Matthew 5:3-11
Blessed Are the Persecuted
Series: The Beatitudes - Jan 22nd, 2006

Take a Vacation in Prison???
Croatia may offer tourist holiday behind bars
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia may reopen its most notorious communist-era prison for tourists willing to part with their money to re-enact the life of a political prisoner — including hard labor, stale food and nights in solitary confinement.

The plan has the support of some local officials and even former inmates, who have offered to work as tour guides, though the city council has yet to make a final decision.

Josip Modric, an architect who is promoting the project. said "If you want to experience some of the torture that political prisoners underwent ... just come along,"

Modric envisions tourists being issued convict uniforms, pounding large stones with a sledgehammer and hauling the pieces on their backs to quarries around the prison on Goli Otok, a barren island in the northern Adriatic Sea.

Those who sign up would be given written awards after completing their "prison sentence."

Goli Otok — which means Naked Island — was a miniature gulag set up by Yugoslavia's communist dictator Josip Broz Tito after World War II. It housed 3,000 inmates at its height but has been derelict since its closure in 1989.
Local officials have expressed interest but say they are unsure how well a vacation from hell will sell.

"How avant-garde or realistic this idea is remains to be further analyzed," said the head of the district's tourism office

Modric insisted he would offer gluttons for punishment only as much as they could take — with plenty of expert supervision.

"Weaker inmates would carry out light toil, while fitter inmates would 'kill themselves' with work in the sun during the day and spend the night in solitary confinement," Modric said.

"Of course, unlike real prisoners, nobody would be tortured."

Crazy…true story, don’t know where at…but who would?
• Truth be told…some would do it – wild reality
• But…what if it was not for a week, what if for life?
• Who would willingly put themselves in…no one

Wonder if that is almost how today’s beatitude sounds
• Matt 5 – turn to – Read v.10-11
• Who would choose, who would want…

Why are Persecuted blessed?-Reminder of beatitudes
• Jesus describing, declaring what Christianity is
• Beatitudes specifically – the heart of the saved

Review what have seen so far
• Poor in Spirit – have, can do nothing
• Mourning – Conviction, see our sin against God
• Meek – surrender, His will, not ours be done
• Hunger – desire for Him to fill, empower to live
• Merciful – heart of compassion, fruit of Spirit
• Pure in Heart–undivided heart for God’s presence
• Peacemakers – giving word of reconciliation
• Persecution – highest beatitude…last
o Shows highest level of growth….

I. Persecution Is Normal
1. In fact, more than that – it is a Promise – 2 Tim 3:12 
a. All…Will – not an if, not a maybe…promise
2. First – want to Comfort you as face persecution
a. Not a strange thing…abnormal 1 Pet 4:12 
b. Important – false teaching tells us to expect comfort
i) Says we should, will be…if not something wrong
(Luke 6:26) "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets."
3. Secondly - with comfort…want to challenge
a. If this is a promise…and it is
b. If we are not being persecuted – question is why?
c. Why do we not see more persecution in US?
i) Not because we are democratic…advanced
ii) It is because…church is lukewarm
iii) More godliness = more persecution
4. Persecution becomes mark of where you are at
a. John Wesley story

II. What does it mean by Persecution?
1. Revile – subject to verbal abuse
a. “holy”, “special”, - Jesus trial and Cross
2. Persecute - Harassed, pursue in a hostile manner
a. Beating, torture, to martyrdom - losing job
b. This is what we normally think of as persecution
Christians who were flung to the lions or burned at the stake; but these were kindly deaths. Nero wrapped the Christians in pitch & set them afire, and used them as living torches to light his gardens. He sewed them in the skins of wild animals and set his hunting dogs upon them to tear them to death. They were tortured on the rack; they were scraped with pincers; molten lead was poured hissing upon them; red hot brass plates were affixed to their bodies; eyes were torn out; parts of their bodies were cut off and roasted before their eyes
3. All manner of evil, falsely – Slandered
a. Lying about - impugning motives
b. “sticks and stones . . “ but isn’t true - hurts deeply
4. Jesus shows us persecution in His books - more than physical - also verbal
a. Important to understand - say for our comfort and instruction - verbal abuse is far more common anywhere - but especially in our lives
b. Although we might deem less, or even not real persecution - Jesus does
5. But again…don’t want to comfort too much
a. Main reason lack of persecution…lukewarm

III. Why should we be Persecuted?
1. Note – it is NOT for something we do wrong
a. Is for righteousness sake…not something cause
(1 Pet 2:20-23) "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
2. Righteousness sake – doing what is right
a. Specifically note the place in the beatitudes
b. Hunger for righteousness…now have…result
c. Real righteousness exposes their wickedness
i) Like a light in a dark room
ii) Brighter the light…greater the persecution
3. Further note expansion – is for Jesus sake …in Him
a. In other words…really about Him that this comes
b. World is evil…set against Christ
c. Becoming less & less like world, more like Jesus
d. Almost a traitor as far as world is concerned
4. Practical – not previous beatitude – Peacemaker
a. Most often, this brings most persecution
i) True in Acts
b. Know true in my life – Limited persecution
i) Job threatened over - because I shared gospel
ii) Sister before she was saved-sent a nasty letter
iii) Mom & her husband told us alienating them
c. Is the gospel that is really offensive
i) if you say all relative, or multi-religious ideas - OK
ii) If you proclaim gospel - you will be persecuted.

IV. How should we Respond to?
1. More than just understand…resolved to
2. Rejoice!
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. (1 Pe 4:12-14)
(Acts 5:41) "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."
(Acts 16:25) " at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."
3. Rejoice because – part of Kingdom heaven
a. Becomes a proof that we are really saved
b. Shows that we are not part of this world
c. 1 Thess says, 1 Peter says – proves
d. Unless it proves not saved…
i) In that sense – good, opportunity to be saved
e. If hearing this, and no identification with…maybe you are not saved – this is right, of Christ
4. Rejoice because – rewards in heaven
a. Point could be made that earns heavenly rewards
(Mat 19:28 30) "So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
(2 Cor 4:17) "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding & eternal weight of glory,"
5. Rejoice because – in great company

One of the most famous of all the martyrs was Polycarp, the aged bishop of Smyrna. The mob dragged him to the tribunal of the Roman magistrate. He was given the inevitable choice—sacrifice to the godhead of Caesar or die. “Eighty and six years,” came the immortal reply, “have I served Christ, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” So they brought him to the stake, and he prayed his last prayer: “O Lord God Almighty, the Father of thy well-beloved and ever-blessed son, by whom we have received the knowledge of thee … I thank thee that thou hast graciously thought me worthy of this day and of this hour.” Here was the supreme opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty to Jesus Christ.