growthdepthstrength no pain – no gain!. growthdepthstrength matthew 5: 10-12 (tniv) blessed are...

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No pain – No pain – No gain!No gain!


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Matthew 5: 10-12 Matthew 5: 10-12 (TNIV)(TNIV)

Blessed are those who are persecuted Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who way they persecuted the prophets who were before youwere before you


StrengthStrengthQuestionsQuestions What is meant by “persecution”?What is meant by “persecution”? How relevant is it and what form How relevant is it and what form

does it take?does it take? What is the “kingdom of heaven”?What is the “kingdom of heaven”? Should we be worried about this? Should we be worried about this? What does “reward in heaven” What does “reward in heaven”

mean?mean?


StrengthStrengthContext & CultureContext & Culture Roman “impressment”Roman “impressment” Previous historyPrevious history

• Egypt• Canaan• Assyrians• Babylonians

Future historyFuture history• Middle Ages – Crusades; Inquisition• Holocaust


StrengthStrengthWhat Jesus saidWhat Jesus said

Blessed are those who are Blessed are those who are persecuted because of persecuted because of righteousnessrighteousness Matthew 5: 10 Matthew 5: 10

Blessed are you when people Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of meagainst you because of me

Matthew Matthew 5: 115: 11


StrengthStrengthRighteousnessRighteousness

Blessed are those who hunger and Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled be filled Matthew 5: 6Matthew 5: 6

Blessed are those who are Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousnesspersecuted because of righteousness

Matthew 5: 10 Matthew 5: 10

““Righteous people live by faith”Righteous people live by faith” Habakkuk 2:4 Habakkuk 2:4


StrengthStrengthBecause of JesusBecause of Jesus Exiled in Egypt for 2 yearsExiled in Egypt for 2 years Returned to NazarethReturned to Nazareth Cousin John beheadedCousin John beheaded Ministry rejectedMinistry rejected Contract on his lifeContract on his life Nowhere to live permanentlyNowhere to live permanently Family considered him madFamily considered him mad Betrayal, torture, deathBetrayal, torture, death


StrengthStrengthThe ChallengeThe ChallengeThe subtle difference of emphasisThe subtle difference of emphasisBlessed are those Blessed are those whowho are are persecuted . . . .persecuted . . . .v.10v.10Blessed are Blessed are youyou when people . . . . when people . . . .v.11v.11

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecutedlife in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

2Timothy 3:12 (TNIV)2Timothy 3:12 (TNIV)

Anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus and Anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus and wants to live right will have trouble from wants to live right will have trouble from othersothers 2Timothy 3:12 (CEV)2Timothy 3:12 (CEV)


StrengthStrengthQuestionsQuestions

Is my faith obvious?Is my faith obvious? Have I compromised Have I compromised

myself?myself? Am I a city on hill in a Am I a city on hill in a

blackout?blackout?


StrengthStrengthThere’s hopeThere’s hope

If you are insulted because of If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you and of God rests on you

1Peter 4:14 (TNIV)1Peter 4:14 (TNIV)


StrengthStrengthThere’s hopeThere’s hopeIf you're abused because of Christ, If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they're on you to the notice of others. If they're on you because you broke the law or you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that's a different disturbed the peace, that's a different matter. But if it's because you're a matter. But if it's because you're a Christian, don't give it a second Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name!status reflected in that name!

1Peter 4:14-16 1Peter 4:14-16 (Message)(Message)


StrengthStrengthMatthew 5:10-12Matthew 5:10-12

““You're blessed when your You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. you even deeper into God's kingdom. Not only that – count yourselves Not only that – count yourselves blessed every time people put you blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. “comfort and they are uncomfortable. “



““You can be glad when that happens You can be glad when that happens – give a cheer, even! – for though – give a cheer, even! – for though they don't like it, I do! And all they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.”gotten into this kind of trouble.”



““3 P’s”3 P’s”Precedent from the pastPrecedent from the pastPromise for the futurePromise for the futureProvision for the presentProvision for the present


StrengthStrengthPromise to ClaimPromise to ClaimWho shall separate us from the love of Christ? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lordthe love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

Romans 8:35; 37-39 (TNIV)Romans 8:35; 37-39 (TNIV)

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