BLESSED--PERSECUTED

BLESSED--- PERSECUTED

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (emphasis added)

We are continuing our studies in the Beatitudes of Jesus. They are an outline of the Attributes of Character that He will look upon favorably when He “Makes Up His Jewels” for entry into the KINGDOM (Royalty) of God.

We find many references in the Bible that testify to the fact of the irreconcilable hatred (enmity) of the carnal mind against the Will of God. It is a SPIRIT that pits neighbor against neighbor, brother against brother, etc.. We were each born with the Fleshly Mind, but some of us have invited the Mind of Christ into our lives, with the resultant open warfare—both in our own life (which can become rather severe at times) as well as in the community. This ill will intensifies as we continue our efforts to become more like Jesus in our demeanor.

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

Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Act 9:16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Phi 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Little wonder, then, that Jesus gave the instruction, “Strive to enter in—for many will not be able to do it.” See Luke 13:24

We can not emphasize too often that the Kingdom of God will probably NOT be a political/economic Kingdom such as many of us have visualized from the past understanding and teaching of our instructors.

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (ocular evidence)
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom (Royalty) of God is within (inside of) you.

Yesterday, at lunch time, I had a conversation with a man of French ancestry that we call “Chuck”. I can not even pronounce his last name, let alone try to spell it. He told me about some of his forebears who had lived in the late 1500’s, about the massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day (Aug 24, 1572), and the Edict of Nantes, and about the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. I may not have all of the details correct, but I’ll give you some of the highlights. The Massacre was only the beginning of what would go on for many, many years, but in this one incident there were soldiers and Ministers (Priests) of the dominant Church who attacked a gathering of Christians (Protestants) whom they had lured into a religious convocation of Good Will. They killed an estimated 100,000 Protestants at that time, and their blood ran like little rivers into the natural rivers, killing fish and other creatures and contaminating the rivers so much that the fish could not be eaten from them for many months. The remaining Protestants (who were the Master Craftsmen of France) scattered to other countries or went into hiding and practiced their religion in secret. The economy of France was devastated, and the nation was plunged into depression. On April 13, 1598 the Edict of Nantes was issued, granting Freedom of Worship to the Calvinists (Huguenots) in a country that was predominantly Catholic, in an effort to attract skilled workmen back to France. It worked, and in time France became a prosperous nation again. The Edict, however, cost the King his life—he was stabbed to death by a Jesuit Priest who disliked the idea of religious freedom for the Huguenots.

The Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, and the Church-sponsored persecution was vigorously resumed, forcing many into other countries or into hiding again. During that period, the Geneva Bible was published by John Calvin who was in exile in Geneva, Switzerland. (1595)

England was also having “religious convulsions” at the same time (1500’s). King Henry V111 wanted to divorce his wife, who had not been able to produce a male heir for him, and marry another woman who possibly could. The Pope said, “No Way”. Henry replied, “You go fly a kite. I’ll make my own Church—with all the trimmin’s.” He did, and the Church of England was born, and Henry got a new wife with the blessing of the Archbishop of Canterbury. (who was later burned at the stake by Queen MaryI) Mary did not look with favor on England being protestant, and started a “cleansing of the Faith”. In less than six years she burned over 300 of the most prominent people, including the Archbishop, at the stake for not recanting their Protestant views. (An average of one burning a week). Her subjects referred to her as “Bloody Mary”. England actually rejoiced when she lay in her coffin.

“WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND.”

In 1590 a book was published by a couple of Jesuit priests who had been commissioned by the Pope to “get the heat off the Catholic Church”. (The Reformers had all been calling the Papal System the Antichrist) In their book, they re-wrote the curriculum of Prophetic teachings. They “sold” their new doctrine to the Archbishop of Canterbury (Henry’s official Church of England). We have been “looking for” the “appearance” of the Antichrist, in the last seven years of the world, since that time.

If you “see” him, be sure to alert me.

I have no fears that any of you can produce “him”. In my lifetime there have been many “men” who have been suspected or accused of being “him”, but they have, mostly, all died without “producing the goods” that “he” is supposed to produce when “he” appears. In 1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to be President of the United States. We were in a deep Depression, and his NRA (National Recovery Act), CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and other ingredients of the dubbed “Alphabetical Soup” he was initiating, caused many to look at him as the “one who comes in with flattery, but turns on his subjects and tries to destroy them”. Many of my relatives could maneuver the Scriptures into such a position as to “prove” that “he was him”. Before FDR was dead, he was replaced by Benito Mussolini, who, in turn, was replaced by Adolf Hitler Somewhere along the line, the EEC (European Common Market) would become the Revived Roman Empire consisting of 10 Nations (the Roman Dragon). That one is dying a slow death, but in its “heyday” it “drew a lot of water”. Poor old Henry Kissinger commanded some “suspicion” himself at one juncture.

The “Persecution” that Jesus was talking to His Disciples about is much, much more than having our feelings hurt by someone else. It is much more than thinking that someone doesn’t like us or is “out to get us”.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run (agon) with patience the race (agon) that is set (by the Lord) before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Jesus was talking about a DETERMINATION in the heart of each believer that “come hail or high water” we will remain faithful to the One who paid the price of our Redemption. We will NOT turn our back on Him who loved us enough to give His Life for us, no matter what others may say, do, or think of us.

Jesus will be looking for that kind of dedication when He “makes up His Jewels” on that Day—the Day of Jesus Christ. (The Day of the Kingdom)

Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.


David furnishes us with a very good example of one who was persecuted. We should read some of the Psalms in which he complains TO GOD ONLY about what is happening to him.

Psa 7:15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
Psa 7:16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

Psa 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

Psa 31:15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.


Psa 35:1 A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
Psa 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
Psa 35:3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
Psa 35:4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
Psa 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
Psa 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
Psa 35:7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
Psa 35:8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
Psa 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
Psa 35:10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
Psa 35:11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
Psa 35:12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
Psa 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
Psa 35:14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Psa 35:15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
Psa 35:16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
Psa 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
Psa 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
Psa 35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
Psa 35:20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
Psa 35:21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
Psa 35:22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
Psa 35:23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
Psa 35:24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Psa 35:25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
Psa 35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psa 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

If you are ever tempted to question whether the Lord hears and sees when others indulge in persecution of the righteous, it is good to remember some things that Jesus spoke and did in response to how the Jews rejected Him and His Workers. He will do the same for us when we cry to Him in our times of persecution and distress caused by our adversaries—IF we keep our eyes on Him and our attitude correct. Our attitude can be a BIG problem.

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Mat 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zechariah son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Jeremiah gives us another very good example of what REAL persecution is all about.

Jer 17:18 Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.


What is our goal as candidates for KINGDOM STATURE? Should we make a demonstration to demand our rights as citizens? Should we file for “minority status”?

Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Luk 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.