How To Be Happy Part 8
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Introduction:
My name is Adam, I’m the pastor here at Abide church.
I’m also a professor at CBC. I teach Accounting and Economics courses.
This is our final week of our mini series on “How To Be Happy” but only the beginning of our meta series on Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.”
Eric will be preaching the next 4 weeks and I can’t wait for us to be blessed with what he is preparing. I will continue the “Sermon on the Mount” series January 5th.
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“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.
This is the 8th and final beatitude.
Some have noted that the 2nd “blessed are” here is a sort of double emphasis or double blessing.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake
- The Meaning
- The Location
- The Achieving
- The Result
The Meaning
The Meaning
For the meaning, I want to turn to Peter.
Peter was a close disciple, one of the inner circle.
Peter was here when Jesus preached this original sermon.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
How does this play out for Peter?
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
So they took his advice,
and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Peter was taught by Jesus and lived out this teaching radically.
Peter teaches us more in his letter to the church:
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
The Meaning
The Meaning
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[SLIDE]
1. Through persecution, Christians are united to Jesus.
Through persecution, we get to share in a unique fellowship with Jesus.
Jesus was hated, we will be hated
Jesus was mocked, we will be mocked
Jesus was put to death, we may even be put to death
Just as we share in Jesus’ suffering, we share in his life, his victory, his resurrection, and his inheritance.
To be united to Christ is to be blessed.
[SLIDE]
2. Through persecution, Christians proclaim the gospel.
Through persecution, we get to show God’s love to the world
Just as Jesus loved his enemies, so to can we love our enemies
Just as Jesus suffered unjustly to bring redemption to the world, we too can suffer unjustly to bring the redemption to the world
Just as Jesus laid aside his own comfort and honor bring salvation to mankind, we too can lay aside our own comfort and honor to bring salvation to mankind
The way Christians respond to persecution and suffering might be the most significant way the gospel is demonstrated.
[SLIDE]
3. Through persecution, Christians are prepared for the weight of Jesus’ glory.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
Paul also had something to say about a coming glory.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
James also weighs in on this topic.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
The Location
The Location
Why did Jesus put this last on the list? I can only speculate.
Even though there is blessing in persecution, it is a call to count the cost.
To side with Jesus or to side with the world.
We must choose:
Will we be hated by the world?
OR
Will we be hated by God?
There is also a beautiful progression in all the beatitudes; each one leads to the next:
Blessed are the poor in spirit
(It’s only by acknowledging our sin before God that we can enter the kingdom of God)
Blessed are those who mourn
(As we begin to understand our sin, we are brought to repentance and mourning, but God comforts us with his forgiveness)
Blessed are the meek
(This leads us to be meek, to understand that we don’t have to fight because Jesus fought for us)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
(When we understand our victory in Jesus, we get hungry and thirsty for the righteousness of Jesus)
Blessed are the merciful
(As we see the righteousness of Jesus, we see the lavish mercy he has poured out on us we can’t help but show mercy to others)
Blessed are the pure in heart
(By the mercy of God we receive pure hearts from God through faith, and with this purity we have direct access to God in Christ)
Blessed are the peacemakers
(Just as Jesus came to the world to bring peace (that is, reconciliation to God) we continue in Jesus’ mission to bring the message of peace, the gospel, to the world)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake
(As we bring this message of peace to the world, we will be hated because we are united to Christ. But we will not be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.)
The Achieving
The Achieving
What if I’m not experiencing persecution?
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
John MacArthur says this about Christians who are not persecuted:
Matthew: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Persecution
When Christians are not persecuted in some way by society it means that they are reflecting rather than confronting that society. And when we please the world we can be sure that we grieve the Lord
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
This is not meant to be condemnation but exhortation
I am not trying to make you feel guilt over the lack of persecution in your life, but rather encourage you to live for Jesus even if you think it might bring persecution.
The Result
The Result
We begin and end with “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The sermon on the mountain is all about Jesus introducing us to his kingdom.
The people in Jesus day wanted so badly for Jesus to come, overthrow the Romans and establish a kingdom on earth of prosperity and lavish living.
Jesus said I am coming to establish a kingdom, but it’s not like you’re thinking.
This kingdom is for the poor in spirit, for the humble.
This kingdom is for those who unite themselves with me,
and just as I am coming as the suffering servant
so will those who are united with me suffer and serve.
Jesus is establishing a kingdom, and all who put their trust in him for reconciliation with God are invited to that kingdom.