“… for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion.” – Daniel 9:18b
We look to the wrong place when we point to our merits to receive God’s grace. It is not the good we do that stirs the Lord to act in our favor. It is not even our obedience that spurs Him to forgive us our sins. No, it is simply on account of His great compassion that the Lord answers our prayers. As Spurgeon puts it, “nothing but your sin and misery can ever stir His mercy.” There’s a lesson to be learned here. When we go before the Lord in prayer, let’s not boast upon the work that we have done or pride ourselves on the steps we’ve taken. Reflect upon His deep love. Thank the Lord for His abounding kindness and look for more. And when we forget the Father’s great love, all we need but to do is look to the cross and be reminded.
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
Ask with confidence and persistence, not because we have earned the right to be heard, rather ask because the Father delights in giving the best to His children (Matthew 7:7-11). If the effectiveness of prayer was dependent upon our own righteousness, nothing would be accomplished. However, since it is founded on the ocean of God’s mercy, there is an overwhelming flood of power in prayer. Prayer’s fuel is the love of God and nothing else… it will never be exhausted and will never cease to amaze.
“I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” – Daniel 7:13-14
What a vision. This is the glorious return of the Lord Jesus that all the world will see after the tribulation period (Matthew 24:29-31). This is the hope that Christians look to when our Savior finally returns to rule powerfully, visibly, and totally as King. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom filled with glorious riches where moth and rust do not destroy (Matthew 6). But how do we enter into His service in the eternal heaven? How do we become citizens of His kingdom? We follow Jesus.
We follow Him until the end of days with undivided devotion and we give our whole lives to serving Him. “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26) If we follow Jesus in this world that is to end, we will surely be with Him in that world that is to never end. And though serving Jesus is a task that is too great for us to accomplish on our own, we who have faith will see it through till the end because the Lord keeps us. We have been united with Jesus and His death to sin marks our death to sin, while His life to God marks our new life to God. (Romans 6:1-11) Surely we will live because surely the Lord has conquered the grave.
It will be an end to sin. It will be an end to death. It will be an end to pain as we know it. It will be worth it all. We will live forever in the presence of the One to whom we must give an account because the account we give is perfection. Though our sins were as scarlet, Jesus’ righteousness has made us white as snow. Brothers and sisters, this Christmas season, let’s rejoice because we have a place in the kingdom of heaven. Let’s look forward to the coming of the King who is to judge and rule… because He is also the Savior who already came to save and forgive. What a vision, what a day to look forward to.
Decisions should never be made based upon perceived results. That's called walking by sight. Faithfulness is staying the course regardless of fluctuating circumstances. It is following the Lord even when it seems like it'll hurt.
Faithfulness is sacrificing what may seem best to the world because honoring the Lord is best. Despite being offered the king's choice food and wine, Daniel sought to avoid defilement by eating vegetables. It says in Daniel 1:8-9 - "But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine, which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials". To any man (including the commander of the officials), it seemed obvious what would happen. Daniel and his friends were going to be weaker than the others because they would only be eating vegetables. However, Daniel remained faithful despite the circumstances. He trusts the results to the Lord and "at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food." (Daniel 1:15) It wasn't because of the vegetables that God blessed them, it was cause of their faithfulness. Honoring the Lord is ultimately for your best, even if you can't see it.
Faithfulness is sacrificing yourself because God's glory is worth more than your life.Later in Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were brought before Nebuchadnezzar because they refused to serve his gods or worship his golden image. Their options were limited. Fall down and worship the image... or die by furnace. Here's how they replied... "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18, emphasis added) They trusted themselves to the Lord and considered that His glory was worth more than their lives. Even if God had decided not to save them (and yes, their lives were in God's hands, not Nebuchadnezzar's), they chose to follow the Lord and worship Him alone.
Faithfulness is trusting decisions to the Lord. In both cases, faithfulness stemmed from a confidence of God's sovereignty over any and all circumstances. Whether it be your health at stake, power, success, friends, or even your life... recognize that decisions ought not to be made based upon perceived results. The world doesn't know what is best, God does. Obey His Word, honor His glory, do what is best by walking by faith.
Matthew 7:15-20: Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruits, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.
False Teachers are Camouflaged
Verse 15 is the introduction. It teaches us that false teachers can be difficult to spot, especially if you don’t know what to look for. They come camouflaged, are hard to spot, and they’ll do whatever it takes to maintain their disguise before you. If all you do is look at how they appear, you will be thoroughly tricked. They will come to you in sheep’s clothing. They’ll say all the right things about giving their life to Jesus. You’ll find yourself saying amen to many of the things that they teach. They’re going to be the most passionate speakers and they’ll talk the christian talk, go to church, be very kind. They’ll come to you in sheep’s clothing. However, watch out because inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Don’t trust a false prophet, guard yourself from them because they’re like wolves. They’re not going to physically bite you and chew you up, but they will spiritually tear you to pieces… they will teach you false doctrine… point you away from the gospel.. and lead you to your destruction in hell. That’s if you trust their teaching. But they look like sheep… harmless… maybe even part of the flock. So how can you tell?
A Genuine Teacher of the Word is a Consistent Doer of the Word
In verse 16, we learn that there is an easy way to spot them, especially if you know what to look for. You will know them by their fruits. The trees represent the person and the fruits represent how they live. A Christian will live like Christ. A non-christian will not live like Christ. Put it another way, a teacher of the Word is a doer of the Word. Just as it is impossible for grapes to be gathered from thorns, strawberries from weeds, and oranges from grass… a false teacher will not have good fruit… and the reverse is true as well… a genuine teacher will have good fruit. That’s the logic of verses 17-18… you can’t get good fruit from a bad tree nor bad fruit from a good tree. These false teachers that Jesus is talking about are not genuine, saved Christians. That’s why in verse 19, we learn that the bad trees are cut down and thrown into the fire. False teachers go to hell. They say the right things, but because they have not experienced spiritual regeneration… they do not have a changed heart… and it is seen in their unchanged life.
Explanation of Good Fruit vs. Bad Fruit
But it’s important to know how to tell if the fruit is good or if the fruit is bad. What are some things to look for so that you aren’t deceived by a false prophet. There’s a couple of things. Examine how they live, what they teach, and who is around them. A person’s character –his motives, standards, loyalties, ands ambitions—will eventually show in what he does and how he acts. Example of this is in Luke 3:8 when John the Baptist is baptizing people and tells the Pharisees and Sadducees who come to bear fruits in keeping with repentance. This was because they claimed to love God but they did not live like it. They questioned John asking him, “then what shall we do?” In other words, how do we bear fruit? He replied, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” (v11) John was not telling them that they could save themselves by doing good works… he was pointing out to them that how they lived revealed who they really were. Christians are not saved by good works, but they are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The content of someone’s teaching also reveals the quality of the prophet. They may sound great, get you excited, pumped into, and motivate you to live a better life… but if someone is not teaching you God’s Word from God’s Word… separate from them, you have a false prophet. When judging whether a teaching comes from God, Isaiah teaches in Isaiah 8:20, “to the law and to the testimony! (to God’s Word) If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have now dawn (or light).” Look to see that the teaching is coming from the Bible… and that it actually is consistent with what the Bible teaches.
Lastly, when examining fruit, look at who is around this person. The false prophets will have false crowds around them. They will attract to themselves people who have the same kind of false, religious beliefs. They take pleasure in wickedness and have departed from God’s Word. A disobedient, rebellious crowd points to a disobedient, rebellious teacher.
Explanation of Genuine Teachers vs. False Teachers
A genuine teacher of the Word delights in the laws of the Word because the genuine teacher delights in Jesus whom the Law reflects. A genuine teacher of the Word delights in the laws of the Word and is one who demonstrates faith in Jesus by living out God’s commands. What sets apart a true teacher from a false teacher is his devotion and obedience to God’s commands. What marks someone as a false teacher is both their lack of obedience to the Word and also their natural rebellion to God’s commands.
Check Who You Are Trusting Yourself To
Check who is teaching you. Check who you are trusting yourself to. Check if I’m a false teacher. If my life is not lived in such a way that I have not earned the right to be heard… don’t listen to me. If all I have is bad fruit, if I live in a lifestyle of sin… don’t listen to me. Separate yourself from me. This is very important… those who teach must earn the right to be heard. Those of who you desire to teach must earn the right to be heard. This applies to all of you as both the hearers who are being taught… and also because you might be teachers cause it’s the same when sharing the gospel with others. You must earn the right to be heard, your life can potentially disqualify you from being heard by the others. Faith in Christ leads to life in Christ. Without a life in Christ, you may really have no faith… and you might be a false prophet. Verse 20, “so then, you will know them by their fruits.” So watch out for preachers who do not live out what they teach. False teachers can talk the talk… but they cannot walk the walk. Bad trees will bear bad fruit.
The Love of Christ
Take this passage and reflect upon how much Jesus loves His flock. This is the love of Christ, that He would watch out for His sheep that they would not be led astray. This is the caring, compassionate, concerned Shepherd who protects His sheep from dangerous wolves.
John 10:11-15 – “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”
Watch out for false teachers, listen to the shepherd who cares deeply for your soul and entrust yourself to His teaching. This is the love of Christ. If you are His sheep, listen to your Good Shepherd.
At the moment when Abraham was to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice... a substitute ram was provided. (Genesis 22) Isaac was saved by God's grace.
At the moment when the Father was to offer His only Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice... the Son was not spared. (Matthew 27:33-56) We are saved by God's grace.
Ezekiel 18:30-31 - Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!
I deserve to die for the sin I have committed. My iniquity had tethered my soul on a one-way trip to eternal condemnation and punishment. My heart was callused to every way but my own... and my spirit was pursuing the things of this world with an insatiable appetite for self-righteousness and immorality. I needed a new heart and new spirit. However, what I needed most was what I could not gain. Yet, it was this wretched sinner that the Lord saw fit to purchase with His blood shed on my behalf. He has given to me His Spirit and a new heart. I shall live because of His grace. I will live by His grace.
1. Jesus - I am His and He is mine, praise the Lord!
2. Wifey - The most precious person to me in the whole world, she is the best!
3. My mother - I never knew how blessed I was by having her as my mom
4. Brother - Easy to overlook this one, but a great source of encouragement
5. God's grace in the lives of specific people - this is so encouraging to see
6. My accountability partners - Proverbs 27:17, 'nuff said
7. Church - You are the family I always needed
8. CCS students - God has been so good to you and I'm thankful to be involved in your lives. Some of you are deeply involved in my life as well!
9. CM servants - I love serving with you
10. Youth group - Thankful that God has used this ministry to teach youth about His glory
11. Scripture - Psalm 119:105, 'nuff said.
12. Prayer - I get to commune with God, entrust people to the Lord's care, and be carried to the Lord by the prayers of others
13. Learning to play the piano - Still not very good at it, but I find it very relaxing
14. ET class - People actually want to learn how to share the gospel at a young age? Amazing
15. Books - I have many, now I need to read them
Matthew 7:13-14: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Calling all Church-goers… WAKE UP
In verses 13-27, Jesus finishes His teaching on who Christians are and how Christians are to live… He closes His teachings with harsh words. Watch out, lest you fall asleep and miss the point. You must “enter through the narrow gate.” Before me, I have a bunch of church-goers and there is great danger in being a person born into the church, a person who regularly attends the church, and the danger is this… you might miss Jesus’ message because you think it’s for someone else. There is the danger in thinking that being among Christian believers will somehow make you a Christian. There is the danger in thinking that simply because you know God is real, you will have a place in heaven. However, the only guarantee of heaven… the only way one is saved is through faith in Christ. So wake up and ask yourself the question, do you have real faith that saves?
Faith that Saves
Saving faith is a special kind of faith. It’s not simply a knowledge of who Jesus is and what He’s done… many have that kind of knowledge yet are still missing real faith… even devils know who Jesus is (Matthew 8:29) yet they will not have a place in heaven. Saving faith is not simply a strong feeling that Jesus is real because strong feelings come and go… saving faith will never abandon you. Saving faith is being sure of whom Jesus is and also trusting Him completely for your life. Saving faith always leads to a changed life because when one has saving faith, they are in essence giving their life to Jesus. When your parents go out on date nights… they trust you into the care of babysitters. You are in their care. Do you really trust Jesus with your life? Can you tell if your faith is real? Is there a way to confirm it? It’s not just knowing, it’s not just something you can see, nor is it necessarily a feeling so how will you know if you have real faith or if you don’t? There’s a test today, faith in Christ leads to life in Christ. A life without Christ, without obedience to Christ or Christ-likeness, points to a life without faith.
No One is Born With Faith
There is no one who is born on the path to heaven. You must enter through the narrow gate. It’s not like we are all climbing to God, trying to make it into heaven and He lets some in and denies access to others… rather we are all running away from heaven’s gates and so we are commanded to turn from our current path and enter through the narrow gate of faith which is faith in Jesus. This leads to life. There is no other option. Place your faith in Jesus or die apart from Jesus.
Open Faith Leads to an Open Life
Though faith is something that cannot be seen, faith is something that can be clearly identified by how one lives their life. John 14:15 says “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Is love for God clear in your life? Do you keep His commandments? Faith in Jesus alone is a narrow faith and it must lead to a narrow path. A life without faith in Jesus alone is a wide faith in other things that leads to a life lived without boundaries and loose morals. This leads to destruction, eternal destruction “away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (2 Thess 1:9) And even more startling is this news, there are many who enter through it, there are many on the way to eternal destruction in hell. There are more people going to hell than heaven. And even more startling is the fac that Jesus is speaking about those in the church, He’s speaking to those who are trying to follow Him. Out of the group of people who are trying to associate with Jesus, there are many more people who will be going to hell than heaven… and it’s because their missing real, saving faith… they entered the wide gate.
Faith in Christ Leads to Life in Christ
Real, saving faith is sure trust in Jesus. Though it cannot be seen directly, it is seen clearly in the lives of the faithful. A heavenly hope leads to a heavenly, changed life. Real faith in Jesus cannot be hidden. You will see it in how you live. If you don’t see it in the way you live, you probably don’t have it. The narrow gate leads to a way that is narrow that leads to life. Faith in Christ leads to life in Christ. Here’s what I mean by that statement… faith in Christ leads to a life of obedience to Christ… faith in Christ leads to a life lived for Christ… faith in Christ leads to a Christ-like life… and it also leads to eternal life with Christ… faith in Christ leads to life in Christ. It is a difficult life that the one with real faith walks, it is a path filled with suffering and sufferings. That’s what the word “narrow” here means. And blessed are you if you find yourself with the gift of faith because there are few who find it. If you have real saving faith in Jesus, you are one of the select few… a product of the supernatural work of God… born from above (John 3:3)… precious in God’s sight… set aside to be devoted to Him in worship (James 1:18).
Do you have it?
Do you have real saving faith? Are you on the path to heaven and eternal life? There is only one way and it’s through faith in Jesus, the only Son of God, the only perfect sacrifice, the only righteous one, the only one by which we can and must be saved. The only objective test of if you really believe is this… the only way you can clearly tell if you really have faith… if you really believe… is if your life demonstrates it. Faith in Christ leads to life in Christ.
1 John 2:4-6 – The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
The "sequel" to the Trellis and the Vine is out! It's targeted to preachers and is on sale today till Thursday, September 2nd at Westminister Books. You can click the link below take a look. After I read it, I'll post my thoughts. I will say this though... the Trellis and the Vine was an excellent resource that did indeed shift my whole mindset on ministry. It was extremely helpful to see the structural components (events and committees) as trellis work and be reminded that the real vine-work is focusing on gospel growth (disciple-making). There were many practical helps and I hope to find the same in this book,
"The disciple-making vision of The Trellis and the Vine will only be realized through the kind of fearless, Bible-driven proclamation of the gospel that has been the hallmark of Phillip Jensen's ministry. For over 20 years I watched him train a generation of young preachers during their ministry apprenticeship. This brilliant book now distills this wisdom for every preacher and would-be preacher." - Colin Marshall, Author, The Trellis and the Vine
Ponder the statement above... do you consider that your life could be better if you had something more? A little more financial stability? A better social life? Better health? Improved work circumstances? A more holy spouse? I would venture to say that I would be completely content and satisfied if Jesus was all I want. He is that great. However, my lack of contentment reflects my inward attitude and perspective. Jesus is all I need, but He is not all I want.
A couple of weeks ago, we discussed the concept of persecution for righteousness' sake. We defined persecution as hostility stemming from hate. The text highlighted the fact that receiving persecution is only Christian, biblical, and blessed (leading to happiness) when it is for righteousness. We are called to be righteous, to conduct ourselves properly before God and to do often can incur the wrath of others. It's not enough just to be a good, nice person... we need to live in obedience. We learned that if you live like Jesus did, you will be hated like Jesus is... and thus treated like Jesus was. Today, we will expand on the topic of persecution and discover its different forms, identify the cause for persecution, and discover the cause for celebration when we encounter this kind of persecution.
Three Forms of Persecution
1. Verbal Insults - "Blessed are you when people insult you..."
The Christian is blessed when insulted. The word, insult, carries the idea of having hurtful words thrown at you. To be insulted is to be blamed and mocked by others. It's to literally be attacked by words spoken at you about you. Jesus was the target of insult while He hung on the cross. Mark 15:29-32 records the account –
"Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him (Jesus), wagging their heads, and saying, ‘Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!’ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; He cannot save Himself. Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!’ Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting." Jesus endured persecution
The point is this… if you are really following Christ, you will be treated like Christ. Matthew 10:24 – “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.” To be persecuted is to be verbally insulted.
2. Physical Attacks - “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you”
If you notice, all the other beatitudes prior to verse 10 had to do with the Christian’s internal qualities and attitudes. As we expand on persecution, we are discussing strictly external things that happen to the believer. Here the word used for persecute is diōkō (διώκω). Back in those days, diōkō (translated persecution) carried the idea of being chased, pursued, and physically attacked with the intent to hurt… and often to kill. It’s used in Luke 21:12
“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.”
Jesus’ followers were literally, physically thrown in jail when they were persecuted. Diōkō διώκω) referred to physical attack. If you read further in that passage, we find out who was actually persecuting them. Luke 21:16 “But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.” It was the people closest to them… parents, brothers, relatives, and friends… who were putting them to death. Persecution often began with physical attacks which led to death. The same word (διώκω) is used in Acts 7:52 – “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One.” Prophets experiencing persecution were killed. God even asked Paul (pre-conversion) in Acts 9:4 – “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Prior to this in v1 of that same chapter, we learned that Saul was threatening and murdering disciples of the Lord. Saul was chasing Christians down to throw them in prison. Persecution can involve physical attacks.
3. False Accusations – “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you”
Persecution can also come in the form of false accusations. False accusations are lies that damage your reputation and these are different from verbal insults. While verbal insults are hurtful things spoken directly to you… false accusations are lies spread behind your back. These are more devious and harder to defend against because you often don’t even know about them. False sayings can be spread and believed before one has a chance to do anything about the lies… and one’s reputation is damaged in the process. When you become a Christian and live like a Christian… you can expect “all kinds of evil” being spoken against you. The phrase all kinds of evil means every type/form of wicked, bad, painful, troublesome speech. The false accusations spoken about a Christian are many (all kinds) and hurt your reputation (they’re evil).
Why will I be persecuted? “… because of Me.”
Why is persecution inevitable for the Christian? What causes a Christian to be persecuted? It’s because of Christ. A Christian will be persecuted because he/she follows Christ. Furthermore, there’s an identifying mark that sets apart the persecution talked about in this verse from any other kind… one is only truly blessed if you’re persecuted because of you follow Jesus. This is what sets blessed persecution apart from pointless persecution… you know the comic hero spiderman? What sets him apart from anyone else who puts on a spiderman costume? What’s his identifying mark? He can shoot out spiderwebs that are super strong… and he’s got superhuman strength. Without those abilities, he’d be just like you and I right? That’s how you know if you’ve got the right spiderman, if he can do those things. In the same way, there’s an identifying mark that sets apart the persecution talked here from any other kind… it has to be persecution for Jesus. Just as you know you’ve got the right spiderman if he has superhuman strength and spiderweb… you know you’re experiencing the right kind of persecution if it’s for your faith in Christ. What am I to do when I experience this kind of persecution?
Celebrate over this kind of persecution “Rejoice and be glad”
We’re to rejoice over this kind of persecution. We’re to be exceedingly happy and filled with joy. The word “rejoice” is in the present tense… which implies a continuous action. To rejoice is to continue to be happy, to be rejoicing. It’s not a one-time occurrence. Furthermore, let me clarify further that this is not an invitation to celebrate over all kinds of persecution. Jesus wasn’t calling His disciples to rejoice when they were hated, insulted, physically attacked, and falsely accused… Jesus was calling them to be happy when people insult, physically attack, and falsely accuse on account of Christ’s name. Persecution because you’re a Christian and bear Christ’s name… that kind (and only that kind) of persecution is reason to celebrate! If you’re hated because you follow Jesus, you have proof that you’ve been saved. It’s a great thing to be persecuted because of Christ. It says in 1 Peter 3:17 – “For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.” Have you ever considered this? It’s better to suffer as a Christian than to be happy as an unbeliever. Persecution as a Christian is far better than temporary peace as an unbeliever. Why?
Because there is a great reward “for your reward in heaven is great”
There is a great reward in store for those who suffer persecution. Those who endure have a reward that is much better than anything this world has to offer. That’s because all of earth’s riches can’t begin to compare to even a speck of heaven’s glory. Heaven’s rewards are abundantly great (they exceed our imagination) and forever eternal (they never expire). There is no comparison between heaven’s rewards and this world’s rewards. Isaiah 40 depicts our present life as grass that withers and flowers that fade. Our treasures in this world will not last. And there’s the difference. You are either persecuted now and receive lasting reward in heaven later… or you can enjoy the temporary, worldly stuff now and suffer the wrath of God later. Persecution for the sake of Christ leads to great reward in heaven. Here’s why you can rejoice, those who are persecuted for Jesus now get an eternal reward later. Truly it is a blessing to suffer persecution on account of Jesus’ name because of the great reward that is in store. There’s more to it though.
Because you’re among great company
“for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
When you suffer persecution for Jesus, know that you’re in the midst of great company. The prophets were imprisoned, beaten, stoned to death, and killed by the sword. They were persecuted for their faith. They were persecuted to death, but now they are with the Lord. To be persecuted for your faith in Christ means that you’re living like one of the prophets… it means you’re obeying God and that is reason for celebration because you walk in the footsteps of the prophets who came before you and you will follow them to the same destination. Have you ever been on a road trip to southern California? You leave the bay area and take a rest stop at a gas station along the way. It’s not very pleasant when you stop at the gas station because you’re probably exhausted and stiff, but is that where you’re ultimately trying to go? Or is the gas stations imply along the way? The gas station is a necessary part of the trip, but it’s not the destination… you’re trying to get to sunny southern California. If you suffer persecution just as the prophets did before you, you’re taking the same trip that they did… and along the way, there’s persecution. However, don’t forget that persecution is not the final destination, but it does show that you’re traveling the same path in life that the prophets did. And if you’re going the same way they did (which is through persecution for their faith)… where will you end up? At the same place they did… with the Lord, so rejoice and be glad.
Peace if Possible, Truth at All Costs (Part 2) Matthew 5:10
Last week, we talked about the importance of being a Christian peacemaker. Peacemakers first know peace (they have peace with God through the gospel), they share peace (they share the gospel so that others might have peace with God), and they maintain peace (they help people to have peace with each other). However, there’s a big problem if you have peace with everyone around you. That’s because as a Christian, sometimes peace is not possible.
Blessed are those who are hated
The Christian is a peacemaker who is persecuted. Persecution can be clearly defined as hostility from hate. It’s the desire to hurt someone because you hate them. It’s being opposed to someone because you hate them. Yet the Bible says those who experience hostility from hate, those who are persecuted are blessed. Now there are some who can take a passage like this and go the wrong way. They may go off and say we need to get people to hate us so that they would persecute us. The Bible says “blessed are those who are persecuted” so let’s go out there and bother some people, get in their faces and tell them they’re going to hell… and when they try to get away, follow them around telling them how bad they are
Does that sound right to you? There’s a problem with that… do you see the problem? The problem is that Jesus is not saying that at all, that’s not what the verse means. There’s an important lesson… when you read the Bible, read it in its context and its entirety. If all you read is, blessed are those who are persecuted… you’ve ignored some of the words and lost all of the meaning. You may have gotten the first 7 words correct, but in ignoring the last 5… God’s Word is completely changed. Revelations 22:18 comes to mind, if anyone adds to the words in the Bible, God will add to them plagues and if anyone takes away words, God will take away their eternal life.
Persecuted for what?
So what are the other five words? What are the other five words that make all the difference in how you understand the Christian? "For the sake of righteousness." Here’s the point, when people persecute you, when they are hostile towards you because of hate… it has to be hate because of righteousness. Righteousness is simply proper conduct before God. In other words, it’s good to experience hostility, it’s good to be hated, it’s good that people want to hurt you… if it’s because you are living properly before God. Genuine righteousness comes by faith in Jesus (Philippians 3:9). It is not just an abstract righteousness, but one that is tangibly evident in one’s life. When God saves someone and gives them faith, they will become righteous.
Being Righteous vs. Being Good
Let me make a distinction here. Being righteous is different from being good. Here’s the thing, everyone likes a good person. A good person is the kind of person who is nice and noble. A good person is selfless and splendid, dignified and decent. It’s the person who gives to charity, who helps the homeless, protects the weak… that’s what a good person is like. Though everyone applauds a good person, few people approve of a righteous person. A righteous person also helps those in need, but proper living before God involves much more than that. To be righteous is to live by faith in Jesus. It’s to live as Jesus lived. It’s to live in God’s presence because it’s proper conduct before God. It’s not just simply do things that seem good to others, it’s honoring God before others by doing what pleases the Lord.
For example, I think that God designed marriage for a husband and wife. We see it in how we’re designed physically. It’s also clear in God’s Word. Gen 2:24 – “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” Never does the Bible talk about men joining with men and women joining with women, except in referencing it as sinful. That can be found in Rom 1, it’s natural for opposite genders to marry each other… and to do otherwise is to reject God’s design. However, the fact that I hold to this point of view and live this point of view out makes many people angry.
Another example, I believe that God created the world in 6 days. Read Genesis 1 and you can’t come to any other conclusion; it’s what the Bible says. The world is heavily opposed to Christians who believe that God created the world because most believe in evolution. A righteous person does not compromise and continues to believe in God’s revealed truth about creation… and rejects evolution… but persecution follows. If I were a teacher in a public school, I would get fired for teaching that God created the world; there’s hostility there, there’s persecution for the one who lives righteously. That’s why it says in Romans 5:7 – “For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.” The righteous are not well received in today’s world.
Live like Jesus, Treated like Jesus
When you are blessed with salvation and become a disciple of Jesus Christ, you will experience persecution for righteousness’ sake… people are going to hate you because they hate Jesus. Faith in Jesus leads to a life like Jesus. If you live like Jesus did, you will be treated like Jesus was. How was Jesus treated?
Matthew 26:67 – “they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him… [they mocked Him] and said, ‘Prophecy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?’”
Matthew 27:29 – “after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand… they spat on Him… took the reed and began to beat Him on the head.”
They persecuted Jesus, they hated Him, they drove the nails into His hands, nailed Him to a piece of wood and pierced His side with a spear (John 19:34).If you follow Jesus, you can expect persecution because He was persecuted.
What is most valuable to you?
To be a Christian in today’s world is to be hated by the world. You have to determine something right now. Please ask yourself this question. What is most valuable to you? Is it your own well-being, your own life? Or is Jesus more valuable than your life? Christians in China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba, Libya, Algeria, Malaysia, Pakistan, and other countries have to make that decision before they call themselves Christians… because if they claim faith in Jesus Christ, it is an open invitation to be persecuted. For them, it’s truth at all costs. They gladly give their lives that the truth of Jesus Christ would be made known to the world. And many have died. They gladly proclaim their faith in the Son of God, and they gladly die that His name would be heard.
Have you made that decision yet? The decision about what is most valuable? Is it your life or is it Jesus? If you haven’t made that decision yet, you will be forced to make that decision eventually. There’s no being in the middle; you’re either serving the Lord, or you’re opposed to the Lord (Matthew 12:30, Luke 11:23). There’s two paths… temporary peace now with eternal suffering to follow… or temporary suffering with eternal peace in the kingdom of heaven. If all is peaceful now, you're either not saved or not faithful.
Final Proof
And if you have found yourself persecuted for righteousness’ sake, if you have found that you live for truth at all costs… if people hate you not because you’re a mean person, or you’re rude, or because you talk too much… but if you are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, if people hate you because you follow Jesus… in a sense, you have the final proof that you are a Christian and will be welcomed into His kingdom. This is the final beatitude, and it is the final proof that you are the Lord’s and He is yours. And know that your suffering is temporary, that yours is the kingdom of heaven. That your suffering is not in vain and that you will reap the reward of an eternity in the presence of Christ, the One who was punished on your behalf and in your place. Oh, how sweet it will be for the one who endures persecution till the end!
I recently read an article on a man, Scott Roeder, who had shot an abortion doctor, George Tiller, dead because Tiller was murdering babies. You can read that article here. First off, I do completely agree that abortion is murder and you can read more about it on my wife's blog post. There is no justification for such a crime. However, you do NOT address murder by murdering. That is ridiculous logic and there is NEVER justification for sin. We are told in Scripture that the Lord is the avenger in all things (1 Thessalonians 4:6). We don't take matters into our own hands and trust in ourselves... we trust in the Lord. "Let your behavior be excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12) Think about that next time before you go on a religious crusade and mar the name of Christ (if you call yourself a Christian) by your lack of reverence for God and His sovereignty. Furthermore, be afraid for Romans 2:1-11 makes it clear that we who judge others are simply storing up wrath for ourselves. Let's not be so concerned with the sin of others that we overlook our own personal sins (Matthew 7:3-5) which ought to be more far more familiar, far more numerous, and far more ugly. We must point out sin and declare the truths of God's will... but we must do so with excellent behavior, with humility, and most certainly without sin. "How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:2)
You cannot claim to be a born-again Christian Mr. Roeder and be okay with what you did. You did it out of self-righteousness which is despicable before God (Isaiah 64:6)... genuine righteousness never results in sin. Let that be a reminder to all of us professing Christians, sin is never okay.
Matthew 7:13-14 - Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
How do you know that you believe? That's an important question to ask for every professing believer because there often is no doubt about how we're saved... but rather if we're saved. How do you know that the faith you claim will see you to eternal life? How do you know that you really believe that Jesus is your Savior and Lord? In this passage, we are confronted with two gates leading to two paths.
The narrow gate leads to salvation... it's narrow because it says Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) and that there is no other way to be saved (Acts 4:12). To enter the narrow gate is to have faith in Jesus alone. The wide gate leads to destruction... it's wide because it says any way will do. There are no rules, no restrictions, and it makes no claim on your life. To enter the wide gate is to have faith in whatever you want and certainly not in Jesus alone.
How do you know what kind of faith you have? How do you know that you really believe in Jesus alone? How do you know which gate you've entered? You have to look at which path you're on. The wide gate leads to a wide way while the narrow gate leads to a narrow way. To walk on a certain way (you can translate this as "path") is to live life a certain way. The narrow path is a life marked by obedience to God's Word, you live your life to abide by His revealed will. The broad path is a life marked by rebellion against God's Word, you live your life apart from His revealed will.
How do you know if YOU believe? Here's the test... you need to examine your life and see if it is marked by obedience to God's Word. The point is this... faith in Christ always leads to life in Christ.
Acts 7:55-56 - But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.
Matthew 5:8 - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Our present, partial glimpse of God in all things does not even begin to compare with the future, full unveiling of God in all His splendor and majesty... oh to see that day when sin is done away! Look forward to that day Christian... when we will be with the Father, pure in heart... undivided in devotion... perfect in holiness... seeing Him face to face!
While I catch up on everything else... I will be posting links to some of the things that have really affected my life. This video clip was a great reminder for me of the truths of the gospel, the fact that I am a wicked, gross sinner... and that I stand righteous through Christ alone. 2 Cor 5:21 - "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
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