The Beatitudes-The Persecuted, Part One

Blessed are the Persecuted, Theirs is the Kingdom

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This beatitude speaks of promises for those who are persecuted for standing for righteousness, for holiness for the truth of the Word of God.

The American Gospel/Western Church Culture

Myself, PreacherRichD and Bobby the Seeker will be doing several podcasts on this beatitude for a variety of reasons:
It goes against the American Gospel that focuses on prosperity, the bless me gospel, what can I get from being a Christian. It is true, there are multitudes of blessings that come from being a Christ Follower but if you look at the beatitudes the blessings come from being humble, being merciful, being a peacemaker, seeking righteousness, having a pure heart, not the seeking after blessings.

This beatitude counters the American Gospel mindset of we should do all we can as Christians to avoid suffering and pain. The mindset that

It goes against the Western Church Culture that has a mindset that Christians in the rest of the world should experience persecution, but we should avoid persecution at all costs, which includes compromising the Gospel.

This beatitude focuses on rewards in heaven, not on earth, which is counter to the false prosperity gospel that is all about being materially blessed here on earth.

Matthew 5:10-12

¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 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.
Matthew 5:10-12 ESV

¹⁰ “Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are persecuted for ^[c]doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]. ¹¹ “Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me. ¹² Be glad and exceedingly joyful, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:10-12 AMP

Blessed

We will be taking a look at the definitions of the word blessed. In the beatitudes it is not about being blessed financially or in material things, even though our Heavenly Father can certainly bless us in those realms. But those who are being persecuted normally are not materially blessed.

By the grace of God you can go through anything and come out the other side as a blessed person.

False Accusations

How many American Christians are being falsely accused for their association with Christ and their godly lifestyle? The truth is for most Christians if they are being persecuted it is because they are being jerks as they stand for righteousness, or because they have made wrong choices. Those who are not being persecuted are those who live a life of apathy. But there are those who are living a Christlike life that may face some persecution and they feel the strength of God in their life as they stand for righteousness.

How About You?

How about you? Are you standing for righteousness? Are you willing to be persecuted for living for Christ? Have you experienced the blessing of God as you life a godly life? If so, how about sharing what you have learned about Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the Persecuted-Part One Podcast

Beatitudes Series
Beatitudes-Introduction
Blessed Are Those Who Are Poor in Spirit
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
Blessed Are The Meek
Blessed Are the Peacemakers-Part One
Blessed Are the Peacemakers-Part Two
Blessed Are the Peacemakers-Part Three
Blessed Are the Peacemakers-Part Four
Blessed Are the Merciful-Part One
Blessed Are the Merciful-Part Two
Blessed Are the Merciful-Part Three
Blessed Are the Merciful-Part Four
Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart-Part One
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart-Part Two
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart-Part Three
Blessed Are the Persecuted-Intro
Blessed Are the Persecuted-Part One
Blessed Are the Persecuted-Part Two
Blessed Are the Persecuted-Part Three
The Beatitudes-A Lifestyle

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