Responding to Persecution: The Power of Blessing

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored one of the most challenging aspects of Christian living: responding to persecution and harassment with a blessing. This is what sets Christians apart from others. The world often teaches us to retaliate when wronged, but as followers of Jesus, we are called to a higher standard. Romans 12:21 reminds us not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good. This means not extinguishing others' light to make ours shine brighter. Instead, we are to respond with love and kindness, even when faced with hostility.

Jesus' teachings in Luke 6 are particularly challenging. He instructs us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who hurt us. This is not an easy path, and I confess that I struggle with these commands. It would be much simpler to retaliate, to gossip, or to lash out. However, Jesus calls us to a radical form of love that requires immense courage and strength. It takes a brave heart to turn the other cheek and to respond with grace instead of anger.

This approach is not about being passive or weak. On the contrary, it requires a deep inner strength and a commitment to living out the values of the Kingdom of God. It is about choosing to be a light in a world that often prefers darkness. By responding with a blessing, we reflect the love and mercy of Christ, who forgave even those who crucified Him. This is the essence of Christian courage and the true mark of a disciple.

Key Takeaways:

1. Responding with a Blessing: As Christians, we are called to respond to persecution and harassment with a blessing. This means actively choosing to do good to those who do bad to us, reflecting the love and mercy of Christ. It is a radical departure from the world's way of retaliation and requires a deep commitment to our faith. [00:12]

2. Overcoming Evil with Good: Romans 12:21 challenges us not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good. This involves a conscious decision to not extinguish others' light to make ours shine brighter. Instead, we are to be a beacon of hope and love in a world that often chooses darkness. [00:46]

3. Loving Our Enemies: Jesus' command to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us is one of the most difficult teachings to follow. It requires immense courage and strength, as it goes against our natural instincts to retaliate. This radical love is the true mark of a disciple. [01:18]

4. The Courage to Turn the Other Cheek: Turning the other cheek is not a sign of weakness but of profound strength. It takes a brave heart to respond with grace instead of anger, reflecting the character of Christ. This is the essence of Christian courage and a testament to our faith. [01:56]

5. Reflecting Christ's Love: By responding with a blessing, we mirror the love and mercy of Christ, who forgave even those who crucified Him. This is the true essence of Christian living, setting us apart as followers of Jesus and as lights in a dark world. [02:26]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Responding with a Blessing
[00:28] - Refusing to Retaliate
[00:46] - Overcoming Evil with Good
[01:07] - Jesus' Challenging Teachings
[01:18] - Loving Our Enemies
[01:34] - Blessing Those Who Curse
[01:56] - Turning the Other Cheek
[02:14] - The Temptation to Retaliate
[02:26] - The Courage to Forgive
[02:43] - Conclusion and Reflection

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Romans 12:21 - "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
2. Luke 6:27-28 - "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Romans 12:21 instruct us to do when faced with evil? How does this align with the sermon’s message on responding with a blessing? [00:46]
2. In Luke 6, what specific actions does Jesus command us to take towards our enemies? How does this challenge our natural instincts? [01:18]
3. According to the sermon, what is the world's typical response to being wronged, and how does it differ from the Christian response? [00:12]
4. How does the pastor describe his personal feelings towards Jesus' teachings in Luke 6? Why might these teachings be difficult to accept? [01:07]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "overcome evil with good" in practical terms? How might this look in everyday situations? [00:46]
2. How does loving our enemies and doing good to those who hate us reflect the character of Christ? Why is this considered a radical form of love? [01:18]
3. The pastor mentions that turning the other cheek requires courage. What kind of inner strength is needed to respond with grace instead of anger? [01:56]
4. How does responding with a blessing serve as a testament to one's faith and commitment to the values of the Kingdom of God? [02:26]

#### Application Questions
1. Think of a recent situation where you felt wronged. How did you respond, and how might you apply Romans 12:21 to that situation now? [00:46]
2. Identify someone in your life who might be considered an "enemy" or someone who has hurt you. What practical steps can you take to bless them this week? [01:18]
3. Reflect on a time when you were tempted to retaliate. What would it have looked like to respond with a blessing instead? How can you prepare yourself to choose this path in the future? [02:14]
4. The pastor admits struggling with Jesus' teachings in Luke 6. Do you share this struggle? How can you seek strength and courage to follow these commands? [01:07]
5. How can you be a light in a world that often chooses darkness? What specific actions can you take to reflect Christ's love and mercy in your community? [02:26]
6. Consider a person or situation that tests your patience. What is one way you can practice turning the other cheek and responding with grace this week? [01:56]
7. How can you cultivate a mindset of blessing others, even those who curse you, in your daily interactions? What changes might you need to make in your attitude or behavior? [01:34]

Devotional

Day 1: Responding with a Blessing
In a world that often encourages retaliation, Christians are called to a different path—one of blessing those who persecute and harass them. This radical approach is not about passivity but about actively choosing to reflect the love and mercy of Christ. By responding with a blessing, believers demonstrate a commitment to their faith and a willingness to rise above the natural instinct to retaliate. This choice requires a deep understanding of the values of the Kingdom of God and a conscious decision to embody them in daily life. [00:12]

1 Peter 3:9 (ESV): "Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt wronged. How can you choose to respond with a blessing instead of retaliation today?


Day 2: Overcoming Evil with Good
Romans 12:21 challenges believers to overcome evil with good, a principle that stands in stark contrast to the world's way of dealing with wrongdoing. This involves a conscious decision to not diminish others to elevate oneself but to be a beacon of hope and love. By choosing to overcome evil with good, Christians can shine as lights in a world that often prefers darkness. This approach requires a steadfast commitment to living out the teachings of Jesus and a willingness to be different from the world. [00:46]

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (ESV): "See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you are tempted to repay evil with evil. How can you actively choose to do good in that situation today?


Day 3: Loving Our Enemies
Jesus' command to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us is one of the most challenging teachings for Christians to follow. It requires immense courage and strength, as it goes against the natural human instinct to retaliate. This radical love is the true mark of a disciple and a testament to the transformative power of Christ's teachings. By loving their enemies, believers can demonstrate the depth of their faith and their commitment to living out the values of the Kingdom of God. [01:18]

Proverbs 25:21-22 (ESV): "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you."

Reflection: Consider someone you view as an enemy or someone who has hurt you. What is one practical way you can show love to them this week?


Day 4: The Courage to Turn the Other Cheek
Turning the other cheek is often misunderstood as a sign of weakness, but it is actually a profound demonstration of strength. It takes a brave heart to respond with grace instead of anger, reflecting the character of Christ. This act of courage is a testament to a believer's faith and their commitment to embodying the teachings of Jesus. By choosing to turn the other cheek, Christians can demonstrate the transformative power of grace and the strength that comes from living out their faith. [01:56]

Matthew 5:39 (ESV): "But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you are tempted to respond with anger. How can you choose to turn the other cheek and respond with grace instead?


Day 5: Reflecting Christ's Love
By responding with a blessing, Christians mirror the love and mercy of Christ, who forgave even those who crucified Him. This is the true essence of Christian living, setting believers apart as followers of Jesus and as lights in a dark world. By choosing to reflect Christ's love, Christians can demonstrate the transformative power of their faith and their commitment to living out the values of the Kingdom of God. This approach requires a deep understanding of the teachings of Jesus and a willingness to embody them in daily life. [02:26]

Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Reflect on how you can be a light in your community by mirroring Christ's love. What is one specific action you can take today to demonstrate His love and mercy to those around you?

Quotes


this is what makes Christians different from everybody else on the planet because nobody else does this number six when I'm persecuted when I'm harassed when I'm oppressed respond with a blessing what yeah you return good for evil you not only refuse to retaliate there are a lot of people who will refuse to retaliate but the Bible says if you're going to be a follower of Jesus you actually do good to those who do bad to you you bless those who hurt you and he says you respond with a blessing [00:01:57]

Romans 12:21 says this do not become do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good you don't make the world brighter by blowing out everybody else's candle okay you you you do not become overcome evil but overcome evil with good now Jesus gets very very specific and I I just be honest with you as your pastor I hate this next verse okay I wish this next verse was not in the Bible [00:41:04]

I'm just telling you I don't like this verse I wish I could take an exacto knife and cut it out because it's so hard to do but here's what Jesus said Luke 6 love your enemies you got to be kidding me do good to those who hate you now now it's Overkill bless those who Curt you come on bless those and pray for those who hurt you come on Lord I mean come on and if someone slaps you on the cheek turn the other cheek [00:73:52]

I do not like that verse sorry I just don't can I just be honest as your pastor I wish it wasn't in the Bible what I'd like it to say is um Stick it to your enemies uh you know gossip about those who hate you uh you know give the finger to those who curse you okay and uh you know what uh you know write a dirty article on the internet for those who you know who don't like you and if somebody slaps you on the cheek sock them [00:113:56]

that that's that's the Rick warn Standard Version of the Bible okay that's what I really want to do okay but I want to tell you it takes far more courage to do this any fool can fight back any wimp can retaliate any idiot can say something mean back even parrot can be taught to curse [00:141:80]

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Transcript
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