BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE

Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV) – “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.”

New Testament Greek word transliterated, dioko (persecute), implies being chased and hunted by an adversary who intends harm.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says, “to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away”.

2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV) – “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Different Levels of Persecution That Christians Face:

–  Family, Social, and Political Persecution

–  Workplace Persecution

–  Christian Martyrdom

How do we respond to persecution?

A. Know that it is going to occur because you are a Christ-follower. (John 15:20-21)

B. Pray for wisdom and strength to endure the persecution.

C. Pray for those that persecute that they will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:44 (ESV) – “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

D. Pray for and speak up for our persecuted brothers and sisters.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (ESV) – “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”

Psalm 129:1-2 (ESV) – “’Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth’— let Israel now say— ‘Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.’”

Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) – “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”