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Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn, and we
welcome you to A Sharper Focus,
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our Wednesday night Bible
study here at the Thompsonville
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Seventh-day Adventist Church.
And I want to welcome all of you
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who are sitting here as well
as those who are watching by
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television and internet or
listening on radio. I have to
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tell you, you know, J.D. and I
just have returned from Israel.
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We had a beautiful two week
trip to Israel but I'm quite jet
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lagged. I'm still on
Israel time. I've been up since
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midnight so it's going to be a
bit of a challenge tonight, but
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John Lomacang asked me yesterday
if I would do today and you know
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what 3ABN's motto is. You have
to be a minuteman to work there,
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right? So why don't we go to the
Lord in prayer and ask for his
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blessing over the study of
his word. Heaven Father, we come
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once again in the name of Jesus
and Lord we come to acknowledge
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our full dependence upon you.
We ask in the name of Jesus you
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will send the Holy Spirit
tonight to be our teacher and
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Father help make sense of the
material that is prepared here
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that _ to hear what the Holy
Spirit would have to say. Father
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we want to be all things to the
glory of your name. Thank you
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Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.
Because we just returned from
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Israel and because I didn't
have time to do anything else,
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no, we are going tonight to
study the beatitudes. So please
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open your Bibles to Matthew
chapter 5, Matthew chapter 5.
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You know, I don't think we spend
enough time really focusing on
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these. Tonight we're going to
dig deep into the beatitudes and
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what the meaning, what Christ
was doing when he actually give
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the sermon on the mount. This
is Christ's inaugural address,
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a King of the kingdom of grace.
So it's a very important sermon
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and we will only have time
to consider the beatitudes. But
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let's look at Matthew chapter
5 and we're going to begin with
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verse 1. And seeing the
multitudes, he went up on a
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mountain and when he was seated,
his disciples came to him. Then
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he opened his mouth and taught
them saying, Blessed, happy, to
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be envied, are those the poor
in spirit. Blessed are the poor
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in spirit for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. As I said,
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this is Christ's inaugural
address, if you will, as King of
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the kingdom of grace. And he
proclaims immediately that his
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main objective is to restore the
lost happiness of Eden. Blessed
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are the poor in spirit for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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J.D. and I have had the
privilege of going to Israel
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that last five years and we
stood on the mount of beatitudes
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they believe it's the most
perfect place where they believe
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Christ gave this address because
it forms a natural amphitheater.
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And it's close to Capernaum and
actually this mount is sometimes
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referred to as the Sinai of the
New Testament. We know that this
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sermon has the same relationship
to the Christian church as what
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happened on Mt. Sinai had to the
Jewish nation. So what we want
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to do tonight is look at how
Matthew often parallels Moses
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and Jesus. And we're going to
look from Mt. Sinai God gave his
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divine Law. But here from the
Mount of Beatitudes Christ is
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reaffirming this Law and he is
explaining its true meaning in
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great detail. So when we look at
this we should read it through
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the backdrop of Moses' teachings
You know, the only time that
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Moses used the word blessed
was in his blessing on Israel in
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Deuteronomy 33:29. You don't
need to turn there. But he said
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how happy, how blessed you are
Israel. Who is like you a people
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saved by the Lord. Of course,
he's referring here to their
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exodus from Egypt and the
remainder of that blessing in
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Deuteronomy is assuring the
Israelites of their success in
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their conquest of the promised
land. So against this backdrop
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if we think about this,
what Matthew is doing is he is
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showing that Moses was the type
and Christ was the antitype.
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He's kind of setting Christ up
as the new Moses and he's going
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to describe the new Israel who
are Jesus' disciples who will
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enjoy a new exodus and conquest.
Now for us the idea of the new
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Israel is fairly familiar, but
for some of you at home it may
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not be and I wanted to just give
you a few scriptures and we'll
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look at these together. Turn to
Genesis 32. Keep your finger in
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Matthew 5 because we'll be
coming back here. But if we look
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at Genesis 32, and we're going
to begin with verse 24. Let me
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say this: Israel is a spiritual
name. Israel is a spiritual name
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God gave to Jacob after Jacob
wrestled with the Lord. Genesis
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32 and verse 24. The Bible says,
Then Jacob was left alone and a
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man wrestled with him until
breaking of day. Now when he saw
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that he did not prevail against
him, he touched the socket of
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his hip and the socket of
Jacob's hip was out of joint
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as he wrestled with him and he
said, let me go (this is the Man
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speaking, capital M) and He said
let me go for the day breaks.
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But Jacob said to him, I will
not let you go unless you bless
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he said to Jacob, What is
your name? And he answered Jacob
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and then this Man says to him,
your name shall no longer be
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called Jacob, but Israel, for
you have struggled with God and
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with men and have prevailed.
Then Jacob asked saying, tell
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me your name I pray. And he said
why is it that you ask about my
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name and he blessed him there
and Jacob called the name of the
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place Peniel. And if we have any
question who this Man was that
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he was wrestling with this next
verse explains it. It says, For
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I have seen God face to face and
my life is preserved. So Israel
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is a spiritual name and, you
know, as Paul told the Romans,
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we've been grafted in. We
were wild olive shoots, we being
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Gentiles, were wild olive shoots
grafted in to the cultured olive
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tree. Some of the natural
branches, he says, were broken
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off by God, we were then grafted
in. And for Paul, a true Jew is
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the one who believes that Christ
is the Messiah. He says this in
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Galatians 3. This is Galatians
3:26-29. Paul says, For you are
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all sons of God through faith in
Christ Jesus. For as many of you
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as were baptized into Christ
have put on Christ. For there is
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neither Jew nor Greek, neither
slave nor free, neither male nor
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female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus. And in Galatians
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3:29 he says, And if you are
Christ's then you are Abraham's
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seed and heirs according to
the promise. What promise is he
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speaking of? He's speaking
of the promise that God gave
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Abraham that all of his
offspring, both Jews and
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Gentiles, will be justified by
faith alone. Not by works but by
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faith. So Paul is constantly
developing this idea of a new
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Israel. For Paul, a Jew,
one who was circumcised in his
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heart. Turn to
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Roman's chapter 2, we'll look
at that. Romans chapter 2 and
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verse 28 is where we'll begin.
So a true Jew, part of the new
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Israel, is somebody who has been
circumcised in their heart by
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the Holy Spirit. And he says
in Romans 2:28: For he is not a
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Jew who is one outwardly nor
is circumcision that which is
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outward in the flesh, but he
is a Jew who is one inwardly and
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circumcision is that of the
heart, in the Spirit, not in the
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letter. His praise is not from
men, but from God. So if your
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heart has been circumcised
by God that is our covenant, the
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seal and sign of our covenant,
is when our heart has been
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circumcised by God. When we
have allowed him to cut away the
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stony heart and give us a heart
of flesh, a new heart in which
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he promises he will write his
Laws and his commandments. So
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that makes us members of Israel.
We're the new Israel. Paul said
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this; do you want to turn there?
Galatians chapter 5, Galatians
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chapter 5 once again showing
that a true Jew is not one who
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is circumcised physically
but spiritually in the heart.
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Galatians 5 and verse 1, Paul
says, Stand fast therefore in
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the liberty by which Christ
has made us free and do not
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be entangled again with the yoke
of bondage. Indeed, I, Paul, say
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to you-And he was speaking to
Gentiles who were being troubled
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by some Jewish brethren...
and let me explain something.
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Christianity didn't begin as
a new religion. Christianity for
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the Jews who accepted Christ
as Messiah, they saw this as a
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a continuation of the Jewish
faith. Those who understood and
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recognized. So I've been a
little hard on some of these
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people thinking the Judaizers
who came and tried to get them
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to be circumcised, in many of
their minds they felt that you
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had to become a Jew and follow
all of the old to become a
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Christian. But what Paul is
saying to them is no. I mean,
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he's already had this
conversation, gone down and
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talked with Peter and the
brethren and he says no you
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don't have to go through the
Jewish rite of circumcision. You
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don't have to become a Jew
to become a Christian and here's
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what he says in Galatians 5:1-6:
But stand fast therefore in the
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liberty by which Christ has made
us free. Do not become entangled
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again with a yoke of bondage.
Indeed, I, Paul say to you that
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if you become circumcised
Christ will profit you nothing
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and I testify again to every man
who becomes circumcised that he
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is a debtor to keep the whole
law. If you're being circumcised
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to be saved, if you're trying
to keep the law to be saved, the
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old law, Paul says it's not
going to do you any good. And in
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verse 4 he says you have become
estranged from Christ, you who
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attempt to be justified by law.
You have fallen from grace for
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we through the Spirit
eagerly wait for the hope of
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righteousness by faith.
For in Christ Jesus neither
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circumcision nor uncircumcision
avails anything, but only what?
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The only thing that matters is
Christ Jesus, is faith working
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through love. So a true Jew
will understand that you rely on
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God's grace and not the works
of the law for Paul told the
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Ephesians For it is by grace
that you've been saved not by
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works, it's not of yourself, it
is the gift of God. Not of works
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lest anyone should boast for we
are God's workmanship created in
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Christ Jesus for good works
which God prepared beforehand
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for us to walk in them. So
salvation is by grace and grace
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alone and that's something that
Jesus really wants people to
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understand. So now let's go back
to Matthew chapter 5, Matthew 5
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and we just looked at blessed
are the poor in spirit. Blessed
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are the poor in spirit for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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What we're seeing here is Christ
is being presented as the new
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Moses, a spiritual deliverer,
rather than a political one and
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his promise has to be understood
in that light, all in the
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spiritual realm. So a new
Israel a new exodus and in the
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beatitudes Christ is pronouncing
spiritual salvation. Exodus from
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slavery to sin and he promises
spiritual victory, conquest and
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inheritance of a new promised
land. In the Old Testament, and
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Psalm 86 is a good one, we won't
take time to turn there, but in
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the Old Testament the poor were
those who cried out for God's
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help depending entirely on
him for their needs. They had a
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humble and contrite spirit and
they experienced his deliverance
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and they enjoyed his undeserved
favor. The word poor here is
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referring to a deep poverty,
a deep spiritual poverty, a dire
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poverty. It is people who sense
their need for God and what his
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kingdom of grace has to offer.
Jesus, in the light of this
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background, is describing his
disciples as unworthy sinners
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who depend on God's grace for
salvation. And it's interesting
00:16:54.58\00:17:00.15
the statement, the kingdom of
heaven is theirs, appears here
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in the first the beatitudes and
then at the beginning and then
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at the end of the beatitudes,
after the eighth one, that the
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kingdom of heaven is theirs.
So it's bracketed, the first
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beatitude, the eighth beatitude
are bracketed by that thought
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that the kingdom of heaven is
theirs. And this suggests that
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the beatitude constitutes
promises that only belong to
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those who are in the kingdom.
In Isaiah 61, Isaiah promises
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that the Messiah would bring
good news to the poor and this
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beatitude serves as a
fulfillment of that prophecy.
00:17:48.96\00:17:51.63
Only the poor in spirit will
inherit and enter the kingdom
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of heaven. Those who feel no
need of heaven's riches will not
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go in because they decline it's
blessings. So blessed are the
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poor in spirit for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. Now let's
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look at the second one. Blessed
are those who mourn, this is
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Matthew 5 verse 4:
Blessed are those who
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mourn for they shall be
comforted. This beatitude is
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also dependent up Isaiah 61. Let
me read to you verses 1-3, if
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you want to turn there you may.
Isaiah 61 verses 1-3. He says he
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had sent me to heal the broken
hearted, to comfort all who
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mourn, to provide for those who
mourn in Zion, to give them a
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crown of beauty instead of ashes
festive oil instead of mourning,
00:19:00.30\00:19:05.31
and splendid clothes instead
of despair. This is portraying
00:19:05.34\00:19:13.31
mourning as an expression
of Israel's sorrow over the
00:19:13.35\00:19:18.35
consequences of their sins and
the exile that their sins caused
00:19:18.39\00:19:25.29
So in this light when Jesus said
blessed are those who mourn,
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he's talking about those
who expressed the grief of the
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consequences of their sins. They
had an attitude of repentance.
00:19:35.70\00:19:42.54
So this profound spiritual
poverty that he was talking of,
00:19:42.58\00:19:48.32
the poor in spirit, is matched
by a deep mourning, that Godly
00:19:48.35\00:19:54.09
sorrow. A deep sense of
spiritual need leads men to
00:19:54.12\00:19:59.36
mourn over the imperfections
of their life. We talked about
00:19:59.39\00:20:02.96
that last time I was here. When
you recognize your sins what
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should we do? We should rejoice
when we recognize our sins
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because it means the Holy
Spirit is working on us. You see
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to bring Godly sorrow, but it
is Godly sorrow that leads us to
00:20:14.51\00:20:19.01
repentance. So praise the Lord
for that. But Christ is saying
00:20:19.05\00:20:24.22
that those who mourn, this
is a message of comfort to them
00:20:24.25\00:20:29.02
because He's going to meet
our spiritual poverty with the
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riches of his forgiveness,
the riches of His grace. He's
00:20:33.33\00:20:37.93
meeting the mourning over our
sins with the comfort that our
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sins are forgiven and He sends
us the Holy Spirit to abide with
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us as an over present
friend and source of power. The
00:20:47.11\00:20:53.42
mourning for sin just naturally
follows the sequence of
00:20:53.48\00:20:58.19
recognizing our spiritual
poverty. It's just a natural
00:20:58.22\00:21:02.86
progression and it is the second
requirement of those who present
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themselves as candidates for the
kingdom of heaven. Number three:
00:21:08.60\00:21:14.24
Matthew 5 and verse 5: Blessed
are the meek for they shall
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inherit the earth. This word
meek, meekness is the gentle
00:21:22.91\00:21:29.55
quality of humility. It's an
attitude of our heart and our
00:21:29.58\00:21:36.69
mind and our life that prepares
the way for sanctification. We
00:21:36.73\00:21:43.06
have to have that meekness of
spirit, that humility, and that
00:21:43.10\00:21:49.27
prepares the way for
sanctification. What is
sanctification? It simply means
00:21:49.30\00:21:55.48
be separated from sin.
Sanctification and holiness
00:21:55.51\00:22:00.02
are synonyms, they mean the
same thing. Holiness is to be
00:22:00.05\00:22:03.89
separated from sin. So here what
Jesus is saying is when we are
00:22:03.92\00:22:10.89
poor in spirit, recognizing
our great need for God, we mourn
00:22:10.93\00:22:16.73
over our sins and then we have
this humility. It means that we
00:22:16.77\00:22:22.50
will accept God's will without
question. We will see His
00:22:22.54\00:22:29.58
dealing with us as being good
and we will submit to Him in all
00:22:29.64\00:22:35.75
things without hesitation.
That's what meekness is.
00:22:35.78\00:22:39.22
You know, we kind of have this
idea that meekness means, Oh I'm
00:22:39.25\00:22:46.49
shy and retiring and I'm sitting
back here. Moses, the Bible says
00:22:46.53\00:22:52.80
was the most meek of all men.
Do you see Moses as someone who
00:22:52.83\00:22:58.17
is shy and retiring and standing
back. No. It was humility.
00:22:58.21\00:23:03.81
That's what Moses had and
in due time those who have this
00:23:03.85\00:23:10.09
grace of humility are going to
inherit the earth. Christ said
00:23:10.12\00:23:16.32
those who humble themselves
shall be exalted. In the
00:23:16.36\00:23:23.80
Septuagint, the Septuagint is
the earliest Greek manuscript of
00:23:23.87\00:23:30.67
the Old Testament. In Isaiah 61
and verse 7, it uses these very
00:23:30.71\00:23:36.58
words, they will inherit the
land. That's an exact parallel
00:23:36.61\00:23:42.28
here to Matthew 5:5. So what
these first three beatitudes are
00:23:42.35\00:23:48.02
doing is confirming Jesus'
identity as the servant of
00:23:48.06\00:23:55.80
Isaiah 61. And this is important
I mean, it's important for us to
00:23:55.83\00:24:00.74
understand because the servant
of Isaiah 61 was introduced in
00:24:00.77\00:24:07.51
Isaiah 62 talking about he would
be the one who would have a
00:24:07.54\00:24:13.95
sacrificial death and that he
would suffer the punishment that
00:24:13.98\00:24:20.46
sinners deserve. What I like
about blessed are the meek, this
00:24:20.49\00:24:26.13
echoes Psalm 37 in which the
gentle are those who stubbornly
00:24:26.16\00:24:31.77
trust God and trust His
authority even when they cannot
00:24:31.80\00:24:36.00
make sense of their
circumstances. Turn to Psalm 37.
00:24:36.04\00:24:42.48
We'll talk a little bit
more about the meek. Psalm 37.
00:24:42.51\00:24:48.88
I am very blessed to be married
to one of the most humble
00:24:48.92\00:24:55.22
people that I know. Humility is
a beautiful thing and something
00:24:55.26\00:25:01.83
that J.D. has taught me is when
we pray and ask God for help
00:25:01.86\00:25:08.07
he always will say increase my
humility. It's a good prayer to
00:25:08.10\00:25:14.48
pray, increase my humility.
Psalm 37 verses 9-11. Psalm 37
00:25:14.51\00:25:20.72
verse 9 says this: For evil
doers shall be cut off but those
00:25:20.75\00:25:27.16
who wait on the Lord, they shall
inherit the earth. Blessed are
00:25:27.19\00:25:32.46
the meek for they shall inherit
the earth. Verse 10: For yet a
00:25:32.49\00:25:37.73
little while and the wicked
shall be no more. Indeed you
00:25:37.77\00:25:42.54
will look carefully for his
place and it shall be no more,
00:25:42.57\00:25:47.11
but, look at verse 11, the
meek shall inherit the earth and
00:25:47.14\00:25:52.05
shall delight themselves in
the abundance of peace. Now in
00:25:52.08\00:25:56.08
the Old Testament, when it
talks about inheriting the earth
00:25:56.12\00:25:59.69
they're talking about the
promised land of Canaan, but in
00:25:59.72\00:26:05.09
the New Testament, the new
Israel is going to inherit this
00:26:05.13\00:26:10.73
land that is promised to
Abraham referring to living in a
00:26:10.77\00:26:16.71
recreated earth over
which Christ rules eternally. So
00:26:16.74\00:26:22.58
Matthew's gospel is constantly
anticipating the renewal of the
00:26:22.61\00:26:26.95
earth and he assures Jesus'
disciples that they will enjoy
00:26:26.98\00:26:31.42
great rewards in the eternal
kingdom. Now number four. This
00:26:31.45\00:26:39.69
is probably my favorite. This is
Matthew chapter 5 and verse 6:
00:26:39.73\00:26:43.53
Matthew chapter 5 and verse 6:
00:26:43.57\00:26:46.70
Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for
00:26:46.74\00:26:54.94
they shall be filled. Let's look
at this a little bit closer.
00:26:54.98\00:27:01.45
What does it mean to hunger and
thirst for righteousness. This
00:27:01.48\00:27:07.92
is a fervent desire to be
in right standing with God.
00:27:07.96\00:27:14.46
Righteousness simply means
to do things in God's right way.
00:27:14.50\00:27:20.90
It's a right way of doing and
a right way of being. To be in
00:27:20.94\00:27:26.57
righteousness sustained before
the Lord. Now Jesus is speaking
00:27:26.61\00:27:32.41
of the hunger and the thirst of
the soul. This is like David's
00:27:32.45\00:27:37.85
experience. You know in Psalm
42 where he said as the deer
00:27:37.89\00:27:43.59
pants for the water so my soul
pants for you. Let me ask you a
00:27:43.63\00:27:51.17
question tonight. Are you
panting, are you desiring God's
00:27:51.20\00:28:00.71
righteousness like that. Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst
00:28:00.74\00:28:09.08
for righteousness. No earthly
source can satisfy the hunger
00:28:09.12\00:28:14.09
and thirst of the soul. Solomon
certainly tried to fill that
00:28:14.12\00:28:19.13
empty spot, did he not? He
tried to fill his emptiness with
00:28:19.16\00:28:24.13
material riches, profound
philosophies, satisfying the
00:28:24.17\00:28:28.54
appetites of his physical desire
with honor and power and he
00:28:28.57\00:28:35.61
finally concluded all is
vanity. He realized, you know in
00:28:35.64\00:28:42.15
Ecclesiastes chapter 3 he says
that God put eternity in man's
00:28:42.18\00:28:49.22
heart. Every person has a God-
shaped hole in the heart. I mean
00:28:49.26\00:28:56.26
they need the Lord. So none
of these things that Solomon
00:28:56.30\00:29:01.84
sought after or that anyone else
is seeking after to bring us
00:29:01.87\00:29:05.87
satisfaction and happiness that
we long for. And Solomon finally
00:29:05.91\00:29:09.84
realized that it was the
recognition of our Creator and
00:29:09.88\00:29:14.75
our cooperation with Him that
provided enduring satisfaction
00:29:14.78\00:29:18.72
Just listen to this: In
Ecclesiastes 12:1 he said:
00:29:18.75\00:29:23.12
Remember now, now this is the
ending of his book. Remember now
00:29:23.16\00:29:27.86
your Creator in the days of your
youth before the difficult days
00:29:27.90\00:29:32.50
come and the years draw near
when you say I have no pleasure
00:29:32.53\00:29:37.11
in them. In verse 13 he said,
Let us hear the conclusion of
00:29:37.14\00:29:42.31
the whole matter, fear God and
keep his commandments for this
00:29:42.34\00:29:48.82
is man's all. Only those who
long for righteousness with the
00:29:48.88\00:29:55.72
same desire of a starving man
will find it. The longing in our
00:29:55.76\00:30:01.66
hearts for righteousness is
evidence that Christ is already
00:30:01.70\00:30:08.30
working there. And I just want
to suggest to you, if you don't
00:30:08.37\00:30:14.98
hunger and thirst for
righteousness, pray and ask God
00:30:15.01\00:30:18.08
to give you that hunger and
that thirst. Just as we pray for
00:30:18.11\00:30:24.99
increase our humility, it's Lord
cause me to hunger and thirst
00:30:25.02\00:30:31.56
for righteousness, because it is
easy to become apathetic and to
00:30:31.59\00:30:36.50
just get into the habit of going
to church, just get into the
00:30:36.53\00:30:42.90
habit of doing the right things
but we want to let God stir up
00:30:42.94\00:30:49.88
that desire in your heart. The
words here when he says blessed
00:30:49.91\00:30:55.45
are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness for they shall
00:30:55.48\00:31:00.99
be filled. That is the passive
voice. Now let me give you a
00:31:01.02\00:31:07.46
little English lesson here.
What's difference between an
00:31:07.50\00:31:13.87
active voice when you're writing
and a passive voice. The active
00:31:13.94\00:31:19.54
voice means you are the doer,
you are the be-er. Like if I say
00:31:19.57\00:31:25.01
I will fill my cup, that's an
active voice. I'm the one doing
00:31:25.05\00:31:32.15
the action. But if I say my cup
shall be filled, I'm not doing
00:31:32.19\00:31:38.36
the action. So the passive voice
is when you're not to do-er,
00:31:38.39\00:31:43.16
you're not the be-er. And the
beautiful thing about this is
00:31:43.20\00:31:47.97
it is indicating here when
it says blessed are those who
00:31:48.00\00:31:53.21
hunger and thirst for
righteousness for they shall be
00:31:53.24\00:31:58.38
filled, it's indicating that
righteousness is not something
00:31:58.41\00:32:03.08
that disciples can achieve by
their own efforts. This is what
00:32:03.12\00:32:09.42
Bible scholars call a divine
passage. It means that we are
00:32:09.49\00:32:16.26
describing something that only
God can do. Blessed are those
00:32:16.30\00:32:21.84
who hunger and thirst for
righteousness for they shall be
00:32:21.90\00:32:25.17
filled. We're made righteous
through faith in Christ Jesus.
00:32:25.21\00:32:33.21
We are made righteous; his
righteousness is imputed to us
00:32:33.25\00:32:38.79
which simply means that
it's like if you've got a bank
00:32:38.82\00:32:44.23
account over here that is so
far overdrawn no way you can pay
00:32:44.26\00:32:50.37
this. What is our debt? The
wages of sin is death. There's
00:32:50.43\00:32:55.94
no way we can pay this. But
Christ's perfect record, his
00:32:55.97\00:33:01.44
record, his life, everything
that he did, that is imputed.
00:33:06.08\00:33:10.22
It's just like our bank
account is filled, that debt is
00:33:10.55\00:33:14.72
cancelled and that's how we're
justified. His righteousness
00:33:14.76\00:33:18.89
being imputed to us. But it goes
further. Christ's righteousness
00:33:18.93\00:33:25.77
is imparted. To be imparted is
when his righteousness is poured
00:33:25.80\00:33:31.64
into us as he lives in us, by
faith, by the power of the Holy
00:33:31.67\00:33:37.48
Spirit. He lives in our
hearts by faith. So then his
00:33:37.51\00:33:42.98
righteousness is imparted to us
and the Holy Spirit helps us to
00:33:43.02\00:33:50.43
will and to do God's pleasure.
What a beautiful thing! So then
00:33:50.49\00:33:57.87
we end up we're not walking
according to the flesh but
00:33:57.90\00:34:02.47
according to the
Spirit. Only God can impart this
00:34:02.50\00:34:07.04
righteousness. Only God can fill
this hunger and this thirst. And
00:34:07.08\00:34:11.45
it is crucial to understand
this because if we're going to
00:34:11.48\00:34:16.15
understand the theology of the
sermon on the mount, let's look
00:34:16.18\00:34:22.16
at this. Look at verse 19. Jesus
says in Matthew 5 and verse 19
00:34:22.19\00:34:27.70
Whoever therefore breaks one of
the least of these commandments
00:34:27.73\00:34:33.23
and teaches them to do so
shall be called the least in the
00:34:33.27\00:34:36.50
kingdom of heaven. So he's
saying that we've got to keep
00:34:36.54\00:34:41.41
all of these commandments.
In verse 20 he says, if my eyes
00:34:41.44\00:34:45.28
will work for me, for I say
to you unless your righteousness
00:34:45.31\00:34:49.42
exceeds the righteousness of the
scribes and the Pharisees, you
00:34:49.45\00:34:53.52
will by no means enter the
kingdom of heaven. What? My
00:34:53.56\00:34:57.59
righteousness has to be
more that the scribes and the
00:34:57.63\00:35:01.60
Pharisees. And then in verse
48 if these tired eyes can... He
00:35:01.63\00:35:08.67
says therefore you shall be
perfect just as your Father in
00:35:08.70\00:35:17.08
heaven is perfect. Wow! Do
you see that such demands can be
00:35:17.11\00:35:25.02
twisted into a false theology
where righteousness is achieved
00:35:25.05\00:35:31.53
by works. That's why it's so
important to understand what he
00:35:31.56\00:35:37.80
is saying when he says Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst
00:35:37.83\00:35:43.04
for righteousness for they shall
be filled. God will fill them,
00:35:43.07\00:35:48.24
God will give you his
righteousness. Then if we
00:35:48.28\00:35:52.55
understand it, it's Christ's
righteousness that is meeting
00:35:52.61\00:35:58.35
the demands of verses 19, 20
and 48. So hallelujah! Blessed
00:35:58.39\00:36:04.06
are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness for they shall
00:36:04.13\00:36:09.36
be filled. Then the sixth
beatitude: Matthew 5 and verse 7
00:36:09.40\00:36:18.14
Matthew 5 and verse 7: Jesus
says, blessed are the merciful
00:36:18.17\00:36:26.85
for they shall obtain mercy.
How merciful are they? To be
00:36:26.88\00:36:33.62
merciful means that we are
compassionate and that we are
00:36:33.66\00:36:39.59
relating to others with a
forgiving and compassionate
00:36:39.63\00:36:45.50
spirit. And the promise here is
that God will show mercy to the
00:36:45.53\00:36:52.17
merciful. The mercy that Christ
speaks of here is an active
00:36:52.21\00:36:58.68
virtue. It means that we
are demonstrating merciful deeds
00:36:58.71\00:37:04.59
towards mankind. You know, in
Matthew 25, let's go ahead and
00:37:04.65\00:37:14.96
turn there. Matthew 25, let's
look at verses 31-46. Matthew
00:37:15.00\00:37:25.21
25 verses 31-46. Remind me never
to wear a wool sweater here when
00:37:25.27\00:37:35.22
we're teaching, because
under all of these lights it is
00:37:35.25\00:37:40.62
extremely hot. When you're tired
and hot, I may just lie down and
00:37:40.66\00:37:46.39
take a nap. Okay, Matthew 25 and
let's look at verse 31 and he
00:37:46.43\00:37:52.83
says here: When the Son of Man
comes in his glory and the holy
00:37:52.87\00:37:58.41
angels with him then he will sit
on the throne of his glory. All
00:37:58.44\00:38:03.95
the nations will be gathered
before him. He will separate
00:38:03.98\00:38:06.41
one from another as the shepherd
divides the sheep from the goats
00:38:06.45\00:38:09.85
and he will set the sheep on
his right hand but the goats on
00:38:09.88\00:38:15.52
his left. Then the King will say
to those on his right hand, come
00:38:15.56\00:38:20.30
ye blessed of my father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you
00:38:20.33\00:38:24.87
from the foundation of the
world, for I was hungry and you
00:38:24.90\00:38:29.90
gave me food (you were merciful)
I was thirsty and you gave me
00:38:29.94\00:38:35.44
drink, (you were merciful), I
was a stranger and you took me
00:38:35.48\00:38:42.35
in (you were merciful), I was
naked and you clothed (you did
00:38:42.38\00:38:48.72
acts of mercy), I was sick and
you visited me (praise God you
00:38:48.76\00:38:52.39
were merciful), I was in prison
and you came to me. Then the
00:38:52.43\00:39:03.34
righteous will answer him saying
Lord when did we see you hungry
00:39:03.37\00:39:08.68
and feed you or thirsty and give
you drink, when did we see you a
00:39:08.71\00:39:12.51
stranger and take you in
and naked and clothe you or when
00:39:12.55\00:39:15.58
did we see you sick or in prison
and come to you. And the King
00:39:15.65\00:39:18.95
will answer and say to
them, assuredly I say to you,
00:39:18.99\00:39:22.16
inasmuch as you did it to
one of the least of these my
00:39:22.22\00:39:25.29
brethren you did it to me. But
he will also say to those on the
00:39:25.36\00:39:30.27
left hand, depart from me
you cursed into the everlasting
00:39:30.30\00:39:34.50
fire prepared for the devil and
his angels, for I was hungry and
00:39:34.54\00:39:38.17
you gave me no food (you were
not merciful). If you're not
00:39:38.21\00:39:42.31
merciful, you're not going
to get mercy). I was thirsty
00:39:42.34\00:39:46.41
and you gave me no drink. I was
a stranger and you did not take
00:39:46.45\00:39:49.85
me in, naked and you did not
clothe me, sick and in prison
00:39:49.88\00:39:54.09
and you did not visit me. Then
they also will answer him saying
00:39:54.12\00:39:58.13
Lord when did we see you hungry
or thirsty or a stranger or
00:39:58.19\00:40:05.43
naked or sick or in prison and
did not minister to you. And he
00:40:05.47\00:40:09.27
will answer saying assuredly
I say to you inasmuch as you did
00:40:09.30\00:40:13.38
not do it to one of the least
of these, you did not do it to
00:40:13.41\00:40:17.61
me. And these will go away into
everlasting punishment but the
00:40:17.65\00:40:23.15
righteous into eternal life.
So the test of admission to the
00:40:23.18\00:40:29.32
kingdom of God is deeds of mercy
Turn to James chapter 1. You
00:40:29.36\00:40:35.46
know we really can't over
emphasize this idea of being
00:40:35.50\00:40:40.60
merciful. James chapter 1 and
we'll look at verse 27. James 1
00:40:40.64\00:40:52.01
and verse 27. James says: Pure
and undefiled religion before
00:40:52.05\00:41:01.46
God and the Father is this:
To visit orphans and widows in
00:41:01.49\00:41:08.23
their troubles and to keep
oneself unspotted from the world
00:41:08.26\00:41:14.14
You see the recurrent theme of
being merciful. If you want to
00:41:14.17\00:41:20.01
obtain mercy, you need to
be merciful. In Micah 6:8 our
00:41:20.04\00:41:24.65
obligation to God and to our
fellowman is summed up as this:
00:41:24.68\00:41:29.38
To do justly, to love mercy
and to walk humbly with God.
00:41:29.42\00:41:34.19
In other words, we're supposed
to have a humble heart toward
00:41:34.26\00:41:37.13
God and toward all men. For the
merciful obtain mercy, both now
00:41:37.16\00:41:44.73
and in the day of judgment. You
know, when we follow the golden
00:41:44.77\00:41:50.11
rule, we are considerate and
kind toward others. Quite often
00:41:50.14\00:41:57.05
our fellowman takes note
and they respond accordingly. If
00:41:57.08\00:42:02.68
they don't, God takes note and
you can count on the fact that
00:42:02.72\00:42:07.79
he is going to reward us now and
throughout eternity. So blessed
00:42:07.82\00:42:12.99
are the merciful for they shall
obtain mercy. Now let's return
00:42:13.06\00:42:22.50
to Matthew Chapter 5 and
verse 8 Matthew 5 and verse 8:
00:42:22.54\00:42:27.41
Blessed are the pure in heart
00:42:27.44\00:42:30.75
for they shall see God. This
being pure in heart is referring
00:42:31.15\00:42:39.99
to someone who is authentically
righteous in their inner person.
00:42:40.02\00:42:48.80
Righteousness can be faked.
Consider the Pharisees. They
00:42:48.83\00:42:53.90
faked righteousness didn't they?
They had a bunch of rules and
00:42:53.94\00:42:59.41
regulations by which they walked
and talked and dressed. But
00:42:59.44\00:43:05.15
Jesus said they were like white
washed tombs. They weren't pure
00:43:05.21\00:43:10.89
in heart. So what Jesus is
saying here is true purity is
00:43:10.92\00:43:18.99
attained when God grants it to
those who hunger and thirst for
00:43:19.03\00:43:22.90
righteousness. Right? The
complete fulfillment of this
00:43:22.93\00:43:27.77
divine promise is going to
happen when Jesus returns, but
00:43:27.80\00:43:33.07
he is identifying his disciples
even now as those who show
00:43:33.11\00:43:38.31
they've been through a dramatic
transformation in this lifetime.
00:43:38.35\00:43:44.55
You know, there's something that
I don't teach on. I don't teach
00:43:44.59\00:43:50.53
on anger. You know why? I've got
a fuse that's this long. I've
00:43:50.56\00:43:55.43
lost my temper maybe four times
in my entire life. I don't have
00:43:55.46\00:44:00.30
an anger issue. So it's
not right for me to get up and
00:44:00.34\00:44:05.67
really preach about anger. You
know, because to me if you're
00:44:05.71\00:44:09.28
going to teach something you've
got to kind of let God walk you
00:44:09.31\00:44:11.58
through it. There's a lot of
things I can talk about. Anger's
00:44:11.61\00:44:16.28
not one of them except to say
this, if you have a short fuse
00:44:16.32\00:44:24.46
you cannot continually excuse
yourself. As a Christian, I hear
00:44:24.49\00:44:31.03
sometimes Christians say it's
my personality, you know, I was
00:44:31.07\00:44:39.17
born with it. So were the sons
of thunder. They were ready to
00:44:39.21\00:44:47.32
call down fire from heaven,
James and John, because this
00:44:47.35\00:44:50.72
village didn't want to accept
their message and they're like
00:44:50.75\00:44:55.99
Lord shall we call down fire
from heaven? They had a temper.
00:44:56.02\00:45:04.27
But John became the apostle
of love. So if you are having an
00:45:04.30\00:45:10.47
anger issue, you need to pray
to the Lord to help you relieve
00:45:10.51\00:45:16.28
that because I've met many a
person who has walked down that
00:45:16.31\00:45:22.18
road and God just cured them.
So when he says blessed are the
00:45:22.22\00:45:28.02
pure in heart, this is
designating the intellect,
00:45:28.06\00:45:32.03
the conscience, the inner man.
The pure in heart are clothed in
00:45:32.06\00:45:39.53
the robe of Christ's
righteousness. The pure in heart
00:45:39.57\00:45:42.67
have forsaken sin as the ruling
principle of their life. The
00:45:42.70\00:45:48.58
pure in heart have consecrated
their lives to God without
00:45:48.61\00:45:54.25
reserve. That doesn't mean
that they're absolutely sinless.
00:45:54.28\00:45:58.82
Anybody in here sinless? If
you raise your hand I'm going to
00:45:58.85\00:46:03.36
talk with you after the program.
It doesn't mean that the pure in
00:46:03.39\00:46:09.16
heart are absolutely sinless.
It just means that their motives
00:46:09.20\00:46:15.70
are right. If your motives are
pure, your life will be pure. We
00:46:15.74\00:46:20.98
have to turn our backs on our
past mistakes and press forward
00:46:21.01\00:46:26.15
to the mark of perfection in
Christ Jesus. Right? So he says
00:46:26.21\00:46:29.25
Blessed are the pure in heart,
(what is their promise?) They
00:46:29.28\00:46:35.62
shall see God. Divine grace
opens their eyes to see God,
00:46:35.66\00:46:43.33
the spiritual eyes, spiritual
sight, through the eyes of faith
00:46:43.37\00:46:48.94
right now, and physical sight in
the glorious kingdom when they
00:46:48.97\00:46:55.38
see him face to face. The poor
in spirit sense their spiritual
00:46:55.41\00:47:02.55
need and when they do they enter
the kingdom of God by faith
00:47:02.58\00:47:09.02
right now. Those who mourn over
their sins are comforted. The
00:47:09.09\00:47:15.60
humble hearted receive the title
deed to the new earth now. Those
00:47:15.63\00:47:22.10
who hunger and thirst for
righteousness will be filled
00:47:22.14\00:47:26.07
now. The merciful will obtain
mercy now and in the day of
00:47:26.11\00:47:30.45
judgment and the pure in heart
will develop a heavenly vision
00:47:30.51\00:47:34.42
of God in this present world and
they'll see him face to face in
00:47:34.45\00:47:39.55
the world to come. Number seven,
the peacemakers. This is Matthew
00:47:39.59\00:47:44.69
5 and verse 9. Blessed are the
peacemakers for they shall be
00:47:44.73\00:47:51.17
called the sons of God. Here
Christ is referring specifically
00:47:51.20\00:47:58.27
to people who bring men into
harmony with God. Christ was
00:47:58.34\00:48:04.41
the Prince of Peace, the
messenger of peace, God sent.
00:48:04.45\00:48:10.45
And Paul said in Romans 5:1 we
are justified by faith and as we
00:48:10.49\00:48:16.06
are we have peace with God
through Christ. Paul also told
00:48:16.09\00:48:21.83
the Thessalonians in 1
Thessalonians 5:13 that they
00:48:21.86\00:48:26.60
were to be at peace among
themselves and in Hebrews 12:14
00:48:26.63\00:48:31.97
he says follow peace with all
men. We are to pray for peace.
00:48:32.01\00:48:38.15
We are to work for peace.
The ministry of peace making
00:48:38.18\00:48:43.65
involves conflict resolution. It
means that you're prompt to make
00:48:43.69\00:48:49.12
an apology, prompt to make acts
of restitution. You refuse to
00:48:49.16\00:48:56.03
seek revenge and you humbly
serve and love your enemies.
00:48:56.06\00:49:02.87
Wow! Peace makers are devoted
to the cause of leading their
00:49:02.90\00:49:05.97
fellowmen to find peace with
God. So the promise that the
00:49:06.01\00:49:12.01
peace makers will be called the
sons of God probably means that
00:49:12.05\00:49:16.85
Jesus' authentic disciples
are emulating God by undertaking
00:49:16.89\00:49:22.12
the ministry of reconciliation
and thus, they begin to resemble
00:49:22.19\00:49:28.20
Christ in character. So, at
the final judgment they will be
00:49:28.23\00:49:33.13
accepted as the sons and
daughters of God. Now, the final
00:49:33.17\00:49:39.07
one. This is the one nobody
likes to talk about. Matthew 5
00:49:39.11\00:49:44.98
and verse 10: Blessed are
those who are persecuted for
00:49:45.01\00:49:50.89
righteousness' sake for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
00:49:50.92\00:49:56.69
Blessed are you when they revile
and persecute you and say all
00:49:56.73\00:49:59.96
kinds of evil against you
falsely for my sake. Rejoice and
00:50:00.00\00:50:08.47
be exceedingly glad for great
is your reward in heaven. For so
00:50:08.50\00:50:15.01
they persecuted the prophets
who were before you. Blessed are
00:50:15.04\00:50:20.15
those who are persecuted for
righteousness' sake for theirs
00:50:20.18\00:50:25.22
is the kingdom of heaven. That's
the way we started off isn't it?
00:50:25.25\00:50:29.22
Blessed are the poor in spirit
for theirs is the kingdom of
00:50:29.26\00:50:32.96
heaven. Blessed are
those who are persecuted for
00:50:32.99\00:50:36.73
righteousness' sake for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. Since
00:50:36.77\00:50:41.57
the entrance of sin there has
been enmity between Christ and
00:50:41.60\00:50:46.24
the devil. There's been enmity
between the kingdom of heaven
00:50:46.27\00:50:51.21
and the kingdom of this world;
between those who serve God and
00:50:51.25\00:50:56.85
those who serve Satan. You
know most people don't realize
00:50:56.89\00:51:02.46
if they're not serving God,
they're serving Satan. Romans
00:51:02.52\00:51:09.03
6:16 Paul said, do you not
realize you are slaves to whom
00:51:09.06\00:51:15.84
you obey. Let's look at
that. That's such an incredible
00:51:15.87\00:51:22.58
scripture. Romans I believe it's
6:16. Romans 6 and verse 16.
00:51:22.61\00:51:36.36
Look at this. Do you not
know that to whom you present
00:51:36.42\00:51:41.26
yourself to slaves to obey, you
are that one's slave whom you
00:51:41.30\00:51:47.80
obey, whether of sin leading to
death or of obedience leading to
00:51:47.84\00:51:54.11
righteousness. We're all slaves
to one or the other. We're all
00:51:54.14\00:52:00.65
either in the kingdom serving
God or in this world serving
00:52:00.68\00:52:07.16
Satan. So what Christ is
referring to here primarily
00:52:07.22\00:52:12.83
is to that persecution that
is suffered in the process of
00:52:12.86\00:52:17.70
forsaking the world for the
kingdom of heaven. In John 16
00:52:17.73\00:52:22.47
and verse 33 Jesus warned the
citizens of the heavenly kingdom
00:52:22.50\00:52:24.84
that we can expect tribulation
in this world. Our characters
00:52:24.87\00:52:32.05
and our conduct will bear silent
witness against the evils of
00:52:32.08\00:52:36.08
this present world. And you know
I have to say something here.
00:52:36.12\00:52:38.59
II Timothy 3:12 Paul said that
all who live Godly will suffer
00:52:38.62\00:52:45.76
persecution. What a disservice
we do to people when we
00:52:45.79\00:52:51.27
introduce them to Christ and we
make them think that's it's all
00:52:51.30\00:52:56.94
going to be pie in the sky,
sweet bye and bye. If we don't
00:52:56.97\00:53:02.24
let them know there will be
persecution. But you're blessed
00:53:02.31\00:53:07.45
because of it, for yours is
the kingdom of heaven. Those who
00:53:07.48\00:53:12.79
always endeavor, who are
trying to evade persecution are
00:53:12.85\00:53:17.99
actually not even true disciples
of the Lord, because a true
00:53:18.03\00:53:22.70
disciple will follow him at any
cost. In II Timothy 2:12 Paul
00:53:22.73\00:53:28.07
said, If we suffer we shall also
reign with him. So those who
00:53:28.10\00:53:33.88
suffer most for Christ right
here are best able to appreciate
00:53:33.91\00:53:40.55
what he suffered for them.
In the Greek when it says theirs
00:53:40.58\00:53:47.19
is the kingdom of heaven
it's shifting from its normal
00:53:47.22\00:53:51.19
position at the end of the
clause to the beginning and what
00:53:51.23\00:53:55.13
this does is give the pronoun
the special emphasis to indicate
00:53:55.16\00:54:01.37
that the kingdom belongs to
righteous sufferers and to them
00:54:01.40\00:54:07.41
alone. Theirs is the kingdom.
It's appropriate that the first
00:54:07.44\00:54:13.11
and the last beatitudes contain
the assurance of membership in
00:54:13.15\00:54:18.79
the kingdom. So those
who experience these eight
00:54:18.85\00:54:24.49
qualifications to citizenship
listed in these beatitudes are
00:54:24.56\00:54:29.36
worthy of a place in the kingdom
so, let's look at them one more
00:54:29.40\00:54:34.14
time. We'll go through and
review them. Because actually
00:54:34.17\00:54:37.61
that would be the title. If I
were going to give this a title
00:54:37.64\00:54:41.04
it would be how to become
a citizen of God's kingdom.
00:54:41.08\00:54:48.58
So, here we are on the mount
of beatitudes, Jesus' inaugural
00:54:48.62\00:54:52.05
address and he sees the
multitudes, chapter 5 and verse
00:54:52.09\00:54:59.83
He went up on a mountain and
when he was seated his disciples
00:54:59.86\00:55:04.03
came to him. Then he opened his
mouth and taught them saying,
00:55:04.07\00:55:09.00
Blessed are the poor in
spirit. Blessed are those who
00:55:09.04\00:55:15.98
understand they are totally
spiritually bankrupt without God
00:55:16.04\00:55:20.52
They're in dire poverty and they
understand their need for his
00:55:20.55\00:55:25.29
grace. Theirs is the kingdom
of heaven. Blessed are those who
00:55:25.32\00:55:29.46
mourn, who are mourning over
their sin. They recognize their
00:55:29.49\00:55:34.56
spiritual poverty and they've
got this Godly sorrow going on,
00:55:34.60\00:55:38.50
for they shall be comforted.
Their sins shall be forgiven.
00:55:38.53\00:55:42.47
Blessed are the meek, blessed
are the ones who have that
00:55:42.50\00:55:46.37
gentle humility, for they shall
inherit the earth. Blessed are
00:55:46.41\00:55:52.08
those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness. And if there's
00:55:52.11\00:55:57.75
anything you take away from
this tonight, pray if you're not
00:55:57.79\00:56:03.12
hungering and thirsting for
righteousness, pray and ask God,
00:56:03.16\00:56:06.90
Oh Lord cause me to hunger
and thirst for righteousness for
00:56:06.96\00:56:12.10
they shall be
filled, God will fill you.
00:56:12.13\00:56:15.37
Blessed are the merciful, those
00:56:15.40\00:56:18.31
who are doing merciful acts for
they shall obtain mercy. Blessed
00:56:18.37\00:56:24.45
are the pure in heart for they
shall see God. Blessed are the
00:56:24.48\00:56:31.29
peace makers, those who are
helping others make peace with
00:56:31.32\00:56:35.79
God. That means basically you're
evangelizing, you're sharing
00:56:35.82\00:56:39.93
your faith. I mean, it's not
only that you're being a peace
00:56:39.96\00:56:44.03
maker with your brother but that
you go out and that you reach
00:56:44.07\00:56:48.37
out to others to reconcile them
to God. Blessed are those peace
00:56:48.40\00:56:55.21
makers for they shall be called
the sons of God. And in verse 10
00:56:55.24\00:57:01.98
Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness'
00:57:02.02\00:57:06.35
sake for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven. Let's pray. Heavenly
00:57:06.39\00:57:10.73
Father, we come in the name of
Jesus and I pray in the name of
00:57:10.76\00:57:15.10
Jesus and I pray Oh Lord that
you will cause us to hunger and
00:57:15.13\00:57:18.57
thirst for righteousness. I pray
in the name of Jesus Father.
00:57:18.60\00:57:22.27
We thank you for these blessings
and we pray that you will help
00:57:22.30\00:57:27.24
us to recognize and to walk
as you have called us to walk as
00:57:27.28\00:57:31.51
you work in us to will and to
do your good pleasure. In Jesus'
00:57:31.55\00:57:36.18
name, Amen. Thank you all
so much for being here tonight.
00:57:36.22\00:57:41.02
We want to thank you at home
and hope that this has some how
00:57:41.06\00:57:45.79
scratched the surface to
make you even more interested in
00:57:45.83\00:57:50.53
studying God's word and knowing
that God loves you. He is wooing
00:57:50.57\00:57:55.97
you with his love and he has
a plan for your life, a plan to
00:57:56.00\00:58:01.41
prosper you, not to
harm you. Thank you.
00:58:01.44\00:58:05.11
¤ ¤
00:58:05.15\00:58:06.48