The Beatitudes

TEXT

Matt 5:1-12
Matt 7:21- 27

INTRODUCTION

•Jesus said if we hear His Word and it, we are wise
•In the sermon on the mount, Jesus was teaching us the way to live as Christians, we need to live like He said
•Wisdom and Christianity is found in practicing the Word, James says we should not be hears only but doers of the Word.
•There are many things that Jesus talk in the collections of Matthew chapter 5-7, that cover every area of our daily Christian walk.
•This summary of Jesus’ Teachings or Words from Matthew 5v1-13 mainly address the Kingdom of heaven and specifically: The subjects (candidates) of the kingdom and qualities of character to happiness
•It is the responsibility of every Christian to read / study Jesus’ teachings and implement them, I will today talk about the beatitudes but will not talk in detail about all of them, will pick some in detail.
•But before I introduce the beatitudes, I want to talk briefly about a few issues that hinder us from growing in our Christian walk and in turn hinder us from practicing the Word. I extracted this from Kenneth E. Hagin’s book “Five Hindrances To Growth In Grace”, he also got it from a certain preacher in the beginning of the 20th century.

THINGS TO WATCH IF WE ARE TO GROW & PRACTICE THE WORD

It is God’s desire that we all growth. But not everybody grows up. There are a lot of things that hinder spiritual growth but we will deal with five here.

1.Lightness. We are living in the world of lightness. Most things are made lightly – not to last. Furnisher for instance, you hardly find furnisher that’s purely wood, most of it is now plastic. Even in the church we have allowed the spirit of lightness.
a) Lightness in music – most of our (so called “gospel”) songs or music is all light. It’s meant to affect our hands and feet but does not help our spiritual man. It does not add value to our spirituality. We need songs that are from the Word, songs that will feed our spiritual man. We need songs that will edify us.
b) Lightness in reading material – most of the material we read does not edify. Most of the staff we read is very light to edify us, it’s just meant to trickle our ears. Be careful about what you read. Not every that goes under the name gospel is gospel. Well, there are some naughty Christians who spend their time reading worldly, suggestive material and expect to grow. That’s as good as poisoning yourself! You cannot spend time reading pornography and all that junk and expect to grow.

2.Looseness.
a)Looseness in talking Matthew 12v33-37, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit (will be also) good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit (will be also) corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” These words of our Lord are very sobering. He says every loose or idle word people speak will have to be accounted for. It is our words that justifieth or condemneth us, both in this life and in the judgement day! I think Jesus meant exactly what He said when He said “…That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” We would rather be careful and mind our tongues or words. You see, what you speak is what you think or what is in your heart, when you are full of filthiness, that is what you will speak – filthiness! When you are full of the Word of God, that is what you will speak. James in his letter in chapter 2v12 echoes almost the same statement, “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” When we speak, we should not forget that there is judgement.
b)Looseness in thinking. Rom 13:14 But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts). 1 Cor 14:20 Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men]. Phil 4:8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence {and} is honourable {and} seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely {and} lovable, whatever is kind {and} winsome {and} gracious, if there is any virtue {and} excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on {and} weigh {and} take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, {even} the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
c) Looseness in habits. 1 Cor 9:27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel {and} things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]. Acts 24:16 Therefore I always exercise {and} discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavouring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offence toward God and toward men. 2 Tim 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm {and} well-balanced mind {and} discipline {and} self-control.
d) Looseness in life. 1Peter 1v15-16, “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy.” The Word does not say, “Be ye holy in part or some of your conversation.” No! It says be ye holy in all manner of your conversation. We need to pursue holiness in all our dealings and way of life. People, especially young people need to be careful especially when it comes to the opposite sex and marriage. People get in and out of relationships. In the world, people change “girl/boy” friends like clothes. When the person does not seem to satisfy them, they leave for the next, it must not be like that in the church.

3.Laziness. Matt 25:26 But his master answered him, You wicked {and} lazy {and} idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap where I have not sowed and gather [grain] where I have not winnowed? Titus 1:12 One of their [very] number, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, hurtful beasts, idle {and} lazy gluttons. If you are lazy in the natural, you will also be lazy to grow in spiritual things. To grow spiritually you need to be diligent. Acts 20:35 In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please {and} be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly {and} diligently seek Him [out].

4.Locquadiness. This word means talkativeness. You cannot be a person given to too much talking and expect to grow spiritually. James 4v11, “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.” We do not need to speak evil one of another and judge one another. If there is nothing good to talk about in a brother, then shut up! 1Thessalonians 4v11, “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.” Many a times people spend time talking about other people’s businesses, criticising this or that and you wonder when will they attend to their own things! They like complaining and criticising other people’s businesses but they are not doing anything themselves. Learn to mind your own business, if you do not have any to attend to then sleep and not spoil other people’s! Study to be quiet! 1Timothy 5v13, “And withal they learn to idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busy bodies, speaking things which they ought not.” Jude 8-10, “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves." We should be careful not to speak things that we ought not. Jude says, sometimes people speak evil of things that they don’t even know about. It is said that Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil didn’t speak many things against the devil, he just, “The Lord rebuke thee Satan.” Sometimes we bail the devil out by our words! Do not speak a lot of words against the devil just speak the Word. James 1v19, “Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” You see, many times people practice this scripture in reverse order, they are slow to hear and swift to speak! Somebody said, “The reason we have two ears and one mouth is that we should hear twice and speak once.” All this means is that our ratio of speaking should be half our ratio of listening. We should do more listening than talking. Proverbs 18v13, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” The simple translation of this scripture will be “He that answers or responds to a matter or issue before he hears it is a fool.” I wonder how many fools we have!

5.Like Other People. For you to grow you need to be the person God called you to be. Do not try to be somebody else no matter how anointed the person might be. Be yourself. Do not do things just because you saw somebody doing it.

THE BEATITUDES

a)POOR (in spirit), the word translated poor is not the word for poor as in lacking or without resources, but it denotes being “humble”. In the Old Testament another word for poor meant to “tremble / shake”.
Is 66:2 For all these things My hand has made, and so all these things have come into being [by and for Me], says the Lord. But this is the man to whom I will look {and} have regard: he who is humble and of a broken {or} wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word {and} reveres My commands.
Is 66:5 Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: Your brethren who hate you, who cast you out for My name's sake, have said, Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy! But it is they who shall be put to shame.
•So, there is a difference between being poor as lacking and being humble. You can be poor with nothing and yet proud and again, one can be rich materially and yet humble!
•The poor in spirit in this sense are those who are humble, tremble and shake at or to obey God’s Word (have reverence for God & His Word), those that know they are nothing without God, those who know they are insufficient without Christ.
•There will be many poor (those lacking resources) people in hell, Jesus could not have meant physical poverty or else that would have meant all poor people no matter how the live will be qualified for the kingdom of heaven!

b)MEEK / Gentle (patient & long suffering), it means to be tender or soft hearted. Moses is an example given in the bible of somebody who was meek. Numbers 12, he was accused by his siblings but he did not argue or answer back, he kept his cool.

c)KIND / merciful (caring, compassionate, considerate, thoughtful). This signifies considering somebody’s needs and doing something to meet them. It goes beyond being sympathetic.
•Being merciful also means forbearing, not punishing somebody when they deserve it
•James 2 v12-13, God was merciful to us, we deserved to be judged but He showed us mercy, we also are to show mercy to others. The bible says God did not deal with us according as our sins deserved, we ought to do the same to others!