Pt 7 The Persecuted
The Persecuted
Matthew 5:10
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
It looked like the letter j, a short wide hook with a dot atop the vertical line of the letter, but it was in fact the Arabic letter ‘nun’ (’n’), the letter that begins the word “Nazarene”.
It was marked upon every home and business where it was suspected Christians dwelt. It was placed there in the summer of 2014 when the Islamic State made their way across Syria and Northern Iraq.
The goal was to eradicate Christianity from every nation in which the radical extremist Islamic terror Group called Islamic State, or ISIS for short, invaded.
“Pray the Shahada and convert to Islam, Pay the Jizya (Tax on non Muslims), Leave the country, or die”.
These were the four alternatives that were offered, but only if they were lucky. Most often only the first and last option were given by the second rate soldiers. (Pray the Shahada or die)
Most often there was not an Imam or a learned man in the midst of the soldiers to correctly provide all four options according to Islamic Law, and so many were killed.
Fire, Crucifixion, Stoning or Decapitation were the forms by which the lives of the righteous were taken. I saw many of the images, for a man not desensitised by graphic video games and movies, it was disturbing.
In June 2014, as Isis made its way in the stifling summer heart across Syria and Iraq, the options were given in full to many Christians, and over 100,000 Christians chose to leave everything behind, rather than convert to Islam.
These are they whom the Bible refers to as “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb 11:28).
Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of The Martyrs organisation which helps and reports on persecution of Christians around the world, wrote;
“We are not all called to die a martyrs death, but we are all called to live a martyr’s life”.
Definition
Persecution: “The unfair, cruel, or abusive treatment of an individual or group over a prolonged period for beliefs which differ from those of the persecutor.”
The Blessedness Identified.
The Persecuted Set Aside.
The Righteous Ones Identified.
The Blessed Ones Now Unified
pray
The Blessedness Identified.
Matthew 5:10
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Is it my fault?
It is difficult at times to know why it is that people come against you.
Sometimes it is a family member, sometimes it is one that you believed was a close friend. Sometimes it is a person you once greatly respected.
And from what seems to be out of no where, they hate you.
Is it my fault?
You begin to question your self and to ask how it can be that such things are coming upon me. What did I do wrong? Why am I being maligned? Why do they hate me so?
When it comes from a world that advertises its hatred is one thing, but when it comes from those who profess to share your faith it is quite another.
Is it my fault?
In the west we are not yet persecuted as they are in other nations, not yet.
In the west we seem to be persecuted emotionally rather than physically.
I am not yet sure which I prefer.
Emotional assaults, (especially by those you might love), are assaults on the mind and break the heart.
The mind begins to question itself, seeking why it is that such is coming against you. Confusion begins to take hold and it is not difficult to ask yourself the question, IS IT MY FAULT?
The most painful of all the experiences is complete disillusionment, “how can this happen?” “Why did this happen?”.
Disillusionment leads to confusion, confusion leads to a questioning of your own sanity, the questioning can lead either to depression or bitterness.
But the scriptures give answer;
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
John 15:20
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
First however we ought to ask, “is it my fault?”
For Blessedness to be Identified we need to go through an inner interrogation before it can be known if you are being persecuted for Righteousness Sake, or is it deserved.
Turn to Jeremiah 20
He was a young man when he began his ministry. A young man who feared the people and trusted that they would not hear his words, but God told him otherwise and yet it still came to pass as he feared it would.
Jeremiah 20:7–9
7 O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. 8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. 9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.
There is a point at which you may come when the persecutions, the mocking, the hatred and derision, even from those you loved, takes you to the place of quitting and you cannot yet discern the reason for their hatred.
Jeremiah was certainly at that place in life.
Paul was also there. (Keep a finger here but turn to 2 Corinthians)
2 Corinthians 12:15–16
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
We see the broken heart of Paul beginning near the start of chapter 10 of 2 Corinthians where he seems to work toward justifying himself to the Corinthians, but not for his own purpose.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 2 Corinthians 10:10
He will not boast of himself, nor does he truly desire to defend himself for his own sake but for those who would deny him to their own hurt, and like Jeremiah it pains him greatly for he is enduring an emotional persecution by the very people he loved and the entirety of his motives are being put to the question by gainsayers and backbiters.
1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 2 Corinthians 11:1–4
They are being drawn away from the Lord through their doubt of Paul and it breaks his heart. He is “jealous over them with godly jealousy”. The word is not used as a negative beloved, it is used as a heart breaking positive to those he loved who are being turned aside.
Trust me this is truly a heart break. The two main times you will ever feel this level of jealousy is if you are a parent who is losing a child to a wicked person or you are a pastor who loves the sheep the Lord has entrusted to him, good teachers also experience this via the care of their students.
From verse 22 he tells of all he has suffered for the sake of the gospel of Christ, more than any he knows.
2 Corinthians 11:23–30
23 …. in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
“Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended and I burn not”.
No one can know the grief and the sorrow of emotional persecution for the sake of those you love until they experience it themselves.
Paul continues in chapter 12 and by verse 11 he is disappointed that he needed to speak of all that God has done through him that they may believe and trust him;
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: …
Being condemned when your ought to have been commended is not a great experience to the emotionally persecuted.
Mums and dads, and those of you who are spending yourselves for the sake of the ministry of Christ and persecuted for righteousness sake, you are in good company, DO NOT QUIT.
BUT IDENTIFY IF THIS IS THE REASON! If so then the blessing is identified.
Paul testified these things because the people were being led astray and it is THEY WHO SUFFER FOR IT and he knows it.
But he works on in spite of it because he KNOWS the WORK IS OF THE LORD.
He KNOWS THAT IT IS SATAN WHO IS DOING ALL HE CAN TO BRING HIM DOWN.
HE KNOWS IT!
And he is blessed.
So too Jeremiah. It came as a burden in his bones;
Jeremiah 20:7–9
But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
IS IT MY FAULT?
YES…..NO!
Yes, if you are indeed living Godly in Christ Jesus, if you are attending to matters that you KNOW God has you attending to, If you are calling sin, sin and evil, evil and if you are living and loving the Lord and his word, people will almost naturally hate you, people that is, who are driven against all you stand for, people who are not “living godly in Christ Jesus”.
No, it is not YOUR fault, but their own.
Blessedness needs to be first identified.
Is this “persecution” in the Biblical sense, or are you justly being rebuked and attacked?
Once you have examined yourself honestly before the Lord, and if it is due to your earnest heart in following after him, REJOICE beloved, rejoice.
What is being testified in you is that you are BLESSED.
Philippians 1:28
28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
Just as we noticed last week that the makers of peace are blessed and identified thereby as the Children of God.
So too we understood the sowers of division are cursed and can be identified as children of the devil.
So it is respecting our persecution for righteousness sake.
Persecuted for righteousness is BLESSEDNESS IDENTIFIED.
The Persecuted Set Aside.
Matthew 5:10
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Turn to Acts 5;
The scene is set before the counsel in Jerusalem. Peter and the apostles have been preaching, when previously they were in prison.
They are now questioned as to why they did not obey the instruction of their rulers not to preach in the name of Christ. One of the rulers, “Gamaliel, a doctor of the law” (Acts 5:34) warned them of potential error against these disciples of Christ, and so they agreed but went on persecuting the men;
Acts 5:40–42
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
The world is going to set you aside, they will do all they can to separate you from the midst of them and will do all they can in time to come to even set others against you for the sake of Christ.
Jesus said;
John 3:19–21
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
In this the PERSECUTED ARE SET ASIDE.
They are hated of the world and, because your very life testifies of Christ, you will be all the more set against, separated from the world, from false brethren, from your families.
Turn to 1 Peter 4
1 Peter 4:12–14
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
What is happening in the world today is a work of separation. A work of division that is first manifesting in the hearts of many, revealing the truth of where they stand.
This same work will do its work in you to draw you ever closer to Christ. To strengthen your resolve… IF FIRST you IDENTIFY your BLESSEDNESS, that is the first point.
Understand that; for it will identify you all the more as the servant of Christ himself.
Jesus said
John 15:20
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Just as Christ was set aside, set apart from this world, the most perfect and most innocent of all peoples, God manifest in the flesh who came to sacrifice himself for the sins of the world, yet they separated from him in life, they shall also be separated from him in death if they will not turn.
THE PERSECUTED ARE SET ASIDE.
The Righteous Ones Identified.
Matthew 5:10
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Turn to Luke 2.
Jesus is a babe when Joseph and Mary brought him to Jerusalem, to the temple.
A man there would meet them who had a promise of God that he should not die till he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
They presented the babe to the man.
We take up the account in verse 28
Luke 2:28–35
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Hearts are being revealed in these days more than I have ever seen in my life. The more you live for Christ the more you will see the hearts of people revealed for who they are.
Persecution will identify the righteous and reveal the hearts of the unrighteous.
We are seeing this manifest itself greatly in the world today.
It is not only occurring in the Godless world, but it is also occurring today among family members, the tragedy of many sons or daughters employing all manner of excuses today to separate and dishonour their parents, not knowing the pain they cause.
The greatest evil is when they remove the grandchildren. You may as well rip out your parents hearts. This disgusting act was NEVER seen in previous generations, but is being excused more and more today.
Beloved, its not your parents nor me who you will give an account to if you are one excusing such evil.
Christians, behaving worse than the godless of the world, lying and betraying one another, backbiting and judging hypocritical judgements. Calling good evil and evil good, this is literally occurring among those who claim Christ as their Saviour.
It is 2 Timothy 3:1–4 coming alive before our very eyes amongst both Christians and even Pastors;
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
All of this testifying that the hearts of many are being revealed.
Thereby;
The Righteous are being identified.
We see it respecting Israel on the world stage. I am not saying they are saved, but they remain the people of God who hold to the words of God in that which they do.
October 7th, 2023 was the worst day of their modern history, a day where thousands were murdered indiscriminately.
All that is required of the world to end the war is the simple demand that the murderous evil terrorist groups lay down their arms, surrender and bring back the hostages they took in complete disregard of the Geneva Convention’s rules of war.
Yet these war criminals are being REWARDED by the likes of our own godless government, to legally recognise a terror state within the Sate of Israel.
Such literal madness ‘reveals the hearts of many”.
The Righteous are being identified by the godlessness of the wicked.
- Israel warns of impending attack on each and every building: who does that in war?
- Who reveals their plan of attack BEFORE they attack? Who does so with pamphlets, telephone calls and audio warnings?
- The nonsense claim of Genocide is the single most ridiculous claim I have ever heard. As if Israel could not kill ALL the Arabs in Gaza in a single weekend if they chose to!
- Yet its these Arabs who continue to call for the genocide of Israel, and send their godless propaganda to an easily deceived world.
So much more can be said.
The Righteous are Identified all the more clearly as they are separated from the wicked.
1 Corinthians 11:18–19
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
God will reveal those who are approved beloved. Live for Christ alone and you will know it is you who are approved!
The Blessed Ones Now Unified
Matthew 5:10
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Turn to Matt 13
Matthew 13:24–30
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
The Lord here testifying that a time will come when that which is desired in the world today will manifest itself perfectly in heaven tomorrow.
The world hates God and desires to separate the righteous from them.
A time will come when they are forever separated.
Those who reflect God in this world, they persecute, they hate them, they “MARK THEIR HOMES AND BUINESSES” that they may identify them, they even kill them in order to be rid of them and then, as we had seen two weeks ago, celebrate their death.
But it will be the Lord who will attend to the ultimate separation.
The first is at death, and we all die, the second is at the end of this world.
The parables continue in this passage in Matthew, Jesus explains the parable and then moves on to the treasure of a field, then a pearl of great price, until he concludes on the net cast into the sea.
His own summary in verse 49 he says;
Matthew 13:49
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
Are you certain you are among the Just?
Beloved I have seen far too many who profess to be Christians acting in the most godless way, even Pastors, and I am getting less and less confident of who is truly saved or no.
I am seeing the fruit of many and it is truly breaking my heart if the fruit I am witnessing is of the tree of life…!
In Matthew 7 Jesus said
Matthew 7:22–23
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Are you being persecuted yet?
If not, WHY NOT?
2 Timothy 3:12
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Nothing is seen separating you from the godless.
How do you know you are saved if you have no means of identifying your self as the BLESSED?
Yeh, sure, you look great. You come to Church on time. You pray wonderfully. You look the goods on the outside as you long to be seen of men, but are your insides full of dead mens bones?
I am sorry if this offends you, I do not desire to offend you but to raise an ALARM IN YOU.
ARE YOU PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE YET?
ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU ARE AMONG THE JUST?
No, you don’t need to be persecuted to know…but it helps to know your witness of Christ is having an effect.
Are you making enemies simply because you are standing for Christ?
DO NOT BOAST that you have no enemies beloved. It is not a boast that warrants praise, for our Lord had many enemies and does so to this day, so do all who will live godly in Christ Jesus.
A classic poem by Charles Mackay respecting this understanding;
“You have no enemies, you say?
Alas, my friend, the boast is poor.
He who has mingled in the fray of duty that the brave endure, must have made foes.
If you have none, small is the work that you have done.
You’ve hit no traitor on the hip. You’ve dashed no cup from perjured lip.
You’ve never turned the wrong to right. You’ve been a coward in the fight.”
It is no boast to say that you have no enemies, those who take a stand on the side of Christ and are unwavering will be persecuted. REJOICE.
FOR Jesus said MANY, not ‘few’. MANY are they who will claim Christ, and MANY are they who will claim their works testify for them, and MANY their will be to whom our Lord will say “DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY”.
No persecution = no living in righteousness. At least not enough to SEPARATE you from the godless of this world.
…the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
Are you certain you are among the Just?
2 Corinthians 13:5
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Hebrews 4:1
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Revelation 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
The blessed will be unified, together once and for all. Matthew 5:10
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
IS THAT YOU?
Please come to speak with me if you are not sure, that is what I am here for!
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