3Circle Church
Matthew 5:10-12
“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.”
All who follow Christ will face persecution in this life.
Authentic Christianity will attract and repel.
2 Timothy 3:12
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
When we learn to expect and understand persecution, rather than fear and avoid it, we can find joy in it.
1) “Revile” = to throw things in your face. This includes evil words and insults.
Luke 23:35-37
“And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’”
2) “Persecute” = evil actively opposing good
John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
3) “Say all manner of evil against you” = trying to destroy your reputation
1 Peter 4:14
“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”
1) Persecution is an acknowledgement of authenticity.
2) Persecution is fertilizer for growth.
Romans 5:3-5
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
3) Persecution is a mark of the Kingdom.
Romans 8:17
“…and if [we are] children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
2 Timothy 2:12
“…if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.”