Happy Are the Harassed

Truly happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, you can render it harassed.

Happy are those who are harassed righteousness.

Make sure you note that here in this text.

Jesus Christ is not happy are those who create a nuisance of himself. Happy are the unethical happy are the sloppy, happy are the irritating happy are the arrogant, happy are the harassed who are harassed because they live a godly life in the role is an easy because it often involves getting in the middle of something. When people are in conflict. Emotions are high, relationships can be strained, but helping resolve conflict as part of how God has called us to live.

Welcome to this broadcast of wisdom for the heart with Steve and David Stevens working through a section of Matthew five, known as the Beatitudes. This is the fifth and final message in this series Stevens calling today's lesson happy are the harassed man knew his wife's birthday was just around the corner and so he asked her without appearing to be too interested in and knowing he asked her honey if if you could have one wish what would you want she thought a moment, laughed and then said I'd love to be eight again on the morning of her birthday. He got up and got her ready. They went to a nearby waffle house for waffles and whip cream with a tall glass of milk. Next they headed to the local themepark for the day. They had their he could run every right in the park, the death slide the cyclone with the screaming loop, the wall of fear and on and on. Everything they had. She rode five hours later, she staggered out of the themepark with her husband, her head reeling her stomach still churning but off to McDonald's. They went where he ordered her a big Mac with fries and a thick chocolate milkshake. After that they went to the latest Disney animated movie where they had popcorn and Pepsi's and a bag of M&Ms topping off the day full of fabulous eight-year-old adventures. Exhausted, she stumbled into the house late that evening with her husband collapsed on the bed. He leaned over and softly whispered honey you like being eight again one eye open in surprise and she moaned I meant my dress size is one thing to think we heard somebody and it's another thing to really understand what they meant it difficult for us to say things to people like oh I thought you said that all thought you said that you you meant this when I heard you say that I didn't think you meant that so I did know nothing about it. Husbands have said otherwise.

I hear you say that the wise is that I believe you're saying you did Mary say that these are all hypothetical illustrations here without a doubt. Everybody has an opinion on what they think God says about just about everything. Certainly, on what pleases him.

And what would be the path that would bring from him.

This elusive attribute of happiness.

If you do this, God will be pleased with you and you will be happy if you don't do that God will be pleased with you and you will be happy if you don't do this or that God will be pleased with you and you won't be happy is God really that confusing on the subject of happiness will have found it fascinating that is Jesus Christ began his very first sermon recorded for us.

He could've said a lot of things about a lot of things but he began by clearing up the truth about happiness in the Christian life with nine statements, each beginning with the word Makarios happiness.

True, genuine, abiding happiness. Jesus Christ radically redefines a life of true happiness. We have uncovered in the process of our study.

The principle that dying. The self is certainly the first and ongoing step toward happiness. We have uncovered in the process that these blessed these Beatitudes you can render these happiness is are the opposite of me, attitudes are because they really have nothing to do with me. In fact, the death of me brings happiness dying to self brings abiding happiness, so Jesus Christ is laid out for us and to find a path for us in Matthew chapter 5 by radically upending conventional religious wisdom what the religious leaders and people of Christ's day thought God said was radically different than what God meant, so don't misunderstand what God is saying.

Let's find out in one more session together. Let's take our study backup by going then to verse nine we left off. Happy Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. There is happy are the peacemakers, would you notice that Jesus Christ does not say happy are the peaceful happy heart of the undisturbed. That's what we would write but had a great week why nobody disturbed me feeling really happy why everything is peaceful. Jesus Christ did not say happy are the peaceful uses a compound word peacemaker. The first half of the word meant much the same thing as the Hebrew word shalom. The Hebrew word Jew would say shalom they meant much more than well and have a nice day.

They literally meant wholeness. Behold have well being wasn't just having nice and peaceful life for day. It was a blessing for them to have a whole life. The second part of the word make her peace maker demands that we understand that the person is not passive, but literally someone who negotiates peace. By the way, would you notice as well that the Christian who is the peacemaker he said is someone who is called sons of God and would you notice as well that the peacemakers are not given the promise of peace. Given the promise that they will be like their father peacemaking can mess up your world godly person might stir up trouble you might not have had so much trouble but since you become a Christian everywhere.

The apostle Paul went warmers.

He said either stirred up a revival oral riots. You just might have war on your hands. The cross of Jesus Christ by the way, is the greatest example of making peace and it cost the life of the peacemaker right instead of glossing over sin peacemakers. By the way, don't sacrifice truth. Along the way, the Lord in fact openly exposed sin for sin, suffered for sin and his death brought us peace, Paul wrote, therefore being justified by faith, we have what peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans chapter 5 verse one there wasn't anything cheap wasn't anything easy about this piece Christ literally made peace for us. Paul used, by the way, the same rewards for Christ, making peace that Christ use in Matthew 54 peace makers same root word. It will cost you.

It will require that you and I die to self every time you share the gospel, by the way, Jesus Christ with someone else. Did you know you are engaged in an peacemaking of the world is in deep, deep trouble. At this very moment, and whether they realize it or not. They are an enemy of God.

They are at enmity with God means they are the enemy of God. Imagine being the enemy of God's power to the Corinthians. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us. We that you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God's exhibit chapter 5 verse 20 I have made some enemies because of my testimony.

How about you ever had anybody tell you off ever had anybody tell you that you think you are getting a better than me and all you try to do is share within the Christ loves them. You telling me I'm a sinner doesn't mean we grab people by the nap of the neck. Can you make an repeat of a dirty rotten sinner but eventually they realize you share the gospel with them that that's what you're saying they are becomes offensive ever had a door slammed in your face you're been promoted over because you would laugh it up with the boys been ridiculed on the campus for your testimony. Is he standing up as a son of God may mean you stand alone. So when you deliver the gospel. Just remember you are a peace maker sometimes.

Sometimes it can really rough up the waters of your life. I'm in the middle reading the biography of Gen. Douglas MacArthur great general World War II depending on who your reading and the Japanese soldiers had dug in over dozens and dozens of islands and after the peace treaty had been signed. Many of them had not received the news that the war was over fact, I read that 15 years ago. If you can imagine this 15 years ago. They believe they found the last Japanese soldier who for decades had been isolated, living on an island thinking the war must still be on living in fear not knowing peace had come equally tragic. I have read that the Japanese government enlisted messengers and sent them to do. Many of these islands to deliver the news of peace and some of the messengers were shot and killed. There's a parallel here with you might lose sleep if you become a peacemaker, you might ruffle feathers. You might make enemies as you engage in the mass of people's lives. As you negotiate peace between people and between people and God you might sacrifice peacefulness in order to make peace. But if you're willing to share not only the power of his resurrection but in the fellowship of his.

What sufferings sufferings of the son of God.

You redeem sons of God will engage in delivering the news. Peace with God is now available through Jesus Christ. I recommended my seminary students small biography of Robert Chapman, the pastor of a small church his entire life in 19th century England man, however, was deeply respected, considered by many, including Charles Spurgeon, who once said that Robert Chapman is the St. Louis man in England. Not everyone like Robert Chapman because of his testimony. That's just a fact of life. I was interested. On one occasion, a grocer, or once became so infuriated by Chapman's open-air preaching that as he walked by me spit on for number of years.

This same grocer continued to verbally attack Robert Chapman every time he got there. Chapman never retaliated. In fact, on one occasion, some of Chapman's wealthy relatives came to visit him.

Robert was a single man, his entire life and they decided to to do some cooking for him to give a little break while he visited they asked where they could purchase groceries and Chapman insisted that they go to this particular store. They did and they purchased a large amount of food and then asked her to be delivered to the home of Robert Chapman, grocer said excuse me, that can be no, that's right, delivered to the home of Robert Chapman what you must've come come to the wrong store known in the we came exactly where he told us to come when the grocer arrived and Chapman answered the door got use that singular event and the grocer broke down into tears. Chapman's peacemaking effort ended in this grocery, yielding his life that very afternoon to Jesus Christ final beatitude is repeated. You'll notice and expanded in chapter 5 verses 10 to 12. In fact, Christ, actually I think amplifies on the results of being peacemakers. Notice what Christ says in verse 10. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you truly happy. He says are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. The word translated, persecuted, has the idea of being chased, punted, you can render it harassed. Happy are those who are harassed for righteousness sake. Jesus Christ is happy are those who are hunted and harassed, not noticing he does say for righteousness sake K when you pulled over because the money behind it was flashing blue lights for running that's not what you don't get reward in heaven. You're not persecuted by the state that you're not persecuted for righteousness sake. When I was a kid during summer time I friend and I would explore in some woods near our subdivision at night until it grew dark. I remember on many occasions there was an apartment complex on our way home on the bottom floor downstairs was the electrical box that ran all of the electricity for the entire apartment building and was controlled by a big handle even had a grip mark in that. And the temptation was was great indeed and we yielding weed scout around to make sure nobody was downstairs and we we pull that handle, and run out of there as quick as we could. Is the entire building went dark. Well the last time we ever did that to guys. One of them dressed in army fatigues happened to be standing on the balcony just over where we ran underneath they heard the electrical arm slammed down, they saw their building grow dark, and two kids spread out from underneath her balcony and all I can remember is running as fast as I could and I heard hey you, and as I was sprinting. I looked behind me and one of those guys the guy army fatigues had leapt over the balcony landed on the ground like Sylvester Stallone and took off after us if we could not outrun them you would have a different pastor. God knew I needed to live so I can say you need to understand the difference between punishment and persecution.

If we had been caught we would not have been persecuted. We would have been tortured to death. Probably we've been punished. Make sure you note that here in this text Jesus Christ does not say happy are those who create a nuisance of themselves. Happy are the lazy, happy are the unethical happy are the sloppy, happy are the irritating happy are the arrogant know. Happy are the harassed who are harassed because they live a godly life.

But what he said Peter actually writes it this way. Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice insofar as you share Christ suffering that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ.

You are blessed you are happy because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you, but let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or is a meddler yet.

If anyone suffers as a Christian, but not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name that is in the name Christian per speaker for 12 to 16 you notice back here.

The Jesus Christ did not say happy are those who are persecuted. No happy are those who share the sufferings of Christ because their living for righteousness sake.

14 former Muslims were not identified with Christ our Lord. In the secret Cove along the water's edge in Morocco as they finish baptizing these 14 converts suddenly an observer leapt into the water. With tears filling his eyes, declaring that he too wanted to be a follower of Christ and be baptized. This man had been the interpreter for the training meetings that week fell by the Christians in order to be baptized. This Muslim had to answer publicly the questions the others had answered before they were immersed.

These were the questions they had to answer number one do you renounce Islam, the Quran, Ramadan and other teaching. Yes have you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior and do you now believe in the Trinity that Christ is equally God. Yes. Are you willing to be imprisoned to be thrown out of your home for Christ upon the answer yes you're prepared to be publicly identified with this one.

You may very well suffer for and with you know something friends no matter what happens to those 15, according to Christ's words, they are under their way to experiencing true abiding happiness. Let's rehearse these nine statements that define true happiness as we raced to a close. Here in verse three I'll reward him, you follow along Jesus Christ basically says. Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually poverty-stricken the world satisfy the ways we contrast each of these happy are those who can say I got it made in verse four. Jesus Christ effectively says Blessed are those who mourn over their sinful propensity while the world would say happy are those who never have to cry over anything verse five the Lord effectively said blessed are those who refused to retaliate, the world would say happy are those who not to climb on top and over everybody on their way to the top six Jesus Christ said happy are those who are famished for the things of God.

The world would say oh no, no. Happy are those who can stuff themselves with the things of life.

Jesus Christ says in verse seven, effectively happy are those who lend a hand to help. The world says you gotta be kidding no happy is the one who never needs help in verse eight Jesus shucked his world by saying that the happy person is one whose private purity is a daily resolution. The world was I don't know happiness is when your private life never makes it in the newspaper that's happiness. Verse nine, the world would say happy are those who know how to tear into pieces.

Jesus Christ is happy are those who make peace.

Finally, in verses 10, 11, the world includes their list of media attitudes and they would summarize it this way. Happy are the trouble free and Jesus Christ says happy are those who accept trouble for me, those who are truly pursuing peace might not mean much to planet Earth. But take heart. One day you will rule world. Many of you are are old enough to have watched Cash's clay a.k.a. Mohammed Ali box, former three-time world heavyweight boxing champion. He was the Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods of the ring. No one could match his skill. For years the disorder redefined at all. His face would would be on Sports Illustrated more times than any other athlete in history that magazine when he was floating like a butterfly and stinging like a big number that is on top of his profession, and everybody knew it to make sure that but I was a long time ago, Gary Smith, the sportswriter went to Ollie's country estate sometime good interview Gary was met at the door by a bent figure with the slurred speech for the combination of Parkinson's disease and way way too many punches. This article said that Ali escorted Gary out to a barn that had become his museum was filled with mementos and trophies. Life-sized pictures frame with glass of him punching the air holding championship belts over his head as he got closer, Gary noticed on those large pictures lining the barn wall captured Ali at his greatest moments. There were there were white streaks pigeons nesting in the barn had made their own contribution. Ali noticed two Gary city scaled up with them, almost as an active closure shuffle over to the wall and one by one. He turned and faced them to the wall. We walked out to the open door the barn. He stood there looking out across the field, muttering to himself something. Gary said that he walked over, excuse me, I didn't hear what you said Ali repeated, louder this time, not to himself I was saying I had the world and it was nothing. It was nothing. Those who follow after Jesus Christ will be often underfoot overlooked, and you will never have the world but one day you will and just knowing that alone. According to Christ and the apostles brings an abiding sense of happiness. No matter what, let it come one day you will have the world and you know something when you have the world something it will be something happiness now happiness in heaven forever. With that we bring this lesson and this series to a close this daily time in God's word features the teaching of Stephen Davey series.

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