FACING THE GIANTS
A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART IV
INTRODUCTION: The Hamas is reportedly bringing back crucifixion as a form of punishment (read attached story:
Hamas Reinstates Crucifixions of Christians
Friday, January 9, 2009 5:05 PM
By: Nicole Jansezian Article Font Size
While the world focused on Hamas militants launching rockets from Gaza at southern Israel, the terrorist organization also voted quietly to implement Islamic law in the Gaza Strip, including crucifixion of Christians, according to reports in the Arabic press.
The traditional Muslim criminal code, known as Sharia law, includes penalties such as amputation of limbs for stealing and the death penalty, including crucifixion, for actions Hamas deems detrimental to “Palestinian interests,” including collaborating with Israel…
Christians are a minority in Gaza, numbering fewer than 2,000 residents among 1.6 million in the Strip. After Hamas came to power, the Islamic group began enforcing sharia law more strictly, though not officially. Christians were the first to feel the squeeze. Some Christian men felt compelled to grow beards and women donned head scarves to downplay their identities as non-Muslims.
Whole Article Available in Appendix
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
EXPLANATION: An explanation over the ladder effect:
8. Persecuted (which is today’s lesson).
7. Peacemakers.
6. Pure in Heart.
5. Merciful
4. Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness.
3. Meek
2. Mourn
1. Poor in Spirit.
TRANSITION: I’ve been working on this lesson, but the break up for this lesson has to go to Pastor Bill Prater, a Baptist minister from Kansas, who put these 4 parts together over 10 years ago—its awesome!
*Note to other leaders, the points are original, but the main 4 categories have been cited.
1. BIBLE VERSE: 1 Peter 4:12-16 THE RECIPIENTS OF PERSECUTION
4:12 Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you. 4:13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad. 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you. 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker. 4:16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.
A. All Christians Undergo Persecution. It is just a fact, when you claim that you belong to Jesus Christ, and you claim that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, you are going to face persecution. It may look like different things, from being stoned to death to being laughed at because you prayed before your lunch at school.
B. “But I Have Never Been Persecuted!” I’ve heard that before. But it came from someone that never went to church, never told anyone he was a Christian, and lived a life that didn’t look very Christian. So if you’re saying this, check yourself.
C. Fire: Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911 is still the largest fire in the history of NY. A fire broke out in this linen factory, and the building went up in cinders. It employed 600 workers in the profession of seamstresses, 148 people died, it was a towering inferno. But in that fire, my history teacher in HS Mrs. Wroble taught us the class about men wearing white clothes who appeared to tell people where to jump, and those that listened hit the overhanging parts of the building and lived.
D. Rest: The word “rest” here is a quote from Isaiah 11:2:
The LORD’s spirit will rest on him – a spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans,a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the LORD.
So if you are persecuted, the visual is the strong hand of the LORD standing behind you, and you standing strong, proud, giving your king full loyalty as an honorable knight or soldier.
2. BIBLE VERSE: Luke 11:49 THE RANGE OF PERSECUTION
For this reason also the wisdom of God said, “I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill or persecute.”
A. Cassie Bernall: She is the 17 year old girl who was killed in the Columbine HS attack some 10 years ago. When assassin Dylan Klebold walked into the library on his hunt for African-Americans and Christians, he pointed a gun towards her and asked “do you believe in God.” She replied yes and was shot and killed.
It’s a horrible story, this little girl is a martyr. And as far as I know, she is the only American martyr to die on American soil in the 20th Century. But in the early ages, things were much worse.
B. Nero: "All the world knows of the Christians who were flung to the lions or burned at the stake; but these were kindly deaths.
Nero wrapped the Christians in pitch and set them alight, and used them as living torches to light his gardens. He sewed them into skins of wild animals and set his hunting dogs upon them to tear them to death. They were tortured on the rack; they were scraped with pincers; molten lead was poured hissing upon them; red hot brass plates were affixed to the tenderest parts of their bodies; eyes were torn out, parts of their bodies were cut off and roasted before their eyes; their hands and feet were burned while cold water was poured over them to lengthen the agony. These things are not pleasant to think about, but these are the things a man had to be prepared for, if he took his stand with Christ."
C. According to Fox’s Book of Martyrs:
James: Was stoned to death, at 94 years old. His brains were smashed out by a fuller’s club (some reports have him living long enough to forgive the aggressors). By the way, a fuller’s club was used cleaning and whitening clothes in large bucket.
Matthias: Was stoned to death and then beheaded.
Andrew: The brother of Peter was crucified on the cross, the two ends were fixed “transversely” in the ground (named St. Andrew’s cross now, it’s crucifixion with the wood in the shape of an X rather than a T).
Peter: Was crucified upside down on the cross, refused to insult the Lord by dying the same way He did.
Jude: Crucified.
Simon: Crucified.
Bartholomew: Cruelly beaten, then crucified.
Thomas: Was killed by a spear.
Matthew: Was killed by a halberd (it’s like a 6 foot lone jousting stick with a double-edged ax about a foot down from the front edge, it took two hands to yield, made famous by the Swiss in the 14th Century, and gave way to the pike).
James the Brother of John: Was beheaded. On his way to his death, the accuser was so impressed by James’ confidence that he himself gave himself to Christ and was beheaded along with him.
D. How are we in Comparison to the First Believers? There is really no question is there.
3. BIBLE VERSE: 2 Timothy 3:12 THE REASON FOR PERSECUTION
Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
A. Persecution Starts With Satan (The Rough Neighborhood): Let’s say I grew up in a rough neighborhood with lots of fights. Imagine I had an older brother 6 years my elder who use to rule the ‘hood by beating up all the other guys. Then, something happens, he goes away for the summer for some reason leaving me there all by myself. What is going to take place now that I am alone, when all the dudes that got beat up by my big brother look at me. I’m going to take a beating.
In the same way, we as Christians remind the Devil of something. We remind him of someone who beat the tar out of him some 2000 years ago, and of someone who is going to beat him up again. So it is in the Devil’s plans to beat us down the same way he beat Christ, cause he is really really angry!
B. What the Verse does NOT say: Matthew 5:10 says persecuted because of RIGHTEOUSNESS.
It does NOT say…because of being obnoxious (like a guy at my college who shouted sinner at people on the corner while he handed out Bibles).
It does NOT say…because of their holier than though attitude (some people just act snobby in faith…I could use my own personal story of abstinence here, I have a friend who honestly took me aside and said that it bothered him when I brought it up all the time).
It does NOT say…because of sin (look, if we have a big sin and a non-Christian points it out, that’s not persecution, that’s the Lord showing us that our sin has become public).
C. Dumb Criminal Story: Colorado Springs: A guy walked into a little corner store with a shotgun and demanded all the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash in a bag, the robber saw a bottle of scotch that he wanted behind the counter on the shelf. He told the cashier to put it in the bag as well, but he refused and said "Because I don’t believe you are over 21." The robber said he was, but the clerk still refused to give it to him because he didn’t believe him. At this point the robber took his drivers license out of his wallet and gave it to the clerk. The clerk looked it over, and agreed that the man was in fact over 21 and he put the scotch in the bag. The robber then ran from the store with his loot. The cashier promptly called the police and gave the name and address of the robber that he got off the license. They arrested the robber two hours later.
This Guy is Wrong! But let’s do what is right.
D. Righteousness: Simple, doing what is right. But doing what is right is not just helping older ladies across the street or buying 4 boxes of Somoa Girl Scout cookies when a girl comes to your door. Righteousness starts with the Lord. Righteousness requires obedience before the LORD.
BIBLE VERSE: Hebrews 5:8
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.
With suffering comes great obedience.
4. BIBLE VERSE: Luke 6:29 THE RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION
To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well, and from the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either.
A. What to Do?
a) Should you retaliate? No, that’s the way of the world (1 Peter 2).
b) Should you carry resentment? No, its wrong to harbor inner feelings towards someone who harmed us.
c) Should you become religiously superior? Believe it or no, there exists the potential for some people to become religiously “higher” than the person that confronted them. Though it is never wrong to know the Word and go by it, to rub your knowledge in somebody else’s face only leads to future battles.
d) Should you rejoice? Yes. Check this out…
BIBLE VERSE: 2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I am content with weakness, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions, and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Persecution causes strength, period.
B. Turn the Other Cheek: This verse is often misrepresented. Many people believe that if someone is to punch you across the face, it means to let them punch you again. This is not necessarily a bad idea for that would be a great example of being a Christian. But, that is not all that is there in this verse. The verse “Strikes you on the cheek” means…public rejection. After you are “struck down,” you are to continue reaching out. It flies directly in the face of the “I tried, not its all up to him.” No, keep trying.
C. CLOSE ON A LINE FROM THE MOVIE:
“PRAISE HIM WHEN WE WIN & PRAISE HIM WHEN WE LOSE.”
Sources:
Jansezian, Nicole. Hamas Reinstates Crucifixions on Christians. Friday, January 9, 2009, 5:05pm, Newsmax.
Prater, Bill. Sermon On The Mount 9, Fellowship Baptist Church, Kansas: January 1998.
APPENDIX
Hamas Reinstates Crucifixions of Christians
Friday, January 9, 2009 5:05 PM
By: Nicole Jansezian Article Font Size
While the world focused on Hamas militants launching rockets from Gaza at southern Israel, the terrorist organization also voted quietly to implement Islamic law in the Gaza Strip, including crucifixion of Christians, according to reports in the Arabic press.
The traditional Muslim criminal code, known as Sharia law, includes penalties such as amputation of limbs for stealing and the death penalty, including crucifixion, for actions Hamas deems detrimental to “Palestinian interests,” including collaborating with Israel.
The new law was reported on the Al-Arabiya Web site and in the London-based Saudi-owned newspaper Al-Hayat, which wrote that the implementation of Sharia law has “brought criticism and concern from human rights organizations in the Gaza Strip.”
But the media scarcely took notice when the decision was reported during the Christian holidays as fighting between Hamas and Israel escalated in late December.
“Hamas’ endorsement of nailing enemies of Islam to crosses came at the same time it renewed its jihad,” Jerusalem Post columnist Caroline Glick wrote on Dec. 26. “Here, too, Hamas wanted to make sure that Christians didn’t feel neglected as its fighters launched missiles at Jewish day care centers and schools.”
Christians are a minority in Gaza, numbering fewer than 2,000 residents among 1.6 million in the Strip. After Hamas came to power, the Islamic group began enforcing sharia law more strictly, though not officially. Christians were the first to feel the squeeze. Some Christian men felt compelled to grow beards and women donned head scarves to downplay their identities as non-Muslims.
Sharia law is implemented fully in some nations, including Iran and Saudi Arabia. When Palestinian voters elected Hamas in 2006, organization spokesman Hamed Bitawi declared: “The Quran is our constitution, Muhammad is our prophet, jihad is our path, and dying as martyrs for the sake of Allah is our biggest wish.”
Palestinian officials in Gaza denied the adoption of Islamic law. However, Palestinian Media Watch, an organization that monitors the Arab press, says the group is lying.
“Contrary to today’s denials, official Hamas leaders have proudly announced in the Hamas-run media in the last two months that this Islamic penal code was being prepared,” the media watchdog said. “Indeed, senior Hamas leaders went so far as to say that when these laws are implemented, they will have force not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank.”
Media Watch also noted that Hamas newspaper Al-Rissala reported, “The Bureau of Islamic Law is preparing a penal code in order to implement Sharia-Islamic Law.”
Hamas has financial backing from Iran, which supplies the group with rockets and weapons used to attack Israel. Despite espousing separate branches of Islam — Hamas is Sunni; Iran is Shiite — the organization shares the expressed wish of Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to wipe out Israel. The Hamas charter states: “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.”
Israel withdrew unilaterally, both residents and soldiers, from the Gaza Strip in 2005, leaving the territory entirely under Palestinian jurisdiction. Then, in a coup in 2007, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, ousting its rival party Fatah and assassinating Fatah loyalists. Since then, rocket fire launched at Israel’s southern communities increased. In December, a six-month period of calm collapsed and led to Israel’s Operation Cast Lead, the bombings and attacks against Hamas militants in Gaza in retaliation for bombings of Israel.
© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
NAME: _______________________
FACING THE GIANTS
A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART IV
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are ___________________________ because of ________________________,, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
EXPLANATION: An explanation over the ladder effect:
8. _____________________________ (which is today’s lesson).
7. Peacemakers.
6. Pure in _________________________.
5. __________________________
4. Hunger & Thirst for _________________________.
3. ________________________
2. Mourn
1. Poor in _________________________.
1. BIBLE VERSE: 1 Peter 4:12-16 THE RECIPIENTS OF PERSECUTION
A. All Christians undergo _________________________.
B. What about those who have never been persecuted? _____________________________________
C. Fire: Triangle Shirtwaist Company: 1911.
D. Rest: Isaiah 11:2:
The LORD’s spirit will _____________________ on him – a spirit that gives ________________________ wisdom, a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans,a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the LORD.
2. BIBLE VERSE: Luke 11:49 THE RANGE OF PERSECUTION
Cassie Bernall: ___________________________________________________________________
Nero: ___________________________________________________________________________
The Disciples:
James: __________________________________________________________________________
Matthias: _________________________________________________________________________
Andrew: __________________________________________________________________________
Peter: ____________________________________________________________________________
Jude: ____________________________________________________________________________
Simon: ___________________________________________________________________________
Bartholomew: ______________________________________________________________________
Thomas: __________________________________________________________________________
Matthew: _________________________________________________________________________
James the Brother of John: ___________________________________________________________
3. BIBLE VERSE: 2 Timothy 3:12 THE REASON FOR PERSECUTION
Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be ________________________________.
A. Persecution Starts with ____________________________________.
B. What the verse does NOT say: ________________________________________________________.
C. What SHOULD we do when persecuted? ________________________________________________.
BIBLE VERSE: Hebrews 5:8
Although he was a son, he learned ____________________ through the things he ___________________.
4. BIBLE VERSE: Luke 6:29 THE RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION
To the person who ______________________________________ you on the cheek, offer the other as well, and from the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either.
CLOSE:
PRAISE HIM WHEN WE ____________________ & PRAISE HIM WHEN WE ______________________.