Blessed are the Persecuted
Click play on the video below to watch the service live or to re-watch the service.
If the video below does not work properly you can also watch the service on YouTube using this link: https://www.youtube.com/@olmstedfallsbiblechurch2081/streams and clicking on the Live tab.
Audio
Audio will be available shortly after the completion of the service.
Scripture
and
Sermon Notes
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
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 5:1-12 ESV
1. The Pronouncement of Blessing
2. The Prerequisite for Blessing
Matthew 5:10 ESV - “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 ESV - 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
John 15:18-20 ESV - 18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Matthew 5:11 ESV - 11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
James 4:4 ESV - 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Luke 9:26 ESV - 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Mark 10:29-30 ESV - 29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
3. The Promise of Blessing
Matthew 5:10 ESV - 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:12 ESV - 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Romans 8:18 ESV - 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
1 Peter 3:17 ESV - 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
Hebrews 12:2-3 ESV - 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
The Lord’s Supper
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ESV - 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.