The Fellowship and the Reward of Persecution
Every 10th man dies. On September 22, in the year 286AD, the Roman Emperor Maximian was in Gaul putting down a rebellion. He ordered that the Theban Legion join them, and waited as they made the long journey. The Theban Legion was remarkable in that they were legendary warriors, and that all 6,666 of them were Christians.
Upon arriving, the Emperor ordered that the entire army make sacrifices to the Roman gods, and swear allegiance in helping to exterminate the local Christians in Gaul. Horrified at both orders, the Theban legion flat out refused. The emperor was enraged and ordered that every 10th man in their legion be put to death until they submitted. That’s a total of 667 men. No one budged. They chose death. The emperor was furious and again ordered every 10th man killed out of those that were still alive. Again they chose death. That was another 600 men. Do the math and that left 5,399 soldiers still alive. Incensed, the emperor ordered all other legions to attack and slaughter the remaining 5,399 Christian soldiers. Those remaining Theban soldiers never drew their swords as they were cut down.
The Theban Legion was legendary as warriors in the halls of history, but even more so in the halls of heaven for their faith even unto death.
Read Matthew 5:10-12,….. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness.”
I have 5 points from these verses. So far we have seen 3: 1) the Reality of Persecution, 2) the Reason for Persecution, and 3) the Blessing of Persecution. Let us continue with 4) The Fellowship of Persecution and 5) The Reward of Persecution.
THE FELLOWSHIP OF PERSECUTION
Next I want us to see the fellowship of persecution. Jesus says in Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Luke 6 says the same thing, “for that is how the ancestors of these evil people treated the prophets.”
Let me emphasize two things about the fellowship of persecution: our good company and our good example.
First, we are in good company. We inherit a heroic community of people who have suffered persecution for the name of Christ. This point brings out our belonging: we belong to those heroes of the faith who courageously faced persecution. We belong among them.
This is why I’m using the word fellowship – because it emphasizes people who belong to each other. It has the idea of partnership in a common purpose, or having a bond by sharing something in common. We belong to all other Christians around the world and throughout history. But when we suffer for the name of Christ we have a bond with others who also have suffered for His name. Jesus ties us to those austere giants that we know as the prophets when we suffer like them: “rejoice when you are persecuted for that is how they treated the prophets of old.”
Cicero famously said, “I would rather be wrong with Plato than right with those men.” Pithy. We can spin the words of that brilliant pagan and use it in our point here: “I would rather be wrong with the prophets than be right with the world.” “I would rather be wrong with the prophets and apostles and Jesus, then be right with this godless world.”
Who do we belong to when we step into the fellowship of persecution? Whose company do we enter into when we suffer for the name of Christ? If you turn to 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 with me you’ll see Paul mentions them all!
- Other believers who’ve suffered nobly for the name of Christ (v14)
- The prophets of old (v15…Mt 5:12…Lk 6:23…. “Great cloud of witnesses” Heb 11, we’ll get to in a moment)
- The Apostles (v15 … Php 1:30…Rev 1:9
- Jesus (v15 … John 15:18-25 … Php 3:10-11 … Col 1:24…
APPLICATION: We are in good company – the best company – when we suffer persecution for our faith in Jesus Christ.
Second, we have a good example. The previous point emphasized our belonging, but this point emphasizes our conduct. We not only have good company when we suffer persecution, we have good examples. We have guides for how to act through persecution when it comes our way. We see the example of those who’ve suffered before us. How did those who were commended by God act in the face of persecution?
- They willingly stepped into it. 2 Tim 2:3….Join in with suffering, be willing to, submit to it. See it as a privilege and an honor (Acts 5:41 and Php 1:29)
- Accept it as God’s Fatherly discipline. Cloud of witnesses example Heb 12:1-2, see it as God’s discipline…submit to it
- Look forward to the commendation God gives you for willingly enduring that persecution. James 5:10-11, patiently submit to it, wait through it, look at the examples of Job and the prophets who were commended. And they will be rewarded and honored – we’ll get to that next under the reward of persecution.
- Trust God’s just judgment and timing. Christ’s example 1 Peter 2:19-25…Christ’s example
APPLICATION: Imitate them. Imitate them because they imitate Christ. If we suffer like them, let us suffer like them.
THE REWARD OF PERSECUTION
Jesus tells us that there is great reward for those who are persecuted for His name’s sake. Lets look at those rewards:
First, the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 says…. We know that it is through faith that we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven. But that same faith is what we endure persecution with. So we prove our faith when it is put to the test when persecution comes. The faith that saves is the faith that endures.
Second, and related to the first point, is our worthiness of the kingdom of God is proven through persecution. Turn to 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 with me….There is the idea here that we are shown to be worthy of the kingdom by how we endure through persecution. I think we need to emphasize again that we gain entrance into the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ – but that this same faith is the kind of faith that will endure through persecution. As a matter of fact, Peter says this in 1 Peter 1:6-7… Peter says “the proven genuineness of your faith.” He’s saying your faith is proven genuine through suffering the trials you go through.
In other words, true faith sees Jesus as greater than everything and worth whatever cost I have to endure. This is the essence of Paul’s words in Philippians 3:8, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing CHrist Jesus as my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” Paul’s faith was not just a faith for salvation, but that same faith saw Jesus as worthy of giving up everything else. The Lord will test us in what we value most. Faith values Jesus most.
Third, greater possessions. Turn with me to Hebrews 10:34… Turn to James 5:10-11….. Look at what God did for Job after he persevered. James is drawing our attention to see that God will bless greatly those who suffer patiently and wait on God. James has in mind the next life.
Fourth, a better resurrection. Enduring faithfully, patiently, and godlily through persecution will bring a better resurrection for me. Hebrews 11:35 shows us this…this is picked up in verses 39-40 as well.
Remember Jesus told Peter in Matthew 19, when Peter said, “We’ve left everything to follow you so what is there for us?” and Jesus said, “Whoever has given up house, home, parents, children, field, career, wealth, and so on will NOT FAIL to receive a hundred times as much AT the RENEWAL of ALL THINGS.” Which is a reference to His return, and His inaugurating a new era where he reigns on the earth where he resurrects the righteous to live in his earthly kingdom and rewards them so they can live in his kingdom with those rewards.
Fifth, honored by enemies. Those who persecute God’s people will someday honor God’s people. Revelation 3:8-10 says, …. They will come and bow down at your feet. This is part of God’s people sharing in Christ’s glory as co-heirs of his glory. Just like every knee will bow to Christ, He will then make his enemies who persecuted Christians come and bow down at their feet and acknowledge them as loved by Christ.
This is paralleled in the OT prophets as well speaking of Israel. Israel will be hated throughout history by that nations. But when they repent at the end of the age it will all be reversed and they will be honored by all the nations in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
CLOSING
How should we see persecution?
- Expect it
- Understand why it comes and embrace it
- See it is a blessing
- It puts us in noble company
- It leads to rewards we cannot fathom right now.
Silent Reflection…