Persecution and the Pursuit of God
| Matthew 5:11-12, Luke 13:31-35, Romans 8:37, Psalm 23


God’s purposes will continue regardless of who makes threats and regardless of who is in office.  This morning, as we are all trying to make sense of an unusual political season in the U.S., I wanted to put our country’s struggle in its proper context:

  1. God has used both good and bad governments for the accomplishment of His sovereign purposes.
  2. A Christian’s hope has never come from the government. Our hope is in Jesus.

Our text today is Matthew 5:11-12 which says, “11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  To better understand this passage, I’d like to look at how Jesus reacted to persecution in Luke 13.

 

As we read this short passage, I want to make it clear that Luke was not writing a commentary on U.S. politics in this passage, I think when we look at Jesus’ response to a violent unbeliever in political power, it will help us understand God’s sovereignty and the role of government in His overall plan.

Jesus was unaffected by political threats – Luke 13:31-33

Luke 13:31 – “31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”

Jesus had set out for Jerusalem to finish ministry work.  All throughout the New Testament, the Pharisees were portrayed in a less-than-flattering way.  It’s doubtful that they came to warn Jesus about Herod’s murderous plans because they were concerned about His well-being.  It was more likely that the Pharisees were trying to get rid of Jesus.  They didn’t want Him in Jerusalem, so they tried a scare-tactic.

This scare tactic was a good one.  The local government in Jesus’ community had already executed John the Baptist.  The leader of that government, Herod, was a wicked and selfish man.  He was known for killing those who opposed him.  Government persecution is common in the history of the church.

However, when Jesus heard that Herod wanted to kill him, He didn’t seem bothered.  Jesus knew that God’s plan would continue to move forward regardless of the person in charge.  Listen to his response to Herod’s threats:

In Luke 13:32-33, Jesus says, “32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox[1], ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’”

Jesus did not spend time worrying about Herod or other government officials during His ministry on earth.  He was not anxious about the threat of persecution because Jesus was mission-minded.

Jesus was dedicated to obeying His Father regardless of the opposition He faced – Luke 13:32-33, John 15:20, Psalm 139:16

No human institution was going to stand between Jesus and obedience to His Father.  Jesus resolved to continue on the path set in place by God.  He did not let threats, discomfort, or inconvenience stand in His way.  The goal was Jerusalem and His mission was to provide a way for sinners to have “peace with God.”.  He would eventually be crucified there, but not before it was the right time.

He lived His life trusting in God’s direction and provision.  His death would happen at the exact right moment.  Psalm 139 says that God knows the number of our days.[2]  There is nothing that Herod or any other government official could do to add or subtract from that number.  God is sovereign over governments.

Jesus found opposition at every turn.  As His disciples, should we expect to carry out God’s will unopposed?  Sometimes Christians in America act like resistance to the gospel is something out of the ordinary.  Our brothers and sisters overseas aren’t surprised by religious persecution.  In the U.S., we’ve had a few hundred years of religious protection.  Historically speaking, our freedoms are very unusual.  Right now Christians all over the world are facing tremendous persecution.

It is hard to find the accurate number of Christians killed for their faith.  Numbers range wildly from 10,000 to 100,000 per year.  Frans Veerman, director of Open Doors’ World Watch List, recently made these comments, “There is a huge gray area around the question of ‘martyrs…’  When Christians are isolated and denied clean drinking water and medical care because they are Christians and refuse to become Muslims—[and thus] they perish quicker than others—are they martyrs? In a strict sense, they aren’t. But when the whole mechanism behind [their deaths] is studied, we can say they are.”[3]

In John 15:20, Jesus gave us this warning, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”  A change in our government could eventually mean that living a life radically committed to Jesus might become more uncomfortable here.

This election has produced some speculation and uncertainties about our future, but there is a huge difference between prayerful concern and God-ignoring panic.  We can be confident that there is nothing the president can do to slow down God’s resolve.  In fact, our new president is already woven into the framework of God’s sovereignty to be used as a tool to complete His unfolding purposes in our generation.

We don’t need to get stressed out over leaders who are inadequate or even hostile.  Persecution never slowed down Jesus.  Corrupt governments didn’t concern Him much.

  • In His day, Jesus was fully confident that God was in control, not Herod.
  • In our day, we can be fully assured that God is in control, not our governing officials.

When the local political leaders wanted to kill Jesus, He did not respond in fear or panic. If we follow His example, fear does not need to be our response either.

  • Death threats from the government didn’t divert Jesus from his primary mission.
  • The risk of persecution isn’t stopping the spread of the gospel overseas.
  • So, turbulent politics in the US doesn’t need to distract us from our calling either.

We have a lot of souls left to reach with the gospel right here in Cottonwood.  You and I are called to be about the greater work of God’s Kingdom over the much lesser work of man’s temporary governments.

God’s Kingdom is a greater goal – Luke 13:33-35

In the last part of Luke 13:33, Jesus said, “I will finish my course.”  Jesus was resolved to complete His mission regardless of the threats. He was not majorly concerned with the massive corruption that existed in the Roman government.  He was more concerned with the hearts of the people.  You could say that Jesus was more concerned with souls than polls. 

People in Jesus’ day were ignoring God.  Jesus was resolved to do whatever it took to fix the separation between God and man.  Look at how quickly His heart turns away from the government to see a city lost without a Savior.  Verse 34…

“34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Jesus lamented for the city and longed to protect its people like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings to protect them.  He was lovingly calling people to restore a right relationship with God, but it grieved His heart that so few were responding.

Reconciliation with God is the central theme of the New Testament.  Mankind’s biggest need is to have “Peace with God.”  Jesus’ mission was to give us the ability to restore our relationship with God.  Our primary mission, as His disciples, is to let others know how to have everlasting peace with God.

  • When was the last time you or I lamented over our city? Tens of thousands of people right here are lost without a Savior.
  • When was the last time we wept over the lost people here in Cottonwood, Sedona, Jerome, Cornville, Clarkdale, and Camp Verde?
  • Do you grieve over political changes more than you grieve over the lost souls in your neighborhood?

It is hard to take a stand for Jesus in a secular culture.  Will that stop you and I from pursuing the lost souls here in our community?  I hope our resolve is stronger than the criticism we face!

It is risky to take a stand for Jesus – Psalm 44:22

In Psalm 44:22, the psalmist lamented, “…for your sake we are killed all the day long;     we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”  The Christian life is a joy-filled life that is also sometimes uncomfortable.  The pursuit of Jesus is the most satisfying and rewarding pursuit you could ever undertake.  It’s what we are called to do.  Disciples of Jesus are filled with joy, often in the midst of stressful situations.

Our brothers across the globe are filled with the joy of the Lord in the midst of real, physical, life-threatening danger.  Speaking of persecution, Paul says in Romans 8:37, “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”  The way we can be more than conquerors is not by avoiding conflict, but through overcoming difficulties by the power of Jesus.  Jesus always provides perfectly for His people.

The Lord provides perfectly for His people – Psalm 23

Most of us are familiar with the 23rd Psalm, which talks at length about God’s provision in the midst of trials…

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

The table probably does not refer to a piece of furniture, but to a flat place in a hilly country, a place where the flock could eat and rest before they headed back to the fold.  If sheep are hungry, they would not lay down to rest, so the picture here is of the shepherd spreading out food before them in the presence of many dangerous things.  He would watch over his sheep to make sure they had all eaten while keeping a look out for any predator that would try to destroy them.

Just because Jesus is near us and He was willing to die for us does not mean that the danger ceases to be present all around us.  The Lord does not usually eliminate the dangers and difficulties from our lives, but He always watches over us.  He prepares a table IN THE PRESENCE of our enemies.

He leads and guides and protects (like a hen protect her chicks).  He enables us not to be paralyzed by fear.  Being “more than conquerors” in Christ does not mean that He eliminates all the threats, but that He gives supernatural peace and divine oversight in the midst of danger.

Psalm 23 ends with these words:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

David looked around and saw trouble everywhere.  He wasn’t naïve; he was fully aware of the dangers surrounding him.  BUT He didn’t focus on the trials, he also looked ahead to the mission God called him to.  He looked up and depended on our Lord for strength and protection.  He knew at the end he would be in the Father’s house forever and ever.

Paul said in Philippians 4:19 that “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus,” People love that verse and like to put it on things like coffee mugs.  Do you know what the context of that verse is?  Persecution is the context!

Don’t take that verse out of context and try to make it say that we’ll never face trouble in this fallen world.  Paul had just finished saying these words, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  Jesus, Paul, and David all faced plenty of troubles!

People like to put the verse, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” on coffee mugs, too.  Out of its context, it sounds like the prosperity gospel.  In its context, it spoke of finding joy in the Lord during every season – especially in troubled times.  When Paul said, “I can do all things through him (or through Christ) who strengthens me,” he means:

  • I can face hunger and not deny Jesus through Him who strengthens me
  • I can face abundance and not forget Jesus through Him who strengthens me
  • I can face poverty and never be bitter through Him who strengthens me
  • I can steward many possessions and never love them more than Jesus through Him who strengthens me

Jesus will supply everything we need to maintain our faith in Him!

Jesus will supply everything we need to maintain our faith in Him – Philippians 4:12-19

It is often costly to follow after Christ and our response to the election must be one that places our hope in God, not government.  Our heart breaks for those who not only hate the church but who hate Jesus.  Romans 12:14 calls Christians to “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”

Our text this morning (The Last Beatitude) says, “11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

The Biblical response to persecution, trouble, corruption, or difficulties is never hate, worry, fear, or anxiety.  The Biblical response to persecution is increased faith in God:

  • Faith that God will always help us in our loss and make us even more satisfied in Him.
  • Faith that God’s love and power will sustain His church and give us the ability to forgive those who are trapped in debilitating sins or commit unspeakable crimes.
  • Faith that losing our life in this world for the gospel is of little significance in light of never ending life in heaven
  • Faith that God can change the heart of a president, a senator, or a councilman much like He changed the heart of Paul and the hearts of so many people throughout history.

Taking a risk for the gospel is right.  Christ never promised that we would be comfortable.  Most of us will never face the risks the persecuted church is facing right now, but we might one day be asked to risk our finances, our time, and possibly even our reputation for the gospel.  Are you willing to give those things up for the Lord?

Application

I’d like to close today by asking these two simple questions:

  1. What is God calling you to do with the gospel right now?
  2. Are you letting anything stand in the way of accomplishing what God has called you to do?

 

 

 

 

[1] a crafty and worthless man

[2] Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,     the days that were formed for me,     when as yet there was none of them.”

[3] http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/september/counting-cost-accurately.html?start=1