Nine Attitudes To Live By - The B Attitudes Series

Nine Attitudes to Live By - The B Attitudes

In the gospel of Matthew chapters five, six and seven we have a sermon of Jesus. This section of scripture has come to be known as: “The Sermon On The Mount.” It’s called the Sermon on the Mount because in chapter five Matthew tells us that when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up to the mountain – sat down – and began to preach – teaching the people the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. What was to follow was amazing. Jesus taught in a way that had never taught before. He taught with authority. He spoke in plain language – yet spoke of deep spiritual truths. Today I want us to examine the first section of “The Sermon On The Mount” known as “The Beatitudes.” Follow along with me as I read:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:3-12 (NKJV)

What we find in The Beatitudes are nine attitudes that faithful followers need to display. Let’s look at these today.

Attitude 1 – We need an attitude of HUMILITY.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)

By talking about being “poor in spirit”, Jesus is saying that this is the opposite of self-sufficiency. “Poor in spirit” speaks of those who realize that they are in total helplessness and lost apart from God.

When we think we are OK because we are a “GOOD PERSON” we are depending on our own self righteousness. But self righteousness will not make you happy. Self righteousness will not get you into the Kingdom of Heaven. Apart from God we are totally lost. It is only by God’s grace that we are saved. Any of us! That is a humbling thing. Going to church will not save you. Reading your Bible will not save you. Praying will not save you. Only a relationship with Jesus will save you. Look at what the Bible says in Luke chapter eighteen:

"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ’Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’ "Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ’God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’ " Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."

Luke 18:10-14 (MSG)

What is the difference between the two men? One approached God in his self righteousness the other approached God in his humility. One was accepted the other was not. Look at what psalm chapter fifty one says:

“I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.” Psalms 51:17 (MSG)

If we truly want to be blessed we need an attitude of humility.

Attitude 2 – We need an attitude of REPENTANCE.

“Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NKJV)

Here Jesus is speaking about those who mourn over their sin. This is a Godly sorrow that produces repentance and leads to salvation. This is true sorrow that affects a person down into their soul. There is deep agony because one knows they have done wrong and deserves punishment.

Do you remember the story of King David? How he sinned? He had an affair with Bathsheba which was wrong in the first place but in order to cover it up he had Bathsheba’s husband killed. Did you know that David felt sorrow, remorse, guilt, and shame for what he had done? He mourned over his sin. In fact Psalm fifty one is a psalm of David and how he felt about his sin. Read along with me: