The Blessings
8 – The Persecuted
A. THE “BLESSINGS,” OR “BEATITUDES,” ARE WELL KNOWN.
B. BOTH THE BLESSINGS AND THE TRAITS ARE COMPOSITES.
C. SERMON’S THEME (5:20).
Persecution is not guarantee of right!
A. Matt. 23:32-36. GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PERSECUTED.
1. OT People (Heb. 12:35-38).
2. Jesus himself (Matt. 16:21; 17:22-23).
3. His disciples:
a. evil reproach and false witness (Matt. 5:11).
b. contempt and disparagement (John 8:48; Matt. 10:25).
c. ostracism (Luke 6:22; John 16:1-2).
d. illegal arrest, spoliation of goods, death itself (Matt. 10:16-23).
e. comfort offered – beyond death they could do nothing (Luke 12:4-7).
4. In the church persecution instigated by the Jews (Acts 4:1-3, 17-18).
5. The dam broke with the death of Stephen (Acts 7:54 – 8:4; 22:4).
a. Persecutors felt justified (Acts 26:9-12).
b. Result of misconception (Acts 24:14; John 16:2-3).
c. Paul’s summary (2 Cor. 11:22-28).
6. Gentile persecution slow in coming.
a. Witness the treatment of Paul (Acts 18:12-17; 26:30-32).
b. Something went wrong (2 Tim. 4:6-8, 9-18).
B. WE ARE PROMISED PERSECUTION!
1. Jesus’ teaching (Luke 6:26; John 15:18-21).
2. The apostles (2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:12; Heb. 12:7).
C. WHAT IS OUR ATTITUDE?
1. The apostles (Acts 5:41; 8:4; 2 Cor. 4:7-15; 12:15; 2 Tim. 2:3; 1:12).
2. Our attitude
(1 Pet. 1:6-8; 3:13-17; 4:12-19; James 5:7-11; Heb. 12:1-3; Matt. 5:10-12).
D. HOW DO WE COMPARE? (Heb. 12:3-4, 12-13; 1 Cor. 10:10).
A. PERSECUTION IS PROMISED (2 Tim. 3:12).
B. IT IS WORTHWHILE (1 Cor. 15:58; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; 2 Cor. 4:16-18).
C. OUR REWARD IS IN HEAVEN (2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:9-10).
D. CONCEPTS OF THE KINGDOM.
1. Jewish concept was fleshly, vague, divided.
a. Disposition toward Jesus (John 6:15; Matt. 21:1-11; 1 Cor. 1:22).
b. The disciples (Matt. 18:1; 20:21).
c. After the resurrection (Acts 1:6).
2. The distinction between the kingdom and heaven not made.
There is a connection.
a. Those going to heaven will be those in his kingdom.
b. In places, the eternal reward is referred to as the kingdom (Eph. 5:5; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 2 Pet. 1:10-11).
c. People in the church promised an inheritance or entrance into the kingdom
(Matt. 5:10).
E. OUR REWARD IS IN HEAVEN (Matt. 5:12).
A. DO YOU WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN?
B. YOU MUST DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER (Matt. 7:21).
C. WHAT IS HIS WILL FOR ME?