1. Jesus said. (Matt. 5:3-12).

2. These 8 beatitudes of Christ ought to be imbedded in our hearts and minds. They are perfect and timeless.

• The first 7 beatitudes tell us how to be happy and saved.
• The last beatitude differs from the others. It sets forth the fact that those who live righteous lives shall be persecuted

1. We do not think that one who is humble, who mourns over sin, who is gentle, who hungers and thirsts after righteousness, who is merciful, who is pure in heart and who is a peacemaker would ever have an enemy or would ever suffer persecution, but this is far from the truth!

2. Jesus was the most righteous Person who ever lived. He was the very personification of goodness. He was without sin, yet He was hated and despised by men. They ridiculed Him, beat Him, spit upon Him and finally crucified Him.

3. Jesus taught His followers should also expect to have enemies and expect to suffer persecution. (Matt. 10:22, 28; Lk. 6:26; Jno. 15:18-20; 1 Jno. 3:1,13).

1. The apostles suffered severe persecutions.

• James, the son of Zebedee, was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I in about 44 A.D.. (Acts 12:2).
• John, his brother, was exiled to the isle that is call Patmos for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev.1:9). Both James and John suffered in fulfillment to Christ's prophecy. (Matt. 20:20-23).
• Peter was imprisoned because he preached Christ. (Acts 12:4).
• He later suffered a violent death according to John 21:18.
• Jesus said that when Peter was old he would stretch forth his hands and another would gird him and would carry him where he did not want to go. John said Jesus was signifying by what death Peter should glorify God. (Jno. 21:19).
• The ancients say that Peter was crucified 34 years after these words were spoken with his head downward at Rome because he did not feel worthy to die as Jesus did.
• Paul was stoned on his first missionary journey at Lystra. (Acts 14:19).
• On his 2nd missionary journey he and Silas were imprisoned at Philippi and beaten because they cast "a spirit of divination" out of a slave girl.
• Paul indeed suffered much because of his faith in Christ. (2 Cor. 11:24-27).
• Tradition affirms the other apostles suffered severe persecutions because of their faith in the risen Lord.

2. Not only did the apostles suffer persecutions, but many of the early Christians suffered for Christ.

• Paul, before his conversion, had Christians imprisoned and put to death. He stood and watched with approval as they stoned the godly Stephen to death. (Acts 8:1).
• Acts 8 also informs us that "a great persecution arose against the church" and Christians were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. They did not give up the faith because of this persecution, but wherever they went they preached the word. (Acts 8:4).
• From history we learn that many of the early Christians suffered deaths almost too horrible to describe. Many of them were burned to death. Others were crucified. Others were placed in arenas and devoured by wild beasts. I will not go into all the gory details, but Christians suffered the most painful deaths that could be imposed on another human being.

 3. Christians today must also expect to suffer "for righteousness sake."

• Peter wrote. (1 Pet. 4:15,16).
• Paul said. (2 Tim. 3:12).
• Observe Paul said that "all" who live godly lives will suffer persecution.
• This is a rule that applies in every age.
• If we are not suffering or have never suffered persecution, it very likely means that we are too much like the world. We are walking in the darkness rather than in the light. Darkness hates light and will persecute it.
• Christians today, as well as in apostolic times, are faced with persecutions.
• In many parts of the world Christians are often beaten, persecuted in horrible ways, and even put to death.
• Some years ago I heard an African missionary tell of an African Christian who was asked to denounce Christ. He refused to denounce Christ so the soldiers took his child and bashed his head against the concrete.
• Years ago Pat McGee, a friend of mine who had spent 6 or 7 years in Indonesia, told me that some the brethren in Indonesia were brutally beaten and that large stones were thrown through the roof of his house destroying it.
• Missionaries in Greece, South America and Italy have faced strong persecutions. Some are in prison this very moment.
• In America we have not been called upon the resist unto blood (Heb. 12:4), but we still have persecutions that are hard to bear and we need the encouragement and consolation of this eighth beatitude.
• Both the young and the old are often ridiculed for their religious beliefs and for standing for the right.
• For the time being, persecution is in the classroom, the office and the shop rather than on a cross or burning stake, but it is still persecution!
• When persecutions come we must not yield but we must say as the apostles did. (Acts 5:29).

Jesus taught us to rejoice when we are persecuted "for righteousness sake." We should rejoice for at least 3 reasons.

1. First, Jesus taught we should rejoice because the prophets were persecuted.

• Godly people have always suffered and suffering is not a mark of God's disfavor.
• To suffer persecution for righteousness puts one the brotherhood of the faithful to God.

2. Second, James taught we should rejoice because persecution makes us stronger in faith. (Jas. 1:2,3).

• Each trial we experience and overcome makes us stronger in faith and more steadfast.
• In this we should rejoice and be thankful.

3. Third, Jesus taught we should rejoice because our reward in great in heaven. (Rev. 7:13-17).

• The most severe persecutions do not compare to our future glory in heaven. We must endure suffering at most for a lifetime.
• Heaven is forever. Those who trust Jesus and do right shall be rewarded for a billion years and then a billion times that and then an infinite times that.

1. Luke asserts that after the apostles were beaten by the Sanhedrin and charged not to speak in the name of Christ "that they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to have suffered dishonor for the Name." (Acts 5:41).

• This should be our attitude. We should rejoice when we are counted worthy to suffer for Christ. We should completely submit our lives to Jesus. (Phil. 1:20, 21).
• The Lord will bless those who remain faithful unto death. (Rev. 2:10).
• In context Jesus is teaching that those who live faithfully and are willing even to die for Him will receive "the crown of life."
• One day they will reign in heaven with the risen Lord who sits at the right hand of God.

2. Heaven can be yours if you come to Christ and live for Him and remain faithful even under persecution to the end of life. Won't you come to Jesus and say, "Lord, I love you and will put my trust in you. I will be buried with you in baptism and live for you through the storms and persecutions of life. Come as we stand and sing.