It's wonderful to be here today, with all of you.
As has already been mentioned, we appreciate the presence of
every person that is here. And if you are a guest here,
today, we would hope and pray you would feel as you are and
that is as an honored guest I have on the screen, the title of
our lesson today and it's blessed are the persecuted Now I
think that we've all been guilty of something.
I know I have sometimes when we look at our life and compare it
to the life of the ancient, were these that died for their faith
or really were persecuted in the days of the early church.
We realized. When we compare our life, we
realized that it is not as bad as others have had it.
We know that But when you think about it like this, we do need
to understand, we do have persecutions in our life.
In fact, the Bible says that anyone that is going to live
Godly will suffer persecution. It doesn't say they may suffer
persecution, it says they will suffer persecution and just
because we are not taken and physically persecuted or beaten
or cast into prison because of our faith doesn't mean we don't
have persecutions in our life. Times.
We have it among family sometimes with a boss that we're
working for, sometimes it is with those that we go to school
with. Sometimes it's all the pressures
that is applied to us. All those things, they are real.
But what is the word of God? Say about this subject in
Matthew Chapter 5 beginning in verse 10, Jesus said, blessed
are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake?
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed, are you when they revile and persecute you and say
all kinds of evil against you falsely for my neck, for my sake
rejoice and be exceedingly, glad for great is your reward in
heaven for. So they persecuted the prophets
who were before you when we study these passages, what we're
talking about is we're talking about the beginning portion of
the greatest sermon ever preached.
It is the Lord's Sermon on the Mount and that's found in
Matthew. Five, six and seven.
And in the very beginning of that, Sermon on the Mount, he
begins with what is often referred to as Beatitudes.
And you might remember, I have dealt with all of them except
this one. This is the last of those
Beatitudes, but it is so relevant today about the idea of
being persecuted. But remember this, as we've
studied this in times past, when we interpret these Beatitudes,
we must interpret them from a spiritual perspective.
Of, and not from a physical perspective, for example, when
the Bible says, when Jesus said, blessed are the meek for, they
shall inherit the earth, it was not as some would falsely
interpret. You're going to have great
riches in this life. Didn't mean that at all.
It was phraseology that they would have understood referring
back to the land of Canaan, a literal land.
And what he was saying is we're talking about something else
from a spiritual perspective, we're talking about inheriting
or having a home on allotted portion in heaven.
So, when we interpret the Beatitudes, we must interpret
them from a spiritual perspective and not a physical
one. It begins in each verse with the
word blessed and the word blessed comes from the Latin
term, be a tus and that literally means blessed.
And, by the way, that's why we call them Beatitudes, it doesn't
mean this, it doesn't mean these are Beatitudes because these are
attitudes that we need to be what it means.
Is it comes from the word, be a tus.
Us. And that literally means
blessed. Now, the word in the Greek
literally means happy fortunate or blissful.
That's what Jesus was talking about.
He uses this idea to Simba, symbolize happiness.
That is based on pure character and Holiness, but let me also
say this, Scriptural blessedness is not based on outward
circumstances or superficial feelings, but in the reality
that one is dedicated to God and is approved by him.
But to be approved by God, one's life, must be molded by the
principles that are found in his word.
Now one can be happy. One can be blessed from a
spiritual perspective. One can change the way in which
he thinks about life and looks at life.
For the following reasons. Number one, we can be blessed or
happy when we are persecuted because of our relationship with
God. Number two, because of the
reality of Truth. Number three, because of the
recompense of The Sinner or the wicked.
In other words, that's God's job.
He takes care of that. I don't have to worry about
that. And what else?
The reward of the righteous because of the reward of the
righteous. These are reasons why we can be
happy when we are persecuted. The Christian needs to expect
though that he's going to have persecutions in his life and you
know, I would say this if you have absolutely no Battle Scars
at all. Okay, now I'm not indicting
anyone but please hear my words. If in fact I'll use myself for
an example, if I have absolutely no Battle Scars whatsoever, And
I'm not persecuted at all, in any way, shape, or form in my
spiritual life, and I go all of my life and I have not
persecuted, and I've got no Battle Scars at all.
It's very possible that I've lived a life of compromise and
not lived a life of truth. Because when you stand for what
is right? The Bible says, when you live
Godly, you will suffer persecution.
So understand this, I don't understand why people in the
world. Think if I come to Jesus,
everything in my life, is going to be great, nobody is going to
get mad at me anymore. Nobody's going to put me down
and all the struggles that I've had.
They're gone once I certainty. Jesus.
No, that's not what it says. It all in fact, nowhere in the
word of God. Does it say that when I become a
Christian, I now have an easier life.
It just says this. I'm going to have a better one
after this one. If I serve God all the days of
my life and God is with me all all the way, every step of the
way and helping me through the trials of life, when we're
persecuted, we ought to be happy.
Not because of the physical pain that we suffer, but due to the
spiritual blessings that we experience Now in each beatitude
each one of these is the following, there is a
declaration of blessing. Then there is the description of
an attitude and then finally the disposition of the blessing or
that's really the blessing itself, but it begins with a
declaration of blessing. You know, the word Blessing, by
the way, comes from the word Mark aereo's and the word
contains the idea of happiness and contentment.
Let me give you a Bible passage about contentment.
You may have in your life, you don't have any happy feelings
but you could be content. You may not like what's going on
in your life, but you can be content.
In fact, Paul said that very thing.
Paul said, what's I have learned whatsoever State?
I am therewith to be content. Paul learned that in the things,
in which he suffered and all that he had in his life, he
said, I've learned to be content, but let me give you
another passage Chris very recently preached on the
marriage question, he talked on marriage and divorce and one of
the passages he referred to was first Corinthians chapter 7,
right? Right.
And in 1st Corinthians chapter 7, Paul is describing a woman
that has been married. She's a Christian and her
husband is dead, and we understand that she's Bound by
the laws of the marriage law, while her husband lives.
But when he's dead, she's free from that.
What does Paul say, if she wants to remarry, can't she sure only
in the Lord, though only a Christian.
But this is what Paul said. Here's that word again.
In First Corinthians, 7 and verse 40, she is happier if she
remains as she is, that's content.
That's blessed. All right.
Going back to the previous slide.
With such a blessing, it changes how we look at things.
It changes our attitude. Attitude is everything, I don't
care what where you are in Life, or what you're doing in life.
Attitude is everything it was said by someone one time that
attitude your attitude Is the aroma of your heart.
And sometimes we have a very poor perspective on things
because we have a very poor attitude.
I saw something the other day I thought it was fantastic.
I coached football for many, many, many years and all that 12
years and there's always a pregame speech and you always
try to think about something that would Inspire the men to
take the feel to be their best. I saw a little clip that was
sent to me by a friend and sent to my phone and it was he a
young boy with Down syndrome and it was obvious that this young
boy had challenges and he was the one that was going to give
the pregame speech and he stood before them.
And I thought, man, this will preach.
He stood before that group of men, those young men, those High
School football players and he said this, he said, I want you
to be all in. He said it again, he said I'm
telling you right now, I want you to be all in.
And then he said, the only disability in life.
Is a bad attitude. And I thought, man, that'll
preach. Be all in and don't have a bad
attitude. Don't you see what happens?
Because of the promise of this blessing, it changes our
attitude and you either believe and have faith in the blessing
and faith in god', 'you don't. But when you have a declaration
of blessing or the promise of a blessing, it should change how
we think it should change our attitude.
That's what it does and every one of these Beatitudes, all
three of these are given. And then finally, we find this
all. So that the end we find there's
a disposition of the blessing which is the actual specific
blessing itself. All of these three things are
found in every beatitude. All right, let's talk about the
one that's before us today. The final one that Jesus gave
and, you know, in many ways, it might seem most paradoxical or
contradictory of all the Beatitudes.
I mean, after all, Jesus is saying, happy or blessed are
those that are persecuted. It sounds like a paradox, how
could you be there at odds with one another?
The others seem to make sense. For example, we understand how
we can be happy by being Meek. We get that we can understand
how we can be happy being merciful.
And incidentally, the Bible talks about our demeanor towards
others and if we don't have any Mercy, the Lord is not going to
have any Mercy to us. But there's a secondary benefit
and we can understand it. If I am merciful to others and
everybody, Knows me as being a person that is merciful of
others. Don't you think others are going
to treat me maybe a little better?
Sure. And you might get some bad
people. I'm not talking about bad
people, talking about a benefit in our life.
What about this? We can understand about being
happy about being pure at heart, but being pure at heart, we get
it. But how can one be happy when
he's persecuted these two concepts seem antithetical or
opposed to each other yet. That's exactly what Jesus
teaches in this great lesson for us to learn.
One can be happy when he is persecuted for the following
reasons and there are four number one, You can be happy
because of your relationship with God.
Happiness comes from knowing that God is on your side.
I'm going to say that again, if you didn't catch that.
Happiness is knowing that God is on your side.
Now, we're talking about this, we're talking about somebody
that is suffering for righteousness.
God is on your side. There's a difference between
sometimes that I might have to take all the ramifications that
are negative about my bad choices.
It's not what I'm talking about. I got that coming.
What about when I'm persecuted for righteousness?
I don't have that coming. Okay, Gods on your side.
Still going to happen in some way, or another Gods on your
side. He never leaves us.
Romans 8:31. There we go again.
What? Then shall we say to these
things if God is for us? Who can be against us?
You as my dad used to say you and God is a majority, that's a
majority, it doesn't matter. All the people that are against
you, if God is on your side, there's nothing greater than
that. He never leaves us until we
leave him. Remember the example of Samson
though. Remember Samson.
Samson was being tempted by Delilah and repeatedly.
She asked the question over and over.
What makes you so strong and Samson gives this and gives that
as excuses to put her off and it doesn't work.
And finally she wore him down. She said Samson, why is it?
Or how is it that you're so strong.
He said this. He said no razor has ever
touched my head based on a Nazarite vow.
He said, no razor has ever touched my head but he said this
as the King James renders it if the razor Uh, shave off their 7.
Lakhs of my head. I shall be like all other men.
And the Bible says, he falls asleep on her lap.
His head is shaving, then she says Samson.
The Philistines be upon you, and he arose.
And he said, I will arise. I will shake myself and it will
be as all other times. But there's some of the saddest
words ever come next. But he knew not.
That the Lord was departed from him.
Do you know why the Lord was departed from him?
Because he departed from the Lord.
He didn't leave us, we leave him.
Here's something else to in Psalm 46.
Look at this. God is our refuge and strength.
May I ask you something? I don't know how it is with you
and your life, but if you're struggling, if you're struggling
in your spiritual life, let me ask you something.
Is God your refuge and strength or you trying to do it all by
yourself? Do you remember when the
disciples Jesus tells them? He tells Judas, one of you will
betray me. Remember Peter said, no, not me.
I will never do that. And Jesus says, Peter, by the
time that the rooster crows you will deny me three times.
And then the Bible says about the rest of them, they all
forsook him and they all fled. Do you know why they were trying
to use their own strengths? And you know what happens when
we try to use our own strength? We fail.
We're nothing. Are you trying to get your
strength from God or you're trying to get your strength from
yourself? If you're struggling?
Ask yourself, is God being my refuge in this particular matter
is God my strength in this particular manner, or am I doing
it all? By my self, my relying on My Own
Strength, notice, what else he is a very present help in
trouble. Man, that's great.
What is he? He's a very present help in
trouble. Here's my response to that
therefore we will not fear even though the Earth be removed and
though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea,
though its Waters Roar and be troubled, though the mountains,
shake with it swelling. I know this.
I'm not going to fear because God is my refuge and my
strength, he's my present help in times of trouble.
Why can't I be happy? I can be happy because my
relationship with God. Here's another one in Jeremiah
29:11, but the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome one.
He's with me, he's with you. Therefore my persecutors will
stumble and will not Prevail, they will greatly be ashamed and
they will not Prosper. Their Everlasting confusion will
never be forgotten. Happiness comes from knowing
that Jesus understands all the things that we go through
because Jesus has been persecuted too far greater than
we ever will. I don't have time to go into it,
but I just want to reference the passage in Isaiah, 53 of all the
things that Jesus endured, we can't even fathom how awful it
was for the things, the Lord and devoured.
And I think the greatest maybe torment in his mind in the
Garden of Gethsemane, was the fact that the wrath of God on
sin would be placed on him. That's number one.
He would have to bear the sins of the world, and by the way, if
he was going to Bear the sins of the world, then the wrath of God
against, those sins would be upon him, too.
And I think that's part of when he said, let this cup pass from
me, not just the suffering, that's part of it, too.
But it has to be more than that. What else?
The father turned his eyes. And for the first time Jesus
would do it all alone. When I think about what we go
through, though, do you know this, if you're enduring and
you're going through the persecutions in your life and
you're standing for what is right?
He's not turning his head at all.
Oh he's right there with you but Jesus had to do it.
So what do we learn? We learn in First Peter chapter
2 verses 21 through 24 for if for to this you were called
because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that
you should follow in his steps. So we need to understand we're
going to have some persecution. We're going to have some
suffering. Notice, what else?
What did Jesus do? He committed?
No sin. Nor was deceit.
Found in his mouth who when he was reviled.
Wild did not revile in return when he suffered, he did not
threaten but committed himself to him who judges righteously.
That's God. Who himself bore our sins in his
own body. On the tree that we having died
to sins, might live for righteousness by whose Stripes,
you were healed. Happiness comes from knowing
that you're a child of God. Then I'm a Child of God
regardless of persecutions. First, John chapter 3 and verse
1. Behold?
What manner of love. The father has bestowed upon us
that we should be called the children of God.
I'm going to tell you something. There's a lot of people that
would love that. There's a lot of people that
would love having a relationship with God.
In fact, there's a lot of people that think they do have a
relationship with God more on this in a minute, but they try
to do it on their own terms and they think that they have a
relationship with God and they love the idea or the concept of
having a relationship with God. Do you know what's different
from a Christian? And somebody in the world that
thinks they have a concept of a relationship with God.
It is not a concept with us, it is reality.
We have a relationship with God. He is our So, one reason, for
happiness, contentment during persecutions is because of our
relationship with God. But number two, this is huge.
The reality of Truth. Why is this so important?
Why is the reality of Truth? A blessing to us and why it can
we be happy based upon the reality of Truth?
Well, happiness comes from knowing that truth does not
change. Okay, let me give you an
example. If somebody is hard on you or
somebody is mad at you or somebody is persecuting, you, do
you know what it is? What we do in our mind.
And we might get resentful met get her feelings hurt at first,
but at some point we may do this at some point.
We may say Is it my fault? Did I cause it?
Do you know why there's a great blessing in the reality of
truth? It's because truth never
changes. So I can look at truth and I can
look at my life and I can look at the persecution.
I'm going through based upon my spiritual life and you know what
I can say it's not my fault. I can be content in that.
It's not my fault. It's not my fault.
If I'm doing what is, right? It doesn't change three passages
Hebrews. 13:8! Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday today, and forever. Malachi for I am, the Lord.
I do not change. And I love this, the psalmist,
David recorded for his merciful. Kindness is great toward us,
look how it flows together. Jesus is the same.
He is constant, God will never lose leave us.
He will never forsake us. We already read that.
And it for, I am, the Lord, I do not change.
The Lord is unchangeable and something else is unchangeable
to his. Merciful, kindness is great
toward us. When we are living the Christian
Life. Okay, but there's more about
this. Let's talk about Truth for just
a matter of just a minute. happiness comes from knowing
that one has obeyed the truth in John chapter 8, Beginning in
verse 31. And Jesus said to those Jews who
believed in him, if you abide in my word, you are my disciples
indeed, and ye shall know the truth.
And the truth shall make you free.
Notice what's on the screen? We have two words.
They are connected. You can't separate them.
What is it? Word and Truth.
You can't separate that. I got to share something with
you. I get so frustrated.
I get so frustrated when people say there's no such thing as
absolute truth. And I'm going to tell you, it's
everywhere in the country. There's people that believe that
in the world in the religious World, whatever world And the
theory of today is there's no such thing as absolute truth.
So you can't really obey the truth because there's nothing
called absolute truth. Sometimes people say this,
what's true for me may not be true for you and you might take
the word of God and you might say, this is why what I believe
and why and they might say well that works for you.
That's true for you. Let me tell you what's true for
me and then tell what their position is on something.
Notice what can't be separated. He said to those who believed in
him if conditional you abide that's to remain in my word.
You are my disciples, indeed, and you shall know the truth and
the truth shall make you free notice.
The truth is found in the word and the word is truth.
It is simple when we just stick to the Bible, it's just so
simple. 1st Peter, 1:22 and 23. Listen to this.
Since you have purified, your souls by what obeying the truth
through the spirit in sincere. Love of the Brethren.
Love one. Another fervently with a pure
heart. Having been born.
Again, that's when you're baptized for the remission of
sins, not of corruptible seed, but Incorruptible through the
word of God that lives and abides forever.
You can obey the truth. You know, I can have confidence,
I can have happiness knowing not only that I have a relationship
with God, but secondly, the reality of truth, it's not going
to change. And you know what?
It's going to ultimately Prevail in Romans Chapter 2 and verse 2,
Paul said, but we know that the Judgment of God is according to
truth. Another passage Psalm 96 and 13
for, he is coming and he will be coming to judge the Earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness and the people's
with his truth. The truth of the word of God
will always prevail. Number three, though. when a
Christian is persecuted for their faith for living
righteously in their life, They have happiness and contentment
because they have a relationship with God the reality of truth.
But then there's this Because of the recompense of The Sinner or
the wicked. And you might say, well, what's
that mean? Why do I find happiness in the
recompense of The Sinner or the wicked because recompense is
really a matter of paying something?
In other words, what you have coming?
What I'm saying is the reason that we can have happiness or
blessedness in? This is because this is God's
job, that is not my job. I don't have to worry about it.
Happiness comes from knowing that for the sinner also,
there's hope our desire for Christian as a Christian is not
to be that the persecutors it would be destroyed but the
persecutors would be saved. And you know, when Jesus said,
love your neighbor that's hard enough but then he said, love
your enemies. How'd he do that?
Well one the obvious is how you treat them.
Number two is that you have a desire for them to be saved.
You can't love your enemies more than if you have a desire that
they someday will turn from the error of their way, repent, and
obey the truth, and be saved. So what Jesus was talking about
is he was talking about the idea of the sinner still having an
opportunity to be saved and that's what we want.
And by the way how many people in life sometimes are our
enemies. But later on down the line, they
obey the gospel and changed their whole life. you heard ever
heard somebody say, I could never be a Christian because of
the terrible things I've done in my life, I have Well, I know one
thing, I don't know anyone that's done.
More than Paul did to hurt the cause of Christ.
And yet, he was able to say later on, I bear in my body, the
marks of the Lord, Jesus completely changed his life.
The recompense of the center that's in the hands of God.
Our job is to take the gospel to the Lost.
There's time and there's hope second Peter chapter 3 and verse
9. The Lord is not slack concerning
his promise as some count slackness but is long-suffering
to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all
should come to repentance. Listen, just maybe this world is
still standing because of God's Great desire for people to be
saved and God's knowledge of the fact that they're still good and
honest hearts out there. And let me just add this.
Can I just add this? Let's get our minds away from
this concept. It's wicked.
It's awful. Nobody wants it.
Get your mind off that. And and can I throw something
else into? What if the statement I just
said was true. So, what?
That's not my job to assist. It's my job to take the gospel
and preach the gospel. It's their job to have the good
and honest heart. That's God's job.
He gave the increase even if it's rotten and gone to the
dogs. It doesn't matter.
Preach the gospel. Keeping the fight.
Don't chicken out, don't give up.
Here's another one first Timothy chapter 1.
Consider Paul's words here. First Timothy chapter 1 15 and
16. This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptance that Christ came into the world to
save Sinners, whom I am chief. However, for this reason, I
obtained Mercy that in May first.
Jesus Christ might show all long suffering as a pattern to those
who are going to believe on him for everlasting life as a
pattern. All right.
Have you ever considered? What if?
You were persecuted by someone that at one time was an enemy.
But have you ever considered that based upon your response?
They may obey the gospel later on.
Just maybe. We have to change our attitude
that if the persecution coming our way and is coming at us if
it leads to the possible penitence of that sinner
someday, it's a good thing we can take that.
Google name-dropping. How about Jesus?
Hey, how about Hebrews 12 and 2 looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith. Who for what the joy that was
set before him, endured the cross despising, the shame and
is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
Jesus was not saying that the joy that was set before him was
the driving of the nails in his hands and in his feet in the
physical persecution and suffering.
It's not what he meant. The joy that was set.
Before him is the joy of being a save.
Mayor of saving the world through his death.
Why? What happened next?
He endured the cross. He despised the shame, and he
was set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
Happiness comes from, knowing that personal vengeance is not
needed. Sometimes we think we have to
avenge our self but that's God's job.
I'm glad I don't have to personally worry about writing
all the wrongs that have ever been done to me in my life, and
I think really, there's a certain amount of contentment
that comes from that knowledge notice in Romans chapter 12,
Beginning in verse 19. Look at this.
Beloved do not avenge yourselves.
But rather give place to wrath for.
It is written. Vengeance is mine?
I will repay says the Lord. That's the Lord's job.
Not my job. I don't have to worry about
that. Let's go further.
Therefore, here's the example, if your enemy is hungry, feed
him if he is thirsty. Give him drink for in doing.
So, you will Heap coals of fire on his head.
Do not overcome evil by evil but overcome evil with good.
Alright. Gotta say something about this,
though. You can't have the mindset.
I'm going to We be nice to that guy because I want to really I
want to really stick it to him and it's going to pour coals on
his head. A fire.
I'm going to really make him mad.
I'm be nice to him. No, that's not the mentality
behind it. When you do it for the right
reasons with the right spirit in the right mode, if you know what
it's like, it's like, heaping coals of fire on his head.
Do you know why? Because usually, when people are
ugly at you, they're wanting to create a fight.
An argument they want resistance and when you give it to them you
give them exactly what they want.
What is saying, here is what Paul saying.
Don't give them that. Be overcome do not be overcome
by evil but overcome evil with good.
I want to talk to you about forgiveness for just a minute.
I don't know how it is with you, I don't.
So just consider this to be a general.
Practice or principal me. Ask you a question.
Did you know that you are allowed to forgive somebody of
something that's been done to you.
Without them ever asking for forgiveness.
Did you get that? You are allowed to forgive
somebody of something. Even if they never ask for
forgiveness, now they still have to count to God.
They still got to deal with God, come out, personal forgiveness.
Greatest example, of all, how about Jesus on the cross?
What do you say? Father, forgive them for they
know not what they do. Now, they had to answer to God.
Jesus forgave them in that and he said, father forgive them
for, they know not what they do. Personally he forgave them.
What about Steven, Steven is there there?
Stoning him to death. He was the first martyr that
died for his faith. And Stephen said, Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge. Personally forgive.
About great examples in the Bible.
What about Joseph? I love that.
He was sold by his brothers into slavery, he had terrible things
happen, in succession to him in his life.
And none of it was his fault. And yet, the Bible says, when he
has his firstborn son, he names him, Manasseh, and that word
literally means, God has made me to forget.
Forget what your memory. No, forget.
All the trouble of my father's house.
What that meant is, it didn't mean his memory vanished?
It meant this, I am not going to be negatively influenced anymore
by the things that have happened to me.
Personally, forgive, by the way, sometimes people say I'm not
letting that guy off the hook not doing it.
You're not letting him off the hook.
You're not letting her off the hook, you're letting you off the
hook. Bitterness is a heavy burden.
Lay it down. Bitterness inside and hard
feelings. Is a heavy bait burden, it's a
heavy weight, lay it down. It's destroying you.
And you know, this too. Sometimes people can do hateful
and ugly things to us. And do you know they go about
their day and they don't think about you ever again. if
something happened to you negatively by someone, Okay,
they go about their life. Now I'm thinking about you at
all. Don't give them the power to
destroy you for the next two years, don't do that.
Let it go. Lay it down overcome evil with
that, which is good. But all that being said, I have
to tell you this too. Though we have to say there are
bad people in the world. There are.
There are wicked people in the world.
They really are there people that do horrible things.
There are my dad used to say, they want to make the world as
ugly as they are. It's true.
There are ugly people. I don't mean physically
speaking. I mean, by the deeds, in which
they do by the things in, which they do in their life, there's
some Wicked people. You can't tell me that.
There was any good in those terrorists on 9/11.
You can't say that. There's one good thing.
You can't sit back and say, oh, you know what?
They did a bad thing, but they're really okay, and pretty
good. You just got to get to know him.
No. They're rotten.
You are what you are because you do what you do.
We get that. Okay, I'm thankful though, I
don't have to worry about it. I don't have to worry about it.
I don't have to worry about the punishment of them, that's not
up to me. That's God's part.
Second Thessalonians chapter 1. Notice what happens.
Andy and to give you, who, troubled, rest with us, the Lord
Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in
flaming fire taking Vengeance on those that know, not God.
And those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord, Jesus
Christ. What I'm saying is it's my job
to preach the gospel to The Sinner.
If they don't obey the gospel. I don't have to be concerned
from that. That's up to God.
The Lord Jesus Christ. Is the judge now.
What else? What else?
Revelation, 21 and eight. God's taking care of this too
but the Cowardly unbelieving abominable murderers sexually
immoral Sorcerers idolaters and all liars shall have their part
in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone which is the
second death but fourthly and finally Not only do we have a
basis for happiness, because of the three things we've already
noticed, but there's one more and if this one is not the best
one, I don't know what it is. Here's the best one.
Hang your hat on this. The reward were going to get.
You got to have something. What if living the Christian
Life when it was all said and done brought nothing?
Now, I do believe if you lived a Godly life and there was no God,
by the way, if there is no God, nothing matters, nothing
matters. If there is no God, But when you
think about that very idea, if you lived a Godly life and there
was no God, you would still live a better life, you would you'd
be a better citizen? He'd be a better worker.
You'd be a better. Husband, he'd be a better wife,
a better father, that's true. But what if there was nothing
for all the things that we have to endure in our life?
There is something and it's called the reward and it's
coming to the righteous happiness.
Also comes by knowing that persecution is merely
transitory, meaning it, Not permanent and you know, there's
even some practical benefits. You've heard my sermon on this
one. Verse is one Passage For our
light Affliction is but for a moment, it's working for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory.
I don't know of a more encouraging passage in all the
Bible. you know, this means this, you might remember the
sermon I preached months and months ago, But it's working for
us our light afflictions. Now Paul, had some terrible
afflictions but he called them light. and he said this, as
heavy as the Affliction is it is making on the scale, the weight
of Glory, even heavier and greater What's the Eternal
weight of Glory? First of all, the Eternal part
means it is forever. It's even after this life, okay?
The Eternal weight of Glory is literally this it is increasing
your capacity to serve and praise God.
In this life. And also, for all eternity.
Practical example. What if somebody had to endure,
some terrible stuff. They can use that and have the
capacity to serve God greater than they ever have.
It increases your capacity. So what's Paul saying the more
the Affliction, the heavier, the Affliction, the heavier, the
weight of Glory, it tips the scale, that's great stuff.
What else though? The things that we endure
they're just temporary, they're not they're not forever.
Look for the things which are seen are temporary but the
things which are not seen are eternal. here's another passage
Romans 8:18, for I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory, which
shall be revealed in u.s. Here's another one First Peter
chapter 1. Verses 6 and 7.
In this, you greatly Rejoice, why?
it doesn't say in this, you hang in there.
In this, you tolerate it. He doesn't say that at all.
There's no passive acquiescence here.
Look what you get in this. You greatly Rejoice.
Why? For now, for a little while, if
need be, you have been grieved by various trials.
So they are real. They happen.
What are you going to get? It is proof and it demonstrates
that your faith is genuine. And it's much more precious than
that which is of gold. It's tested by fire.
May be found to praise honor and Glory at the revelation of Jesus
Christ. Look how it works.
When you stand for what's right in your persecuted, you act and
you behave properly, guess what? God gets the glory right now.
Right now, and you might have to endure and you might have to
grind it out and you may have to do all that.
But you know what? You get yours.
When Jesus comes back. That's the reward of the
righteous in heaven. One day, Jesus said this Matthew
5 blessed? Are you when they revile and
persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for
my sake rejoice and be exceedingly, glad for great is
your reward in heaven for. So they persecuted the prophets
that were before. You notice this to, here's
another practical In James chapter 1, verse 2 and 3 my
brethren count it all joy. When you fall into various
trials. Why knowing that the testing of
your faith? Produces patience.
The weight that we talked about in Paul's writing to Corinth
increases, your capacity to serve God.
These things produce patience to endure for the rest of your
life. First Peter, chapter 4, verse
14, if you ever approached the name of Christ blessed, are you?
And you know what's interesting is the we've been using the word
happy all along. We've been using the word happy
The new King James says, blessed the King James says, happy.
Happy, are you? Why for this?
Why? On their part?
He has blasphemed on your part. He is glorified Happiness comes
from knowing that heaven, awaits those that are persecuted.
That's what the word of God says.
Two more passages. Beloved do not think it strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some
strange thing happened to you but you know, that's what we do
sometimes. Look at this terrible thing
happen to me. It happened to me.
And sometimes we think that the only bad thing going on in life
is what's happening to me? Sometimes our mind does that.
And yet the Bible says, there's nothing that's going to come on
you except that, which is common to man.
And you know what I found in my short life I have found in my
life, you know, I can't keep saying short life, it's getting
a little longer 53 is around the corner.
So, let me just say it this way in my life.
I have found that when I was going through something that
might have been very difficult for me.
If I kept my eyes open, I found somebody had it worse.
So don't think it's strange when some trial comes on you as
though some strange thing happened to you but Rejoice to
the extent that you are /. Takers of Christ's sufferings
that when his glory is revealed you may also be glad with
exceeding Joy, one more passage Matthew, 5, the words of Jesus.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness
sake for theirs is the kingdom. Of Heaven.
All right. In conclusion, and I'm finished.
In conclusions. The child of God, when
persecuted can be happy. You know why?
Because the four reasons we talked about today Because of
the Christians relationship with God, that God will never leave
our side. If he won't take it away, he'll
get you the strength to get through it and he'll never leave
your side. If you don't leave him your
relationship with God. Doesn't matter what happens to
me because of my relationship with God and God's right there.
With me every step of the way, what else the reality of truth?
I don't have to let my mind, go wandering to know if I'm doing
something wrong, I could just look at the word of God.
Is my life, doing what the word of God says?
And if I'm persecuted for that, I find peace in that.
I find contentment in that and I can be happy in that.
Why? The reality of Truth.
And I can even know how to obey the truth in that great.
Number three, I can be happy too because the recompense of the
center of the wicked is not up to me.
I don't worry about that. I don't have to avenge myself, I
don't have to do that. I can overturn evil with good
and finally I can be happy because man we're going to get a
reward one day. You're going to get a reward one
day. And when we have the capacity is
in been increased, the Eternal weight of glory, and I have that
going on in my life, that means that I carry that Eternal weight
of Glory eternally. As what Paul said, eternally in
heaven, means this, it increases my capacity to serve God, even
in heaven. How about that?
That's good stuff. I'm finished.
I'm finished today. Thank you so much for your kind
listening. I apologize for the beginning
when we try to get our system up and running but I appreciate
your patience. We never close a time that we
assemble as the body of Christ without extending an invitation
though to somebody that might be subject to the gospel call.
First of all, there are no blessings outside of Jesus
Christ. They're not and the Bible says
in Romans 10:17. So faith comes by hearing and
hearing by the word of God. Hearing of the word of God
produces Faith. Jesus said in Mark 16:16.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he
that believeth not shall be damned.
Jesus further said in Luke 13 and 3, I tell you.
No, but except you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Everybody's got to do that to, you got to change your life.
In Matthew, 10:32. And Jesus said, if you confess
me before men, I will confess you before my Father, which is
in heaven and that confession simply is, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God upon taking those steps though.
It leads us to the point of our Salvation.
That's when we go down to the Waters of baptism and have our
sins washed away. First, Peter 3:21 says the like
figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.
We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the
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