SECRETS WITH GOD SERIES
Secrets that Bless Us
Matthew 5:1-12
A Secret: something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
Top Secret America is a series of investigative articles published on the post-9/11 growth of the United States Intelligence Community.[1] The report was first published in The Washington Post on July 19, 2010, by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dana Priest and William Arkin. The three-part series, which took nearly two years to research,[2] was prepared with the assistance of more than a dozen journalists.[3] It focuses on the expansion of secret intelligence departments within the government, and the outsourcing of services. The Cliff Notes findings of the report are as follows:
• The report states that in approximately 10,000 locations across the United States, 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private companies are employed. Their work is related to homeland security, counterterrorism, and intelligence.
• More than two-thirds of these locations "reside" in the Department of Defense, where "only a handful of senior officials — called Super Users — have the ability to even know about all the department's activities."
• An estimated 854,000 people hold top-secret security clearances.
• The publicly announced cost of the U.S. intelligence system is "$75 billion, 2½ times the size it was on Sept. 10, 2001. But the figure doesn't include many military activities or domestic counterterrorism programs."
• Since September, 2001, 33 building complexes for top-secret intelligence work are either under construction or have been built. The total area is approximately 17 million square feet, equivalent to about three Pentagons or 22 U.S. Capitol buildings.
• Analysts within the agencies publish about 50,000 intelligence reports each year.
• Every day, the National Security Agency intercepts and stores 1.7 billion phone calls, e-mails, and "other types of communications", but is able to sort only a "fraction" of these into 70 different databases.
Today, we are not going to talk about those type of secrets, but rather the attitudes unknown to others, those between us and God that lead to His blessings in our lives.
Quote: “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.” Charles Swindoll
Today we are going to discuss our approach to God. How can we welcome what God has for us in our lives? If we want Jesus to be our Lord, how do we allow that occur? Our talk will focus on the Apostle Paul and how his turning to God demonstrates that pathway to the blessed position described in these verses. No matter where we are at in our faith journey, I believe we can find one if not all of these beatitudes applicable and like a gold nugget, we can take at least one of them home with us to improve our lives.
As we have shown, Matthew takes great strides to show that Jesus is the rightful heir to the throne of David, and thus the King of Israel. There is much Scripture which details that the promised Messiah would one day rule over all the earth. One such passage is found in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah, from 700 B.C. Chapter 9, verse 6, reads: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV.
Isaiah’s description of Jesus as the mighty God, the everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace reveals that there is some greatness regarding person of the Christ which is yet to be understood and experienced. In Chapter 1, Matthew uses geneology to show Jesus as heir to the throne of David; in Chapter 2, we see the wise men inquiring, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews” and Jesus being worshiped by these same wise men from the Persian or Iranian Empire; in Chapter 3, Matthew writes how John the Baptist is declaring that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and preaching repentance and baptism, so that the people can prepare themselves for the coming Messianic King; in Chapter 4, we see Jesus preaching to people to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, then His dominion over the forces of evil and disease is shown. Matthew concludes this section of his writing with: 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. Matthew 4:24-25 KJV.
The most likely location of our setting today is a hill area in Northern Israel, which at that time was called Galilee. Jesus is being followed by hundreds, if not thousands of people from all over the land of Palestine. He has chosen some of His inner circle of disciples and now He wants to help them understand what is going on. They see deliverance at work; God’s rulership on display as sick and broken bodies are restored, and people in mental torment are relieved and given peace of mind.
Jesus sat down. This was the posture for teaching in Jewish culture; for preaching the rabbis stood. Like a king on his throne, Christ then begins to communicate the constitution of the kingdom or the guiding principles that will welcome and permit heaven’s goodness to be received in the lives of the people. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 are traditionally called the “Sermon on the Mount” and verses 3-12 are generally called the Beatitudes, attitudes that we all need to have.
First, let us examine the word “blessed.” It is used 9 nines times to show the benefit of the right and secret attitudes we can have. Many have given this word the plan meaning of “happy.” However, the language of that day has the word as NT:3107 makarios (mak-ar'-ee-os); a prolonged form of the poetical makar (meaning the same); supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off. Makarioi from ma or mee, not, and keer, fate, or death: intimating, that such persons were endued with immortality, and consequently were not liable to the caprices of fate. In other words, the blessed spoken of here by Jesus is not a temporary elated emotional state based on the changing happenings of one’s life, but rather a fortunate condition and position that one held in life and with God, a well off state or happiness not subject to the viscitudes of life, and the ups and downs of daily living.
Today, we will use the story of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who most of us know by his Roman name Paul, and who became a follower of Christ, preacher, Bible teacher, missionary and who God inspired to write over half of the New Testament books; his story will be used to unpack the meaning of these nine secret attitudes. Saul’s story can be found in Acts, fifth book of the NT, chapter 9.
Read – Verses 1 – 6: Saul was an important man on a significant mission and climbing the ladder of success in his craft. He graduated from the ivory league school for his craft, no doubt near the top of his class, he had access to important, national leaders, was deputized with regional authority, and given the platinum corporate credit card to carry out his business. He had made the right career moves, was accomplished and on his way up the ladder of success. However, during one his business trips, he began to have an unusual occurrence. Suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. Light reveals everything! Ever feel like all of a sudden you can see clearly the problems, short comings and issues of your life and character? That is what is happening to Saul. What do we do in such times? Order another drink, head back to the hotel room and turn on the game? Put our head back up from the desk and bury our thoughts under our work? I believe the next words are so powerful, that if the event written did not occur, there would have never been a Paul, the great apostle. Instead of directing his team to ride out there and get away from the light, Paul fell down from his horse to the ground, no doubt to his knees.
As he responded to the voice of the living Christ, he realized that he had nothing to bargain with and nothing worth holding on to. You see to be poor in spirit is to realize that we are totally helpless and lost without God. He realized his religion could not save him, his standing in religious, career and social organizations could not save him. He was empty and spiritual bankrupt before God. Christ taught: 23-24 …..“Believe me, a rich man will find it very difficult to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Yes, I repeat, a camel could more easily squeeze through the eye of a needle than a rich man get into the kingdom of God!” 25 The disciples were simply amazed to hear this, and said, “Then who can possibly be saved?” 26 Jesus looked steadily at them and replied, “Humanly speaking it is impossible; but with God anything is possible!” Matt. 19:23-26 JBP. Regardless of who we are or where we are in this life, if we want God’s gift of salvation we must come to a place where our only confidence for being right with God is the suffering, death and shed blood of Jewish carpenter turned preacher, who died on a criminal’s cross on a rocky hill northeast of the holy city. The cry truly is: Lord, what will you have me to do?!
Read verses 7 – 9: Realizing that he has just met absolute authority, Saul’s world is rocked to its foundation. He’s blind now. The man is charge in reaching out for someone to lead him by the hand. His soul is in deep contrition. He has realized his sins and errors before God and his heart is broken at the realization of what he really looks like in the eyes of the Almighty. He is in such a state of repentance and mourning because of his sins that he refuses food and drink for 3 days. But, God doesn’t leave us to wallow in our shameful condition, He sends us comfort in knowing that a broken heart and contrite spirit He will not refuse. He will send us His word to show us the way.
Read verses 10 – 17: No doubt Ananias name was near to top of the list of Christians to arrest in Damascus and lead in chains back to Jerusalem. But now, because Saul has humbled himself, he is able to welcome in and receive instructions from someone who only days before was an enemy to him. You see, meekness is not weakness. Rather is it an attitude of being humble, teachable, which allows us to receive what life has for us. Jesus taught: 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 KJV. 31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. Prov. 15:31-32. It is beneficial for us to see ourselves as a student of life and being humble and teachable positions us to receive what this life has to offer.
Read verse 18: An old gospel song tells the story of a young boy, only 7 or 8, in the kitchen telling his mom how hungry he is. Mom, being mom, is busy so she offers him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which she does without recognizing the look on his face and the tears flowing from his eyes. When his sniffles and light sobs finally catch her attention and she asks what’s wrong, he cries “I don’t want no peanut butter and jelly. I want my soul to be saved!” Have you ever been there? When nothing satisfies and all the world’s pleasures become empty and unfulfilling? When your heart and soul is tired of being entertained and you hunger and thirst what seemingly this world can not give? Saul was there! He didn’t want to go back to who he was or to the life he had been living. He was hungry for God, he was thirsty to do God’s will. The song writer and king, David wrote: As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42:1-2. You see God can clothe you in what Saks and Dillards can not; He can educate you in what Harvard and Stanford can’t offer; He can feed you with food not found in Ruth’s Chris’ kitchen; He can lift you higher than the company title of CEO; and He can satisfy you in ways no human relationship can! Christ said: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.” 39 (He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him; but the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet returned to his glory in heaven.) John 7:37-39 TLB.
Read verse 19: These same people that he formerly despised and looked down upon for their belief in Jesus, Saul is now eating and living with them. His anger that they were perverting the Law of Moses and the Jews’ religion is now gone. Saul in all of his zeal and disdain for other not like him, has learned to be merciful. Mercy is defined as compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV. It is interesting that the first word for mercy is for showing compassion to others. However, the second word for mercy here actually indicates receiving mercy from God. [Story of Sir Flemming and Sir Winston Churchill].
Read verse 20: Here, 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.” Paul was for real. He right away began to stand up for what he believed to be true, for who and what Jesus Christ now meant to him. Although a very new believer, he was not a closet follower of Christ; he was not ashamed of the gospel. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:38 KJV. When we keep our hearts pure by conforming our values and attitudes to be in line with the truth of God’s word, it is easier to see God’s goodness and how He is at work in our lives.
Read verses 21-22: Did you know that the Scriptures portray us as aliens and enemies in our minds to God when we live a sinful life? So, Saul went to work sharing the gospel and helping people become friends of God. A old proverb says, He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. Proverbs 10:5 KJV. As sons of God we should be busy either planting or gathering in God’s harvest field. Helping others be restored in relationship to our heavenly Father is the greatest way we can be peacemakers on earth.
Read verses 23 – 26: Truly, it is not always easy to be a Christian, to make a stand for righteousness or share the gospel with others. Some people despise those who are good. Some people hate the name of Jesus, His church and the message of Christianity. “This I command you, love one another! If the world hates you, you know that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own. But because you do not belong to the world and I have chosen you out of it, the world will hate you. Do you remember what I said to you, ‘The servant is not greater than his master’? If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you as well, but if they have followed my teaching, they will also follow yours. They will do all these things to you as my disciples because they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. The man who hates me, hates my Father as well. John 15:17-23 TLB.
We have explored the Magna Carta of the kingdom of God, the fundamental principles of faith and attitude that other kingdom teaches are built upon: recognizing our need of God, mourning or living a life of repentance; being mild, humble or teachable; hungering for God and what’s right; showing mercy; keeping a clean heart; making peace and remaining faithful even in times of persecution. This last attitude of rejoicing when defamed, taunted, and even spoken evil of because of Christ is truly a lesson on faithfulness; for all else fails if we don’t keep the faith. How can we rejoice and remain faithful when treated badly, rejected by others and scorned for our faith? The Scriptures teach: And we can see that it was while we were powerless to help ourselves that Christ died for sinful men. In human experience it is a rare thing for one man to give his life for another, even if the latter be a good man, though there have been a few who have had the courage to do it. Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 JBP. Jesus Christ endured shame, rejection, suffering and death on the cross for us, and since that time billions have knelt at the foot of that cross and found forgiveness, freedom from sin and peace with God.
