BLESSED TO BE DIFFERENT
Matthew 5:7-12
S: Holiness
C: Living for God
Th: Live the Difference
Pr: TRUE HAPPINESS IS FOUND IN LIVING FOR GOD.
?: How? How does this happen?
KW: Qualities
TS: We will find in our study of Matthew 5:7-12 that when we demonstrate four qualities, our lives will be blessed and full.
The _____ quality is…
I. MERCY (7)
II. PURITY (8)
III. PEACE (9)
IV. PERSECUTION (10-12)
PA: How is the change to be observed?
Version: ESV
RMBC 21 November 04 AM
INTRODUCTION:
ILL Notebook: Joy (for free?)
An old rabbi is talking with one of his friends and says with a warm smile, "I gladdened seven hearts today."
"Seven hearts?" asks the friend. "How did you do that?"
The rabbi strokes his beard and replies, "I performed three marriages."
The friend looks at him quizzically. "Seven?" he asks. "I could understand six, but..."
"Well, what do you think," says the rabbi, "that I do this for free?"
Well…
What brings you happiness?
I ask that question because we have been studying the Beatitudes.
The beatitudes are a small group of sayings that belong to a larger section called the Sermon on the Mount.
There are eight beatitudes, each one beginning with the word “blessed.”
The basic meaning of this word translated “blessed” is happy.
So, what Jesus is doing during this small part of His message is explaining what it takes to be happy.
But as we have studied them in weeks past, they, perhaps have not been what you have expected…
TRANSITION:
You see…
We live in a culture that is consumed by finding happiness.
As we enter into the Christmas season, we continues its pursuit by becoming more and more materialistic.
And, it is exhausting.
But Jesus does tell us how to find it.
He says…
1. To find happiness, we must be empty before God (3-5).
Back on October 24, we studied the first three beatitudes…
"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.”
If we are going to be happy, we have to know the poverty of soul that understands that we have nothing of worth to bring before God except ourselves alone.
If we are truly going to be happy, we have to be broken and grief-stricken before God, fully understanding how our sin has offended Him.
If we are going to know the truest happiness, we are going to have to submit our will and strength under the Lordship of Jesus.
So, you see…
2. To find happiness, we must desire God above everything else (6).
On October 31, we studied the fourth beatitude…
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
We have to get our priorities right.
If we are not seeking for righteousness, we are going to miss what God has for us.
Not only that, we are not going to be satisfied.
If we trade in God’s priorities for our own, we are the big losers.
You see, as believers…
3. Our lives are meant to be fulfilling and joyful.
But you know, as you read those first four beatitudes, they seem rather paradoxical.
They seem to be just the opposite of what we initially expected.
But Jesus does say each one on purpose.
And as we now study the next four beatitudes, we see they have a direct relationship with the first four.
You see…
Those that recognize their spiritual poverty recognize their need of mercy.
Those who mourn over their sin recognize their need of purity.
Those who are submitting to the Lordship of Jesus will seek peace.
And those who truly hunger for righteousness will be willing to pay the price to obtain it, even if it is costly.
Yes, these next four beatitudes tell us that…
4. TRUE HAPPINESS IS FOUND IN LIVING FOR GOD.
But how is this going to happen?
Well…
5. We will find in our study of Matthew 5:7-12 that when we demonstrate four qualities, our lives will be blessed and full.
Now we are able to demonstrate these qualities, not because we can do so in our own strength, but because we are submitted to the Lordship of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.
So…
OUR STUDY:
I. The first quality is MERCY (7).
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
ILL Compassion (swing)
A man is in bed with his wife when there is knocking on the door. He rolls over and looks at his clock. It’s half past three in the morning.
"I’m not getting out of bed at this time," he thinks, and rolls over.
Then, a louder knock follows.
"Aren’t you going to answer that?" says his wife.
So he drags himself out of bed, and goes downstairs. He opens the door and there is man standing at the door. It didn’t take the homeowner long to realize the man was drunk.
"Hi there," slurs the stranger, "Can you give me a push?"
"No, get lost, it’s half past three. I was in bed," says the man and slams the door.
He goes back up to bed and tells his wife what happened and she says "Dave, that wasn’t very nice of you. Remember that night we broke down in the pouring rain on the way to pick the kids up from the baby-sitter and you had to knock on that man’s house to get us started again? What would have happened if he’d told us to get lost?"
"But the guy was drunk," says the husband.
"It doesn’t matter," says the wife. "He needs our help and it would be the Christian thing to help him."
So the husband gets out of bed again, gets dressed, and goes downstairs. He opens the door, and not being able to see the stranger anywhere he shouts, "Hey, do you still want a push?" and he hears a voice cry out, "Yeah, please!"
So, still being unable to see the stranger, he shouts: "Where are you?"
And the stranger replies: "I’m over here, on your swing."
Well, as difficult as it might be…
1. We are to be people of compassion.
When we speak of mercy, we are speaking of compassion that is in action.
It is love that is on the move.
It doesn’t hold a grudge.
Mercy does not harbor resentment.
It doesn’t look to point the finger and capitalize on another’s failure or weakness.
In fact, mercy is so powerful it is able to get right inside the other person’s skin.
It is the ability to see, think and feel just as someone else does.
You know, this is exactly what Jesus did for us.
As the Son of God, He came to men, not as some remote, detached, and majestic God.
He came as one of us.
He showed us mercy in the Incarnation.
So, Jesus does not ask us to do something that He has not already done.
He asks us to go the opposite way of the world where one is only concerned about their own feelings, desires and wants.
He asks us, even commands us, to go out beyond ourselves, to look out for the interests of others before ourselves.
And when we do this…
2. When we are compassionate, God’s love will be evident.
When we are living for God, and we are willing to demonstrate His mercy, God will be seen and understood.
And God will work.
For when God is involved, there will be mercy for mercy.
The opposite is also true.
When we hold back mercy, God restricts His flow of mercy to us, and unfortunately, we forfeit blessing.
This now brings us to…
II. The second quality is PURITY (8).
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
1. We are to be a holy people (cf. Proverbs 4:23).
To get us thinking about purity and holiness, Jesus asks us to consider our hearts.
For the heart represents the inner person, its motives and attitudes.
The heart is the center of the personality and the thinking process.
ILL Notebook: Heart (Moore)
Jimmy Moore was a dying man. There just wasn’t any future for him. Then he got his chance again in the form of a heart transplant at Vanderbilt University. Two years later, he completed the grueling (Nashville, TN), Triathlon which consisted of a 1k swim, 40k bike ride (24.8 miles) and 10k (6.2 mile) run.
The man who had a heart transplant 18 months earlier crossed the finish line with tears in his eyes and these words across the front of his T-shirt, "I’VE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART."
Well, this speaks to a spiritual truth, doesn’t it?
If we are to be pure, we need a change of heart.
The word that is used for pure here means to be made clean from dirt, filth, and contamination.
It was commonly used of the refining of metals so that they would be unmixed and unadulterated.
And so when we carry this into the spiritual realm, we find that blessing awaits those that operate from a pure motive.
We are called on to possess a single-mindedness when it comes to the things of the Lord.
But let us recognize that this is hard.
It is hard for us to have unmixed motives, but yet, God’s standard for our hearts is 100% purity.
It is nothing less.
So, we need to heed the words of Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)…
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Because sin blinds us to the will of God, we must constantly keep watch over our hearts, so that when we come to our relationship with our Lord, He has our undivided devotion.
Interestingly, the more we consider spiritual integrity and true righteousness, the better off we are.
For…
2. The more we give attention to holiness, the better we understand God.
We will see and understand the presence of God.
We will see God in nature.
We will see Him in the Scriptures.
We will see the Lord at work in the church.
We will see God operating in our own lives.
And we will see and know God for eternity.
So realize this, what you do today, is either a preparation to see God, or it is not.
Now, we come to…
III. The third quality is PEACE (9).
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
1. We are to exemplify reconciliation.
We are to be people of “shalom” (peace).
Shalom is the presence of all good things, freedom from trouble and the enjoyment of all that is created as good.
It is wholeness.
As believers, we are called to restore the peace lost a the Fall.
When it comes to peace, there are three kinds of people.
There are peace-breakers, peace-fakers, and peacemakers.
The peace-breakers are the ones that are really doing the devil’s work.
They cause trouble and division and are always looking to break down relationships.
They are confrontive and manipulative, and unfortunately, too often make their way into the church, standing in opposition to the work of God.
Then there are the peace-fakers.
They look like they are for peace, but really, they just lack courage.
They are fakers because they avoid conflict, and won’t tell the truth.
They just want to keep peace and maintain the status quo.
But, we are called on to be peacemakers.
To be a true peacemaker does not come from evading the issue.
It comes from facing the issues and dealing with them.
It comes from telling the truth that is based on a person’s well being.
We must understand this…
2. When we make peace, we reflect Jesus.
ILL Notebook: Peace – Peace Child (MacArthur, p. 213-4)
In his book Peace Child, Don Richardson tells of his long struggle to being the gospel to the cannibalistic, headhunting Sawi tribe of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Try as he would, he could not find a way to make the people understand the gospel message, especially the significance of Christ’s atoning death on the cross.
Sawi villages were constantly fighting among themselves, and because treachery, revenge, and murder were highly honored, there seemed no hope of peace. The tribe, however, had a legendary custom that if one village gave a baby boy to another village, peace would prevail between the two villages as long as the child lived. The baby was called a “peace child.”
The missionary seized on that story as an analogy of the reconciling work of Christ. Christ, he said, is God’s divine Peace Child that He has offered to man and because Christ lives eternally His peace will never end. That analogy was the key that unlocked the gospel to the Sawis.
When we say Jesus is our peace, it is for a very good reason.
It is through His work on the cross that we have peace with God.
When we are true peacemakers, we obtain the dignity and honor of the relationship of a child.
Being a person of peace is a hallmark of being one of God’s children.
It is here that there is nothing wrong with being a chip off the old block.
Be glad when someone says to you, “You are just like Jesus.”
Now we come to the most puzzling quality…
IV. The fourth quality is PERSECUTION (10-12).
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
1. We are to be a people that live in contrast to our culture.
The word that is used for persecute means to chase, to drive away by pursuing.
And this, it carries the ideas of harassment, abuse, and unjust treatment.
When we receive this kind of treatment, we are to understand that we are blessed.
Yes, we are to rejoice in it.
And yes, there is reason…
For to live for Christ is to live in opposition of Satan.
We live in opposition to his world and his system.
By its very nature, we must understand that righteousness is confrontational.
It confronts wickedness by contrast.
Now, if you want to avoid persecution, the way to do it is obvious and easy.
It is like this…
You live like the world.
You practice the philosophy of “live and let live.”
You mimic the world’s standards.
You go along with their jokes and smile when they mock God.
And make sure that in every way that you are ashamed to take a stand for Christ.
But if you do those things, be ready for the consequences.
Because if we are ashamed of Christ, He tells us that He will be ashamed of us…
So, please understand this…
2. It is a privilege to choose Christ.
Many of us have had the opportunity of the crucial moment.
The secret is out.
Someone thinks that we are a Christian.
They ask the question, perhaps even mockingly.
They say, “You are not one of those lunatic Christians, are you?”
And it is a great occasion.
It is a drama of eternity.
And it separates the committed from the casual.
ILL Notebook: Persecution – Columbine
“Two teenage gunmen at Columbine High School shot students they knew were Christians.”
When the news first came out, the media widely circulated that they targeted athletes and minorities, but downplayed their priority for the blood of Christian.
Cassie Bernall’s faith is now a well-known story. But her testimony was known at Columbine as well. She had dedicated her life to God. So when the gunmen came into the library, they found her praying. One asked the now famous question, “Do you believe in God?” She said, “Yes.” And then they killed her.
Another Christian that was murdered, Rachel Scott wrote these words in her diary a year before the shootings:
“I am not going to justify my faith to them, and I am not going to hide the light that God has put into me. …if I have to sacrifice everything, I will. I will take it. If my friends have to become my enemies for me to be with my best friend Jesus, then that’s fine with me.”
You see…
3. Conflict shows you belong to eternity.
Rejoice and be glad!
We are citizens of the kingdom.
And in doing so, we have joined in the best possible company, like John Chrysostom…
ILL John Chrysostom (MacArthur, p 232-233)
John Chrysostom, a godly leader in the fourth-century church preached so strongly against sin that he offended the unscrupulous Empress Eudoxia as well as many church officials. When summoned before Emperor Arcadius, Chrysostom was threatened with banishment if he did not cease his uncompromising preaching. His response was, “Sire, you cannot banish me, for the world is my Father’s house.” “Then I will slay you,” Arcadius said. “Nay, but you cannot, for my life is hid with Christ in God,” came the answer. “Your treasures will be confiscated” was the next threat, to which John replied, “Sire, that cannot be either. My treasures are in heaven, where none can break or steal.” “Then I will drive you from man and you will have no friends left!” was the final, desperate warning. “That you cannot do either,” answered John, “for I have a Friend in heaven who has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’”
Although he was banished, and died on the way to the exile, the things he valued most highly not even an emperor could take away from him.
APPLICATION:
Is your life characterized by happiness?
The Beatitudes take us onto the path that leads to a fulfilling happiness.
Do not be deceived, God is not looking to make life dismal.
Every Beatitude announces the way of blessing, it is the way to true joy.
So…
1. Is the joy of the Lord elusive?
If it is, there is a reason.
Sometimes the joy of the Lord can seem so far away.
Our Christian lives can seem difficult and unsatisfying.
But it is not the Lord’s fault.
Oh no, He has shown the way toward fulfillment.
He has not messed up.
For…
2. Our relationship with God (our faith) becomes distant when we compromise.
When we choose our way over God, we miss the joy.
When we think our ways are better, and we fail to empty ourselves before Him, we end up full of ourselves.
In contrast, though, when we desire God before all things, we are on the way to living for God.
So…
3. Are you living for God? This is where the blessing is.
ILL Jim Elliott
As Jim Elliott once said before he was martyred…
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Live for God…and be merciful…for in so doing, we will know God’s mercy.
Live for God…and be pure…for in so doing, we will recognize God at work in us and the world around us.
Live for God…and be a peacemaker…for when we do, we shall be known as one that reflects the Father.
Live for God…and rejoice in the conflict that comes with the world…for it shows we belong to eternity.
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
RESOURCES:
Barclay, William. The Gospel of Matthew
Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn. Studies on the Sermon on the Mount
MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew 1-7
SermonCentral.com
The Merciful, D. Greg Ebie
Mercy: God’s Greatest Blessing, Robert Simmons
The Pure in Heart, D. Greg Ebie
Beatitude 6, Eric Snyder
Blessed Are the Peacemakers, Phil Morgan
Beatitude 7, Eric Snyder
Those Who Are Persecuted, D. Greg Ebie
Beatitude 8, Eric Snyder
Blessed Are the Persecuted, John Piper
The Message of the King: Blessed Are the Persecuted, Coy Wylie
