Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
Main scripture for this study: Matt.5:10
A. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
1. 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.Matt.5:11-12
2. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law-- a man's enemies will be the members of his own household. Matt.10:34-36
3. Make no mistake! A man’s enemies will be the members of his own family!
All we need is look around each Sunday in worship to God, are members of our family here with us?
4. Why do you think, I often said: If others can insist to follow what is not in the Bible.
I can surely insist to follow what is in the Bible! Start with the name of the church!
5. Jesus had personal experience!
B. Apostle Peter explained:
1. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God
rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14
2. The Spirit of glory and of God rests on us!
People insulted us is insulting the Spirit, Christ and God! They insulted all three God heads!
3. But first we have to be sure the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us!
4. It is easy as I said in the sermon “Is it an illusion or a reality”!
It you are a member of the church of Christ, it is a reality. If not, it is an illusion!
C. It is easy and simple!
1. If the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you, then you must know the truth!
2. If you know the truth, you have to be in the church of Christ!
3. God lay up in store the truth for righteousness doing people. Pro.2:7
4. All the righteousness doing people are children of God. 1 John 3:10
5. All the righteousness doing people are in the church of Christ. Acts 2:47, Ro.14:17
D. Jesus personal experience! John 7:1-9
1. Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea
because the Jews there were waiting to kill him. John 7:1
2. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near. John 7:2
3. Jesus' brothers said to him: You ought to leave here and go to Judea,
so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. John 7:3
4. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things,
show yourself to the world." John 7:4
5. For even his own brothers did not believe in him. John 7:5
6 Jesus told them: The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. John 7:6
7. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. John 7:7
8. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.
9. Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. John 7:9
E. Be sure to take comfort in the Lord Jesus Christ! Heb.4:14-16
1. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Heb.4:14
2. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one
who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Heb.4:15
3. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and
find grace to help us in our time of need. Heb.4:16
Conclusion: . Yes, 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!
May the Lord bless and keep us always. Preach this November 29, 2015
Part 1