You're Just Like Your Father

You’re just like your Father

• Illustrations: Talk about what your sons do now as fathers that you did.

I believe God wants to use you,

I believe God wants Fathers to be like Him, their Heavenly Father.

Read Matthew 5:1-12

As I go over these areas in our life that Jesus deems vital to our spiritual life, circle those on the flyer that you need the Spirit of God to help you, and take time this week to pray over them.

Poor in spirit - Being poor in spirit is admitting that, because of your sin, you are completely destitute spiritually and can do nothing to deliver yourself from your sin. Jesus is saying that, no matter your status in life, you must recognize your spiritual poverty before you can come to God in faith to receive the salvation He offers.

I am able to mourn - The term mourn means “to experience deep grief.” In keeping with His theme of spiritual blessedness, Jesus is indicating that this mourning is due to grief over sin. The people who agree with God about the evil of their own hearts can attain an "enviable state of blessedness," due to the comfort they receive from communion with the Holy Spirit. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter. The Spirit comforts those who are honest about their own sin and humble enough to ask for forgiveness and healing. Those who hide their sin or try to justify it before God can never know the comfort that comes from a pure heart.

I am gentle (meek) – Meekness or gentleness is humility toward God and toward others. It is having the right or the power to do something but refraining for the benefit of someone else. Paul urged meekness when he told us “to live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1–2).

I hunger and thirst for righteousness - righteousness is as vital to the spiritual life as food and drink is to the physical life. Because without righteousness, you cannot live spiritually.

I am merciful - To be merciful is to show forgiveness and compassion to those in need. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus says, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Jesus also told us that He desires mercy, not sacrifice.’

I am pure in heart – “pure” means to be “clean, blameless, unstained from guilt.” Here “heart” refers to the spiritual center of life. It is where thoughts, desires, sense of purpose, will, understanding, and character reside. Being pure in heart involves having a singleness of heart toward God. A pure heart has no hypocrisy, no guile, no hidden motives. The pure heart is marked by transparency and an uncompromising desire to please God in all things. It is more than an external purity of behavior; it is an internal purity of soul.

I am a peacemaker - Jesus laid down His life to make peace between God and sinners, and when we can carry that message of peace to others, we are peacemakers. Those who give of themselves as Jesus did in order that others may know God are called "blessed." There is no real peace apart from a relationship with God. What may masquerade as worldly peace is merely a temporary lull in chaos. True peace is found only in a restored relationship with God. Only children of God can bring the peace of knowing God to others. A person must have a real relationship with God before he or she can help someone else know God. Those who witness for Christ, share their faith with their family and friends, and serve others in the name of Christ are the ambassadors for peace. Those who bring the wonderful message of God's peace to the world are "peacemakers," and Jesus calls them the "children of God."

I have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness - Up to this point, we have focused on humility, meekness, right relationships, mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking—all positive qualities. But Jesus includes the possibility of “persecution for righteousness’ sake.” This arises from the previous seven, because the forces that oppose God’s ways still hold great power in the world.

Jesus is talking about the blessing of being persecuted for doing right. But why would we be persecuted for righteousness? The reality in a fallen world is that if we demonstrate genuine righteousness, many will reject us. Jesus is saying that righteous people living as Christians will be subjected to active, and severe persecution by people who are not followers of Christ. For example, if you speak up for people who are victims of gossip or discrimination, expect others to disagree. If you speak out against an unfair treatment to people, don’t expect others to empathize. The blessing is that active persecution for the right reasons indicates that the powers of darkness believe you are succeeding in furthering God's kingdom.