Faith Under Fire (4 of 10)
Tim Melton
Series: Acts
Acts 4:1-31
Can you remember a time when you were treated unjustly because you were a Christian, trying to do the right thing? Maybe you were mocked or made fun of. Maybe you were ostracized and discredited. Maybe you were overlooked, uninvited, or humiliated for no other reason than trying to do what Christ would have you do. To those of you who can relate, Jesus says this,
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10)
In Matthew 5:10 we stand face to face with a teaching of Jesus Christ that at first glance doesn't make much sense to us. How can persecution be a blessing? To understand, let's first consider the idea of blessing.
Blessing is that settled, restful place in the Christian life, where one walks with God, as their full confidence. The rock that their life is built upon. The peace that passes all understanding. Where all their needs are met in Christ. It is living in total submission because God is near, in control, and faithful in all things. It is knowing that we no longer have to turn to the world to meet our needs because our Provider lives within. Blessing is when we walk by His side and His favor is upon us.
Though it may surprise us, at times persecution is even a tool in the hand of a holy God to usher greater blessing into our lives.
Let us look at an example of this in Acts 4.
To understand Acts 4:1-31 we first need to remember what had happened in the previous chapter.
John and Peter went to the temple to pray. As they entered the temple, they encountered a disabled man who had been lame since birth. Every day he was carried and left at the gate of the temple to beg for money, hoping that lovers of God would also be lovers of their fellowman who were in need.
The scriptures tell us that the disabled man asked them for money. In response Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but wh ...
Tim Melton
Series: Acts
Acts 4:1-31
Can you remember a time when you were treated unjustly because you were a Christian, trying to do the right thing? Maybe you were mocked or made fun of. Maybe you were ostracized and discredited. Maybe you were overlooked, uninvited, or humiliated for no other reason than trying to do what Christ would have you do. To those of you who can relate, Jesus says this,
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10)
In Matthew 5:10 we stand face to face with a teaching of Jesus Christ that at first glance doesn't make much sense to us. How can persecution be a blessing? To understand, let's first consider the idea of blessing.
Blessing is that settled, restful place in the Christian life, where one walks with God, as their full confidence. The rock that their life is built upon. The peace that passes all understanding. Where all their needs are met in Christ. It is living in total submission because God is near, in control, and faithful in all things. It is knowing that we no longer have to turn to the world to meet our needs because our Provider lives within. Blessing is when we walk by His side and His favor is upon us.
Though it may surprise us, at times persecution is even a tool in the hand of a holy God to usher greater blessing into our lives.
Let us look at an example of this in Acts 4.
To understand Acts 4:1-31 we first need to remember what had happened in the previous chapter.
John and Peter went to the temple to pray. As they entered the temple, they encountered a disabled man who had been lame since birth. Every day he was carried and left at the gate of the temple to beg for money, hoping that lovers of God would also be lovers of their fellowman who were in need.
The scriptures tell us that the disabled man asked them for money. In response Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but wh ...
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