Sermon Cloud

OL: (1) Reality (2) Reason (3) Result (4) Response (5) Reason for Joy

III. The Response of Persecution

(1) Internal & (2) External

(A) Internally. (12) “Rejoice and be glad”

This is utterly counterintuitive to our fallen nature. We naturally want to say, moan, complain, accuse, attack, retaliate, have self-pity, but that is not what the Lord says. Rather, He says, “Rejoice and be glad”

Both of these terms are imperatives (commands not suggestions, or good advice). And the weight of them cannot be missed.

(1) “rejoice”: - it describes a place of inner happiness, contentment, well being, satisfaction;

(a) It is the joy God, angels, and all heaven when on sinner repents: Lk. 15:7 “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents … [10] I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Lk. 15:32).

(b) It is the joy of the father when the prodigal son returns “but we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found”

(c) It is the joy we are to have by faith in trials, knowing God is producing perseverance: James 1:2 “Consider it all joy, by brethren when you encounter various trials”

(d) It is the joy that comes from participating and identifying with the same suffering that Jesus endured: 1 Pet. 4:13 “To the degree that you share the suffering of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”

(e) It is the same joy the apostles had when persecuted and for the Name of Christ: Acts 5:40-41 “Calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak int eh name of Jesus, and released them. So they went out from the presence of the Council rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His Name.”

(2) “Be glad”: (middle voice) - a choice we make; a strong term. Luke 6:22-23 brings this out: “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy.” This is not begrudging resignation, but real joy and gladness.

(a) Peter, writing suffering Christians to encourage them, uses this same term (here translated “rejoice”) 1 Peter 1:6, 8 “In this [salvation] you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials [because of faithfulness to Christ] … and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

(b) There is no way to get around these clear commands. When you or I legitimately suffer for the sake of Christ, we are to rejoice and be glad, over the privilege. Actually, if we don’t, but are instead characterized by whining, complaining, grumbling, anger, self-pity; we are sinning and demonstrating pride and unbelief. Don’t whine, but worship.

Trans: The internal response of joy and gladness, will in turn free one up to the obey the practical, external response.

(B) Externally.

(1) Love them & Pray for them.

Some may wish He had said, “Tell them off,” “Argue them down,” “Retaliate and let them know you won’t take it.” But the Lord says:

Matt. 5:43-45 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”

Pray for what? Their salvation; they may be the elect of God. Paul is a prime example) that those who hate Christians now are not beyond God’s grace. Gal. 1:23 - “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy” - (1 Tim. 1:12-16)

Thus, we need to pray that God would be gracious to them and save them, not condemn them.

A Phoenix-area pastor has started to draw protesters to his congregation after he delivered a sermon titled, "Why I Hate Barack Obama," and told his parishioners that he prays for President Obama's death … the pastor said he wants the president to "melt like a snail" with salt on it … “I'm gonna pray that he dies and goes to hell when I go to bed tonight. That's what I'm gonna pray," he told his congregation. 

Now we may balk at such a statement, and rightly so, but how often do we display the same attitude toward those who persecute us for righteousness. It is wrong to personally attack and condemn to hell. That is God’s job, not ours. God can hate the sinner, He has that prerogative; we do not. We should desire their salvation and leave eternal judgment to God.

(2) Greet them and treat them with kindness.

5:46-47 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your others, what more are doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Essentially, he means that you extend to them the same kindness that you would to those who are you friends, or are friendly to you.

(3) Bless them & seek their good.

Rom. 12:14 “Never return evil for evil … Bless those who persecute you”

Rom. 12:19-21 “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for its is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the lord. ‘But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

(4) Be patient and wait the Lord to do what is right.

1 Cor. 4:12 (cf. 2 Cor. 4:9) “When we are persecuted, we endure” - that is, they patiently endure without retaliation.

Of Jesus, Peter tells us “Christ suffered for you , leaving you an example for you to follow in HIs steps … While being reviled He did not revile in return, while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously”

Later he will encourage those suffering Christians to likewise: “Entrust your souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

It is a matter of faith; not reacting emotionally, or rashly; not focusing on the injustice but on the purposes and sovereignty of God. It involves confident trust in God’s sovereignty & wisdom. This is key. That means that you and I must recognize the absolute sovereignty of God in the suffering.

As God was sovereign over the suffering of Christ, so He is sovereign over persecution for His Name that He brings into our lives.

Lk. 24:25-26 “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”

1 Peter 1:6 “now for a little while, if necessary”

3:17 “It is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”

1 Pet. 4:19 “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

It is imperative to recognize, and come to grips with the fact that in each trial and each suffering for faith that God is sovereign, that He is working it together for good, that His wisdom exceeds ours. So, while we may not understand it, He deems is necessary, right, and the best way to achieve the good ends of conforming us to the image of Christ. The question is will we believe that and respond appropriately.

Let me illustrate this: John Nisbet was a Covenanter on the run for his life because of his commitment to bow the knee to Christ alone and not the king. In order to fulfill his ministry and keep from being captured he spent much time out of sight and away from his family. Jock Purves gives the account of John N. receiving the news that his wife & children were dead and dying.

“News came to John Nisbet, and , arriving eight days later, he entered the ‘sheep cot where was not light from fire but that of a candle, no bed but that of straw, no stool but the ground to sit on’. Friends were putting his little daughter in her rude coffin. Stooping down, he kissed her tenderly, saying, “religion does not make us void of natural affection, but we should be sure it runs in the channel of sanctified submission to the will of God, of whom we have our being.’ Turning to a corner where two of his sons lay in a burning fever, he spoke to them but they did not know him. He groaned saying, ‘Naked came I into this world and naked I must go out of it. The Lord is making my passage easy.’ One of the friends said to him, ‘I hope you know who has done this/’ But the Covenanter’s eyes were ever on God, and John Nisbet answered as one whose thought was taken up in profound and inaccessible mystery, passing all second causes, ‘I know that he has done it that makes all things work together for the good of them who love Him and keep His Way, even He who first loved us, and this is my comfort.’” (Purves).

Trans: That is suffering for Christ with a right view toward God’s sovereignty & it is this same faith that would be the source of his ability to rejoice in Christ when when he was later to pay with his own life. Sometimes we may wonder and fear how we would do if faced with martyrdom, or with serious persecution, or any persecution that you experience. Well, on our own we will fail (like Peter), but when faced with total reliance and trust on the grace of God in Christ, He will strengthen us to stand courageously.

-This response is the fruit of grace

He does not say, “Rejoice and be glad in your own strength” “Rejoice and prove them wrong and show your own metal.” It is grace. It is a grace most dramatically displayed in the martyrs, but it is the same grace available to every kind of suffering that comes from righteousness and naming the Name of Christ.

Acts 7:59-60 “They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the the Lord and said, ‘Lord, Jesus, receive my spirit!’ Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them!’ Having said this, he fell asleep.”

Acts 16:22-25 “The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoner were listening to them …”

If we think we do in our own strength, we are being proud and will fail (“God is opposed to the proud, but give grace to the humble”), but it is God who gives the strength. (cf. 2 Cor. 1:8-9; 12:10; Phil. 4:13).

1 Peter 4:14 “If you are reviled for the Name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (2:19-20 “For this finds grace, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly … if when you do what is right and suffer you patiently endure it, this finds grace with God.”)

The account of John Nisbet provides another example of the grace God gives in suffering. About 2 years after the death of his wife and children he was apprehended, taken to court, tried and condemned to die because of his testimony to Christ. So Purves records this testimony of his last days:

“Sentence of death being pronounced upon him, he blessed and praised God that he was counted worthy to suffer for Christ’s sake. He was in prison very cruelly treated, having a load of irons on him of seven stone weight, and not able to move much because of his terrible wounds. But all the time he was filled with inexpressible joy and continually witnessed to strong inward assurance and assistance from the Holy Spirit. He testified, ‘It has pleased Him to give me such a real impression of unspeakable glory as without constant and immediate supports from the Giver would certainly overwhelm me. This frail tabernacle is not able to hold up under what I now feel.’ A few days before he was hanged, he was so transported while at worship with other prisoners that he called aloud in prayer, ‘O for Friday! O for Friday! O Lord, give patience to wait Thy appointed time! O give strength to bear up under Thy sweet, sweet presence ! If Thou, O glorious, Thou the Chief of ten thousands, the eternal wonder, and admiration of angels and redeemed saints put not to me more strength, this weak clay vessel will rend in pieces under the unspeakably glorious manifestations of Thy rich grace and matchless, matchless Presence!’ … [he went on to say] “Be not afraid at His sweet, lovely and desirable cross, for although I have not been able because of my wounds to lift up or lay down my head, but as I was helped, yet I was never in better case all my life.’”

Trans: How can someone suffer and have this kind of joy? What is this joy grounded in? It certainly isn’t the persecution itself, that is grievous, it must be something greater. Jesus answers those questions.

IV. The Reason for Joy

Trans: Two main reasons: (1) Authenticates Salvation (2) Produces reward.

(A) The Blessedness of being in the “Kingdom of Heaven”

Trans: Christ is here, as always, moving our thinking beyond the immediate, beyond the temporal, beyond this world into the heavens. As Christians we should be consumed in our affections with the glory that awaits.

“because theirs is the kingdom of heaven” - (notice the term “because”) the reason for the blessedness, they are marked as being in the kingdom of heaven. Not because of the persecution itself, but because of the demonstration of living in submission to Christ whatever the consequences.

Notice his return to the present tense; those who are persecuted are demonstrating their present possession of the grace of Christ and their citizenship in the kingdom.

Demonstrates genuine salvation - to have assurance of one’s hope in heaven is the greatest comfort.

Peter makes this same connection in his epistle. The same passages that speak of rejoicing in suffering for Christ attach it to salvation.

1 Pet. 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through Faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

1 Pet. 1:7, 9 “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ … obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

Salvation, forgiveness of sin, restored relationship with God through Christ, participation in the eternal joy and blessing and grace of heaven. This reality is the strength of those who endure persecution.

If you are a genuine believer in Jesus Christ, the greatest reality in your life is this: You have been saved from the wrath of God that your sin rightly deserves; you have been released from your guilt and condemnation based on the suffering of Jesus Christ on your behalf; because of His humiliation, His death, His suffering, His resurrection from the dead, you have received full pardon of sin, you who are unrighteous have been granted the righteousness of Christ, justified by faith, you have peace with God, and the unshakeable promise of heaven and eternal delight in the presence of God. Of standing in the presence of holy God blameless with great joy, to receive the full experience of the riches of His grace throughout all eternity.

What could be greater than the salvation of our souls; forgiveness of sin; escape from the torments of hell, which we justly deserve.

This hope is what continually supported the apostle in his seemingly never ending suffering for the sake of Christ.

Rom. 8:18 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

2 Cor. 4:17 “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen,but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Trans: The blessedness of salvation far outweighs any present suffering for Christ.

(B) The Reward of the Saints

“reward in heaven is great” - Some say that reward is a carnal motive, but Jesus Himself lays it out as the foundation for joy in suffering for Him. Those who maintain this simply have a misunderstanding and inadequate view of biblical rewards. (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10).

(1) Note merit but grace

It is not a reward of merit, but is a reward of grace. God owes us nothing. If we suffer for the sake of righteousness then we suffer as redeemed sinners who should expect no less. However, God includes reward as an expression of His infinite grace to His children.

Eph. 2:1-10 “You were dead in trespasses and sin … you were made alive together with Christ … ages to come might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. But we are HIs workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Note: God saves dead sinners by sovereign grace; then sovereignly ordains the works He has for them to do after salvation; and then He rewards them for being faithful to do those works! This is amazing & mind blowing grace.

The distinguishing factor in service out of self-righteousness and service out of desire for reward is motivation. Deeds done in hopes of earning God’s favor are self-deceptive, lead to pride, and are abhorred by God. Those deeds done with reliance on Christ, motivated by submission to God’s will, and for His glory are the issue of the believer’s reward.

One is in independence of Christ to provoke favor; one is in dependence upon Christ out of gratitude for the favor already shown. It is the latter that is motivated by faithfulness and more intimate fellowship with Christ.

To degree that we bear up under persecution and suffering for Christ with a steadfast trust and joy in the One who has given us life, we are to find joy in greater fellowship with Christ here, and even more so in the life to come.

(2) Future not present

“in the heavens” - not here in this world. Those who seek all of God’s blessings here are self-deceived. While God is abundantly gracious and does give us so much blessing, this is not where it is promised; and it is not the blessing we are to seek. The true blessing, the true realization of all that God’s grace has in store for His children through Christ, is yet future (this pulls rug from under prosperity gospel).

We are so prone to be attached to this world, but God continually draws our attention away from this world to the eternal world, the new heavens and earth, that will remain forever and wherein righteousness reigns and His glory forever illumines His children.

Matthew 16 “What does it profit a man …”

There will be a total reversal of values, honor, glory in heaven. Those disgraced here will be honored in heaven; the same Christ who was mocked by sinful man, will receive the adoration and worship of all creation; righteousness hated here, will be the joy and satisfaction throughout all eternity.

1 John 2:15f. Everything, everything in this present world will pass away and pass away. Whether a person as much, or little, it will all be destroyed. The only things in this life that have any true value are those things that are done for the glory of God, that have value in the kingdom, that will bring eternal reward.

Matt. 6:20-21 “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where you treasure is, there you heart will be also.”

Trans: One final note: persecution for Christ not only verifies God’s grace, produces reward, but also puts one in good company.

(C) Puts one in good company

“for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” - Those persecuted for righteousness stand in a long line of worthy saints. ; Matt. 23:30 2 Chr. 36:15-16;

Heb. 11:32-40 “And what ore shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lines, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became might in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mocking and scourging, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the word; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 9men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”

Whatever we suffer here for righteousness, Christ has gone before, and purchased for us, by His own blood, and unspeakable better future.

There may be suffering for a while here, but there awaits eternal joy and rest. Death is not the end, but for the Christian the beginning of the never ending day in the presence of God, when we will see our Creator and Savior face to face; and He Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

So with this glorious promise to well up endurance and joy in the midst of a hostile world, we can say with the hymn writer.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The strife will not be long; This day the noise of battle, the next the victor's song.

To him that overcometh, A crown of life shall be; He with the King of glory; Shall reign eternally.”