講壇信息介紹

Pulpit Message Introduction
Jesus said, “ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.” We might well think that if we live the kind of life that Jesus advocated we would be universally popular. In fact this is not the case. Jesus never guaranteed popularity. In fact, He warns us to be on our guard if everyone thinks highly of us and says that there is bound to be opposition. He never said, “Come to me and your troubles will be over.” We are the conscience of mankind and that can be very unpopular. We may have to endure insults and ridicule or even worse.
Jesus said, “ Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you..
Jesus never told us to seek persecution, but He did say that when it comes, we are to regard it as a blessing. We are “to rejoice and be glad” (vs.12) . Jesus gives three reasons for doing so. First, because of our reward in heaven. Those who are persecuted because of righteousness are “blessed” because “theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (vs. 10), and in a similar way He says to His disciples, “Great is your reward in heaven” (vs.12). Secondly, our joy comes from identifying with Jesus. It is “because of me” (vs. 11) that they are persecuted. Thirdly, it is a sign that our faith is genuine, since the prophets were persecuted in the same way (vs. 12).
講壇信息介紹
耶穌說：為義受逼迫的人有福了因為天國是他們的。我們或以為如果我們照耶穌教我們的方法做，我們必受歡迎。但事實並非如此。耶穌從來沒有保證我們備受愛戴。相反他警告我們當眾人都讚賞我們的時候，我們要特別小心。因為必有反對。耶穌從來沒有說：來我這裏，你的麻煩就會消失得無影無蹤。我們既是人類的良心，就會常常不受歡迎。我們可能要忍受辱罵，逼迫，毀謗，或者更甚的事情。
耶穌說： 人若因我辱罵你們逼迫你們，捏造各樣壞話毀謗你們，你們就有福了。應當歡喜快樂，因為你們在天上的賞賜是大的。在你們以前的先知，人也是這樣逼迫他們。
耶穌沒有叫我們去自找逼迫。但當逼迫來臨時，我們可以看它是福。我們要歡喜快樂（12節）。這裏耶穌給我們三個快樂的原因：第一，因為我們在天上的賞賜。為義受逼迫的人有福了，因為天國是他們的（10節）。同樣地祂告訴祂的門徒：你們在天上的賞賜是大的（12節）。第二，我們快樂因為我們與主認同。人若因我。。。（11節）意思是說門徒是因主而受苦的。第三，這是真正信仰的明證，因為以前有真誠信仰的先知也是這樣受逼迫的啊（12節）！