Notes of Faith January 12, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
March 19, 2000
“PERSECUTED FOR CHRIST”
Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
In Matthew 5, Jesus tells His disciples they are blessed when they are persecuted for His sake. We can be bad mouthed because of our own stupidity. This we may deserve but when we take insults because of Christ, these the Lord honors.
How do we know if we are persecuted for His sake? Do we speak up for Him? The name of Jesus is not popular in the pagan (unbelieving) crowd. They do not praise Him - nor honor Him. They use His name loosely. They walk in disobedience to His Word.
The only ones who can use Jesus’ name in an honorable way are His children. When we do this we are catapulted into the arena of conflict. But is it worth it to have His smile, His “well done, good and faithful servant?” This, beloved, is taking up your cross and following Him.
This may not appeal to us - but should that concern us? We should be concerned if we’re not taking some flak for our Redeemer. He didn’t say happy are you, but blessed are you. Although our natural self is not happy, we are blessed in our inner man.
In John 15:18-21 Jesus warns His disciples of this very thing. A little further in the passage we read these comforting words:
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
God hath not promised skies always blue,
flower strewn pathways, all our lives through,
God hath not promised sun without rain,
joy without sorrow, peace without pain,
But God hath promised strength for the day,
rest for the labor, light for his way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
unfailing sympathy, undying love.
Annie Johnson Flint
So beloved, let us live for Him who lived and died for us. God bless!
Love to you all,
Charles Covington
Mark 8:35-38
35 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 "For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
John 12:25-26
25 "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26 "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Rom 5:8-9
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
1 John 3:16-18
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
Let us fulfill the greatest and second greatest commandments:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and…
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Loving God and others will make us selfless, giving of ourselves as God desires. He will fulfill His every promise in and through us if we obey these commands!
Pastor Dale