June 2, 2019
Morning Service

Last week we began to look into the spiritual mirror of the Word to be able to identify areas in our lives that need adjusted.  It is a doer of the Word and not a hearer only that is able to change the areas of their spiritual life that don’t quite line up with what they see reflected through the study of the Word.  We began our study on the Sermon on the Mount and learned that we will blessed if we display the attitudes of being poor in spirit, mourning and humble.  That means we need to have a true perspective that we have nothing good to offer for our salvation creating our need for a Savior.  We need to realize that the world we live in is fallen and full of the pain and heartache that sin brings.  By being humble we acknowledge the sovereignty of God knowing that we must submit to His Will for our lives.  Always remember that we are motivated to obedience by our love for our Lord and Savior and not a sense of duty or guilt.  Let’s complete our look at the rest of the Beatitudes today.

 Mat 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

            Jesus reveals to us that God is well pleased and will bless those who have a desire (hunger and thirst) for righteousness.  Righteousness means to be doing our best at living a life that is morally right or one that is justified.  We want/desire to do the right thing.  Our righteousness is not something we do but is given to us from God.  Jesus promises that we will be blessed if we pursue a lifestyle that is pleasing to God with a great passion.

            The opposite world view on this issue is to put your own desires and plans before those that God has for you.  To live a life that is all about and centered on me.  We ignore the calling of God on our life and choose to follow our own needs and desires.

            Paul displays this hunger as he wrote to the Philippian church:

Php 3:7-11 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  (8)  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ  (9)  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;  (10)  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,  (11)  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

            Jesus promises that if we hunger and thirst for righteousness, meaning He owns our heart, we will be filled or satisfied by Him (v-9).  The next 3 attitudes deal with social relationships.

 

Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

        Being merciful embraces both forgiveness for those who are guilty and compassion for the suffering.  There is no room for a vindictive, judgmental, condemning, or revengeful spirit while we are following Christ.  We are to be full of and display love and mercy to others.

            This world would tell us that feelings of compassion or mercy are signs of weakness and hold us back from achieving our full potential.  It is the one who takes care of himself first that will achieve true worldly greatness.

            Paul again emphasizes this point by encouraging the Ephesian church this:

 

 

 

Eph 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  (2)  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

            As we imitate the love and mercy Christ displayed in His life we will be on the right path to receive mercy ourselves.

 

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

            To be pure in heart means that one has a clear and unstained conscience knowing that they are living a life without hypocrisy.  Our motives are clear, pure, and well defined as we have given our entire heart to God and our desire is to seek Him first in everything we do.  There are no hidden agendas, motives or deception; we are doing our best to walk in the light and avoid all darkness.  We hold ourselves to a different standard than what the world does.  We are following Christ because we love Him and want to please Him.  It is who we are, not what we do.

            The world on the other hand tries to conform us to believing it is okay to say one thing and do another if it achieves our goals.  It is acceptable and even necessary to stretch the truth from time to time because “everybody does it.”  They believe the only truth in this world and standards to live by are what they choose to believe; their point of view is all that matters.

            John reinforces this point in I John:

1Jn 3:1-3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  (2)  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  (3)  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

            The hope inside of us will create a desire in us to be pure and attain the promise to see God.  Our failures bring us to our knees seeking repentance and renewal.

           

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

            Peacemakers imitate Christ in that they seek reconciliation with others just as He did.  He went to great lengths to reconcile (bring peace) all men back to Himself through His DBR.  Peacemakers look for solutions to problems instead of just complaining about them.  We are concerned with the needs of others and often put their needs ahead of others with a self-sacrificing attitude; we help them carry their burden.

            The world again emphasizes that life is all about me.  There is no place to worry about others’ needs as we are the center of the universe.  Let others work out their own problems.

            Paul explained being a peacemaker like this to the Romans (NLT):

 Rom 12:9-10 Don’t just pretend that you love others.  Really love them.  Hate what is wrong.  Stand on the side of good.  Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring one another.

            Everything we do should be covered with love for one another for then we can be called the sons of God.  We are blessed to be the peacemaker.

 

 

 

 

 

Mat 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

            Jesus does not “candy coat” what following Him will cost us; we are to expect persecution and also realize we will be blessed for it.  When we choose to imitate Christ we also choose to accept the suffering that comes along with it.  We only have to look at the life of Jesus to see how the world (darkness) persecutes righteousness (light).  “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you as well.” (John 15:20) 

            The world tells you that if you conform and simply “go with the flow” no one will bother you and you can live in peace without any suffering.  Agree with the world’s view of life and keep a low profile standing up for nothing you believe and all will be well for you.

            Jesus explains this attitude even deeper in the next two verses:

Mat 5:11-12 "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.

            It is not enough to just endure the persecution, Jesus tells us that we need to rejoice and be glad we are experiencing it.  That is a whole different level of perspective for us.  Endure the trial and enjoy it sounds more like an oxymoron than a real life attitude, but that is what we are called to do and the kingdom of heaven will be ours.  We must realize as well that it is a spiritual battle we are experiencing.  It is the dark forces of evil fighting against the Light that is in you.  The persecution is directed at the Spirit within you and it will come when you are making the right decisions and it is a tool of our enemy to derail us from our course.  Jesus says rejoice in it because it tells us we are on the right path.

 

Look in your spiritual mirror this morning.

·        Are you hungering and thirsting after righteousness; are you pursuing God?

·        Are you displaying mercy to others being quick to forgive and compassionate to those in need? 

·        Are you a peacemaker seeking solutions to problems rather than just complaining?  Are you helping your brother carry his burden?

·        Are you rejoicing when you experience persecution?  Is it good for your soul that you know you are on the right path because the enemy is truly fighting back against you?

 

Heavenly Father, we ask today for a clear vision of who we really are in your eyes and ask for the courage and desire to make the changes that are needed to please You.