GrowthDepthStrength No pain – No gain!

GrowthDepthStrength Matthew 5: (TNIV) Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you

GrowthDepthStrength Questions  What is meant by “persecution”?  How relevant is it and what form does it take?  What is the “kingdom of heaven”?  Should we be worried about this?  What does “reward in heaven” mean?

GrowthDepthStrength Context & Culture  Roman “impressment”  Previous history Egypt Canaan Assyrians Babylonians  Future history Middle Ages – Crusades; Inquisition Holocaust

GrowthDepthStrength What Jesus said Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness Matthew 5: 10 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me Matthew 5: 11

GrowthDepthStrength Righteousness Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled Matthew 5: 6 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness Matthew 5: 10 “Righteous people live by faith” Habakkuk 2:4

GrowthDepthStrength Because of Jesus  Exiled in Egypt for 2 years  Returned to Nazareth  Cousin John beheaded  Ministry rejected  Contract on his life  Nowhere to live permanently  Family considered him mad  Betrayal, torture, death

GrowthDepthStrength The Challenge The subtle difference of emphasis Blessed are those who are persecuted....v.10 Blessed are you when people....v.11 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted 2Timothy 3:12 (TNIV) Anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus and wants to live right will have trouble from others 2Timothy 3:12 (CEV)

GrowthDepthStrength Questions  Is my faith obvious?  Have I compromised myself?  Am I a city on hill in a blackout?

GrowthDepthStrength There’s hope If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you 1Peter 4:14 (TNIV)

GrowthDepthStrength There’s hope If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they're on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that's a different matter. But if it's because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! 1Peter 4:14-16 (Message) 1Peter 4:14-16 (Message)

GrowthDepthStrength Matthew 5:10-12 “You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. Not only that – count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. “

GrowthDepthStrength Matthew 5:10-12 “You can be glad when that happens – give a cheer, even! – for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.”

GrowthDepthStrength Matthew 5:10-12 “3 P’s”  Precedent from the past  Promise for the future  Provision for the present

GrowthDepthStrength Promise to Claim Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 8:35; (TNIV)