“Repent:  For the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matthew 3:1 & 4:17) were the first public calls from both John & Jesus.  The King from Heaven had invaded the planet which belonged to our Adversary, Satan, and was beginning his campaign to take it back.  The need for this invasion occurred after Adam transferred the authority given him by sinning.

Under Satan’s leadership, our world is indeed a sick place.  Evil is pervasive.  Pride, greed and pleasure seeking are the default settings of his subjects.  The World’s system is invited into people’s homes and hearts daily via the internet and television networks.  Truly, we humans are living in a “matrix” of evil that we are for the most part, not even aware of as being abnormal and desperately wrong.  It is to this upside-down world’s system that King Jesus entered and began setting up his Kingdom.  It is a system that briefly did, and in the future will, turn the world back to right-side up.

To learn what his kingdom looks like, we need go no farther than Matthew’s gospel and to Jesus’ very famous, and equally misunderstood, Sermon on the Mount.  Specifically, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven (also called the Kingdom of God) is described in detail in the Sermon.  We will see that Jesus’ words of this constitution, for the most part, directly oppose the conventional wisdom of our present world.  But, as we would expect from God, whenever man actually puts in use principles from the Sermon, life actually works!  The misunderstood portion of the Sermon is that followers of God over the centuries have actually believed they could follow the teachings put forth, despite our fallen, sinful nature.  While the precepts are meant to be lived out as he taught, Jesus’ primary intent was for us was to realize that we cannot even come close to this goal.  The Sermon’s primary insight is to drive us to the important realization that we need a Savior!  

To that end, the key verse, which unlocks the rest of the teaching, is found in Matthew 5:20; “For I say to you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes & Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  This would have challenged the listeners greatly as the scribes & Pharisees were the ones the people believed were most likely to populate a future heaven.  Jesus T-bones this thinking, saying that God is looking for perfection!  That people must be 100% holy, complete, mature.  Yes, we must be perfect.  The conclusion He is looking for is that obviously we can’t live this way completely, showing our need for a Savior.  He was confirming our need for the many Old Testament types picturing this reality, e.g. the Kinsman Redeemer of Ruth, the Brazen Serpent of Numbers, the Daysman of Job & Queen Esther from the book of the same.  In seeing our need, this drives us TO Christ which then drives us IN Christ as we live the Kingdom mentality, ever trusting in him for guidance and confessing to him when we invariably falter.

So, let’s examine the Kingdom’s Constitution, The Sermon on the Mount, starting with its famous Bill of Rights.  Nine awesome statements that directly come against the World’s wisdom yet nonetheless promise happiness to the kingdom saint who practices them.

 The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

 Wow!  Happy (blessed in King James English means happy) are those who realize they do not have it all together.  Who understand that we can’t make it on our own.  Happy am I when I grasp how great God is compared to me.  When I make him my God and not myself!   This flies in the face of the common world-view that happiness comes to those who make it!  To the winner.  To the man or woman with the most money, the best job and / or the most accolades.

It’s dependency upon God verses the pervasive competitive spirit which says, if it’s to be, it’s up to me.  It’s the Tree of Life verses the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil.  It’s walking by the spirit verses walking in the flesh.  It is God has been so good to me verses I’m a self-made-man.

Think with me here.  Who in the above four examples are the happy ones?  Why it is those walking hand-in-hand with God, not those going it alone.  Even for the few who do make it by the World’s standards, the World Series Champ, the billionaire or the mega movie star, when you look at their lives, often they’re a mess.  Many of these “champions” will say when they finally reached the pinnacle of fame and success that it was hollow, not being the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that they thought it would be.

No, Jesus is right in starting the articles of his government with the need to realize that child-like dependency is better than adult-like independency.  To the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven, for indeed, they’re going to feel right at home! 

 -----

Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

 The Bible has many statements which seem to be paradoxical, yet are oh so true.  The first shall be last:  It is better to give than receive:  If you die then you will live, etc.  This is another one of those great declarations.  Mourners will be comforted.

This idea of sorrow to joy is peppered throughout the Word of God.  Hannah cried unto the Lord at Shiloh to remember her barren state.  God answered her prayer and her mourning turned to joy with the birth of Samuel.  King Darius fasted and mourned all night after he was tricked into sending Daniel to the lion’s den.  How happy he was the next morning when the Angel of the Lord protected his prime minister from the predators.  Of course, Jesus illustrated this principle in a way that warms my heart in describing the sorrow his disciples would experience upon his departure followed by the joy they would feel upon seeing him again.  For he used a woman and a child for his promise.

Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, do you enquire among yourselves of that I said, a little while, and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?  Truly, truly, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned to joy.  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world.  And you now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you. John 16:19-22

A prophecy of Jesus’ ministry compassing both his first and second advent speaks to his ability to provide comfort to the mourners. 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound:  To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God:  To comfort all that mourn…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Isaiah 61:1-3

Indeed, Jesus is ultimately the reason, that in his Kingdom, those who mourn will be comforted.

Lastly, in considering Matthew 5:4, I recall Jesus’ promise to send the Comforter shortly after his return to Heaven. 

If you love me, keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.  Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him:  But you know him, for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless:  I will come to you.  Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more, but you see me:  Because I live, you shall live also. John 14:15-19

As an application to this Kingdom truth, never judge the rest of your life by the present season you are in.  There will come hard times in all of our lives.  We live in a fallen world presently.  But sorrow will turn to joy, beauty will come from ashes.  Often, we are tempted by our flesh and the dark spiritual powers of this world to want to give up during a season of mourning.  Some will even be challenged with suicidal thoughts and intents.  This spirit of heaviness is exactly what the Devil wants for us all.  How very important it is to remember this second precept of the Kingdom.  Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.  

            -----

Blessed are the meek:  For they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5

In Jesus’ only autobiographical statement, he said he was meek, (Matthew 11:29).  Moses, in penning the Torah, commented upon his meekness, (Numbers 12:3).  Indeed, meekness is a personality trait that God’s Word seems to shine much positive light upon.  Biblical meekness can be defined as strength under control.  Like a powerful stallion which is ready for battle yet attentive to his master.  Solomon paints meekness with these potent words;

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city. Proverbs 16:32

In the Kingdom mentality, the meek shall inherit the earth.  But this is not how many alive today see it.  Those who would inherit the earth think they must seize it!  They need to grab for all they can get.  It’s out of my way, I’m going to get mine!  We’re in a competition and to inherit my little piece of the earth I must put my best foot forward, I must promote myself, I must press forward even if others are injured along the way.

Obviously, this is not the way of our Lord.  He taught that the one who seeks to save his life will lose it and the one who loses his life will save it, (Luke 17:33).  Of course, Jesus modeled this concept to the infinite degree when he took the sins of the world, the sins of all of us, the sins of you & me and went to the Cross, dying to pay our unpayable debt.

Meekness contrasts with pride in that the former is “others” oriented where the latter is always “self’ positioned.  Outward signs of a meek person include his love for others, her awareness of the presence of God in her life & his trust in God over self.  One of the reasons meekness is so valued by our Maker is because it is a human personality trait that enables a soul to see his or her need for the Savior.  A meek person can much more easily receive the “good news” of salvation over a prideful individual.  Meekness opens the door to the Father, by way of the Son & energized by the Spirit so that we have the victory that overcomes the world.  Let me show you;

Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world:  And this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God. I John 5:1, 4-5

Faith in Jesus as the Christ, as the Anointed One of God, is the victory that overcomes. the world.  Or in Jesus’ words, faith is the victory that “inherits the earth” which often is energized by meekness.

Lastly, the world says faith is a fantasy.  God says faith is what makes me victorious.  Jesus said that we are blessed because we have not seen him, yet believe, (John 20:29).  You see, belief in God is rational based upon so much evidence from his past dealings with us.  Faith just extends belief that he will do what he says he will do in the future i.e. save us, take us to Heaven, etc.

-----

Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  For they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

The soul who longs for “right living” shall be filled.  In looking around our world it seems this is not the case.  Evil is rampant in our lives.  The internet, news media, entertainment centers and even the educational system feed the follower of Christ a steady diet of falsehood, deception and evil.  We long for the righteousness our Lord promised when he made this statement.

C.S. Lewis famously has written about the God-shaped hole with which we were all born.  It has been said that people have a need to fill this space, but without God, all attempts fall short.  Pleasure, prestige, adventure, drugs & alcohol, etc. are all use in this effort.  Every good novel or movie repeat the same story we all love to dream of.  That of tension and near disaster followed by the rescue of the main character by a super hero.  It’s the gospel story told over and over again without giving credit or mention to the true Super Hero the story always reflects.

But the soul who calls Jesus Lord, does have access to this filling presently.  

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17

We can be filled with his righteousness internally, despite the world we live in not sharing in that.  As the Word declares, we are in the world but not of the world, (John 17:16).

In contrast, when the Lord returns visibly to our planet and sets up his external reign, then righteousness will be available to all.  The Bible tells us in that day that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea, (Isaiah 11:9).

One of the many names for God is Jehovah-Tsidkinu, meaning the Lord our Righteousness.  Truly, the God-head is the Alpha & the Omega.  The source of all life and the goal for all life.  Jesus, as the revealed image of the Father, is what we are all hungering and thirsting after.  And he is available to all.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:  If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:20-21

 ------

Blessed are the merciful:  For they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

It would seem that the World’s system prefers judgment over mercy.  Rules & regulations are the staple of our lives in this fallen state.  They provide security and boundaries to our uncertain world.  Not so with our Lord.  He favors relationship over policies and procedures.  And he deals with us in a circle of relationship, where he is at the center, not a hierarchy of laws with him at the top of the pyramid. 

The definition of mercy is withholding of merited judgment.  It is similar, yet different, than grace, with is to bestow unmerited favor.  Both of these attributes we see in full display in God’s dealings with us.  In fact, when Moses asked God his name, this is what he heard;

And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.  And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness & truth. Exodus 34:5-6

The many names of God in the Bible always tell of his nature.  This first attribute, this first virtue which we learn characterizes our God, is mercy!  He is a God of mercy.  Thus, as we extend mercy to others, we become imitators of God.  How cool is that!

Of course, the merciful are promised to receive mercy as Jesus confirmed as part of the Kingdom charter.  This energizes the words of Paul concerning reaping and sowing;

Be not deceived; God is not mocked:  For whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7

This principle of sowing a reaping applies to many categories of life, including the giving of time and money as well as that of bestowing mercy towards others.  The opposite of this principle of course, is embedded in these promises.  He who is stingy with his time, money & mercy will receive a stingy portion of these blessings back to him in the future when he needs them most.

We learn of the importance of mercy from an encounter that Jesus had with the Pharisees.  

 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?  But when Jesus heard that, he said to them, they that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  But go ye and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:  For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:10-13

In dealing with the four people groups which will populate the Kingdom of Heaven, that of Pharisees, publicans, sinners & disciples, Jesus emphasized mercy over judgment.  How we live is more important than what we give.  He told the Pharisees, those learned men who studied God’s Word, that they still had learning to do.  He was pointing out that mercy is the highway to salvation and healing.  When publicans & sinners realize God’s great mercy as extended by our Lord, they readily receive the call to repentance.  In contrast, when pharisaical believers extend judgment, no desire for change will ever be seen in those same publicans and sinners who are far from him.

Tragically, we see from an Old testament picture of how death is the result of removing mercy to get at the Law.   In 1 Samuel 5 & 6 the children of Israel were under a time of bondage by their enemy, the Philistines.  They had lost the ark of the covenant a year prior in an ill-advised attempt to obtain victory over their perpetual enemy by bringing the ark into the battle.  Their hearts were not right and God allowed the ark to be captured.  Subsequently, the ark proved too hot to handle for the Philistines.  Their god, Dagon, was decapitated when the ark was placed near it in that false god’s temple and the people of the land were comically plagued with hemorrhoids!  They correctly realized that the God of the Israelites was too potent to keep in their land, so they sent the ark back to Israel.  They put the ark on a cart and sent it down the road to the nearest Israeli town of Bethshemesh.   The men of Bethshemesh were working in the fields when the ark came ambling home.  They were overjoyed to receive back the most revered icon of their faith.  But what happened next is the lesson for all time which is pictured.  The ark of the covenant contained the two tablets of the Ten Commandments as well as a pot of manna and Aaron’s rod which budded.  Over the ark was the mercy seat where God had said he would meet his people.  So, when the ark returned the men of the city could not be faulted for wanting to know if the other icons of their faith were still in the ark or if the Philistines had plundered them.  The result of this needing to know involved removing the mercy seat to get at the law.  When they did this, the Bible tells us that a plague was released in the area of Bethshemesh and thousands died.  As sad as this story is, it portrays for all time the importance of mercy over judgment. 

Of course, the World’s system does not accept this truth.  Fact finding, and finger pointing is the way of life for the masses.  But for those of us desiring to live in the Kingdom mentality, let us chose mercy over judgment, life over death.

In closing this discussion of mercy, let me show you a proverb demonstrating how beautiful & glorious it is to live a life filled with mercy towards others.

 The discretion of a man defers his anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression. Proverbs 19:11

 -----

Blessed are the pure in heart:  For they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

No man has seen God at any time, (John 1:18).  But this declaration is speaking of the Father before the revelation of the Son was given to men.  The man or woman, the boy or girl who call Jesus Lord, realizing that he indeed is the Son of God, that he is part of the mysterious Godhead, they will see God as they gaze upon Jesus.  Let me show you;

God, who at sundry times and diverse manners spoke in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom he made the worlds:  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:1-3

You see, Jesus is the express image of God.  He is the One we see when we see God.

Now, the confession of the Savior and the forsaking of sin is what gives a person a pure heart.  David, whom the Bible calls a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) had many flaws, many sins.  But he knew God as his Savior and forsook his sin (see Psalm 51).  And he knew he would see God, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness,” (Psalm 17:15).

Isaiah saw the second person of the Godhead high and lifted up as noted in chapter six of his prophecy.  John tells us in his inspired gospel that it was indeed Jesus whom Isaiah saw, (John 12:37-41).  This is called a Christophany, which is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament before he came as the babe of Bethlehem.  So, as Isaiah saw the Lord, he realized how undone he was, being a man of unclean lips among a people of unclean lips.  One of the angels that appeared with the Lord took a coal from the altar (representing our Lord’s sacrifice for our sins) and touched his lips saying “Lo, this has touched your lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged,” (Isaiah 6:7).  Isaiah’s heart was purified, seeing God, as his sin was forgiven and forgotten.

Looking forward to the redemption of our bodies being forever with the Lord also is what gives one a pure heart, enabling him to see God in this life:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  But we know that, when he shall appear (either at our death or his return), we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3 (italics added)

We know that Jesus is pure, thus, looking forward to being with him puts one in the same category as the Lord.  How awesome is that!

In contrast, if one does not want to see God, then don’t have a pure heart.  Keep sinning, keep living for your flesh, counting on self and denying the Lord, and indeed, that one will not see God.  Jeremiah told Israel that if they would seek the Lord, they would find him if they sought him with all their hearts, (Jeremiah 29:13).  King Asa was told that if the people of Judah and Benjamin pursued the Lord, he would be found but if they forsook him, he would forsake them, (2 Chronicles 15:2). 

Isaiah explained this relationship of an impure heart and the inability to see God with these words;

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that he cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2  

Sin indeed blocks my view of God.  He is all around, but I don’t see him.  I miss him in a sunrise or sunset, I don’t see him in the mountain vista or the soaring eagle.  When I hear a beautiful song, I don’t connect the dots to his gifts or when the love of a man and a woman is blessed by him, sin will cause it to fall far short of what he intended it to be.  Indeed, sin stinks!  To get the odor off, I want to confess Jesus as my Savior and forsake my sin.  That purifies my heart (along with looking to his return), and as Jesus promised, I will see him.

-----

Blessed are the peacemakers:  For they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

The Almighty is the God of Peace.  Therefore, it goes to reason that his sons and daughters will resemble him.  Peacemakers are doing what comes naturally as they look like their Father.  Brothers and sisters also, often look alike.  Jesus, as our Brother, is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).  In this instance, peacemakers again take on the appearance of their Brother!

Children of God spread peace wherever they go as they operate in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Hopeful believing brings joy & peace!  Of course, one of the fruitful manifestations of the spirit-filled life is peace (Galatians 5:22-23), along with love, joy, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness & self-control.

Peaceful words and advice are also associated with godly wisdom.  Let me show you;

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:17-18

These verses are so loaded!  Godly wisdom is peaceful & gentle, it is easy, it shows mercy and does not show favorites or self-glorification.  This is the barometer that all wisdom is to be judged.  If it brings strife, anger, envy, favoritism and pride, these words of wisdom and advice are not of the Lord but of the evil one.  God’s words always are associated with a combination of the eight characteristics noted above.  The Adversary’s words & the World‘s advice often are not.

These verses also are the benchmark for reading God’s Word and understanding his tone.  When I read the Word, if strife and anxiety is released then I absolutely have the tone incorrect in my mind.  I am not really understanding what he is saying.  The Author is not the God of conflict & discord but the God of peace.  Brothers & sisters, always use these words concerning wisdom in rightly dividing the word of truth, (2 Timothy 2:15).  

A peacemaker understands an important key to life and that is to put Jesus on center stage.  When I do that, then the differences we have with each other fade away.  Also, with the Lord at the center, I no longer need to demand my privileges & rights but will concentrate on my responsibility.  I’m able to die to myself and my little kingdom as I elevate my Lord.  This is extremely important for those married among us. If I am sowing peace over demanding my rights, things will go well.  Often, men feel that as the “head of the home” that they can & should rule.  This is of course not promoting peace as we spoke of above and is not what the Lord is saying when he put the man over the woman.  It’s about authority, not importance or equality.  Same as the Father & the Son.  They are equal in importance and equality but in authority the Father is over the Son.  This authority the man has over the woman is not the ticket to rule but actually is the charge to lead.  Every good leader know that he must go into the battle first if the followers are to be inspired for the fight.

So, dear believer, with God’s help strive for a life of peace.  Spread peace wherever you go.  Use peace and peacemaking as your gauge for evaluating wisdom and God’s words.  And along with that, have peace in all of your marital life.  Things will go well when you do!  As has been said: “No God, no peace; know God, know peace.

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

  -----

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:  For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

What is your life’s metaphor?  Is life like a party?  A merry-go-round?  Sometimes I think my life resembles a rollercoaster.  In this I have a choice, I can just hang on or I can choose to enjoy the ride!  But leaving metaphors, life is a battleground.  Like babies born in Poland in 1942, we were born into a raging world war.  Oh, not one of flesh & blood but one much more sinister and evil, for the war I am speaking of, and of which Jesus taught on extensively, is a spiritual war for the souls of men!  

For we wrestle not against flesh & blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

If this doesn’t sound menacing, I’m not sure what does!  The forces of evil apparently have a hierarchy much like a modern military.  There are principalities, i.e. branches of service like the Army, Navy etc., powers e.g. missiles, tanks & F-16s.  They have rulers.  We would say generals, colonels as well as the Commander & Chief.  And they are spiritually wicked in high places.  That means they are well placed in all of the great places of our world.  Politics, for sure, education, business, entertainment, of course.  And most ominously, they are well positioned in the religious systems of the world.  This is the world in which we live.  Paul rightly calls Satan, the god of this world, (2 Corinthians 4:4).  When I don’t see this with spiritual eyes, I can easily be taken out.  Most people unfortunately are being wiped out due to their lack of this understanding.  The forces of evil want nothing more than for humans to think they are not real, that they are a joke and a fantasy.  When the real war is not comprehended, well then, whenever strife occurs, we souls tend to blame the wrong entity.  It’s the governments fault, it’s my wife’s fault, it’s the pastor’s fault.  No, no, no, it is spiritual, it is always transcendent.

So, given that Satan has temporary control of our world (temporary, for we know the end of the story), it is not surprising that our Lord might mention attacks, he might mention persecutions.  For the Devil hates you more than you can imagine.  He wants to steal, kill and destroy you (John10:10).  But, since you are God’s, he can only steal from you & kill you, he cannot destroy you, i.e. send you to Hell.  Obviously, I don’t want him stealing from me and killing me either.  Thus, I definitely do not want to linger in the back of the pack, so to speak.  I want to be engaged, I want to be close to the Lord, I want to be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10), then I will be protected from his thievery and murder. 

Yea, all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

So, as to not be taken out, the Bible tells us that persecution will be the lot of the believer’s life.  I should not be surprised.  In fact, I should be glad!  Why would you say that, you may be thinking?   Because, as I am persecuted for righteousness sake it shows I belong to him.  It reveals that the Captain of the host of the Lord (Joshua 5:14) is in my heart.  Soon, he will take out the rulers of the darkness of this world, but for now the Lord is allowing them a role to play for purposes that are above my pay grade to explain.

So, what should I do when persecuted?  Well, realizing where the attack of persecution is coming from, I need to reverse the battle.  Every good general knows that when attacked, he must weather the initial assault, then counter attack.  I need to do the same.  I need to go on the offensive.  Jesus died, not to keep me safe, but to make me dangerous!  I’m hazardous to Satan & the World’s system.  My debt has been paid, yes, but I’m also filled with his righteousness.  I have Christ in me, I’m a little Christ walking around filled with his spirit and knocking down walls Satan has erected against others.  

Practically, I can pray for others when attacked.  Prayer unleashes the forces of heaven.  Obviously, when the devil’s henchmen see me praying for others, they will think twice the next time they attack.  Praising my Lord when disrespected is another strategy I employ in this fight.  Did you know that before Satan fell, he was called Lucifer and the Bible hints that he was the praise leader in Heaven, (Ezekiel 28:11-19).  So, after falling, my Adversary hates to hear praise going up to Jesus.  It reminds him what he lost when his pride took him out, when it took him down!

In summary, realize the unseen battle raging all around and enlist in this war.  Remember, we are fighting from a position of victory as God is greater than our enemies and he obtained full rights to you by his death on the Cross.  

Next, we will look at the last of the Bill of Rights.  That of the blessing of suffering persecution for being a Jesus follower!

-----

Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad:  For great is your reward in heaven. Matthew 5:11-12

Jesus isn’t pulling any punches here.  Not if men shall revile, but when men shall do these evil things to us.  No sugar-coating by Jesus.  Things in this war are going to heat up.  We must expect conflict, expect pushback from men, remembering always the spiritual source from where all of this struggle is coming from.

This topic of suffering at the hands of unbelievers is frequently spoken of by our Lord, as well as others.  Wonderfully, most every time it is, we see a promise of future joy & glory linked.  In this case we can rejoice and be overflowingly happy as great rewards await his followers who are persecuted in his name.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace, in the world you shall have tribulation:  But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you:  But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad with exceeding joy.  If you are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:12-14

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair:  Persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake…For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:8-11, 16-17

For I reckon that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

Obviously, there is a tension between the wheat and the tares, between light & darkness, between people living by the flesh & those walking in the spirit.  Solomon poetically speaks with these words;

An unjust man is an abomination to the just:  And he that is upright in his way is abomination to the wicked. Proverbs 29:27

He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, Even they both are abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 17:15

So, persecutions and false accusations are going to occur, and we can rejoice for the blessing we will receive in the future because of our stand for Jesus, but what can we do now in the midst of the trial?  For one, remember that the name of Jesus has power.  “Wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name,” (Philippians 2:9).  In fact, the Name has unlimited power to bless and protect.  Speak audibly to him when attacked praying “Jesus help me.” 

Also, I can bring heaven down to me now.  How do I do that?  By praising him.  The Bible teaches that God inhabits the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3).  As I praise him, my attitude changes, my perspective alters and I am refreshed and renewed.  No, the conditions may not have changed, but now I am above them.  As has been said, life is 10% circumstances and 90% attitude. 

When I see others suffering, many times I cannot stop the attack they are in the midst of, but I can remind them of Heaven.  Speaking of the reality of our next life, dwelling in glory with Jesus, truly is medicine for a suffers soul.

Okay, so we will be happy in the future.  What about now?  Any benefits of persecutions in the name of Christ?

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

You see, difficulties lead me to trust in God over self.  They pull me away from the idolatry of self-reliance.  “He that puts his trust in the Lord shall be made fat, but he that trusts in his own heart is a fool,” (Proverbs 28:25-26).

Struggles also help me to mature, to become the man I want to be and importantly, to become the man he wants me to be.  Let me show you;

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations: Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worth patience. but let patience have her perfect work, that you may be mature, and whole, lacking nothing. James 1: 2-4

Concluding this topic, we have future glory and joy, and we can have present comfort and growth, but best of all, suffering for the name of our Savior makes one great!  Look at the book of Job.  In it we see that the curtain is pulled back on heaven and eternity.  Every man, every woman has only a few chances at greatness in their lives.  No one would remember Job if nothing bad had ever happened.  But he was refined in his trials and came out the other side as one of the great men of history.  I want to be in good company like that, I’ll bet you do to.

Or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, found in the Book of Daniel.  Those young men refused to worship the golden statue, facing the wrath of Nebuchadnezzar and risking being thrown into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  The words they spoke indeed were faithful words, words that revealed their greatness.  They are words I pray I would speak if called upon in a similar setting.

O Nebuchadnezzar, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3:17-18

Those brave men chose obedience over outcome.  They certainly believed in God’s ability to deliver them but understood that that same deliverance may not be his will for them.  So, they submitted to his sovereignty.  These words, under the pressure they were beneath, is what made them so great!  This is the kind of faith that displays God and his power for all to see.  And we know what happened too.  Nebuchadnezzar became enraged at their audacity and had the furnace heated seven times hotter.  Into the furnace the three believers in Jehovah were thrown and nothing happened to them except their ropes were loosed.  And a fourth One, who appeared as the Son of God, was seen walking with them in the midst of the fire.  Indeed, the God of Israel was exalted to the king and the people because of their incredible stand for him.

So, Jesus ends his Bill of Rights with the greatest article of all.  Walk strong in the face of conflict for him.  Those soldiers in this war for the Kingdom will receive eternal blessing as they stand for their Commander.  They truly, are the greatest generation, wearing medals for all time which make the Medal of Honor look like a boy’s tin sheriff’s star in comparison.

Summary:

1. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven is found in the Sermon on the Mount.

2. People who are poor in spirit are happy because they realize they need God.

3. God promises to turn sorrow into joy.

4. Meekness is strength under control in God’s economy.

5. Extending mercy over judgment is glorious.

6. A pure heart comes from confessing the Savior & forsaking sin.

7. Peacemakers resemble their Father.

8. Resist the devil when attacked by praying for others & praising God.

9. Persecutions & troubles help one trust in God over self.

10. Standing for Christ honors him to the World.

For Further Study:

1. How is being poor in spirit related to pride?

2. What is a Bible paradox?  Are any of the Beatitudes such?

3. Why is faith in God more rational than unbelief in him?

4. How does one discern whether wisdom is from above or below?