ENCOUNTERING CHRIST

Good Morning Glorious Church,

Today is Friday, June 17^th, 2016. Today is the 169^th Day of 2016.

There are only 197 days left in this year; and, there are only 2 days left until FATHER’S DAY, AND ONLY 30 DAYS left until VBS BEGINS; and, only 191 days left until CHRISTMAS…

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Matthew 5:10
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Here we encounter Jesus, the Christ.

The King of HIS Kingdom explaining the characteristics of the subjects of HIS Kingdom. We are HIS people, the Sheep of HIS pasture.

The next characteristic HE mentions is that of being persecuted.

At first glance, this just does not make sense. Persecuted?

We, HIS people, have already been described as “poor in spirit” “mourning over our sins” “meek” “hungering for righteousness” “merciful” “pure in heart” and “peacemakers.”

Who would want to persecute such people, and why?

The same kind of people who persecuted and crucified Jesus and Paul and the Apostles and all of the faithful followers of Jesus down through the ages.

Those who hate God, holiness, and those who tell them that they must repent and believe in Jesus to be saved.

Note carefully that being persecuted is as surely part of being a new creation as is the transformation into the kind of people described in verses 2-9.

We have always known that our Brothers and Sisters have faced – and face now – much more severe persecution than that which we have faced in North America.

As Western civilization dies, we clearly see the coming of a new “Dark Age” of naturalistic hedonism and its inevitable hatred of Christ and HIS Kingdom people.

Our defense is to share the gospel and teach those who come to believe in Jesus to obey everything HE has commanded us. Another way to say that is, “to live out the Great Commandments and Carry out the Great Commission…”

God can deliver HIS people. But, all over the world and all across the ages, we see that HE often allows them to suffer persecution – even catastrophic persecution – in order to accomplish HIS will in the world.

Let us pray for another “Great Awakening” in our life, our family, our Church, our Nation, and the World.

The lesson for the next time we meet, NEXT Wednesday evening, (June 22^nd) is “THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH”.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!