The Footsteps of Jesus
Disciples Blessing
November 24, 2024
Rev. Dr. Gabe Sylvia
The Beatitudes promise that believers who live by kingdom ethics will be persecuted for belonging to Christ, but that persecution—part of the spiritual battle against the devil—refines our holiness and guarantees a great (even double) reward in heaven, which we should not seek but willingly embrace while finding strength in Christ and the Lord's Supper.
Summary
This sermon concludes a short series on the Beatitudes by emphasizing that persecution is both an expected reality for godly living and a promised means of reward from the Lord. Because the church belongs to Christ it is opposed—seen in Scripture from Matthew 5 to Revelation 12—and that opposition can serve to loosen our attachment to the world and grow holiness. The persecuted are blessed; sometimes with a 'double reward'—both for being wrongly attacked for Christ and for the refining work God accomplishes through suffering. We are not to pursue persecution, but to embrace it when it comes, live for God’s will rather than the world’s passions, rejoice in the stored-up reward, and be strengthened by the Lord’s Supper as we continue in faithful witness.
Key Points
- The Beatitudes are promises of reward for those who live by kingdom ethics.
- Persecution is a normal consequence of godly living and a guarantee of reward.
- The church is persecuted because she belongs to Jesus and is opposed by the devil (see Revelation 12).
- Jesus promises the kingdom of heaven to those persecuted for belonging to Him (Matthew 5:12).
- Persecution can produce a double reward: for being falsely persecuted for Christ and for the sanctifying work it can accomplish.
- We should not seek persecution deliberately, but we should embrace it when God allows it as a means of growth.
- Living for God’s will rather than worldly passions provokes others and invites opposition, but it is the faithful response.
- Rejoice in suffering because great reward is stored up in heaven; the Lord’s Supper strengthens believers for this calling.
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