MATT.5:1-12
BY PASTER MIKE SCHMALZ
APPLETON, WI.
Many have traveled down the wrong path looking for happiness. Fooled by sin, their pursuit has led them to misery and problems. The beatitudes give us God’s path to true happiness and blessing. They reveal the type person that the Lord feels is blessed.
Blessed Means:
A deep abiding happiness, internal joy, real gladness and divine reward.
The key to God’s happiness is that this world can not affect it. This inner peace and joy is not produced by circumstances but comes through our relationship with Christ.
“Human happiness is dependent on chances and changes in life, something which life can give and life can take away? The Christian blessedness is completely untouchable end unassailable.” William Barclay
First – “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Happy are they that acknowledge their spiritual poverty before God, for the doorway to heaven is open to them!
Second – ‘`Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
Happy are they that cry out with sorrow unto the Lord, for he will comfort them!
Third – `’Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
Happy are the gentle and humble, for they shall inherit the earth.
Fourth – “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled,”
Happy are they that strongly desire right things and a right relationship with the Lord, for they shall be satisfied.
Fifth – “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
Happy are they that give help to the hurting, for they shall receive help in the time of need.
Sixth – “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Happy are they that are clean in the inner most part for they shall see God.
Seventh – “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Peace is more than the absence of war. Peace is right relationships. For the Christian, peace refers to a right relationship with God and others.
Peacemaking refers to bringing parties together that were at odds. For the Christian, it is the ministry of reconciliation. II Cor. 5:18-20
Six insights about peace:
1. God is the source of peace!
“Peace I /cave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
2. The enemy of peace is sin!
“From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity
with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:1-4
3. God’s Word develops peace in our fife!
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Ps. 119:165
4. Often peace comes at a great cost.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Is. 53:5
5. All Christians are to be peace makers!
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Rom. 12:18
“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Rom. 14:19
6. Peace is to rule in the Christian’s heart!
“And hi the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Peacemakers shall be called the children of God. Col. 3:15
Our heavenly Father is the great peacemaker, and when we become peacemakers, we become like our Father.
“Have peace one with another.”
Mark 9:50
“For he that will love life, and see good days, /et him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let them seek peace, end ensue it. I Peter 3:10-11
Eighth – “Blessed are they which am persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. ” Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake: rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in Heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Reasons for persecution:
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. — II Tim. 3:12
First – For righteousness sake.
We do not suffer because of evil deeds. But for doing good.
Pet. 4:12-16
As we live out the beatitudes it often leads to persecution.
John 15:20
Example – Righteous Able was killed by his brother.
Second – For Jesus’ name sake.
“But all these things will they do unto you for my name sake.”
John 15:21
Sharing the gospel and teaching about Jesus name” often leads to persecution.
The church in Philadelphia was commended for not denying Jesus’ name. “….hast kept my word and not denied my name” Rev. 3:8
Example – The early church Acts 5:28-29, 40-42
Responses to persecution:
First the world:
1. React 2. Resent 3. Retaliate
Second – The Christian
1. Rejoice 2. Receive 3. Release
Rejoice refers to the Christian having the right response when bad things happen. Just as they persecuted Jesus, they will persecute us as we become more like him. 1 Peter 4:13-14
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say Rejoice.
Phil. 4:4
Receive refers to the reward that is ahead for everyone that suffers for Christ’s sake. “Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven…. Luke 6:23
Release refers to the Christians response of releasing love to those that have done us wrong.
But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matt. 5:44
Rewards of persecution:
First – There is a present reward!
We enter a special relationship with Christ when we are willing to suffer for him. Phil. 3:8, 10
Second – There is the reward of being identified with Christ and the prophets!
“For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Matt. 5:12
Third – There is the future reward!
“For greet is your reward in heaven.” Matt. 5:12
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” II Tim. 2:12
It is difficult to believe that men would persecute people who are humble and meek, who are seeking I after righteousness, who are merciful and trying to make peace. But they do. The dedication of the |
saints only magnifies the depravity of the sinners. As we grow in Christian character, we will I experience more conflict. It is impossible to have one without the other.
THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY PASTOR MIKE SCHMALS AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
