1. Practical Christianity
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness
December 2018

2. Readings
Matthew 5 : 1-16 Matthew 5: Reference: Martyn Lloyd-Jones “Studies in the Sermon on the Mount”

3. Building Something Tangible
Practical Christianity
Meekness is real strength “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth
Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the KOG
Humility before Christ
“Without sorrow there is no joy” Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted
Blessed are the Pure Hearted 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 for theirs is the KOH
Righteousness the road to blessedness and fulfilment
Mercy – the ultimate Christian test!
Building the Foundation

4. Building Something Tangible
Practical Christianity
Meekness is real strength “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth
Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the KOG
Humility before Christ
“Without sorrow there is no joy” Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted
Blessed are the Pure Hearted 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 for theirs is the KOH
Righteousness the road to blessedness and fulfilment
Mercy – the ultimate Christian test!
Lessons of application
Building the Foundation

5. The progression thus far
Poor in Spirit for theirs is the KOH Mourn for sin of self and others Blessed are the meek (in relation to others) Hunger & thirst for righteousness – the only way to real peace & fulfilment 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 for theirs is the KOH

6. Our focus
Matthew 5 vs 10
Blessed are the those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the KOH

7. The Cost
Up to this point in the Beatitudes Jesus has spelled out clearly what he wants and demands are lives as Christians to be characterised by
He now says “This is what is going to happen to you because you are a Christian”
This persecution will come about because you are different! “You are mine!”

8. Application lesson 1 Is Jesus talking to you and I today?
What level of persecution have we endured in our Christian walk?
Different levels of persecution

9. A simple test Follows Blessed are the Peacemakers
As Christians we are all evangelists in God led ways
If we are peacemakers we will be persecuted
The beatitudes start and end with the same promise ... “theirs is the KOH”
Stresses that the important point that Jesus is making is our membership of the KOG

10. A Personal Reflection Am I a member of God’s Kingdom?
Very easy to answer this superficially and say yes
I need to remember Jesus’ central teaching in the beatitudes and that is His warning against superficial Christianity
It is easy to be a Christian when we are wrapped in a ball of Christian cotton wool
What about when we apply the real tests that Jesus is giving us here today
If we are not being persecuted then maybe we are too comfortable in our ball of Christian cotton wool.

11. The purpose today.... Not to sow doubt!
Nor to go and find ways to be persecuted
We dare not play games
If the cap fits we must wear it

12. A word of caution Why are we persecuted?
The danger is spelled out in the very first beatitude – the danger of self!
For righteousness sake!!! This is easily and often misconstrued and manipulated for personal gain
This does not mean:
Being objectionable
Fanaticism or overzealousness – “the meek shall inherit the earth”
Being driven by a cause or a spirit of martyrdom
Religio-political reasons or not being able to distinguish between political prejudices and our spiritual principles
Being good or noble or self sacrificial. The world generally loves the good and noble – it only persecutes the righteous
The above amount to nothing other than self righteousness

13. What does Righteousness mean?
Being like the Lord Jesus Christ – “Right like Him”
Jesus said “If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I told you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:18-20)

14. Application lesson 2
Is your / my claim to righteousness based on self or on Jesus?
Timothy, at one point did not understand this teaching and was therefore unhappy about being persecuted - he had to be reminded by Paul that “You and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer prosecution”

15. Application lesson 3
We live in a country where freedom of religion is practiced but ....
Does our daily engagement with the world around us, and our witnessing as Christians, even through our lifestyles, bring us ridicule?
Are we so secretive of our proclaimed love for Jesus that we simply don’t exhibit it? If we do, is it only in Christian circles?

16. Is your lamp hidden under a bushel?

17. Some biblical examples
Abel by Cain
David by Saul
The apostles, including the apostle Paul
Daniel
None of these were persecuted for being difficult, over zealous or for personal causes – they were righteous!

18. The supreme example is Jesus
Never was anyone so gentle and kind and other focused but look at what the world did to him
The persecution Jesus suffered also showed that the worst persecution comes from within the church itself
Pharisees
Church critics and internal squabbles

19. Reasons for persecution
The righteous are persecuted because they are different – not what they say but what they are!
Daniel condemned others by his life and what he did quietly in his own way
The Pharisees hated Jesus because of his utter, absolute holiness and truth that his life portrayed

20. So now at Christmas ....
As we celebrate the birth of our Saviour maybe we need to ask the question: “What really is our idea of who Jesus is?”
If we believe that the non-Christian can applaud and admire Him (commercially) then we have the wrong notion about Jesus
The effect Jesus had on the world is that they hated Him – they eventually chose a murderer above Him & put Jesus to death
Let us be in no doubt that this is the Jesus whose birth we celebrate this Christmas.
Jesus is asking us “Who do you say I am?”
We are called to be “living sacrifices”
Let Jesus birth be celebrated in this light and let us welcome the persecution that comes with being a Child of God.

21. Let us pray!