Series: Learning From The Master – A Plan to Live By
You Want Happy? You Got It!
INTRO: One of the scriptures that captivate we call them The Beatitudes. They are really special. I think many often get the wrong idea when they read them. I used to read these as a kid and think okay, “If I do this, then God will bless me with that.” That is not the message of the scriptures. That is not what Christ was conveying for us to have from this.
We need to know that Christ was telling about the blessing (or happiness) that would happen because they knew God in a life-changing way. He was not telling us what we could have if we acted like this or that.
Matthew
5:1-16(KJV) 1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain:
and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God.
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in
heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour
[flavor], wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but
to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill
cannot be hid.
15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
When we use the word blessed here it is basically meant as happy. It is a special kind of happy, one that is so on, that we would elevate it to blessed or like really happy.
There are considered to be eight of these beatitudes. I want to look at what Jesus presented for us to apply to our lives.
3Blessed are the
poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This does not tell us if we are poor, we are going to heaven.
Cannot buy salvation
Really have nothing to offer God
Happy, blessed, touched by God
Happiness comes because God “pays the bill” when we cannot
Happiness/blessedness/reward is the kingdom of heaven
Future reward
Life Application Bible gives us the Unbeatitudes or the opposite of Jesus’ beatitudes for us to understand it better – I want to share these as we work through the eight beatitudes.
Wretched are the spiritually self-sufficient, for theirs is the kingdom of hell.
We need to:
James 4:7-10(KJV) 7Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your
hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to
mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you
up.
4Blessed are they
that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Once again as a young child I read this and thought okay, I am having problems right now, so God is going to even things out for me and I will gain comfort. Yet, we should understand God is telling us about our spiritual life…
Full of humility
Hungry for forgiveness
In line for God’s touch
Revelation 7:17(NKJV) 17for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Unbeatitude #2
Wretched are those who deny the tragedy of their sinfulness, for they will be troubled.
We need to:
2 Corinthians 1:4(KJV) 4Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5Blessed are the
meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Meek here portrays gentleness, humility, trust in God (not self).
Psalms
37:9-11(NKJV) 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on
the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight
themselves in the abundance of peace.
Not arrogant or haughty
Not more important than others
World sees meek as weak, a losing path, but Jesus taught differently
Future reward
New earth to be inherited (in Revelation 21-22)
Unbeatitude #3
Wretched are the self-centered, for they will be empty.
We need to:
Matthew 11:27-30(NKJV) 27All
things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except
the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one
to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest.
29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly
in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Verse 6…
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
How many of us remember our teenaged children’s appetite?
Always hungry it would seem
Never able to abate their appetite
Are we truly hungry or thirsty for God and His righteousness?
We at times sing Marth Nystrom’s song “As the Deer.” This author has tried to capture the scripture found in Psalm 42:1-2
1 As the hart 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?
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after thee
You alone are my hearts desire
And I long to worship thee
Chorus
You alone are my strength my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my hearts desire
And I long to worship thee
You’re my friend and You are my brother,
Even though you are a king.
I love you more thank any other,
So much more than anything.
I want You more than gold or silver,
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy Giver,
And the apple of my eye.
What do we want?
Righteousness?
God’s ways?
More than life?
More than our own desires?
Unbeatitude #4
Wretched are those who ceaselessly justify themselves, for their efforts will be in vain.
We need to:
Philippians 3:7-11(KJV) 7But what
things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered
the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win
Christ,
9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of
the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which
is of God by faith:
10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Verse 7…
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain
mercy.
They have met God’s mercy
They have received God’s mercy
They give mercy
Not a trade – mercy for mercy
Future - They will receive mercy from God
Matthew 6:12(KJV) 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Unbeatitude #5
Wretched are the merciless, for no mercy will be shown to them.
We need to:
Ephesians 5:1-2(NKJV) 1Therefore
be imitators of God as dear children.
2And 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.
Verse 8…
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall
see God.
They are really sincere
Honesty
Integrity
Forthright
Committed to God
Future - They will see God
Unbeatitude #6
Wretched are those with impure hearts, for they will not see God.
We need to:
1 John 3:1-3(KJV) 1Behold, what manner of
love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of
God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him;
for we shall see him as he is.
3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as
he is pure.
Verse 9…
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be
called the children of God.
Not just hopeful
Not just peaceful
Not just staying on the fringes and staying out of trouble
Actively pursuing peacefulness
Portraying the peace Jesus brought
Ephesians 2:14-18 - 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Brought peace between God and us
Peace is not wimpy, but strong
Jesus was not wimpy – He was strong
Unbeatitude #7
Wretched are those who reject peace, for they will earn the title “sons of Satan.”
We need to:
Romans 12:9-21(NKJV) 9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil.
Cling to what is good.
10Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love,
in honor giving preference to one another;
11not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly
in prayer;
13distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on
high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the
sight of all men.
18If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with
all men.
19Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to
wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the
Lord.
20Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is
thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire
on his head.”
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The last beatitude found in verse 10…
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The “world” sees us as a target
The world will attack us
The world will hurt us
God is still there for us
We will be with Him
Unbeatitude #8
Wretched are the uncommitted for convenience's sake, for their destination is hell.
We need to:
2 Timothy 3:12(NKJV) 12Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
I want to reread Matthew 5:11-16 and understand Christ is telling us how we should be seen by people as they see us wear our BLESSEDNESS!!!!
11Blessed are ye, when men
shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake.
12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in
heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour
[flavor], wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but
to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill
cannot be hid.
15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 071810am