are all descriptions of salvation, and the truth is that salvation is only
Jesus alone brings Peace, and allows us to show Peace to others
By obeying these principals. You are going to look and live differently than others. So you will look differently to others
You are persecuted because of rightousness
Because of Jesus Living through you
Because of holy living
Jesus has said that you are light. That you will impact your world. That your light will shine in a dark world.
In fact The Bible says that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not understood it.
You are persecuted because you are not understood. People do not understand the light of life that Jesus gives. It is foreign to them and so they persecute people who have a light. There is a tinge of fear involved
When I was a little boy My father took me to see ET and I was terrified of this little monster. I remember being happy when he got sick. And when I came home I checked in every corner of the house with a ball bat. I slept with the lights on for days. I was afraid of it because I did not understand it. He came from outer space. He looked funny and he could make his finger glow. And today there are people who are terrified of you because you are the stranger in this world with a healing power, and your finger glows.
Light exposes darkness. Let the light in your life shine and it will expose darkness in the lives of those that you come in contact with every day.
2. The Response to persecution
There are 2 options
A Physical response
Retiliate, Resent, show Religious supperiority
The Spiritual response To realize this
a. Confirms your Christianity
Matt 4:11-12 John was having doubts while being persecuted in prison
4 Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
b. Causes Reliance on God
c. Cultivates rightousness
"ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL THE MARTYRS WAS POLYCARP, THE AGED BISHOP OF SMYRNA WHO WAS KILLED IN 156 A.D. THE MOB DRAGGED HIM TO THE TRIBUNAL OF THE ROMAN MAGISTRATE. HE WAS GIVEN THE INEVITABLE CHOICE - SACRIFICE TO THE GODHEAD OF CAESAR OR DIE. POLYCARP RESPONDED, ’EIGHTY AND SIX YEARS HAVE I SERVED CHRIST, AND HE HAS DONE ME NO WRONG. HOW CAN I BLASPHEME MY KING WHO SAVED ME?’ SO THEY BROUGHT HIM TO THE STAKE, AND HE PRAYED HIS LAST PRAYER: ’O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, THE FATHER OF THY WELL-BELOVED AND EVERLASTING SON, BY WHOM WE HAVE RECEIVED THE KNOWLEDGE OF YOU...I THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE GRACIOUSLY THOUGHT ME WORTHY OF THE DAY AND OF THIS HOUR.’" AND WITH THOSE WORDS POLYCARP WAS BURNED AT THE STAKE.
3. The Result of Persecution
People see the Kingdom of God working
It is a place where
a. The rejected are received
b. The dead have life
c. The good news is preached to the poor
In the face of persecution the church becomes more sturdy
The Gospel increases more rapidly
Persecution develops the Character of God’s people It seperates the Commited from the casual. And refines you as pure before God.
Some of you are afraid to let people at school know about your faith
Some of you are afraid to tell your co-workers that you are a Christian. What will you do if the day does come when someone asks you if you serve Jesus and threatens your life. In america it’s possible not probable
But we need to remember the words of Jesus “whoever acknowlegdes me before men I will acknowledge before my father in heaven”
And those words ate at Peter as Jesus was being sentenced to death and people came to him and said I know you “I have seen you with him”
Will you come today and be seen with him, Will you come today and declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, The one and only son of God.
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
