Oct. 27th 2013-Life in the Kingdom-Happy are the Persecuted

“Happy are the persecuted…” Really, Jesus?!

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Life in the Kingdom: Happy are the persecuted

October 27^th, 2013  by Kasey Crawford

Today’s Passages:Matt 5:10-12,John 15:18–20,2 Cor 2:15-16,1 Pet 4:14

Review

The Sermon on the Mount is where Jesus sets forth a vision for a whole new way of life that is possible through following him- a life lived in God’s kingdom. The “kingdom” is when God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. We “grab hold” of the kingdom through repentance (turning) and faith (action).

So the two most important questions in the life of a disciple are:

“What is ________ _____________ to me? (Repentance)”

“What am _____ going ______ about it? (Faith)”

 

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Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.       Matthew 5:10

 

Righteousness…also has to do with our ____________ and living a life that __________ up with God’s ways and God’s heart.

 

Jesus closes the beatitudes with the sobering truth that as we live rightly in God’s kingdom and for God’s kingdom there will be ______________ to this kingdom.

As the kingdom of God seeks to advance ____ you and ___________ you, expect that there will be a _____________.

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. John 15:18

 

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.  2 Corinthians 2:15–16 

The call to and example of living rightly with God as King is going to be _______________ to hearts that desire to live as King of their own life.

 

How is this all a blessing?

Persecution tests the integrity of your “________” to God.

When you are met with opposition to the kingdom in you and through you, yet you still choose God’s way, you are pushing into a __________ level of surrender, another degree of turning to him, another depth of _____________ to your self and ____________ in God, all of which “grabs hold” of more of heaven’s goodness.

 

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14

A promise from God is that that if I’m willing to live rightly and stick to living rightly even in persecution then more of the power of the Holy Spirit comes to __________ upon me.

 

A word of caution: Not all opposition is _________ persecution.  And we need to be humble enough to seek to know the difference. Many people are not opposing the message but the _______________.

Jesus models that the ____________ is part of the message.

In Jesus, The kingdom of God is as much ______________ in actions as it is taught with __________.

 

Living as a Disciple in the Kingdom…

What is God saying to you?

 

 

What are you going to do about it?

 

*Answers: God, saying, I, do, actions, lines, opposition, in, through, battle, offensive, Yes, deeper, dying, trusting, rest, true, method, method, modeled, words

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