INTRODUCTION
How many of you want to live a blessed or happy life?
Today we are going to start a series on what many have called the greatest teachings that have ever been taught.
What Jesus gives to us here is a pathway to being blessed or happy.
What is the world’s formula for “blessings” or “happiness”? In most cases the world’s formula for happiness is just the opposite of what Jesus taught and what He teaches us in this sermon. Who better to give the formula to happiness than Jesus, the author of giver of life?
Most of the beatitudes are paradoxical, being the very reverse of the world’s view. For those who have put these to the test, there is no question that God’s way to blessings and happiness is the best way.
This is the beauty of Jesus teachings, it is like when Jesus said in Matthew 16:25 that whoever wishes to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. To the skeptic, that statement does not make sense. To the skeptic, Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:1-12 does not make sense either.
In Matthew 5:1-12 we find what has been called “The Beatitudes.” The word “beatitude” comes from a Latin word that means, “blessed” or “happy”. In this section of Matthew, Jesus gives to us the formula to spiritual bliss and spiritual prosperity.
As we delve into this passage we will see a progression of thought. One step seems to build on another.
What we find in this passage is attitudes that Jesus expects people of the Kingdom to strive to possess. Jesus wants all of His children to live in a state of blessing. With each corresponding attitude or action, a blessing follows.
Today I want us to look at the path that Jesus has laid out for citizens of heaven.
SERMON
I. POOR IN SPIRIT V3
This is the first step involved in growing in Christ. READ VERSE 3. Being poor in spirit is recognition on our part that we are missing something very valuable in our lives.
Another way of reading this verse is, “Blessed is the man who has realized his own utter helplessness, and who has put his whole trust in God.”
On the surface this does not make sense. How many people want to be spiritually poor?
When we are poor in spirit we understand that we have a need, an emptiness within us that only a relationship with Jesus will fill.
In the book of Revelation, the bible tells us that the church at Laodicea did not have this awareness and they were condemned because they thought they had no spiritual need.
REVELATION 3:17-18 says about this church, ’Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
A good example in the Bible of someone who was poor in spirit is found in Luke 18:9-14. READ and EXPLAIN
This is where many people fall short; they feel that they are a good person, so they do not need God. This is why for many people they have to hit bottom before they come to Jesus. It takes them hitting bottom before they realize just how poor in spirit they are.
Jesus says that those who are poor in spirit will have the opportunity to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. They will have the opportunity to be a part of the Church now and later when the church is taken up into heaven as the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-29)
II. MOURNING OVER SIN V4
There are many people who start to recognize a need for Jesus, but you cannot stop there. The next step that comes after recognizing your need is that we mourn over our sin against God.
READ VERSE 4
This verse could be written as John MacAurthur writes, “Happy are the sad.” How many people are happy when they are sad? The paradox of the second beatitude is obvious. What could be more self-contradictory than the idea that the sad are happy, that the path to happiness is sadness, that the way to rejoicing is in mourning?
The mourning that takes place happens because of the recognition of our spiritual poverty and by the fact that we understand that the path we have been going is the wrong one.
There are many people who mourn but are not comforted because they do not make any changes in their lives.
Those who mourn have to opportunity to be comforted. Proper mourning includes repentance, or turning away from that which we are sorry for.
Jesus says that when we mourn over sin, or repent that we will be comforted. This could be a tie in with the promise that Jesus gave in John 14:16 and 14:26 where He said that when He leaves that the “Comforter”, “Helper” or the Holy Spirit would come.
III. GENTLE V5
The next step in the progression of our growth is found in verse five.
READ VERSE 5
To say, then, that the gentle or meek will inherit the earth is a laughable paradox in our materialistic, self-seeking society. How is that possibly true? Ultimately, Christians will inherit all things, because we are co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17). To say, then, that the meek will inherit the earth is a laughable paradox in our materialistic, self-seeking society. How is that possibly true? Ultimately, Christians will inherit all things, because we are co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17).
The word translated “gentle” or “meek” indicates power under control. It was used of war stallions who were bridled and in submission to their masters. In relation to a Christian, it involves thinking of others above yourself. It describes a gentleness and courteousness in our relationships which demonstrates that we have a realistic evaluation of ourselves. Whereas “poor in spirit” describes our personal recognition of our own bankruptcy, “meek” describes our public expression of that same sense of humility.
When we understand our spiritual poverty and then repent (or mourn) over that poverty we start to take control of our lives with the help of the Holy Spirit. If the comfort Jesus speaks of in verse four is the Holy Spirit, this verse takes on a deeper significance.
Under the direction of the Spirit, we start taking back territory that we have allowed the devil to have in our lives.
Jesus is saying that the person who is gentle will have the greatest possible life here and will later gain the keys to heaven.
IV. HUNGER V6
As we continue on the path to growth, as we see what the Lord is doing in our lives, and as we feel grateful for salvation and that our sins are forgiven, we then start to hunger.
READ VERSE 6
GWT translates the passage this way, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval. They will be satisfied.
Once again, how many of you are happy when you are hungry? I get a bit grumpy sometimes when this happens.
As you begin to taste what God has for you, you cannot help but want more. Have you ever tried a new food and then found that you could not get enough of it? When you are hungry for help, where do you turn?
You turn toward God and His ways.
John MacAurthur writes concerning this verse, “This beatitude speaks of strong desire, of driving pursuit, of a passionate force inside the soul. It has to do with ambition—ambition of the right sort—whose object is to honor, obey, and glorify God by partaking of His righteousness. This holy ambition is in great contrast to the common ambitions of men to gratify their own lusts, accomplish their own goals, and satisfy their own egos.”
People hunger for all types of things. Jesus tells us that we have a passion for righteousness that we will be satisfied. Nothing else will satisfy that hunger once we understand that we need Jesus.
When you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you turn to God and His word to be filled.
Jesus declares that the deepest desire of every person ought to be to hunger and thirst for righteousness. That is the Spirit-prompted desire that will lead a person to salvation and keep him strong and faithful once he is in the kingdom. It is also the only ambition that, when fulfilled, brings enduring happiness.
Our deepest desire is to please God. We will find the ultimate satisfaction in this.
The next four beatitudes are ones that are things people can see. The first ones deal with our attitudes. The first of these four is found in verse seven.
V. MERCIFUL V7
READ VERSE 7
What does it mean to be merciful? Merciful means to be “beneficial or charitable”. Hebrews 2:17 speaks of Jesus as our “merciful and faithful high priest.” Christ is the supreme example of mercy and the supreme dispenser of mercy. It is from Jesus Christ that both redeeming and sustaining mercy come.
The fifth beatitude does not teach that mercy to men brings mercy from men, but that mercy to men brings mercy from God. If we are merciful to others, God will be merciful to us, whether men are or not.
Being merciful would mean that we would do what is best for other people based on the light of God’s word.
When we are seeking God’s approval, we will always be looking for helping other people. God sees how we deal with people and He knows the heart behind the action. If we want God to show mercy to us, then we need to show it to others.
VI. PURE HEART V8
As we start to show mercy to people, then we need to take another step in the growth process. READ VERSE 8
A person with a pure heart does not have mixed motives, they are doing what they are doing because they love Jesus. There is no hidden agenda behind the mercy shown or the love and help given.
How do we get a pure heart? By coming into contact with the blood of Jesus. The Psalmist writes in PSALM 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
When you look at the reward part of this passage, it tells us that the pure in heart shall see God. The only ones who will “see” or be with God are those who belong to Him. We must be clothed with Christ to have a pure heart.
God’s motives are pure, He has a pure heart and so should we. As I have more of Him and less of me in my life, my heart will become more like the heart of God.
VII. PEACEMAKER V9
As we continue on the path of growth; after we have recognized our need for Jesus, repented of our past, allowed the Spirit to help us get control of ourselves, fed on God’s word, felt mercy towards others and had our hearts purified, we will then want to be a peace maker. READ VERSE 9
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that firefighters in Genoa, Texas, were accused of deliberately setting more than forty destructive fires. When caught, they stated, "We had nothing to do. We just wanted to get the red lights flashing and the bells clanging." The job of firefighters is to put out fires, not start them. The job of Christians is to help resolve conflict (Matt. 5:9), not start more of it. -- Gerald Cornelius, Azle, Texas, Leadership, Vol. 17, no. 1.
We feel the call from God to be one who helps man make peace with God. 2CO 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
1PE 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
A priest is a bridge builder. We are called to help build a bridge between man and God through Jesus.
We get to a point where we realize that people need the Lord and then we dedicate ourselves to try to reach people with the Gospel.
When we commit our first sin, we separate ourselves from God. We need to be clothed with Christ so that we can make peace with God.
Jesus says that as we try to do t his that we will be called sons of God.
We will be called sons of God because we would be obeying God’s purpose for our lives.
1JO 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
VIII. SUFFERING PERSECUTION V10-12
In life when we make changes to ourselves, many times people will leave us alone as long as we keep it to ourselves, but when we start to go out and try to change the world, things can start to happen. READ VERSES 10-12
The year was A.D. 155, and the persecution against Christians swept across the Roman Empire and came to the city of Smyrna. The proconsul of Symrna, swept up in this persecution, put out an order that the Bishop of Symrna, Polycarp, was to be found, arrested, and brought to the public arena for execution. They found Polycarp and brought him before thousands of spectators screaming for blood. But the proconsul had compassion on this man who was almost a hundred years old. He signaled the crowd to silence. To Polycarp he said, "Curse the Christ and live." The crowd waited for the old man to answer. In an amazingly strong voice, he said, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong. How dare I blaspheme the name of my king and Lord!" With that Polycarp became a martyr.
This passage does not necessarily deal with suffering because of a political regime, but it deals with suffering because you are trying to be peacemaker. You are trying to be like Christ and you suffer for it.
The interesting thing about the beatitudes is that Jesus does not want us to get to one level, like mourning over our condition and the stopping. Jesus said in John 15:18-20 that the world would hate us because we belong to Him. There have been countless numbers who have died for their faith, for some that is what God will call us to do. VERSE 12
We cannot turn back or give up when the fight get tough, we need to hang in there and remember that we serve a great God who has given us a great message.
Jesus tells us when we suffer for His sake that we will possess the kingdom of Heaven.
CONCLUSION
Jesus lays out the attitudes and action for those who want to be a part of His kingdom. The beatitudes are not optional for the Christian. They are the expected conduct and attitudes that we are to strive for as citizens of the king
When you look at the beatitudes from a worldly perspective, they do not make sense. The wisdom of God is foolishness to those who are perishing.
1CO 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1CO 1:27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
The difficulties that we face in this world are but little when compared to the glories of heaven!
