Embracing Opposition: The Call to Persevere in Faith
Summary
In my early years of following Christ, I faced unexpected opposition while organizing a campus ministry event. This experience taught me a crucial lesson: following Jesus inevitably brings opposition. As we delve into the Beatitudes, particularly the final ones, we see Jesus framing a life devoted to God, which naturally invites resistance from the world. The Beatitudes culminate in a call to embrace persecution for righteousness, highlighting that the kingdom of God is both a present reality and a future hope.
Persecution, in its essence, is rejection and ridicule for the sake of Jesus. It is a spiritual battle, not just a human one, as seen throughout biblical history with figures like Abel, Moses, and David. The enemy's hatred for Jesus fuels this opposition. While some face severe persecution, many of us experience subtler forms, such as exclusion or misunderstanding due to our faith. This can lead to feelings of shame or fear of rejection, tempting us to hide our beliefs.
However, we are called to value rejection and ridicule for Jesus. These experiences can deepen our spiritual roots, making us stronger and more resilient. They also increase our impact, as perseverance through trials leads to greater fruitfulness. Like the seed in good soil, enduring persecution allows us to yield a bountiful harvest. Historical figures like Winston Churchill exemplify the power of perseverance, showing that our time to shine may come later, but it will come.
Ultimately, enduring persecution draws the applause of our Heavenly Father. The Beatitudes promise that peacemakers and those who endure persecution will be called children of God. This divine approval is the highest honor, a badge of discipleship. Our reward in heaven will far exceed our expectations, with Jesus Himself as the ultimate prize. As we persevere, we are reminded that our struggles are not in vain, for they align us with the prophets and saints who have gone before us.
Key Takeaways:
- Embracing opposition for Jesus is part of the Christian journey. It is not a sign of failure but a badge of discipleship, aligning us with biblical figures who faced similar trials. [01:18]
- Persecution can deepen our spiritual roots, making us stronger and more resilient. It challenges us to stand firm in our faith, even when misunderstood or ridiculed. [09:06]
- Perseverance through trials increases our impact, allowing us to bear fruit and fulfill our God-given purpose. Like Winston Churchill, our time to shine may come later, but it will come. [15:39]
- God's approval is the ultimate reward. Being called a child of God is the highest honor, surpassing any earthly accolade. Our perseverance draws the applause of our Heavenly Father. [19:03]
- Our heavenly reward will exceed our expectations, with Jesus Himself as the ultimate prize. As we endure, we are reminded that our struggles are not in vain, for they align us with the saints who have gone before us. [24:24]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:18] - Facing Opposition
[03:30] - Understanding Persecution
[04:50] - Spiritual Battle
[06:53] - Subtle Forms of Persecution
[09:06] - Deepening Spiritual Roots
[10:47] - Embracing Rejection
[11:32] - Growing Stronger
[13:12] - Standing Against the Stream
[15:39] - Perseverance and Impact
[17:16] - Called for a Purpose
[19:03] - Divine Approval
[19:47] - Badge of Discipleship
[21:36] - Aligning with the Prophets
[24:24] - Heavenly Reward
[27:24] - Encouragement to Persevere
[29:54] - Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 5:9-12
- Ephesians 6:12
- Matthew 13:20-21
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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus say about those who are persecuted for righteousness in Matthew 5:10-12?
2. How does the sermon describe the nature of persecution and its spiritual roots? [04:50]
3. What are some examples of subtle forms of persecution mentioned in the sermon? [06:53]
4. How does the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 relate to the theme of persecution? [09:06]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why might Jesus consider persecution a blessing, as described in Matthew 5:10-12?
2. How does the sermon suggest that persecution can deepen one's spiritual roots? [09:06]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that enduring persecution aligns believers with biblical figures? [19:03]
4. How does the sermon interpret the concept of divine approval in the context of persecution? [19:47]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced opposition for your faith. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now? [01:18]
2. The sermon mentions the temptation to hide one's beliefs due to fear of rejection. How can you courageously stand firm in your faith in your current environment? [06:53]
3. Consider the idea that persecution can increase your impact. How can you use your experiences of opposition to bear fruit in your community? [15:39]
4. How can you remind yourself of the ultimate reward in heaven when facing trials and persecution? [24:24]
5. The sermon encourages valuing rejection and ridicule for Jesus. What practical steps can you take to embrace this mindset in your daily life? [10:47]
6. How can you support others in your community who are experiencing persecution or ridicule for their faith?
7. Reflect on the concept of divine approval as the highest honor. How does this perspective change the way you view earthly accolades and recognition? [19:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Opposition as a Mark of Faith
In the journey of following Christ, facing opposition is not a sign of failure but a testament to one's discipleship. Throughout biblical history, figures like Abel, Moses, and David encountered resistance because of their devotion to God. This opposition is a spiritual battle, fueled by the enemy's hatred for Jesus. As believers, we may experience subtle forms of persecution, such as exclusion or misunderstanding, which can lead to feelings of shame or fear. However, these challenges are opportunities to align ourselves with the prophets and saints who have gone before us, embracing the rejection as a badge of discipleship. [01:18]
"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt misunderstood or excluded because of your faith. How can you view this experience as a mark of your discipleship and an opportunity to grow closer to God?
Day 2: Deepening Spiritual Roots Through Persecution
Persecution, whether severe or subtle, can deepen our spiritual roots, making us stronger and more resilient. It challenges us to stand firm in our faith, even when misunderstood or ridiculed. This process of enduring trials is akin to a seed planted in good soil, which, despite the harsh conditions, grows to yield a bountiful harvest. By valuing rejection and ridicule for Jesus, we allow these experiences to strengthen our faith and increase our impact in the world. [09:06]
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a current challenge in your life that tests your faith. How can you allow this trial to deepen your spiritual roots and strengthen your relationship with God?
Day 3: Perseverance Leads to Greater Impact
Perseverance through trials not only strengthens us but also increases our impact, allowing us to fulfill our God-given purpose. Historical figures like Winston Churchill exemplify the power of perseverance, showing that our time to shine may come later, but it will come. As we endure hardships, we are reminded that our struggles are not in vain. They prepare us for greater fruitfulness and effectiveness in our mission. [15:39]
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you feel like giving up. What steps can you take today to persevere, trusting that your efforts will lead to a greater impact in God's timing?
Day 4: Divine Approval as the Ultimate Reward
God's approval is the ultimate reward for enduring persecution. Being called a child of God is the highest honor, surpassing any earthly accolade. As we persevere through trials, we draw the applause of our Heavenly Father, who promises that our reward in heaven will far exceed our expectations. This divine approval is a badge of discipleship, affirming our identity as children of God. [19:03]
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1b, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you sought approval from others. How can you shift your focus to seeking God's approval, recognizing it as the highest honor?
Day 5: The Promise of a Heavenly Reward
Our heavenly reward will exceed our expectations, with Jesus Himself as the ultimate prize. As we endure persecution and align ourselves with the saints who have gone before us, we are reminded that our struggles are not in vain. The Beatitudes promise that those who endure persecution for righteousness will be called children of God, and our perseverance will be richly rewarded in heaven. [24:24]
"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV)
Reflection: How does the promise of a heavenly reward influence your perspective on current struggles? What practical steps can you take to keep your focus on the eternal prize, rather than temporary challenges?
Quotes
1) "I want to remind everybody that if you are going to grow closer to Jesus Christ, and you're going to help other people grow closer to Jesus Christ, dude, there's no arguing about it. You're going to experience opposition. And that's what we're talking about today. Remember, we've been in the Applause of Heaven series. We took a break. Sometimes we take a break to discuss specific important things. But we always jump back into the main thing we're talking about. That's the Sermon on the Mount, and specifically the Beatitudes. We're at the end of the Beatitudes. And what Jesus has been doing, remember, he's been framing, this is what a way of life would look like if you were following God wholeheartedly." [01:18] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "Persecution in the biblical sense is this, it's rejection and ridicule for Jesus. It is infliction of suffering toward or mistreatment of those devoted to Jesus because they're devoted to Jesus. You'll notice, I mean, if you pay attention to this kind of thing, you can bring up the name of almost any God anywhere and it's super cool. You bring up Jesus, oh man, you better watch it. Back off, man. And why people are just, there's something that is triggered in folks. It's Jesus that the spirits of darkness, the spirits of darkness, the spirits of darkness, around the world do not like. And so they're going to oppose it. Persecution is also, it's the result of following Jesus. That's what it is." [04:50] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "You might feel mistreated from time to time. And I know that everybody can experience this, but we're talking specifically about when it's about your faith, when it's about Jesus Christ, you're going to experience it. And sometimes it's so bad that people even want to step off the earth. They even want to give themselves to death in order to escape the hardship that they're in. We're gonna see in a little while that's a bad idea. But the point is this, you might be thinking, oh man, I feel sorry for all those suckers. I don't have any of that. Here's the thing though. Every one of us can feel fear about being a sinner. About being excluded, about being embarrassed, about feeling shame." [06:53] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Determine to value rejection and ridicule for Jesus. Rejection and ridicule for Jesus. Because number one, rejection and ridicule, can deepen your roots. It can deepen your roots or it can grow you up. It can make you stronger. This isn't the only place in the Sermon on the Mount where Matthew is talking about persecution. He mentions it later, not in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 13, verse 20. He's talking about these different kinds of seeds. Some of you are familiar with this. Jesus is talking about different kinds of, actually soils, it's one seed. It's the word of God. These different heart soils, the word of God goes in and the soil responds differently." [09:06] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Guys, this is what it means. So I don't know what you heard. I don't know what you were taught. There are so many benefits, and so many glories, and so many awesome things in this life that God brings. But you got to know that ridicule and rejection for Christ is death part of the deal. It is death part of the deal. And here's what I would encourage maybe the folks who are a little bit more new to this. Here's the best thing you can do. You can leverage it to grow strong. And really whining about it is not going to do anything. It's probably just going to make you a wimp, really. If you sit around and feel sorry for yourself, that doesn't help. What helps is us deciding to get strong because the truth is, God loves every one of us exactly where we are, but the kingdom doesn't need more babies." [10:47] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Why? Why do we do it? Here's the real reason why everything, because Jesus is worth it. Because Jesus is worth it. Because he's asking you to. That's why. Because he wants you to be strong. Because it's good for you. I don't see how. I don't see why, Carter. You don't need to see why. But I promise, if you'll just get that grit and say, I'm going to stand against it. I'm not going to be sad for a day. I'm not going to be like, oh, they don't like me. Who cares? My God is clapping. And so I'm going to keep right on going. And I don't need anybody to like it because Jesus told me this kind of persecution would come. And so it does. I'm going to focus on not feeling sorry for myself. I'm going to focus on getting those roots down deep." [13:12] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "Ultimately, rejection and ridicule deepen your roots, they increase your impact, and they draw the applause of your father. Remember what we said early on, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. These beatitudes are interesting because they work together like as one. So blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called sons of God. But then they all work together because Jesus is pitching a vision for the whole thing. So in other words, he's saying the merciful are also poor in spirit. They're all working together. They're acting this way and their hearts are this way. These peacemakers, they're doing the opposite of rejection and ridicule." [19:03] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "Rejection and ridicule, here's the best one, will be outrageously rewarded. It will be outrageously rewarded. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven. Great is your reward. That reward word is important because it's not owed to us. It's not like we get to heaven and we're like, all right, Jesus, let's have what you owe me. That's not how it goes at all. Jesus doesn't owe you anything. It's all going to be grace, but it's going to be a reward that blows your mind. It's going to be stuff like there's specific roles in heaven that he's going to give that are catered just right to your heart. They're calibrated to you." [24:24] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9) "So as you and I continue on persevering in Jesus' name, you will have that reward. But check this out. There's really... An even better reward because the real reward is Jesus himself. So it's beyond just getting the Nintendo. It's beyond just, I'm surprised at how good at this is. You and I are going to be surprised at how good Jesus is. We're like, I was like, I was like one of yours and I didn't get it. Like my mind is blown. Jesus, you're way better. You're way more beautiful. You're way more loving. You're way more gentle. You're way more powerful. You're way more everything my heart desires. I did not even get it a little. I'm way beyond it. And you are my reward." [26:31] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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