INTRODUCTION
- In the OT, the 10 Commandments were given as instructions for living.
- Paul, in Galatians 3, shares that the purpose of the 10 Comm are to expose sin.
- Jesus in Matthew called his first disciples and then immediately began to teach them
- He uses one word, “Blessed”.
GRK word “ma-kar’-ios” and it can mean many words from “fortunate, well off, supremely blest, and happy”. HAPPY – now that’s a word we can understand.
Jesus begins this great Sermon by INSTRUCTING HIS DISCIPLES “HOW TO BE HAPPY” in the section known as “the BEATITUDES”.
A. ILLUSTRATION
One Sunday as they drove home from church, a little girl turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, there’s something about the preacher’s message this morning that I don’t understand." The mother said, "Oh? What is it?" The little girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. He said God is so big that He could hold the world in His hand. Is that true?"
The mother replied, "Yes, that’s true, honey." "But Mommy, he also said that God comes to live inside of us when we believe in Jesus as our Savior. Is that true, too?" Again, the mother assured the little girl that what the pastor had said was true. With a puzzled look on her face the little girl then asked, "If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?"
APPLICATION: That is what the Beatitudes are about - God showing through. It has always been God’s purpose that when He entered our lives, He would be allowed to fill and control us so that He would "show through".
Beatitudes represent 8 ATTITUDES OF HAPPINESS
B. THE SETUP
While we will go through each of 8 attitudes of HAPPINESS, I think we should notice 2 Very Important surroundings of this lesson.
1. Verses 1 & 2 - First is the setup to this sermon.
a. READ VERSES 1-2
b. Explain importance of our coming to Christ to learn
Deuteronomy 4:29 (MSG)
29 … if you seek God, your God, you’ll be able to find him if you’re serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul.
2. The Result of Each Attitude is GOD!
The end of each of the 8 attitudes is a form of God.
HAPPINESS IS GOD WHO BLESSES HIS CHILDREN!
3. To receive true happiness, one must seek God
DO YOU REALLY WANT HAPPINESS? MAKE YOUR DECISION OF HOW YOU WILL RESPOND TO WHAT JESUS TEACHES US OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AS WE EXPLORE THE “SERMON ON THE MOUNT”
VERSE 3: 1st Attitude: to be “poor in spirit”
“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the kingdom of heaven is given to them.”
to be humble – to have a correct estimate of oneself in connection with God.
Romans 12:3 (NLT)
3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
VERSE 4: 2nd Attitude (tied to 1st): those who “mourn”
“Those who mourn will be comforted”
GRK = ‘wails’ ‘suffers’ - sin and suffering in hurt and lowliness.
When we realize our unworthiness before God, we will feel a deep regret for our sin and move into repentance through a state of humility.
That same state of humility shows one who suffers for Christ understands the honor.
VERSE 5: 3rd Attitude (also tied to 1st): the “meek”
“God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.”
Lit. - “humble” - the same attitude as in last 3. It conveys a complete trust in God.
Greeks to describe a horse that has been broken - power under control. A horse is a strong and powerful animal, but trained, he is as gentle as your best friend!
APPLICATION FOR 1ST 3 ATTITUDES
None of these words describe a person that looks down upon Himself or is a whimp but rather a person who in his own eyes realizes his need to remove Himself so that Christ can live through Him – SO GOD WILL SHOW THROUGH US.
VERSE 6: 4th Attitude: who “hunger and thirst for righteousness”
“God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.”
One who has an intense longing that he cannot satisfy – Being so filled with GOD, that one completely does His will.
Psalms 119:1-3 (NLT)
1 Joyful (happy) are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.
2 Joyful (happy) are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
I wonder if the question might really be whether or not we are really seeking God with all our heart!
VERSE 7: 5th Attitude: the “merciful”
“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
Mercy implies generosity, forgiveness, and compassion, and a desire to remove the wrong as well as alleviate the suffering. It does not guarantee mercy from people.
The believers’ comfort comes in the knowing that, no matter how the world treats them, God will show them mercy both now and when he returns.
VERSE 8: 6th Attitude: the “pure in heart”
“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”
- morally pure, honest, and sincere.
“pure” in the GRK - “cleansed” - one who has been cleansed by pruning! It describes one who is completely committed to God from within.
APPLICATION: Many of us have a desire to honor their commitment to God but are not single-minded in that commitment. When the going gets too tough or the temptation too strong they cave in.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (MSG)
25 I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean.
26 I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed.
27 I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands.
The harder we look for God the MORE we will be able to see God!
VERSE 9: 7th Attitude: the “peacemakers”
“God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”
This involves action, not just passive compliance. God’s peacemakers actively work for peace, to cause reconciliation, to end bitterness and strife. It’s NOT appeasement but dealing with & solving problems to maintain peace God’s way.
Not in a judgmental better than thou look but realizes the same situation could happen to themselves so the way in which they restore is with gentleness and love.
Galatians 6:1 (MSG)
1 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out.
VERSE 10-12: 8th Attitude: those who are “persecuted”
“God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers”
Real persecution: when we get serious for God, Satan gets serious for us. If we live for ourselves, Satan leaves you alone because you are no threat.
I’ve learned it applies to individuals, ministers, pastors, and churches.
Refresh on Philippi 1.29 and 2:5
REAL PERSECUTION – Look at the very ones Jesus is Teaching:
Andrew Crucified Bartholomew Beaten then Crucified
James (Alphaeus) Stoned to Death James (Zebedee) Beheaded
John Exiled & Died Judas (Not Iscariot) Stoned to Death
Matthew Speared to Death Peter Crucified Upside Down
Philip Crucified Simon Crucified
Thomas Speared to Death Matthias Stoned to Death
Jesus says to rejoice and BE GLAD knowing that this is not all there is!
THIS IS NOT ALL THERE IS! But we seem to live as though it is!
SUMMARY
1. 8 ATTITUDES – 1 WORD
8 Attitudes of Happiness that describe a different characteristic of being HAPPY AS GOD DEFINES HAPPINESS – “BLESSED”.
Poor in Spirit Mourning Gentle & Meek
Hunger & Thirsting Merciful Pure in Heart
Peacemakers Persecuted for Christ
Surrounding Each Attitude is the word HUMILITY and they together describe what the disciples had when they approached Jesus: They each had a TEACHABLE SPIRIT!
2. SATAN’S BEATITUDES
1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend even an hour once a week with their fellow Christians – they are my best workers.
2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.
3. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church –for they are my missionaries.
4. Blessed are the trouble makers – for they shall be called my children.
5. Blessed are the complainers –for their complaints are music to my ears.
6. Blessed are those who keep a list of the preachers mistakes -- for they get nothing out of his sermons.
7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church – for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
8. Blessed are those who gossip -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.
9. Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit.
10. Blessed are those who do not give an offering to carry on God’s work – for in stealing from God you steal for me.
11. Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister -- for he shall be with me forever.
12. Blessed are you who, when you hear this, think the preacher is talking about someone other than you– for I’ve got you right where I want you.
3. CLOSE
Whose definition of “Happiness” will you decide to follow? Based on that decision, is there an adjustment that needs to be made this morning?
In The SECRET (chorus)
I want to know You, I want to hear Your voice,
I want to know You more.
I want to touch You, I want to see Your face,
I want to know You more.
Do we have a Teachable Spirit – One whose hunger is never satisfied, whose thirst is never quenched?
