Attitudes To Be in our lives Part 1
Matthew 5:1-12 (NKJV) And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
#1. Matthew 5:3 (NKJV) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Attitude 1 – We need an attitude of HUMILITY.
“Poor in spirit” speaks of those who realize that they are in total helplessness and lost apart from God.
The person who is poor in spirit realizes his helplessness without the Lord and puts his whole trust in God.
When we think we are OK because we are a “GOOD PERSON” we are depending on our own self righteousness. 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.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
We have to remember that Going to church will not save us. Reading our Bible's will not save us. Praying will not save us. Only a relationship with Jesus will save us. Only making Him Lord of our lives will save us. Good works are good, but salvation only comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Look at what the Bible says in Luke chapter eighteen:
Luke 18:9-14 (NKJV) Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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.
Isaiah 66:2 (NLTSE) My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! "I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.
Our Jesus was like this.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
If we truly want to be blessed we need an attitude of humility.
And remember if we do this, we will inherit the kingdom of heaven.”
#2. Matthew 5:4 (NKJV)“Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.”
Attitude 2 – We need an attitude of Godly sorrow.
This is an attitude of Godly sorrow that produces repentance and leads to salvation.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV) For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
This is true sorrow that affects a person down into their soul.
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.
Psalms 51:4 (NKJV) Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
Yet in all the evil David did, God forgave Him and restored Him. Jesus is mentioned so many times with David. Check it out.
When we sin we should feel guilty. We should mourn over our sin. We should take it to God for the scripture says if we take our sin before Him, we “shall be comforted.”
Look at what first John chapter one and verse nine says:
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But once we ask our Heavenly Father to forgive us, we need to let it go. If we don't, then we go from godly sorrow to condemnation and that is not for NT believers. This is the great comfort that He has given us, FREEDOM.
Romans 8:1-2 (NASB) Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Romans 8:1-2 (MSG) With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. 2 A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
And remember if we do this, we will be comforted
#4. Matthew 5:6 (NKJV) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”
Attitude 4 - We need an attitude of Hungering After God the Righteous one and the things of God.
We need to have a Hunger for God the Righteous one and the things of God. God is righteous and we need to have the same desires that He has. When something is evil we need to call it evil. When something is pure and holy we need to hold on to it.
We need to have a burning desire for it. We need to study it and live it. Our driving passion – our driving hunger – needs to be on those things that are pleasing to God. Look at what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NKJV) For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God.
4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.
God wants us to have a desire so strong for Him that it is almost like starvation hunger. The desire for righteousness should drive our lives.
The world doesn't have this.
Isaiah 5:20 (NKJV) Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Look at the Psalmist Hunger for God and God alone. When we hunger like this, everything else comes in line. We will be filled.
Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalms 63:1 (NKJV) O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
Psalms 27:4-6 (NKJV) One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
Psalms 27:8 (NKJV) When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
When we get really hungry for God our Father and the things of God, look out, YOU WILL NE FILLED!
And remember if we do this, we shall be filled with Him
Matthew 5:6 (NKJV) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled
Matthew 5:7 (NKJV) Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:7 (AMP)Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous — with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
Attitude 5 - We need an attitude of MERCY.
Jesus made being merciful, that is, showing kindness to those in distress a major part of the Christian's life.
Luke 10:29-37 (NKJV)
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 “Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 “Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 “So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 “On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Forgiveness and mercy are what God demonstrates to us.
Did you know that the manner in which you forgive people is the manner in which you will be forgiven?
Those who are merciful now will find God's mercy in the final judgment.
Look at what it says in The Lord’s prayer:
Matthew 6:12-15 (NKJV)
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
John Wesley visited the governor of the colony of Georgia. The governor mentioned an incident involving a man who had angered him and remarked, “I shall never forgive him!” Wesley responded, “Then I hope sir, that you never sin!”
Matthew 9:13 (NKJV) “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
How do you show mercy and forgiveness?
We need to have an attitude of forgiveness and mercy.
And remember if we do this, we shall obtain mercy, when we need it.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)
Attitude 6 - We need an attitude of PURE in heart.
Now here is a beatitude which demands that we should stop and examine ourselves. The Greek word for “pure” has a number of interesting facets. It was used for dirty clothes that had been washed clean. It was used to describe grain and flour that had been carefully sifted – cleansed of all impurities. It was used when describing milk or wine that had not been mixed with any other liquid. It is not diluted or watered down. It was pure.
So this beatitude could be translated, “Blessed is the man who is genuine in heart, who is authentic, who is not a phony, because such a man will see God.”
Now what does that mean? It means one is pure. It means one is holy. It does not mean that one is perfect – but that we strive to be clean. We take the mask off. We quit being phony. We quit pretending to be the person you’re not. We become honest to God. We become honest to ourselves. We become honest to each other. We strive to be “pure in heart.” That is why Paul can write to Timothy and say:
2 Timothy 2:22 (NKJV)
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
This verse is not just for Timothy – it is us too. We need an attitude of holiness in our lives.
Attitude 7 - We need an attitude of PEACEMAKING.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)
God wants us to be peacemakers, not peace BREAKERS!
He wants us to be a part of the solution, not the PROBLEM.
There are 2 kinds of people in this world: “thermostat” people and “thermometer” people. A thermometer reflects the climate of the room. If the room is cold, it’s cold. If the room is hot, it’s hot.
But a thermostat can change the climate of the room. By its setting a thermostat can change a cold room into one that is warm, or a hot room into one that is cool. And a peace-maker is a thermostat person. A peacemaker can change the climate of the room when he or she walks in. Have you ever seen that happen?
Have you ever been in a room where everybody is negative and complaining? Everything is going wrong. Then a thermostat person enters the room and soon says something that causes people to say, “We never thought of it like that.” – the whole climate changes.
God wants peacemakers in His church. God wants peacemakers in the workplace. God wants peacemakers out in the world, people who never dwell on the negative, but concentrate on the positive and see the good things God is doing in His church and in the world.
Jesus had the ability to change things. Even storms at sea. In Matthew there is a story of a storm. The storm was so strong that the disciples thought they were going to die. But do you remember what Jesus did. It’s found in your notes:
“He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26 (HCSB)
You see Jesus was a peacemaker. He changes things. He has called us to be peacemakers too.
Attitude 8 - We need an attitude of ENDURANCE.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10 (NKJV)
Folks I have lived long enough in this world to know that whatever you do - you will be criticized. Even if you do nothing – you will be criticized and persecuted. I don’t know about you – but I would rather be criticized for doing the right thing then for doing the wrong thing. I would rather be called a fool for following God – then to be called a wise man for following the devil.
Franklin Graham tells the following story:
Sámi Dagher had been a maitre’d at the world famous Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut before Lebanon’s terrible civil war. Just before the war broke out he left the hotel to plant a small church in one of the poorest areas of the city. When he approached the hotel manager to inform him that he was resigning, the following dialog occurred:
"God has called me to preach," Sámi told the manager. "I’m leaving the hotel."
"Leaving? You’re a fool! You’re crazy! A man in your position making good money, and you quit?"
"I leave for something more important than money. I’m going to preach the name of Jesus Christ."
"You’re going to give up this good position to preach for some god? You must be crazy. No! I’ll tell you the right thing to do. You stay here and make money, Sámi. I need you."
"No, I can’t stay any longer. I’ve prayed and this is what I must do."
Then the hotel manager grew angry and shouted, "I curse you! One day, Sámi Dagher, you will come to the threshold of my door, and you will beg for a crust of bread, and I won’t give it to you. I will let you starve! Do you hear my words? Not a crust!"
Quite sometime later, during some of the heaviest fighting since World War II, Sámi heard a knock at his door. It was late at night, so Sámi told his wife and children to stay in bed. He answered the door himself. When he opened the door, the hotel manager stood before him.
"I couldn’t sleep," the man said. "I wanted to see how you are doing and talk."
Sámi made coffee and they discussed the old days they enjoyed at the Phoenicia. Sámi sensed the man had come for another reason, but the man wouldn’t say. Finally Sámi said, "My friend, it is late. Why have you come to me?"
"Oh, nothing, Sámi. I just wanted to talk of old times."
The man walked to the door and opened it. As he stood in the doorway with his head hung low, he turned to Sámi and said, "I have no food. I have not eaten for two days. Do you have anything you could spare?"
He is no fool who follows God – even if he is criticized.
Attitude 9 - We need an attitude of FAITHFULNESS.
"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 5:11-12 (NKJV)
When the going gets tough – the tough keep going.
Committed people stay COMMITTED.
Faithful people stay FAITHFUL.
Jesus is going to judge us by our faithfulness. In Matthew chapter twenty five Jesus tells a parable of a group of three servants who were given a certain amount of money. The master went off on a journey but when he returned there was a day of accountability. Two of the servants were faithful and this is what the master said to them:
’Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:23 (NKJV)
Do you know what the master called the third servant who was not faithful? He was called, “wicked and lazy.” Do you know why?
Your faithfulness shows your CHARACTER.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with a lot. Whoever is dishonest with very little is dishonest with a lot.” Luke 16:10 (GW)
Folks I am glad that Jesus was faithful to the Father aren’t you? Did you know that the Garden of Gethsemane was about Jesus’ faithfulness? It was! “Will I follow the will of the Father or will I try to have my own way? Father, take this task from me. If there is any other way Father – if there is an alternate route – I ask that it be taken. Take this cup of crucifixion – take this cup of suffering – take this cup of pain – BUT not my will, but Yours be done.” Jesus was found faithful. How about you? Are you committed to Christ? Are you faithful?
