Attitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings
• What is this series about?
• An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors
identified in the New Testament as “blessed”
• A look at Christian conduct and characteristics
that will enrich our lives with lasting joy
• A look at the condition of those who lack
these qualities
• Outline (Matthew 5:10)
• “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the
sake of righteousness”
• “For theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
• The cursed life
• Persecuted for righteousness (Matt. 5:10)
• Persecution: intentional mistreatment of a person/group
• Persecution takes many forms: discrimination, threats, loss of
privileges/opportunities/relationships, even death
• For the right reason: righteousness
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Not for unlawful civil disobedience (1 Pet. 2:13-15)
Not for being rebellious (1 Pet. 2:18-20)
Not for doing wrong (1 Pet. 4:15)
Not for being a nuisance/mischief-maker (1 Pet. 4:15)
Not for failing to follow good advice/instruction (Eph. 6:1)
God does not bless people who bring affliction upon themselves
in unrighteousness. There is no glory in purposely making
yourself a martyr or in provoking your enemies to violence.
• Persecuted for righteousness (Matt. 5:10)
• Righteousness invites persecution (why: John 3:19-20)
• 2 Tim. 3:12 “all who desire to live godly…will be persecuted”
• 1 Pet. 4:12 “do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you”
• John 15:18-21 “if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute
you”
Read Luke 6:26. If you are never persecuted for righteousness, could
it be that your behavior is more darkness than light?
• Responding to persecution for righteousness
 Bless those who persecute us (Rom. 12:14)
 Pray for those who persecute (Matt. 5:44)
 Rejoice (Acts 5:41) and glorify God (1 Pet. 4:16)
 Focus on the reward (Rom. 8:17-18)
 Though you may be rejected by men, you are choice and precious
in God’s sight (1 Pet. 2:4)
 Fear not their intimidation, but trust God (1 Pet. 3:14)
 Remember past victories over suffering (Heb. 10:32-39)
Some believers fall away when persecuted (Matt. 13:20-21)
Some try to avoid persecution by compromising w/ evil (Gal. 6:12)
What will you do when persecuted?
• For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
• “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will
beautify the afflicted ones with salvation” (Ps. 149:4)
• “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD
delivers him out of them all.” (Ps. 34:19)
• God gives comfort in this life & in the next (2 Cor. 1:3-5)
• Kingdom and righteousness are inextricably linked
together: seek them both (Matt. 6:33)
Those who live the beatitudes will find persecution in this
life, but the reward of heaven in the next!
• The cursed life…
• Let us not persecute the righteous…
• Those who afflict the righteous will be punished (2 Thess. 1:6-9)
• Let us not fall short in our pursuit of righteousness…
• The unrighteous shall not enter the heaven (Matt. 5:20)
• Trust not in the deceptive praise of men…
• “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers
used to treat the false prophets in the same way” (Luke 6:26)
• Summary
• “But even if you should suffer for the sake of
righteousness, you are blessed” (1 Pet. 3:14)
• Accept persecution as an expected result of following
Christ
• If you suffer for doing right, count yourself blessed
• If you suffer for doing wrong, you are getting what you
deserve
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for
the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven!
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Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34)
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Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9)
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Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27)
Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16)
Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21)
Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10)
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Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37)
Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12)
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Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12)
Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32)
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That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9)
Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey
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2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36
Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly