BY Mike Schmalz
THE BEATITUDES
MATT. 5:1-4
Many have traveled down the wrong path looking for happiness. Fooled by sin, their pursuit has lead 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 and unassailable. “William Barclay
FIRST- “BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”
Being poor in spirit means, a complete absence of pride, completely absent of self-reliance. Acknowledging our spiritual poverty, indeed our spiritual bankruptcy before God. For we are sinners (Rom. 3:23), deserving the judgment of God. It is realizing we are helpless without God, and al! of our blessings originate with Him.
Bible examples:
The Publican – Luke 18:9-14
Apostle Peter – Luke 5:4-8
Gideon – Judges 6:15
The Key – Humility! Is. 66:2, Ps. 34:18, Ps. 51:17, James 4:6,10
Seven Characteristics of the poor in spirit: 1. You will realize your helplessness outside of Jesus Christ. Rom. 12:3
2. You will be lost in the wonder of Christ. II Cor. 3:18
3. You will not be demanding your rights or complaining about your situation. Phi!. 4:11
4. You will see only the good in others and deal with your own weaknesses. Phi!. 2:3
5. You will be in prayer daily. (In our condition, our only hope is God’s help). Heb. 4:16
6. You will take Christ on his terms, not yours. ( The poor in spirit are so desperate that they / will give up anything just to get to Christ). Matt. 7:21
7. You will be often praising and thanking God for his many blessings. Col. 3:15-16
Four steps in cultivating a “poor in spirit” attitude:
1. Accept God’s estimate of yourself!
Rom. 3:23, In. 3:3-8
2. Yield yourself to God daily and draw your strength from him.
John 15:5, Ps. 37:1-8
3. Focus on Christ and his blessings.
Rom. 2:4, Heb. 12:2
4. Look for opportunities to serve others.
Phil 2:3, Gal. 5:13
SECOND – “BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN: FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.”
First the “poor in spirit” acknowledge their spiritual poverty before God, next “they that mourn” refers to our sorrow for our sins. We no longer accept them, justify them or excuse them – we repent and forsake them!
True mourning leads to repentance:
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” II Cor. 7:10-11
Three things you mourn for:
1. You mourn because of your sin. Ps. 51:1-3, Ps. 32:1-5
2. You mourn because you are a sinner. Ps. 51:5-12, Eze. 18:30-32
3. You mourn because of the effect of your sin. Ps. 51:13-19, Luke 19:41
Comfort – God’s response to mourning!
Mourners are happy because they are forgiven, others live in endless guilt.
Remember – happiness does not come from the mourning, it comes in God’s response to the mourning.,
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double minded Be aflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
God’s attitude toward us is not hostility, but love and comfort. His desire is to draw us closer, never to push us away.
“I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS I WILL COME TO YOU” JOHN 14:18
