GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN

The natural man, more accurately, “the fallen man” is governed by a certain system, fashioned and fuelled by the “flesh” the world and its “ruler” the “prince of darkness” – Satan. The redeemed “fallen man” who is now called CHRISTIAN, because he is FOLLOWING the LORD Jesus Christ, has a set of principles, values and ethics too, that are given and governed by the LORD God Almighty. The LORD Jesus, lays down the principles that will govern all the citizens of the Kingdom of God, in His Sermon on the Mount. 
– “The primary point of the Sermon on the Mount is that believers would become true disciples by setting their hearts to cultivate the eight beatitudes within their lives with focus and wholeheartedness (5:3-12). As they do this, they will impact the nations as salt, light and a city on a hill (5:13-16), producing a great harvest for the Kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount then reveals how this growing harvest of people enthroning Jesus as Lord live according to a completely different standard and operation of life – The Kingdom of God.” – Ryan Shaw

For our meditation this morning, let us look at Matthew 5:10-12, and see what we can learn for our lives, as we live for our LORD Jesus in this world, influenced and governed by the “dark forces” of evil.
– “10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:10-12

This small passage towards the end of the Beatitudes, speaks a lot about what should be held at the centre of every Christian’s heart, as the disciple of the LORD Jesus, and the eternal citizen of the Kingdom of God. The LORD Jesus is exhorting His disciples to consider themselves blessed, and rejoice in Him, even though we are being persecuted in this world, by the people and the powers of this world.
– “Jesus commands joy not because persecution is pleasant, but because suffering for His name identifies His disciples with Him and confirms their allegiance to God’s kingdom. Such joy rests on God’s presence and faithfulness rather than immediate relief.” – Berean Study Bible Notes

We can learn four important lessons for our lives from the passage we are meditating this morning. They are very important lessons; hence we should remember them always, in the face of persecution.
– REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD
– GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN
– FOR SO THEY PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS BEFORE YOU
– THEREFORE BEWARE AND BE PREPARED…

1- REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD
– “41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” – Acts 5:41
– “12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified…15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter…19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” – 1 Peter 4:12-16,19

2- GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN
– “22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” – Luke 6:22-23
– “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” – 1 Peter 1:3-7

3- FOR SO THEY PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS BEFORE YOU
– “52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,” – Acts 7:52
– “37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” – Matthew 23:37
– “14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

4- THEREFORE BEWARE AND BE PREPARED…
– “12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” – James 1:12
– “35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” – Hebrews 11:35-38
– “8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh…16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-11,16-17

How are we walking with the LORD, dear brothers and sisters? What are we facing as a consequence of our faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, and our walk with our Redeemer? Are we encountering any difficulties and hardships as we walk with our Master? May we always choose to walk with the LORD Jesus, despite the tough and testing trials and tribulations. The LORD Jesus, who called us to walk this path, will also walk with us and will never leave us, nor forsake us – Hebrews 13:5. Let us not lose heart in the face of persecution, “GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN.” Even so, the LORD help us.