When You Aren’t Wanted

Transcripts for Dr. Wiersbe's sermons are forthcoming. Below is an outline of his message.

If we are going to be good Christians, we should expect persecution.

Three aspects of the beatitude “blessed are the persecuted” that show us what Jesus is really saying:

• The reasons for persecution
  • Believers suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness and Jesus’ name.
  • There is a difference between persecution and punishment.
  • When we are living the Beatitudes, we can expect persecution because the world doesn’t believe them.
  • The world doesn’t want people to be different.
  • Bringing the name of Jesus into a conversation changes everything.
  • If we are truly living for Christ, that is what the world will see and persecute.
• Our response to persecution
  • Jesus had to suffer for our sin, and we will have to suffer for Him. Arm yourself with this attitude.
  • When persecution starts don’t retaliate, instead, reign like a king with self-confidence of who you are in Christ.
  • We should rejoice in the face of persecution because it means we are living the Christian life well.
  • The world loves a compromising Christian and hates a spiritual Christian.
  • Persecution is an opportunity for witness and growth.
  • Treating people in love means treating others the way God treats us.
  • We grow by loving, praying for, and doing good to our enemies.
• The rewards of persecution
  • We don’t earn rewards through persecution, but we receive rewards by God’s grace.
  • When we suffer with Christ on Earth, we reign with Him in heaven.
  • We should want crowns in heaven so we have something to lay at the feet of Jesus because He is the one who is worthy of all praise.

Persecution is a test and a testimony of our faith in the Lord Jesus, and we should use it to bring glory to God.