The Beatitudes "Blessed Are The Persecuted" Matthew 5:10-12 Jesus states a very paradoxical position for his disciples. - We are blessed when we are persecuted. - We can miss the blessing when we fall for the lie of being prosperous rather than the truth of being persecuted. - Prosperity versus Persecution- Jesus said we are blessed when: .. we are insulted. (This is a verbal ridiculing, shaming, or reviling) .. we face persecution. (This is more physical in nature. It has the idea of beatings, stoning, and even death) .. we are falsely accused of evil. (This is being lied about and having our actions, that are good and godly, being called bad and evil) Jesus commands a very paradoxical reaction from his disciples. - When we are persecuted we are to be glad and rejoice. - This must be a Spiritual response, not a natural response. - The only possible way for us to do this is to live more for the Eternal Kingdom than this earthly kingdom. Hebrews 11:32-35a, Hebrews 11:35b-39a Jesus desires a very serious consideration in his disciples. - Jesus clearly stated a “when we are persecuted” not a “if we are persecuted.” (v. 11) - Here’s the very serious question we must ask as his disciple: - Am I being persecuted for righteousness? - The Bible clearly tells us it will happen to those who follow Jesus in a fully committed way: - The Apostle Paul said we would be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:10-12 - Jesus said we would be persecuted. John 15:18-21 “How can we not have a target on our backs?” “To be clear, we are called to be peacemakers, not troublemakers. And we absolutely should be known for our love, our compassion, our kindness, our long suffering, and our good works.” “But you can be assured that if the world hated Jesus, it will hate us too… The darkness will always hate the light and the world will always reject God’s Word… when we live righteously and when we stand for righteousness, we will be opposed and vilified. Count on it.” - If you speak up for the unborn, you will be targeted. - If you uphold marriage and family as God intended, you will be targeted. - If you engage in effective outreach to the lost, you will be targeted. - If you claim salvation is only through Jesus, you will be targeted. - If you resist LGBT activism in the schools, you will be targeted. - If you preach the Word of God, with brokenness and humility but without compromise or dilution, you will be targeted. “It is inevitable and it is unavoidable. In short, if we’re not being persecuted, resisted, or targeted on some level for our godly living and preaching in Jesus, then something is wrong.” (Micheal Brown, The Christian Post, Oct. 4, 2022) Next Step: - “As a citizen of Jesus’ Upside-down Kingdom, I will seek to live more for the Eternal Kingdom than this earthly kingdom.”