You Will Be Hated

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

TEXT: Matthew 5:10-12
THEME: The Citizens of the Kingdom of God – The Peacemakers are Always in Trouble because of Jesus
TITLE: You Will Be Hated
PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: The Benefits of Being Persecuted
PURPOSE: To Understand the Blessedness In Times of Persecution

I. INTRODUCTION
A. The Persecution in the Old Testament
• Slavery in Egypt
• Empires
o Jeremiah, Hebrew Children, Daniel
B. The Persecution of in the New Testament and Early Church
• Jesus
• Apostles and Martyrs
o Paul, Peter, John, Andrew, Thomas, Stephen, Polycarp, John Hus
C. The Persecution in the Last Days
• Last Days (Revelation 6:10)
Note : Those Who Stand in the Truth and Proclaiming the Word will be Persecuted

II. BODY
A. The Theme of the Beatitudes – Who Are the People of the Kingdom of God?
• Being blessed or happy is exactly the opposite of world’s view of true blessedness especially the Jews
o Having a good life or easy life
o Having a good relationship toward others

B. Contrasting Beatitudes
• Christian must be a peacemaker but at the same time object of hatred, mockery, and slandering.

C. Persecution
1) Affirmation of Persecution
• Jesus Affirms that Christians Will Taste Persecution
o Prayer in John 17:14-15
o Encouragement in John 15:18-19
o Teachng in Beattitudes
• Apostles Affirms that Christians Will Taste Persecution
2) Anticipation of Persecution
• Every Christian must not be surprised when persecution will occur
• Every Christian must anticipate persecution in life
o Family, Fellowmen, Friends, Foe

D. Persecutor
Who are the Persecutors
• Mocker - They think that what you are doing and believing are nothing but foolishness
o Jesus in the hands of the Roman Soldies

• Haters – They treat Christians as a threat on their religion and they wanted them to be get rid
o Jesus in the hands of the Sanhedrin
• Slanderers – They wanted others to hate Christians
o Jesus in the hands of the people

E. Persecuted
A. The Determining the True Persecuted
• The ground by which they are persecuted
o Righteousness, Jesus,
• The reason by which they are persecuted
o Not of this world

F. The Benefits of Being Persecuted

1) You are identified with the Lord Jesus Christ (…because of righteousness and because of Jesus)


2) Your are doing your responsibility as Christian( cause of insults, persecutions, and false accusations)


3) You will receive a great reward in heaven


III. CONCLUSION
Do not be surprised when persecution came but be strong and bold to continue to serve the Lord knowing that being persecuted you are identified with Lord Jesus Christ and it is a great privilege. Continue to stand firm in the truth and continue to serve Him no matter what. Rejoice and be glad because the Lord whom you serve that caused persecutions, on that day He will tell you “My good and faithful servant.”



For God’s Glory
07/10/11