The Blessing of the Beatitudes: Finding Joy in Persecution

• The Beatitudes (Poor in Spirit, Mourning, Meekness, Hunger for Righteousness, Mercy, Purity of Heart, Peacemaking) [00:21:07 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor systematically defines each Beatitude, explaining that they are spiritual disciplines that prepare the believer's heart and character to withstand future trials.
• Persecution and Suffering for Righteousness [00:27:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that persecution is an inevitable consequence of living a holy life distinct from the world, citing that the 'lost world doesn't want anyone to live differently than they do.'
• Worldliness vs. Holiness (Hot vs. Lukewarm) [00:31:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the desire for human approval ('flesh wants people to like us') with the call to be 'hot for God,' asserting that one cannot straddle the fence between being saved and lost.
• Identity of the Believer [00:33:01 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that persecution is not personal but spiritual, stating 'it's who lives within you they don't like' and using the analogy of an 'alcoholic t-shirt' to illustrate how visible faith provokes opposition.
• Persecution and Opposition [00:32:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that living a 'hot for God' life and maintaining high biblical standards will naturally cause the world to hate and oppose the believer, citing personal anecdotes and historical examples.
• Biblical Response to Persecution [00:42:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor outlines four specific responses: recognizing the source of evil, refusing to retaliate, responding positively with good, and reflecting on God's will by waiting patiently for Him to fight the battle.
• The Beatitudes and Righteousness [00:35:43 ▶️ 📄]
  > The sermon connects the Beatitudes to a 'death wish' or a life at odds with the world, explaining that virtues like mercy, purity, and peace create conflict with a sinful, self-promoting culture.
• Historical and Modern Context of Suffering [00:37:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the horrific physical torture of early Christians with modern persecution, citing Open Doors statistics to show that believers are still killed and harassed for their faith today.
• Persecution and Worldly Conflict [00:47:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that the world will hate believers just as it hated Christ, and that a lack of conflict is a warning sign of not conforming to Christ.
• Divine Shaping Through Suffering [00:50:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the analogy of a chisel, the pastor describes how God uses offenses and pain to chip away self-will and hard edges to make believers better.
• God's Sovereignty Over Evil [00:52:53 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that while God does not make people sin, He allows the wicked to be used unknowingly to accomplish His miraculous plans, citing the crucifixion of Jesus.
• The Reward of Faithfulness [00:57:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor encourages believers to stand firm despite the pain, promising that the reward in heaven will be worth the persecution.

• Sermon Illustration [00:33:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about public school dress codes, noting that while bands had to put 'bands' on shirts to restrict content, today a woman wearing a 'Christian t-shirt' was confronted by girls calling her a 'hater,' illustrating how visible faith is now more offensive to the world than secular symbols like rock and roll bands.
• Sermon Illustration [00:33:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of an 'alcoholic t-shirt' or a 'rock and roll band' shirt to explain that people generally do not confront individuals for secular or sinful affiliations, but they do confront those who visibly identify with Christ.
• Sermon Illustration [00:33:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about a woman wearing a Christian t-shirt in a public school setting who was confronted by a group of girls and called a 'hater,' contrasting this with the lack of reaction to alcohol or rock-and-roll imagery.
• Sermon Illustration [00:37:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor lists historical methods of torture used against early Christians, including being thrown to lions, wrapped in tar and burned, sewn into animal skins, torn by dogs, and roasted with molten iron.
• Sermon Illustration [00:39:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor cites Derek Bonhoeffer's theological observation that encountering Jesus forces a choice: either the individual must die to self, or they must put Christ to death.
• Sermon Illustration [00:58:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about an old church saying where someone felt their 'heart break in two' due to lies and persecution, noting that he now understands that feeling.
• Sermon Illustration [00:56:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor quotes Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian who hid Jews from Hitler and was sent to a concentration camp, citing her writing: 'There is no pit so deep that God's grace is not deeper still.'

• Pastoral Charge [00:34:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor urges believers who have not faced persecution to examine their lives for compromised standards.
• Pastoral Charge [00:42:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor commands the congregation to identify the spiritual source of their struggles.
• Pastoral Charge [00:43:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor commands the congregation to stop seeking revenge.
• Pastoral Charge [00:43:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor commands the congregation to respond to enemies with kindness and silence rather than argument.
• Pastoral Charge [00:43:54 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor commands the congregation to rest in the Lord and wait patiently.
• Pastoral Charge [00:55:49 ▶️ 📄]
  > To stand firm with Jesus Christ despite persecution, lies, and hatred from others.
• Pastoral Charge [00:59:58 ▶️ 📄]
  > To actively turn over persecution and rivalries to God and lay them at His feet.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:00:00] because of your dedication hope rises for tomorrow to every veteran here today we thank you for your courage your sacrifice and our freedom all right good morning I'm gonna go ahead and get announcements out of the way because of your service families gather in peace because of your courage the next

[00:01:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:01:03] values. Communities stand strong. Because of your dedication, hope rises for tomorrow.
[00:01:16] To every veteran here today, we thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, and our freedom.
[00:01:54] Because of your service, families gather in peace. Because of your courage, the next generation finds inspiration to serve because you defended our values. Communities stand strong.

[00:02:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:02:17] All right. Praise the Lord. We are just so thankful that you are in the house of the Lord this morning. We are thankful for those that listen and watch by Facebook and by 92.9 here
[00:02:27] in Statesville. And again, we just say happy 4th of July weekend. And thank you to all those who have served, are still serving, and thank God for our great country that we have freedom. Amen.
[00:02:39] Amen. Freedom in our country. And I'm even more thankful for the freedom I have in Jesus Christ.
[00:02:44] But we've come together this morning. Let's pray. Remember those that are out, those that are sick.
[00:02:49] And then after prayer, we'll take up our morning tithes and offerings and begin to worship the Lord. Amen. Heavenly Father, we just come to you this morning. God, we are so thankful, God, for the freedom that we have in our country. Lord, we thank you for that. We thank you for the
[00:03:03] men and women that have sacrificed and have given, Lord, for that freedom. But God, most of all today, Lord we are thankful for the freedom that we have in Jesus Christ Lord and that was through your son
[00:03:15] God that he bore on the cross and shed his blood Lord if it would have just been me or it would just been you he would have done it and Lord we thank you for that God Lord we thank you for those
[00:03:26] that are here this morning we thank you for those that are still on their way be with them God Lord be with those that are absent today Lord Lord whether by sickness or by vacation Lord we ask
[00:03:35] God, that you just wrap your arms around them, God.
[00:03:38] Lord, and that one that is close to eternity, Lord, we ask that you'd give them a chance that they would make it right with you before it's too late, God.
[00:03:45] And we just thank you, Lord.
[00:03:46] We praise you for your spirit in this place.
[00:03:48] Lord, your anointing that moves throughout this place, Lord, as the word comes forth, that it'll fall, Lord, not just on our ears, but into our heart and we may walk it out.
[00:03:57] And we are in your favor and we thank you for that.
[00:04:00] We give you glory and honor in Jesus' name.
[00:04:03] The church said, amen.
[00:04:05] Let's worship the Lord this morning because he is good.
[00:04:09] Amen.
[00:04:09] We love you, Lord.
[00:04:10] Amen.

[00:04:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:04:11] And I'm marching, claiming victory.
[00:04:33] I give our chief victory.
[00:04:56] To battle with glorious at the end.
[00:05:41] Stole evil, never would serve him till I die.
[00:06:18] I'm on the battlefield.

[00:06:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:06:20] See, last night, I don't know how many of you did this, but I did.
[00:06:29] I watched the celebration on TV that we was between some documentaries and we was Washington, D.C. and one in Philadelphia and then back towards Nashville, Tennessee.
[00:06:43] And you know one thing that I noticed on that?
[00:06:46] When those country singers got up there to sing, everybody was clapping and they was raising their hands, shouting, and I thought you know what why are we not doing more of that why are we not clapping and giving
[00:07:00] the Lord some praise and glory why are we not raising our hands saying glory all the time I'm telling you God is so much more worthy than Nashville and all the country singers and all
[00:07:13] those performers because and nobody told them no that's why I was watching it was like nobody was having to tell them to raise your, well, I take that back. One of them I did say, let's put our hands together
[00:07:26] and let's start clapping and let's let them know we're here. Well, let me tell you, why don't we clap our hands and let their Lord know that we're here. Amen? Amen.
[00:07:37] Amen.
[00:07:38] Because he's bigger than any mountain that we'll ever have to face.
[00:07:42] Amen.
[00:07:45] Put those hands together. Come on.

[00:07:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:07:48] Bigger than all my problems.
[00:07:51] Is bigger than all my fears God is bigger than any mountain That I can or cannot see Bigger than all my questions Bigger than anything God is bigger than any mountain That I can or cannot see
[00:08:13] All the shadows And fall across my God is bigger than any mountain That I can or cannot see Confusion God is bigger than any mountain That I can or cannot see Don't you believe it this morning
[00:08:42] He's bigger than all God is bigger than any mountain That I can or cannot see Thank you Lord My question He's bigger than anything God is bigger than any mountain That I can or cannot see
[00:09:07] God is bigger than any mountain That I can or cannot see Thank you, Lord Jacob's bigger than anything God is bigger than any mountain That I can or cannot see Oh, sing it He's bigger than all my fears.
[00:09:42] God is bigger than any mountain that I can or cannot see.
[00:10:02] Oh, God is bigger than any mountain that I can or cannot see.
[00:10:11] Oh, come on, get you.

[00:10:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:10:18] We bless you, Lord.
[00:10:21] Hallelujah.
[00:10:23] How many knows that God says he can turn it around?
[00:10:26] What the enemy has meant for evil, God can turn it around.
[00:10:30] He can just speak the word and it will happen.
[00:10:32] Amen.

[00:10:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:10:34] God said he would turn it around.

[00:10:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:10:46] What the devil meant for evil, God will make it good.
[00:10:52] But turn it around, turn it around, turn it around

[00:10:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:10:56] I know it may be midnight But joy is soon to come I know it may be midnight But joy is soon to come I know it feels like midnight But joy is soon to come
[00:11:15] Turn around, turn around, turn it around Give Him all the praise For God is in control Give Him all the praise For God is in control Thank you, Jesus Give Him all the praise For God is in control
[00:11:39] Turn around, turn around He'll give you beauty for ashes Joy for pains Praise Him for your sadness As you remember His name Morning into dancing Sorrow will be every day Be sweeter than the day before
[00:12:07] We've got to thank God for For the victory We've got to thank God for For the victory We've got to thank God for For the victory Turn around, turn around, turn around God said he would turn this thing around.
[00:12:43] The devil meant for evil.
[00:12:48] God will make it good.
[00:12:51] Turn around, turn around.
[00:12:57] God said he would turn it around.
[00:13:04] He would turn this thing around.
[00:13:09] The devil meant for evil.
[00:13:12] God will make it good.

[00:13:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:13:14] Turn it around, turn it around.

[00:13:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:13:27] We thank you, Lord.
[00:13:28] Hallelujah.
[00:13:29] Yes, Lord.
[00:13:32] Hallelujah.
[00:13:34] Oh, we bless you, Lord.

[00:13:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:13:37] Oh, we thank you, Lord.
[00:13:39] Hallelujah.
[00:13:43] Oh, you are still turning things around, what the enemy says and meant for evil.
[00:13:48] You are still making it right and fair and working it out.
[00:13:52] Yes, Lord.

[00:13:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:13:54] Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah.
[00:13:57] Oh, hallelujah.
[00:13:59] Because we've got to thank God for, for the victory.
[00:14:05] We've got to thank God for, for the victory.
[00:14:18] Turn around, turn around, turn around.
[00:14:25] God said he would turn it around.
[00:14:28] God said He would turn this thing around

[00:14:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:14:34] What the devil meant for evil God will make it good Turn around, turn around, turn around Hallelujah, thank you Jesus Hallelujah, we thank you Lord in this place this morning Hallelujah, thank you Jesus

[00:15:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:15:00] Hallelujah Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord, you're on our side. Because where would I be if it had not been for

[00:15:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:15:09] you being by my side? They sinned for Jesus. Your friend's about to die. But Terry's still For a while Lazarus in a tomb And they said their last goodbye But coming down, just hold on
[00:15:52] Because he's not too far away And he knows your needs before you pray So when you feel weary From the mountains you have climbed I've struggled through life's deserts They were so hard And it seemed hope was gone
[00:16:30] And I wondered where is he Is he still a friend of mine And coming down on time I've stalled on my child Before you pray So when your feet are weary

[00:17:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:17:09] From the mountains you have climbed

[00:17:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:17:12] Look on time I've struggled through life's deserts They were so hot and dry Till it seemed our love was gone And I wondered where was he Is he still a friend of mine Then coming down was Jesus right on time
[00:17:49] Thank you, Lord.
[00:18:34] Oh, when your feet are weary, from the mountains you have climbed, look ahead, Jesus, right on time, when your feet...
[00:18:53] Bless the name of the Lord. We bless you, Lord. We bless you.

[00:19:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:19:31] Hallelujah.
[00:19:33] It is so good to be in the house of the Lord.
[00:19:36] Thank you for being here, and happy Freedom Weekend.
[00:19:40] Celebrating the 4th of July, 250 years.
[00:19:43] what a mighty wonderful thing that is and we are blessed beyond measure amen we are truly blessed people well god has done so much for us and we're so thankful for all he's done and those who served
[00:19:57] the country and gave what they all some gave all that they had and some gave their lives and their families and some you know all so that you and i can sit in this facility this sanctuary today
[00:20:09] giving God the praise and glory hallelujah well today I'm going to finish up on the beatitudes I hope that you have enjoyed this message that we have been bringing you this over the last few weeks and
[00:20:24] I pray that our hearts have learned and grown and understood the beatitudes in a different manner maybe a little deeper way and just glad that you've been here and been part of this and for those are out traveling this week we miss them and we're praying for a safe
[00:20:43] journey home and those that are sick and body we pray for their healing because we know the lord is our healer amen well today let's get started and i like as we've been doing for the last
[00:20:55] several weeks i i'd like for you to read the scripture with us as we go through it and let it get into your spirit amen so we'll start with uh uh number three and he opened his mouth
[00:21:07] and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[00:21:15] We know that those that are favored of God are those who realize they need a Savior.
[00:21:22] Those that understand that they cannot have a life without God.
[00:21:28] They cannot have a life without Jesus Christ who died for their sins and becoming the payment for their sin.
[00:21:36] So blessed are the poor in spirit.
[00:21:38] And what is their reward?
[00:21:40] The kingdom of heaven.
[00:21:43] Number four, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
[00:21:54] Those are they that are so sorry for the sins and their life choices that have failed and went against God's plan.
[00:22:04] that the sorrow that they feel is so deep and it becomes life-changing.
[00:22:12] Their repentance is so deep that they don't want to go back to their old life.
[00:22:17] They want to follow Jesus.
[00:22:20] Number five, blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
[00:22:31] The meek are those that have control over their emotions and self-will.
[00:22:36] It is those that are meek are able to make the right choices based on what God wants them to make, not on what they want to make themselves.
[00:22:47] The meek are those that allow the Holy Spirit to transpose them and turn them into a vessel that's pleasing to God.
[00:22:56] It is a meek person is the one that will follow God above their fleshly desires.
[00:23:02] Number six, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
[00:23:14] Blessed are those that are so hungered and thirsty of the spiritual things, the things of God, until the physical things no longer matter in their lives.
[00:23:27] When you are hungry and thirsty after righteousness, that means you're so hungry after God that you want to do the right things.
[00:23:37] You want to choose to make the right decisions in your life.
[00:23:41] And what does it say?
[00:23:44] They shall be filled.
[00:23:46] Verse 7.
[00:23:50] Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
[00:23:55] mercy merciful being a merciful person is not only having compassion for someone else but putting that compassion into action that's when you do something about the mercy that you feel but it also means being able to forgive someone because you know that you yourself have been
[00:24:19] forgiven having mercy for someone else is being christ-like because we know that when we forgive others just as jesus christ has forgiven us the our lives can change number eight blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see god the scripture is telling us here those that
[00:24:46] have done an internal cleansing of our lives meaning we get rid of anything that is against God and choosing to have a heart after God instead of having a heart after world the world being pure in heart means your affections is toward the Lord it means that you're not being
[00:25:08] a double standard it's not it means that you're not straddling the fence as we once heard and they're not lukewarm.
[00:25:18] But the pure in heart has made up their mind, more than anything, I've got to make it.
[00:25:24] There's a song that says that more than anything, I've got to make it.
[00:25:28] And that's what being pure in heart is.
[00:25:32] Pure in heart means getting rid of the sinful nature and letting the Holy Ghost do a new work in us.
[00:25:40] And 9 says, blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God we talked about this last week and we know that that's a very hard verse that's a hard thing because in our flesh
[00:25:59] we want people to hurt like they've hurt us but the scripture is telling us that we need to be willing to make peace with our enemies. We need to make peace with them regardless of the way
[00:26:14] they return it. You know, we don't pay a count for what other people do. We're going to pay a count for what we do, right? And we need to resolve situations with calmness and soft words.
[00:26:28] We don't need to escalate things with a rage of anger. So being a peacemaker means that we're willing to speak peace over a situation even when it's not given back we do it for ourselves
[00:26:44] because a lot of times people will not receive what we want to give them if we want to speak back with a calm voice instead of anger you know they want us to get mad and show out too don't
[00:26:57] they they want us to act like them but we need to be peacemakers and if we are we're going to be called what the children of God well today we got verses uh 10 11 and 12 all together and let's just
[00:27:13] read those 10 there we go blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven 11 blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all
[00:27:42] manner of evil against you falsely for my sake and i like this one rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you now let's look at that first sentence there rejoice and be exceedingly glad i wonder why
[00:28:11] jesus had given this beatitude last i think it's because our hearts needed to be prepared for it with the other ones that um come before it he was preparing our hearts he was preparing our hearts
[00:28:29] to know how to stand when this one came along verse 10 and 11 you know the enemy will do a lot things to upset you, offend you, make you angry, and make you mad, won't he? The enemy wants you
[00:28:45] to give up in being a follower of Jesus. If you are prepared for the situation, you'll handle the situation much better. Do you agree? And that is what the previous Beatitudes, what Jesus was telling the people there on the mount that we needed those beatitudes to help us be prepared
[00:29:08] for this one that he's just spoke we will if we allow the above beatitudes the ones before we get to verse 10 to work in our lives well guess what we're going to be stronger in our faith
[00:29:24] We'll be able to stand it when we are persecuted.
[00:29:28] I'm not going to ask for hands raised, but I can probably say most people in here have had to go through some persecution sometime in their life.
[00:29:38] Some things you didn't deserve and things you didn't desire.
[00:29:41] Amen? I know.
[00:29:42] But when we try to live our lives by the Beatitudes, we can show mercy when we don't want to.
[00:29:53] We can forgive when we really don't want to, but the Spirit will rise up in us, and we can have a calmer, simpler spirit.
[00:30:02] Most people would prefer anything over persecution.
[00:30:07] We'd rather people think of us with love and respect.
[00:30:12] We'd rather have that.
[00:30:14] Look at the high school drama.
[00:30:16] If we remember the high school drama, the school drama, when we would do anything to get people to like us, Our flesh wants people to like us, but guess what?
[00:30:27] It's not going to always happen.
[00:30:30] Not everybody's going to like you.
[00:30:32] Not everybody's going to love you.
[00:30:34] We'd rather people think of us with love and respect instead of slander and false accusations.
[00:30:44] Our flesh just wants to get along with everyone, even at a cost.
[00:30:48] I don't know of anyone that says go ahead make fun of me talk junk lie about me gossip about me I don't know anybody that says that but no the flesh prefers the very opposite we don't want
[00:31:05] that we don't want to fight that battle we want everybody to like us we want everybody to love us It's part of that ego we've got, right?
[00:31:15] But if you were born again, if you know Jesus Christ, persecution isn't going to be hard to steer away from.
[00:31:24] The lost world doesn't want anyone to live differently than they do.
[00:31:29] The lack of standards or morals it lives by or its carefree values it has gives the world the right to live differently or they think it does.
[00:31:41] If you sound like the world and you do the things the world does, then the world is your friend.
[00:31:47] And remember, we studied a few weeks ago when we discussed that you can't straddle the fence.
[00:31:53] You've either got to be for God or you are against Him.
[00:31:56] You are either saved or you are lost.
[00:31:59] You are either hot or you are cold.
[00:32:04] And either you are saved and you have a love for Jesus Christ or you are a sinner.
[00:32:08] And either you're going to heaven or you're going to hell.
[00:32:12] If you are saved, you want to do the things that the Lord has asked of you.
[00:32:17] He asked that you live a clean and holy life before Him.
[00:32:21] God said He wanted you to be hot or cold, but you cannot be lukewarm.
[00:32:28] I didn't say that we wouldn't fail.
[00:32:30] I didn't say we wouldn't make mistakes.
[00:32:33] I'm saying that we are called to choose to live the very best life that we can for God.
[00:32:40] So as Christians that is hot for God, we are going to experience persecution.
[00:32:48] I don't know about you, but there's been people in my life that just did not like me.
[00:32:54] And I think, what have I ever done to them to make them not like me?
[00:32:59] Have you ever experienced that?
[00:33:01] I want to remind you this morning, it's not you personally they don't like.
[00:33:07] It's who lives within you they don't like.
[00:33:09] Your spirit and their spirit ain't jihaving.
[00:33:13] See, you don't ever see someone confronting a person wearing an alcoholic t-shirt.
[00:33:20] Or wearing a rock and roll band.
[00:33:24] Nobody cares that they're wearing that.
[00:33:26] I'm telling you, when I was in a school setting, not the Christian school, but in a public school, you know, we had to put bands on what you could wear and could not wear in the school. Why? Because it could be a motive for different things. Well, many people wouldn't
[00:33:47] care, but there might have been a few that would. But this week, I've seen where a woman that was wearing a christian t-shirt was confronted by a group of girls that called her a hater
[00:34:01] if you look at the missionaries they are singled out and many have lost their lives for believing in jesus christ and sharing the good news about jesus with other people we are in a time when
[00:34:17] people are offended when you wear a shirt i love jesus but yet we can wear anything in the world and they love it.
[00:34:25] I'm saying, when I say I am a Christian, then there's going to be a price to pay.
[00:34:34] Well, Pastor Tammy, I don't want to pay a price.
[00:34:37] Either it's heaven or it's hell.
[00:34:40] You can either pay the price now or you're going to pay the price later.
[00:34:45] If you say I'm a Christian, I'm born again, I'm a believer, and you've never experienced persecution, if you've never been falsely accused, you might just want to check your life you might want to question
[00:34:58] have you lowered your standards just to be part of this world Jesus is calling us to have higher standards to be a light to the lost world yet if we don't keep our righteous standards according to the
[00:35:15] word of God then our light is quickly dimmed and we just fit in the world don't have a reason to hate you if you're part of it they don't have a reason if you hang out with them
[00:35:28] they don't have a reason if you're not talking about Jesus to hate you listen when we accept Jesus as our personal savior we're called to live a righteous life we've been called to live the beatitude
[00:35:43] kind of life that we've been studying about but if you are born again you will have people that don't like you and they will try their best to hurt you what's bad about it is they let the enemy use them so many times but please please remember
[00:36:02] it's not you personally it's what's inside of you that they hate I want you to get a hold of that the word persecuted means to be harassed or treated in an evil way the word revile means to
[00:36:22] abused with vicious mocking words.
[00:36:26] It is the words used by the thieves in Matthew 27 who put heaps insults on Jesus.
[00:36:34] This phrase falsely says all kinds of evil are against you.
[00:36:41] Means it was to slander by stating things that are not true. Jesus was clear in that when those who choose to follow him, those who choose to stand by his standards will encounter opposition and persecution again i want you to
[00:37:03] know it's either you pay now or you pay later he spoke jesus spoke of carrying a cross and counting the cost he made it clear to his disciples that just as he had been persecuted they would experience
[00:37:20] a similar fate.
[00:37:22] Paul echoed the same truth often with such words in Timothy as all who live godly in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution.
[00:37:33] The early Christians were persecuted horribly.
[00:37:35] I don't know if you've ever done any back study on that.
[00:37:38] But Christians were thrown to the lions.
[00:37:41] They were wrapped in tar and burned.
[00:37:46] Animal skins were sewed on their skins.
[00:37:50] they were torn to pieces by hunting dogs they were tortured on racks burned to death by molten iron being poured over their bodies body parts were cut off and roasted before them and there's many more that they did
[00:38:09] to the ones that were called Christians so when we think we've been through persecution we haven't seen anything but it still hurts It still affects our hearts.
[00:38:24] Paul wrote, for unto you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.
[00:38:36] You know, for those were far more words written on paper.
[00:38:40] You've got to understand that if you say you are born again, If you are trying to live a righteous life and make the right decisions, you will be persecuted.
[00:38:53] Persecution is a malice attack against someone because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
[00:39:00] People are persecuted because they will not compromise the truth or turn from their godly principles.
[00:39:08] Derek Bonhoeffer wrote, when a man encounters Jesus, he will do one of two things.
[00:39:15] get this when a man encounters Jesus he'll do one of two things either he must die or he must put Christ to death the question each must face is which of these two have we done a beatitude kind
[00:39:31] of life is a death wish think about it we have to be bankrupt in spirit broken with grief submissive to god's leading leading living a unfillable desire for righteousness sharing the mercy that we've received seeking purity in everything we do and sharing the message of peace and then we have
[00:39:54] to live a life totally committed to jesus christ one also finds himself at odds with sinful selfish selfishness but every virtue stated in the beatitudes is at odds with the world of which we are a part we live in a fallen world a broken spirit stands in contrast to the proud the
[00:40:18] self-promoting world that we live in submission to and a hunger for god is a foreign concept because we're selfish and self-righteous and one who lives a life of mercy and purity while promoting peace through relationship with Christ
[00:40:37] will find himself or herself in an unfamiliar, uncomfortable, hostile waters because people do not want you to walk with Christ.
[00:40:50] I want to tell you that persecution is something you read about in the Bible and you think it no longer happens.
[00:40:56] well according to open doors research 2026 in their world watch listing it covered from october 1 2024 to september the 30th of 25 recorded that 4 849 christians were killed for their faith worldwide well we think that kind of stuff doesn't happen but yet there is 4,849 recorded deaths
[00:41:29] because they stood up for their beliefs in Jesus Christ you know we don't see it we don't think about it we have that freedom to proclaim our freedom in Jesus Christ we have the right to
[00:41:44] stand and tell the world we've been saved but yet when he returns there's going to be some christians that's going to be born again during that time and we know that's exactly what's going to happen to them according to the book of revelations so yes we are persecuted we are
[00:42:04] slandered we have talked about we're put down but we've not had to give up our life but have we we've given up the fleshly life you know how do we respond to persecution nobody likes it
[00:42:19] but how do we biblically we need to understand that persecution can also serve as a good purpose it causes us to look to Jesus to ask him for help it helps us to look at others
[00:42:35] and say pray for me I'm going through a battle it helps us to know that God will always make a way.
[00:42:43] He will provide for us.
[00:42:46] But I've got four things here that I want you to take note of this morning.
[00:42:52] You need to recognize the source.
[00:42:56] In Ephesians, it tells us that the battle is always the forces of evil.
[00:43:02] Anything that we go through that the enemy, it comes from him, is trying to destroy your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:43:12] But the second thing is we must refuse to retaliate.
[00:43:16] Romans tells us that vengeance is not our job.
[00:43:20] It's not in our job description.
[00:43:22] And it's that hard.
[00:43:24] Because we want to retaliate.
[00:43:27] We want the person who's hurt us to hurt like they've hurt us.
[00:43:31] But God says, no, I don't want you to do that.
[00:43:33] If you'll step away, I will pay them back.
[00:43:37] then we need to respond positively don't try to get even don't fight a battle it's not worth it Romans tells us that we overcome evil with good be good to the person don't fight don't argue with them
[00:43:54] and don't raise your voice just leave them be and then we need to reflect on God's will David says in Psalms 37 that we're to rest in the Lord and wait patiently.
[00:44:10] See, he's going to fight your battle.
[00:44:13] He is going to work things out for you, but we can't take it in our hands because as I said the other week, when we take the battle into our own hands, he's got to work with us first
[00:44:23] before he can go after our enemy because we're the ones that sin too.
[00:44:29] Listen, Jesus never preached a prosperity gospel.
[00:44:34] His final promise in the Beatitudes was a promise of persecution for those who has the qualities listed before it.
[00:44:42] God's greatest were persecuted.
[00:44:45] That will never change.
[00:44:47] If you're doing something for God, you will be persecuted.
[00:44:52] Remember that.
[00:44:53] How are you doing?
[00:44:55] How are you handling it?
[00:44:58] Blessed are the persecuted.
[00:45:00] But even in persecution, we're not the victim, but the victor.
[00:45:05] We are victorious every day.
[00:45:09] God is not shocked when someone lashes out of us because of our faith.
[00:45:13] He's not shocked when they make fun of us and say, You're not really a Christian. A Christian wouldn't do that.
[00:45:19] Anybody heard that?
[00:45:22] That's, we got to understand.
[00:45:25] God knew it was going to happen.
[00:45:26] And God will use that for our good.
[00:45:31] We are warned that we should not be shocked either.
[00:45:34] Even the apostles, when they were beaten, they rejoiced because they counted it worthy to be partakers of Christ's suffering.
[00:45:43] When they were in prison, they sang praises to God.
[00:45:46] The Bible repeatedly tells us to count it a joy and rejoice when we're persecuted.
[00:45:53] And we're also reminded to be merciful and do good in return.
[00:45:59] You know, that goes against the human nature.
[00:46:01] As I just said, the human nature wants to fight back.
[00:46:04] the human nature will say no you're going to hurt like me but god is saying no you can rise above it and if you rise above it i will pay back vengeance is mine you know we first know that um
[00:46:18] these things will happen in luke 6 jesus says woe unto us when all when men speak well of us watch out when everybody's talking good about you if the world calls us good then that means
[00:46:36] we're not different from the world many christians try to appeal to the world thinking that they can reach through compromise they can't christians can not compromise listen there's an emptiness that you're trying to fill through the world
[00:46:55] and it will never be filled unless you let Jesus fill it.
[00:47:01] You know, Christians are required to die to the flesh.
[00:47:05] That means giving up the things that the flesh really likes and seeking after God until we realize that we are at war with the world.
[00:47:15] We can't be effective in reaching those that are lost.
[00:47:19] In John 15, John 15, 19 and 20 says, John 15, there we go.
[00:47:26] If you are of the world, the world would love his own.
[00:47:33] Because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore, what?
[00:47:41] The world hateth you.
[00:47:44] 20, remember the word that I said unto you, that servant is not greater than his Lord.
[00:47:52] And if they have what persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
[00:47:59] If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
[00:48:05] If the world does not have a problem with your faith, it should be a warning sign that you're not conforming to Christ.
[00:48:12] We are still peacemakers, but those that are willing to love Christ will accept His peace.
[00:48:19] Once again, the Spirit of God working within us goes against our human nature.
[00:48:26] We don't want this thing until it happens.
[00:48:31] We like the flesh.
[00:48:33] We like the worldly things, but Christ is calling us to rise above it.
[00:48:39] Listen, Romans 12 says, blessed those who persecute bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse that means again we don't retaliate expect it's going to happen anyone can curse their enemies somebody cusses you out
[00:49:01] what can you do nobody wants to answer that our flesh says cuss them right back out but the spirit says no what show them love anyone can love their friends it's easy to love those that love you correct only by the living
[00:49:21] by the spirit can enable us to love the ones that want to hurt us if we're told to love those who spitefully use us it's evident that we are to love those who use us out of selfishness
[00:49:36] God uses trouble and pain and heartache and even our enemies to accomplish his purpose in our lives.
[00:49:48] In Matthew 18 it says, Matthew 18 and 7, Woe unto the world because of offenses.
[00:49:59] For it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.
[00:50:11] Offenses is going to come to you.
[00:50:13] Persecution is going to come to you.
[00:50:15] But what does it say?
[00:50:18] Oh, woe to the man that causes the offense.
[00:50:23] Why does offense come?
[00:50:25] Why as a Christian, you know, Pastor Tammy, sounds like to me I'd be better off living for the world.
[00:50:32] Why, if you're telling me I'm going to be persecuted, Why do I need to live for Jesus?
[00:50:39] Because, again, let me make it clear.
[00:50:41] It's either you're going to make it to heaven or you're going to hell.
[00:50:46] I don't know.
[00:50:47] I want to make it to heaven.
[00:50:50] But when offenses come, if we'll follow what the Lord has taught us, it's like He's taking a chisel and He's chipping off the hard hedges around us.
[00:51:02] The part of us that's self-willed and self-centered, He sometimes uses people that want to be offended with us and same manner of evil against us to persecute us to make us better people.
[00:51:17] He uses the bad to make us good and better.
[00:51:22] Sometimes I have my own ideas.
[00:51:24] Sometimes I have my own plans.
[00:51:26] Sometimes I want to do it my way.
[00:51:28] And God says, for you to get where I need you to go, you've got to have some of that chipped off of you.
[00:51:35] See, only God sees the beginning.
[00:51:37] Only God sees the end.
[00:51:40] I may have a vision and God may reveal to me what my direction I should go.
[00:51:45] But I am limited in my ability to see among my immediate viewpoint.
[00:51:52] If I see life in a certain manner, it's going to take me surrendering to the will of God for Him to be able to direct my path.
[00:52:02] I believe God wants us to use good things to shape me And will when it's possible But I also believe He will take things that's bad And has hurt us and has persecuted us And set all manner of evil against us
[00:52:21] To turn it into good for my ability, me So that I can grow, so I can mature Everyone will be used of God in one way or the other I will either cement and be used according to His plan for my life
[00:52:37] or I'll fight against God and be used by God to accomplish His purpose without my benefit.
[00:52:47] Offenses must come because God uses it to shape or redirect our lives.
[00:52:53] God does not make people sin, but He does allow the wicked to be used unknowingfully.
[00:52:58] so even though the persecution the pain may come we have control of ourselves we can say God take this and make it out for my good or we can say okay Lord I had to lay
[00:53:15] this one down I'm going to have to take care of myself and then you can work on me before you can get me where you want to be shouldn't be that way think about it this way
[00:53:24] God allows the wicked to be used it was sinners at war with God that crucified Jesus they will be judged for their offense but the crucifixion had to come there had to be a payment for our sin they first
[00:53:45] rejected him right they hated him but God allowed them to carry out the wicked plans in order to to accomplish the miraculous plan of salvation you know church persecution will come but if we will allow the holy spirit to guide us and through it we will be victorious listen we who have a
[00:54:12] relationship with christ have a perspective and an understanding that the world don't understand We have a promise that the world cannot have without turning to Christ.
[00:54:24] Life is not what we can do for ourselves, but what God has done for us and doing through us.
[00:54:30] Suffering, trouble, persecution are all blessings that shape us and mold us.
[00:54:37] Listen, only through the Spirit can we see our problems as God intended.
[00:54:41] God does not shield us from problems, but God shields us from anything that will not work in accomplishing His will.
[00:54:50] God has given us a special promise in 1 Corinthians 10 and 13.
[00:54:55] It says, no temptation has overtaken you.
[00:54:59] There will never be anything come your way that God is not faithful and can help you through it.
[00:55:07] It don't matter what persecution you go through.
[00:55:09] It don't matter what people say about you.
[00:55:12] The lies or the dissent that they cause to other people to have towards you, that don't matter.
[00:55:18] Listen to me.
[00:55:19] God says, I'm not going to allow you to have to go through more than what you are able to handle.
[00:55:26] Listen, he will make a way of escape.
[00:55:31] Temptation comes, and it includes suffering.
[00:55:34] Problems tempt us to abandon the faith and seek our own.
[00:55:38] But when we have a problem, sometimes we see it as being easier to compromise with the world than stand with Jesus Christ.
[00:55:49] I want to encourage you, stand with Jesus Christ.
[00:55:54] Regardless of the offenses that come.
[00:55:57] Regardless of the persecution that comes.
[00:56:00] Regardless when people say all manner of things against you and they lie and they try to get other people to hate you.
[00:56:06] Stand with Jesus and watch Jesus work for you.
[00:56:11] Corrie Tinn, I love her reading her work.
[00:56:14] This is what she said.
[00:56:16] We talked about her.
[00:56:17] A committed Christian who hid Jews from Hitler was arrested and sent to a concentration camp.
[00:56:23] And this is what she wrote.
[00:56:26] There is no pit so deep that God's grace is not deeper still.
[00:56:34] Listen, it does not matter what you face.
[00:56:36] What hardships, whatever you've come through, God is able to deliver you.
[00:56:43] And he says right here, woe to the one that brought that persecution against you.
[00:56:48] Woe unto that one that has lied and said all manner of evil against you.
[00:56:53] Stand on the word of God.
[00:56:56] So we clearly understand that persecution, problems is very much part of walking a Christian life.
[00:57:03] If Jesus Christ was a payment of our sins and he had to go through persecution, guess what?
[00:57:11] We do too.
[00:57:13] But we are blessed.
[00:57:16] It's beyond a measure that God will take care of you in the midst of it.
[00:57:22] So what is the reward?
[00:57:24] It says the reward is great.
[00:57:27] And it said the reward is great in heaven.
[00:57:31] So what is that reward?
[00:57:33] If we will stand through the persecution, if we won't give up, if we will follow God.
[00:57:41] Listen, I wonder what it could be.
[00:57:44] The Bible don't say what it is.
[00:57:46] But I wondered, could it be a special meeting with you and the others that's been persecuted?
[00:57:53] Could it be some one-on-one time with Jesus to love you and comfort you?
[00:57:59] I'm just wondering, I wonder what that reward is.
[00:58:05] But I'm telling you, that reward is going to be worth it all the way.
[00:58:10] Don't get discouraged when you're persecuted.
[00:58:13] Is it hard? Yes.
[00:58:16] Does it hurt? Yes.
[00:58:20] I'm standing here as an example and I'm telling you, it hurts.
[00:58:24] In the old church, an old saying of God says, so-and-so, it hurt me so bad, I felt my heart break in two.
[00:58:35] And for years, I never understood that.
[00:58:38] I could not understand what Sister Love was talking about.
[00:58:42] But I can tell you, I know what that feels like.
[00:58:45] To have your heart broken in two because of lies.
[00:58:51] All manner of evil spoken about me.
[00:58:54] persecution. But do you know what? I stand here today because I trusted in Jesus. Not that I trusted in myself because I know that God says, woe to them that cause the offense because it
[00:59:10] will come. That's what the scripture says. I can't, I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to do it. I'm going to fight it. No, let me tell you, you've just sinned and you're not standing up for
[00:59:21] your Christian principles. Life's not easy, but you can live a Christian life. You can live it.
[00:59:30] I'm not going to say we're going to be perfect. I'm not going to say that we'll do everything without messing up, but I'm saying we have a merciful God who will forgive us through the
[00:59:45] blood of Jesus Christ, and that if we will turn our persecution, our rivalries, and all manner of evil that's been done towards us over in him if we'll give it to him if we'll lay it at his
[00:59:58] feet i promise you woe to the one who the offense has come from because god has vengeance he will repay in jesus name let's stand to our feet oh hallelujah heavenly father i i just know in my
[01:00:23] spirit that so many of us have been hurt so many of us have been as we gather together let us strip

[01:00:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[01:00:38] away the worry and anxiety in our lives and hold fast to the promises of god today as we worship let us exhale the chaos and stress of our day today and breathe in god's grace and love
[01:01:02] Today, we are no longer trapped in the regrets of the past, and we are no longer fearful of an unknown future because we don't seek the things of this world.
[01:01:21] We seek first God's kingdom, God's righteousness.
[01:01:27] today we stop worrying about tomorrow and start trusting in the promise that he will provide everything we need we proclaim that we are heirs of salvation we have been purchased through the cross of jesus born of his spirit washed in his blood today we witness a preview of our promised
[01:01:58] eternity. We sing with joyful hearts as one body, assured of God's grace and forgiveness, assured of his unending love, assured that if we trust in the Lord and his gift of salvation, he will never fail us.