EXPOSITIONS OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – XI
“THOSE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS”
MATTHEW 5:1-12                                            AUGUST 12, 2007

INTRODUCTION
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”  The Church is never so strong as when it goes through persecution.  Acts 5:41. 
I.  PERSECUTION THAT BRINGS JOY.
The “righteousness” the Lord Jesus speaks of here is that which He has taught in the preceding Beatitudes.  He is saying that the foundational reason a Christian is persecuted is that the person is like or strives to be like the Lord Jesus.  John 15:18-25.  II Timothy 3:12.  I Thessalonians 3:3-4.  Acts 4:22.  Deitrich Bonhoffer THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. 
II.  THE NATURE OF PERSECUTION.
The word carries the sense of being harassed, having insults hurled in the face.  Galatians 5:11.  Ultimately, what the Lord Jesus is saying here is, “Blessed are they who are persecuted because, by God’s grace, they are determined to live as I live.”  Is Jesus Christ seen in your character?
III.  HOW DOES A CHRISTIAN REJOICE IN PERSECUTION?
By knowledge of God through His Word.  And this knowledge comes through our regular, everyday study of Scripture.  One of the best examples of this is Corrie Ten Boom during her time in the Nazi concentration camps. 
IV.  FIVE MARKS THAT ALLOW US TO REJOICE IN PERSECUTIONS, TRIALS AND STRUGGLES.
a)             Through persecutions God demonstrates the Christian’s identity with Christ.
b)            God often uses persecution to perfect the believer. I Peter 1.
c)             Persecution allows the believer to be a testimony to God’s great grace in his/her life.
d)            Persecution for Christ’s sake brings the promise of spending eternity in heaven.
e)             The Lord Jesus is particularly near in moments of severe persecution.
V.  VICTORY IN PERSECUTION.
Being anchored in the Truth of God’s Word is the key to victory in times of trial, struggle and persecution.  II Timothy 4:7-8.

SOME OF THE RESOURCES USED IN THIS STUDY:
James Montgomery Boice STUDIES IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
R. Kent Hughes ARE EVANGELICALS BORN AGAIN?
Sinclair B. Ferguson KINGDOM LIVING IN A FALLEN WORLD
Daniel M. Doriani THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Iain M. Duguid HERO OF HEROES
Martyn Lloyd-Jones STUDIES IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT