THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS PART SIX

Matt 5:10-12

As we come to a close in this section of Jesus’ sermon. I find it rather interesting that Jesus ends this portion with something that would seem out of place and unusual; especially for a son or daughter, who will reside in His Kingdom for all eternity. This is a prime characteristic of the new birth that comes with the greatest of challenges, because it could lead or end in the loss of one’s life for the sake of the gospel. Jesus says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt 5:10-12. At first glance you see something that Jesus didn’t say to previous blessings.

What is it you might ask?

Jesus repeats Himself, and it almost seems that it’s a double blessing. One puritan commentator believed that the reason Christ repeated Himself was because the statement was “incredible.” “Blessed/approved are the persecuted for

Righteousness; and blessed are you when others revile (insult, abuse) you”

Is this true?

The more you read Scripture, the more you realize how beautiful and amazing this statement is, in light of the Gospel. A little disclaimer here before I explain why it’s beautiful and amazing in light of the gospel! People all over the world experience persecution of all kinds, but not always for the sake of righteousness. Peter said “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:17. It’s one thing to suffer because of doing something evil, but it’s another thing to suffer for doing what is right. What Jesus is saying is this portion is that, “We are to be imitators of the One who was treat with contempt and hostility wherever He went.” This doesn’t mean….. We go out seeking for it; in order to receive this blessing that Jesus speaks of. And I’m not saying that every time you go out and experience conflict that you are bearing the reproach of Christ.

“It maybe because you have an

unpleasing personality.”

For example! You can be rude, proud, judgmental, insensitive, thoughtless, irresponsible, claiming pity but boast about your pity, our sarcastic and obnoxious. Many times we claim persecution and it really isn’t; it’s because they reject you as a person, who displays these kinds of characteristics.

Kent Hughes said, “Many Christians are very often persecuted not for their Christianity, but for their lack of it.”

This is why we need to be careful when we read Scripture! It doesn’t say “blessed are the persecuted.” (PERIOD), NO! We need to continue to read the verse in its entirety! “Persecuted for righteousness sake” This righteousness that Jesus speaks of is, “righteous living”. This is a major problem or stumbling block for world; because the world cannot tolerate such a life.

What do I mean?

The poverty of spirit runs opposite to the pride of the unbelieving heart.

The mourner is a repentant heart that sorrows over personal sin and the sin of this world, where the world continues to believe they are “good”.

The meek is the one who finds their strength in Christ alone and not in the things of this world.

The hungry and thirsting press on for more spiritual food to fill their parched lips and empty stomach. While the world fills their appetite with vain things.

The merciful not only feels compassion for others, but understands the mercy that was given to them through the gospel, in a world of apathy.

The pure in heart is single-minded and focused on Christ, in a self-focused culture.

The peacemaker doesn’t seek a counterfeit peace as the world does, but a genuine peace that only comes through the gospel.

What does it mean “blessed to

be persecuted for righteousness?

And why is this statement incredible and amazing?

The foundational reason he or she is persecuted is because they are like Christ. Note what Jesus says at the end of (v11) “on My account”. It’s not because of “your righteousness or right living”; but because of Jesus, that produces righteous living through the new birth of the Gospel. It’s because of Jesus, your facing this opposition and hatred from the world. It’s because of Jesus, and what He did for you; to inherit this Kingdom. It’s because of Jesus, so don’t take it as an attack against you; but understand what the Gospel has accomplished in a world that cannot tolerate the reason why Christ came.  To save sinners from themselves and

to transform sinners into the image of Christ. Jesus set the standard in His earthly body; the ultimate reason Jesus suffered and died was to atone for our sin. He paid the price, but it also indicates that those who follow Him will and possibly face the same treatment and death. Everyone who will live like Christ will be persecuted for “My sake”.

Remember what Jesus would say later to His disciples alone in the upper room? "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. “John 15:18-20. What Jesus says is incredible and amazing, because what He went through is proof of that; and be sure it will come your way. The Apostle’s knew this truth. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim 3:12-17. Paul said the same thing to the Thessalonica Church family! “that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.” 1 Thess 3:3. Don’t be fooled or stunned when it comes upon you, for we are ambassadors of Christ pleaded with lost sinners to turn to Christ and live.

“Don’t be surprised when it comes

upon you either though.”

The more you care for lost souls; you will be faced with strong opposition. This is a part of the new birth in Christ, because it goes against the world and its worldview. If you don’t’ believe me, then maybe this will help change your position on this matter.

Take the Apostle Paul for example of suffering for

“righteousness sake” And also being “reviled” by others for it.

Acts 9:18-25 we read after His divine encounter with Christ, Himself, the Jews wanted to kill him because of His new birth. “When many days had passed, the Jews (Jewish leaders and the people they influenced) plotted to kill him. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him.” (v23-24)

Acts 9:26-30 we read that the believers feared him, because of his past, and during this time the Hellenists sought to kill Paul.  “And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists (A group of Jews who adopted Greek culture and rejected Jesus as the Christ and resisted the preaching of the gospel.) But they were seeking to kill him.” Acts 9:26-29

Acts 13:44-51 we know Paul had opposition that was voicing their disdain for Paul’s message. “But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.” Acts 13:44

Acts 14:5-6 we read that both Jews and Gentiles tried to mistreat Paul and stone him. “

Acts 14:19-20 they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city. But Paul knew this is part of the new life in Christ.  “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:19-22

Acts 16:20-24 we read that Paul was beaten very badly and placed in a prison cell for preaching the gospel. ”The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.” Acts 16:22-24

Acts 19:8-10 we read that Paul pleads with lost souls to turn to Christ and live for three months in the synagogue, but was faced with resistance and unbelief.

Acts 20 we see the beautiful heart of Paul, when he speaks to the Ephesians elders. “Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:17-24

This humbling statement that Paul declares crushes my heart into a million pieces, especially as an elder/pastor.

Why? Because I’m afraid I don’t live up to that standard every day as I should. What standard? The one Paul declared, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

This should be what your heart is saying about you today as well. Our lives exists to please Him, the One who enlisted us into His army, the One who declared me His, for His glory through the gospel of His love. Why? Because I was created to live for Him.

Do you see the characteristics of what Paul is expressing?

to what Jesus is saying to here in this text?

Do you think Paul knew what Jesus meant when He said “Blessed/approved are the persecuted for righteousness sake”.

In Paul’s missionary journey to Corinth he gives them list of things he endured for the sake of righteousness. “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” 2 Cor 11:24-28

This is just a brief trip of what Paul went through for the sake of righteousness!

Did Paul suffer for Christ? Yes

Did He go out looking for it? No

Did he streak back when it came his way? No

Did Paul exemplify a life of righteous living for His sake? Yes

Did Paul inherit a seat at the King’s table? Absolutely

Why? To know and live for Christ outweighs the pain and suffering in this life. Remember what Paul said to the church of Philippi? “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Phil 3:7-11

R C Sproul said, “Righteous behavior provokes persecution because the unrighteous in this world cannot stand to behold righteousness. Those who hated Jesus most fiercely were the Pharisees because they had a public pretense of righteousness that was not real. Their sin chiefly involved hypocrisy, because they pretended righteousness they were in fact unrighteous, and they, in their pretense of righteousness, crucified the Son of glory. Nothing exposes the counterfeit faster than the authentic.”

Paul was an authentic follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. In all this, Paul’s joy never was never destroyed or diminished, due to the suffering he endured for the sake of Christ. Why? Because he knew where his home was. “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Phil 3:20-21. He exemplified that in his life..…and this is true for everyone who has been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rest and find boldness in that truth over your life; as we continue to live for Him.

“For our reward is a 

heavenly reward.”

Persecution is a blessing, not a joy to get excited about, but we rejoice none the less for His glory and our eternal promises found in the gospel. Persecution is painful and brings about much suffering and anguish, but it’s in this persecution that results in blessings and results in joy. The persecution that we face will come in different levels from one degree to the next “Blessed/approved by God, Himself, are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad.” (v11). Persecution can come through accusations and your reputation becomes tarnished for the sake of Jesus’ name, not yours. To be falsely accused or slandered, cuts and hurts deeply especially as a child of the living God.

Sadly though! Many times we will avoid any forms

of opposition for the sake of Christ and the gospel.

We would rather hide our light under a bushel, “It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.” Gal 6:12-13. I sometimes wonder why the church in North America isn’t under persecution. The answer that usually comes back to me is because the “Church has become like the world.”

Steve Lawson said, “The problem with preachers today is no one wants to kill us.”

Voddie Baucham said, “Suffering is common for all. However, persecution (which is a form of suffering) can be avoided. All you have to do is compromise.”

The gospel is offensive and it’s a scandalous message

for sinners to hear. This is why the world cannot tolerate the name of “Jesus Christ” or anyone attached/associated to Him.

“A world cannot tolerate a life like this.”

A life that is all about…

The Gospel...about the sacrifice of Christ...as our only hope.

True biblical manhood and womanhood.

True biblical patterns of worship as a church family.

Preaching with a higher degree of faithfulness to Scriptures.

Parenting and being a good fathers and mothers.

Discipling our children and using good tools to help them understand.

Loving and serving all people in doctrinal soundness and love.

See what Jesus is teaching goes against the social norms of today and it has everlasting implications that the child of God can still rejoice in.

Read the testimonies of those who have given their all for Christ. Jesus said, “Look to the prophets”, look to the martyrs. (v12) Look to Noah, Moses, Elijah, Elisha Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, the Apostles and others; which shows, what transpired in there lives was no new and strange thing but this was their portion being the most distinguished servants of God in former ages.

Jesus even told Peter how he would die for His sake. “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me." John 21:18-19

What were Peter’s last words written in Holy Scripture? But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

And if we can trust early church history, Peter was in prison for Christ’s sake (probably sometime between AD 67 and AD 70)  and they were going to nail him to a cross, and Peter said, “No, no! My Lord died like that. I am not worthy to die as He did.” Then Peter said, “Hang me on that cross head downward.”

Now fast forward to 1555 to a letter by John Hooper, written three weeks before he was burned at the stake in England: “You must now turn all your [thoughts] from the peril you see and mark the felicity that followeth the peril . . . Beware of beholding too much the felicity or misery of this world; for the consideration and too earnest love or fear of either of them draweth from God” (Ryle, Light from Old Times, 115).

John Rogers…..He was burned alive the same year Hooper was, because of his faith in Christ. His children accompanied him to the place of execution and called out encouragements to him through their tears that he might be strong and not turn back and dishonor Christ. (Light from Old Times, 64).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer…..As he left his prison room on the way to the gallows in 1945, he said to Payne Best, “This is the end — for me the beginning of life” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography, 830).

John Piper wrote in his post “A Righteous Life Will Be Persecuted” “So we can see why a life devoted to righteousness or godliness will be persecuted or reviled or spoken against. If you cherish chastity, your life will be an attack on people’s love for free sex. If you embrace temperance, your life will be a statement against the love of alcohol. If you live simply and happily, you will show the folly of luxury. If you walk humbly with your God, you will expose the evil of pride. If you are punctual and thorough in your dealings, you will lay open the inferiority of laziness and negligence. If you speak with compassion, you will throw callousness into sharp relief. If you are earnest, you will make the flippant look flippant instead of clever. If you are spiritually minded, you will expose the worldly-mindedness of those around you.”

Jesus says, “Look to the prophets and those who have gone before you as an example of suffering for My Name sake.” This section of Scripture is “radical” because the believer described in this passage is those determined to live as Jesus lived. We live in a sinful world and we won’t be able to avoid the hostility and pressures of those who live amoung us.

“

But rejoice and be glad for our

 reward is in Heaven.”

And when we are confronted with the hostility of this world for Jesus’ sake, we are blessed/approved by God because He is the one who called us into His love though the gospel.

Jesus is the one who endured these things

so that you could have eternal life and joy.

In Hebrews 12:1-2 we read this comforting truth as we endure this worlds hostility, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The Kingdom we seek daily….. is a kingdom that has the King seated at the right and of the Father. This unshakable and amazing truth keeps us firmly planted to endure whatever the Lord wills for our lives. When we suffer persecution and people revile us it’s for His glory to shine the gospel brighter through our lives. As Peter said “But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:14-17

  

What we endure in these earthly vessels never goes to waste! Our suffering under persecution is the crowning glory of our lives, being spent for the glory of His holy Name.