We're back exploring the--
gospel recorded in Matthew.
00:00:01.33\00:00:04.17
We're in Chapter 5
looking at the beatitudes.
00:00:04.20\00:00:07.54
Take us on from
where we've been Ranko.
00:00:07.57\00:00:09.90
So we understood so far
that actually the word Makarios
00:00:09.94\00:00:16.44
which means a
blessed refers to the people
00:00:16.48\00:00:19.98
who have
difficulties in this life,
00:00:20.02\00:00:22.08
but telling them
they're not blessed
00:00:22.12\00:00:23.55
because they've their
difficulties they're blessed,
00:00:23.59\00:00:26.65
because they know
God, they follow God,
00:00:26.69\00:00:29.12
God is with them
during those difficulties.
00:00:29.16\00:00:31.26
So despite of the difficulties,
00:00:31.29\00:00:33.13
Glenn, what is that, that
make a person happy in his life?
00:00:33.16\00:00:38.37
Our relationships mainly.
00:00:38.40\00:00:40.34
Actually are the
external circumstances.
00:00:40.37\00:00:43.97
External circumstance,
they make us happy.
00:00:44.01\00:00:46.21
Well, temporarily.
00:00:46.24\00:00:47.61
But they make us happy.
00:00:47.64\00:00:49.68
I meet a student
there on the campus say Prof
00:00:49.71\00:00:52.35
oh, I'm happy
person what happened?
00:00:52.38\00:00:53.98
I found that lady.
00:00:54.02\00:00:55.65
He is happy,
external circumstances.
00:00:55.68\00:00:57.65
After few days, he bows the--
head he was on there on campus,
00:00:57.69\00:01:01.46
she kick you out of her life.
00:01:01.49\00:01:03.09
He said yes, he becomes sad.
00:01:03.12\00:01:05.19
You see the person is healthy,
he is happy, he gets sick.
00:01:05.23\00:01:08.50
So usually the
external circumstances
00:01:08.53\00:01:10.97
defined our happiness.
00:01:11.00\00:01:12.70
But according to Jesus, the--
Christians are always happy.
00:01:12.73\00:01:17.31
The Christians
always feel closed to God,
00:01:17.34\00:01:20.34
not be closed of the
external circumstances,
00:01:20.38\00:01:22.88
but because what
God does within them,
00:01:22.91\00:01:25.78
they get that gift which I
called the gift of Makarios,
00:01:25.81\00:01:29.15
that blessedness, they
defined their happiness
00:01:29.18\00:01:31.65
which is not based on
external circumstances.
00:01:31.69\00:01:33.89
So when we say happy, we
really having to redefined it.
00:01:33.92\00:01:38.23
I am talking
about human happiness.
00:01:38.26\00:01:39.96
Yes, yes. I'm not talking
about the joy that inner joy.
00:01:40.00\00:01:43.20
You see human
happiness is defined
00:01:43.23\00:01:45.17
by circumstances of life.
00:01:45.20\00:01:47.04
Life takes it. He gives
and it takes. Gives and takes.
00:01:47.07\00:01:52.67
But when we have Jesus
Christ as our personal Savior,
00:01:52.71\00:01:57.15
Jesus said, "I'm
giving you these joy
00:01:57.18\00:02:00.32
Gospel John Chapter
13 and nobody and nothing
00:02:00.35\00:02:03.89
will be able to
take the joy from you.
00:02:03.92\00:02:05.52
Now Ranko, I hear some
folks today suggesting,
00:02:05.55\00:02:08.59
what they've been
suggesting for a longtime,
00:02:08.62\00:02:10.36
but if you just
give your life to Jesus.
00:02:10.39\00:02:12.89
If you just follow
Him or some other formula,
00:02:12.93\00:02:17.43
you're not gonna
have any problems.
00:02:17.47\00:02:19.83
There's Sermon on
the Mount speak to this,
00:02:19.87\00:02:21.84
this issue of
believing that you know,
00:02:21.87\00:02:25.04
if I just follow God, then
everything is gonna go good,
00:02:25.07\00:02:27.84
I'll have all the
money in the bank,
00:02:27.88\00:02:29.21
I'll have no problems in my
life, is that what is it about?
00:02:29.24\00:02:32.28
Do you remember when we
go to the Old Testament,
00:02:32.31\00:02:35.68
God said through Moses
to the people of Israel.
00:02:35.72\00:02:38.32
You'll always have
poor people among yourself.
00:02:38.35\00:02:42.92
Not because those
people deserve it,
00:02:42.96\00:02:44.93
it's simply because of
the circumstances of life.
00:02:44.96\00:02:47.66
And we saw Paul, he
started preaching gospel
00:02:47.73\00:02:52.17
and he was helping poor people.
00:02:52.20\00:02:54.47
Poverty is not the token
of unfaithfulness to God,
00:02:54.50\00:02:58.07
poverty can be as--
result of many circumstances
00:02:58.11\00:03:02.08
in this life, but you see
life can take money from you,
00:03:02.11\00:03:07.88
life can take health from me,
00:03:07.92\00:03:10.39
life can take
many things from me.
00:03:10.42\00:03:12.42
There is one thing that life
cannot take from me what God
00:03:12.45\00:03:15.02
gives that inner
joy, that the blessedness
00:03:15.06\00:03:19.13
that actually woes my heart
00:03:19.16\00:03:22.10
and makes to me
mourn for his life.
00:03:22.13\00:03:24.33
You're implying that
there can be a condition
00:03:24.37\00:03:27.44
and this kind of reward,
there is a kind of two parts
00:03:27.47\00:03:30.34
to these
beatitudes, aren't there.
00:03:30.37\00:03:32.31
There is your
condition, your situation life,
00:03:32.34\00:03:34.91
but then there is a
promise, beautiful promises.
00:03:34.94\00:03:38.28
We've to understand
that we live in these a life
00:03:38.31\00:03:42.78
when there is a sin.
00:03:42.82\00:03:44.35
Tragedies, they-very
often can strike human life
00:03:44.39\00:03:50.46
and there is one mystery
that I really do not understand
00:03:50.49\00:03:54.60
why sometimes God
answers some of these prayers?
00:03:54.63\00:04:00.07
And people are healed.
00:04:00.10\00:04:01.94
People can tell those
great experience with God,
00:04:01.97\00:04:06.27
but sometimes God doesn't react.
00:04:06.31\00:04:09.54
One of the-- classical examples
00:04:09.58\00:04:11.55
are when we go to the
Book of Acts, Chapter 12.
00:04:11.58\00:04:14.65
You know, when
we're reading Chapter 12.
00:04:14.68\00:04:17.12
Herod decided to
persecute the church
00:04:17.15\00:04:20.06
and he arrested James.
00:04:20.09\00:04:21.92
Glenn, who was James?
00:04:21.96\00:04:23.69
Leader of the church,
they're one of three disciples.
00:04:23.73\00:04:25.79
One of the three disciples,
00:04:25.83\00:04:27.13
very closed
group, group to Jesus.
00:04:27.20\00:04:29.13
And Herod kills him and
then in order to please Jews,
00:04:29.16\00:04:35.07
he arrested Peter.
00:04:35.10\00:04:36.44
What happened with Peter?
00:04:36.47\00:04:37.94
The angel of the Lord
comes near to the prison
00:04:37.97\00:04:40.41
and then rescues
Peter from the prison.
00:04:40.44\00:04:43.48
Why Peter was
rescued and James was killed?
00:04:43.51\00:04:47.92
Did God loved
Peter more than James.
00:04:47.95\00:04:50.32
Oh no, both of them were
one of the three disciples.
00:04:50.35\00:04:53.79
I know from my personal life,
how God did miracle in the life
00:04:53.82\00:04:57.66
of our own son and the
pastor who prayed for us.
00:04:57.69\00:05:00.83
Actually after healing
my son just the fifth day
00:05:00.86\00:05:03.16
after the tragic
accident of my son,
00:05:03.20\00:05:05.57
actually he died a tragic death.
00:05:05.60\00:05:09.34
There are many
mysteries of this life
00:05:09.37\00:05:11.51
and the question is when we
face difficulties of this life
00:05:11.54\00:05:15.18
according to the Sermon on Mount
00:05:15.21\00:05:16.81
is not to ask what
did I sinned to God,
00:05:16.85\00:05:20.88
Did God forsake me etcetera.
00:05:20.92\00:05:23.75
Now, only the question we're
asking God come be close to me.
00:05:23.79\00:05:28.66
And God promised even if
you walk through the valley
00:05:28.69\00:05:31.93
the valley of
the shadow of death.
00:05:31.96\00:05:33.29
He will be with us and
He will not forsake us.
00:05:33.33\00:05:36.46
What else would you
wanted us to hold on to from.
00:05:36.50\00:05:39.57
We could
explore each beatitudes,
00:05:39.60\00:05:41.10
we don't have time for that,
they're very rich and powerful,
00:05:41.14\00:05:43.47
but what should we keep
in mind for these sequence?
00:05:43.51\00:05:46.17
Actually I want two
things is the beatitudes
00:05:46.21\00:05:48.48
are eight in numbers.
00:05:48.51\00:05:51.08
The first four
beatitudes, the ones I just--
00:05:51.11\00:05:56.42
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
00:05:56.45\00:05:57.79
Blessed are those who mourn.
00:05:57.82\00:05:59.15
Blessed are the meek.
00:05:59.19\00:06:00.59
Blessed are those who hunger.
00:06:00.62\00:06:01.96
They deal on the
vertical level with regard
00:06:01.99\00:06:03.43
to our relationships with God.
00:06:03.46\00:06:05.63
The last four, those who
are the merciful, pure in heart,
00:06:05.66\00:06:09.43
peacemaker and persecuted.
00:06:09.46\00:06:11.27
They deal on our relationships
00:06:11.30\00:06:12.93
on the horizontal
level with human beings.
00:06:12.97\00:06:15.54
Is that what the Ten
Commandments are all about?
00:06:15.57\00:06:17.31
Sure, it seems like it.
00:06:17.34\00:06:18.67
Is that what Jesus
said, love the Lord your God
00:06:18.71\00:06:21.91
with all your heart and
love your neighbour as yourself.
00:06:21.94\00:06:25.05
Actually everything all
the Law and the Prophets
00:06:25.08\00:06:27.42
are about our
relationships with God
00:06:27.45\00:06:29.52
and our
relationships with human beings.
00:06:29.55\00:06:31.75
That's actually Makarios
is all about, that blessedness
00:06:31.79\00:06:35.89
that we receive from God.
00:06:35.92\00:06:37.39
But there is-- something else.
00:06:37.43\00:06:39.23
Jesus concludes
these beatitudes section
00:06:39.26\00:06:43.03
with verses 13 to 16 and
Glenn I would like to ask you
00:06:43.06\00:06:46.50
if you can read these verses.
00:06:46.53\00:06:48.30
And just before I read
I would want to say that--
00:06:48.34\00:06:51.21
when we entered
into the beatitudes,
00:06:51.24\00:06:52.74
we hear Jesus preaching
His values and His attitudes
00:06:52.77\00:06:56.31
are radically
different than this world.
00:06:56.34\00:06:58.48
We don't say
anybody poor is blessed.
00:06:58.51\00:07:00.62
He has taken a radical approach
00:07:00.65\00:07:02.72
this is a completely
different understanding of life.
00:07:02.75\00:07:05.72
And He's here dealing with
the citizens of the kingdom,
00:07:05.75\00:07:08.82
so those who are in the church,
00:07:08.86\00:07:10.63
the citizens of this
Kingdom because the church
00:07:10.66\00:07:13.53
as we mentioned is the visible
manifestation of the kingdom.
00:07:13.56\00:07:16.80
This is how the Christians live.
00:07:16.83\00:07:18.70
While the entire
world is complaining
00:07:18.73\00:07:20.44
about economy about everything,
00:07:20.47\00:07:22.10
you know the
Christians the happiness
00:07:22.14\00:07:24.44
is not defined by
what is going in the world,
00:07:24.47\00:07:26.74
it's by their
relationship with God.
00:07:26.78\00:07:28.11
So let's read
about how you describes
00:07:28.14\00:07:29.78
those for the kingdom people.
00:07:29.81\00:07:31.31
Yes. Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 13.
00:07:31.35\00:07:34.28
You are the salt of the earth,
00:07:34.32\00:07:35.98
but if the salt
losses its flavor,
00:07:36.02\00:07:38.05
how shall it be seasoned?
00:07:38.09\00:07:39.42
It is good then for nothing
00:07:39.45\00:07:41.79
but to be thrown out
and trampled underfoot.
00:07:41.82\00:07:44.23
You are the light of the world.
00:07:44.26\00:07:45.59
A city that is set on
an hill cannot be hidden.
00:07:45.63\00:07:49.43
Up to 16. Nor do
they light a lamp,
00:07:49.46\00:07:52.00
and put it under a
bushel, but on a lampstand
00:07:52.03\00:07:55.30
and it gives light to
all who are in the house.
00:07:55.34\00:07:57.44
Let your light
so shine before men,
00:07:57.47\00:07:59.27
that they may
see your good works,
00:07:59.31\00:08:00.71
and glorify your
Father in heaven.
00:08:00.74\00:08:03.21
We have here two
metaphors and I heard
00:08:03.24\00:08:05.78
people are taking about these
metaphors in different context,
00:08:05.81\00:08:09.25
but we've to put in the context
of these beatitudes here.
00:08:09.28\00:08:12.85
Salt and light. What is
that Jesus tried to say salt.
00:08:12.89\00:08:16.32
What is the-- purpose of salt?
00:08:16.36\00:08:17.69
Glenn, we know that
salt all the way it changes
00:08:17.73\00:08:21.70
the taste of food, food
never changes the taste of salt.
00:08:21.73\00:08:28.80
See Jesus does not say
here you're salt of the world,
00:08:28.84\00:08:31.71
He says you're the salt.
00:08:31.74\00:08:33.44
In Greek, it's a
definite article.
00:08:33.48\00:08:36.61
We are not any salt.
00:08:36.64\00:08:38.18
The Christians are the salt.
00:08:38.21\00:08:39.91
Christians they
can make difference
00:08:39.95\00:08:42.18
in environment where they live.
00:08:42.22\00:08:44.82
So, Jesus here talks
about people who are blessed,
00:08:44.85\00:08:47.32
those who are
Makarios. What is that?
00:08:47.36\00:08:49.66
Telling them the
external circumstances
00:08:49.69\00:08:52.49
will not change your
relationship with God.
00:08:52.53\00:08:55.93
Your relationship with
God will impact and influence
00:08:55.96\00:08:59.27
the circumstances
within which you are.
00:08:59.30\00:09:01.67
This is the purpose of
this first metaphor. All right.
00:09:01.70\00:09:04.34
Now we have the second metaphor
00:09:04.37\00:09:06.64
and this is very significant.
00:09:06.68\00:09:08.51
People think that Jesus simply
repeats the first metaphor.
00:09:08.54\00:09:10.98
No, He is not doing that.
00:09:11.01\00:09:12.35
He says you are
the light of the world.
00:09:12.38\00:09:14.25
Glenn, what is
the purpose of light?
00:09:14.28\00:09:17.12
Obviously
contrasting with darkness.
00:09:17.15\00:09:19.72
But let me ask you one question,
00:09:19.75\00:09:21.22
I'm putting you
here on the spot.
00:09:21.26\00:09:23.76
Does dark impact darkness?
00:09:23.79\00:09:27.76
Does darkness impact light?
00:09:27.83\00:09:31.07
You can't destroy it.
00:09:31.10\00:09:33.17
But can it impact light.
00:09:33.20\00:09:35.37
Let me tell you
when I was young pastor,
00:09:35.40\00:09:37.41
you know, I had those
old cars when you leave
00:09:37.44\00:09:41.84
the car you have to be
sure that the lights are off,
00:09:41.88\00:09:46.08
otherwise it
emptied the batteries.
00:09:46.11\00:09:48.35
And I'll, in the
morning, I'll come to the church
00:09:48.38\00:09:52.15
it was sunshine in some area.
00:09:52.19\00:09:53.52
I'll leave my car and
hurrying to the church
00:09:53.56\00:09:54.92
because I've to preach.
00:09:54.96\00:09:56.29
And the people tell me, pastor
the lights are on, on the car.
00:09:56.32\00:10:00.70
No I said, it's
not they said, it is.
00:10:00.73\00:10:03.67
I will come there
to the car and look oh,
00:10:03.70\00:10:05.80
yes the lights are on.
00:10:05.83\00:10:07.67
I'll turn the lights
off, but then I will come
00:10:07.70\00:10:11.27
in the evening
it was dark outside.
00:10:11.31\00:10:14.64
I did not have need of anybody
00:10:14.68\00:10:17.45
to tell me that
the lights are on.
00:10:17.48\00:10:20.15
Even if I would be
far away from my car,
00:10:20.18\00:10:22.38
I'll see that the lights
are on what is the point?
00:10:22.42\00:10:24.75
Does darkness impact light
yes, the more dense darkness is,
00:10:24.79\00:10:30.63
the more visible
light is, does make sense.
00:10:30.66\00:10:36.26
It's not only that Christians,
00:10:36.30\00:10:37.67
they change their circumstances.
00:10:37.70\00:10:39.73
The more severe
circumstances are more visible.
00:10:39.77\00:10:45.61
The presence of
God is in their life.
00:10:45.64\00:10:47.91
I just want to go quickly.
00:10:47.94\00:10:49.68
She was like my mother to me.
00:10:49.71\00:10:54.32
She would always give me
advice, I was a young pastor
00:10:54.35\00:10:56.72
and one day her son
came to me to tell me
00:10:56.75\00:11:03.63
that his mother was sick.
00:11:03.66\00:11:06.33
The doctor told her
just she had a few weeks
00:11:06.36\00:11:09.26
to live and he asked,
can you go and visit her.
00:11:09.30\00:11:11.27
I went there and
she is really sad.
00:11:11.30\00:11:13.64
And--to make long story short,
00:11:13.67\00:11:15.90
I would come
every week to visit her.
00:11:15.94\00:11:18.21
She was so dear me to.
00:11:18.24\00:11:19.87
And finally I
came and I saw skeleton
00:11:19.91\00:11:22.34
there on the bed
and the number of people
00:11:22.38\00:11:25.68
there sitting in the room.
00:11:25.71\00:11:27.98
And there was one lady who said,
00:11:28.02\00:11:29.35
you know, you served
your God for about 40 years.
00:11:29.38\00:11:33.69
Why did God allow
you all these things
00:11:33.72\00:11:35.82
now to happened to you.
00:11:35.86\00:11:37.19
And I saw that
skeleton shrink to straight
00:11:37.23\00:11:40.06
to say few words to her neighbor
00:11:40.10\00:11:42.26
and I help her,
you know, quickly.
00:11:42.30\00:11:44.43
And she said, you know, I
serve my God for 40 years.
00:11:44.47\00:11:49.00
He has always been good to me.
00:11:49.04\00:11:51.24
I don't know
why all these things
00:11:51.27\00:11:53.04
are taking place with me.
00:11:53.07\00:11:55.11
But I know that my
God has not forsaken me.
00:11:55.14\00:11:58.15
I'll very soon fall asleep.
00:11:58.18\00:12:00.52
One day my God
will stand on the tomb,
00:12:00.55\00:12:02.65
my tomb, and call me by name.
00:12:02.68\00:12:06.92
Then you'll die after me.
00:12:06.96\00:12:09.52
Are you sure
that one day your God
00:12:09.56\00:12:12.36
will stand on your
tomb and call you by name.
00:12:12.39\00:12:15.86
After that I had--
evangelistic series.
00:12:15.90\00:12:18.23
Two of those ladies they
decided to be baptized. Amen.
00:12:18.27\00:12:21.80
You see more dense darkness is,
00:12:21.84\00:12:25.51
more visible
that light as a result
00:12:25.54\00:12:29.04
of that gift
that God give to us.
00:12:29.08\00:12:31.31
Make us to go through this
life is more visible to people.
00:12:31.35\00:12:34.18
Now Ranko the
world's getting pretty dark,
00:12:34.22\00:12:35.72
what should be hold on? Yes.
00:12:35.75\00:12:38.15
Dear viewers if in this life
00:12:38.19\00:12:41.02
you face different difficulties,
00:12:41.06\00:12:43.83
the problems of this life,
00:12:43.86\00:12:45.19
I've like to invite
you to put your life
00:12:45.23\00:12:48.20
into the hands of Jesus
Christ and He will defined
00:12:48.23\00:12:51.27
your happiness and
journey through this life.
00:12:51.30\00:12:54.14