[Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 002 Iss 034

Sat Oct 13 16:37:20 CDT 2007

The Messenger

Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ

306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059   731-627-3514

bibleanswers at charter.net                                    www.mainstreetcofc.com

Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan

VOLUME 002::ISSUE 034::October 14, 2007  

NEW SERIES: Lessons Drawn from the "Sermon on the Mount"

ARTICLE ONE: Beatitudes 002

ARTICLE TWO: Beatitudes 003

Article One: Beatitudes 002

We are continuing our look at the Sermon on the Mount. This particular sermon of Jesus Christ has stood out over the centuries since it was first spoken. The words that Jesus shared were considered radical statements. So far Jesus has asked His audience to deny their "self-reliant" and "get ahead at any cost" culture to recognize their destitution. He expected them to understand the need of sorrow over their spiritual condition and the condition of mankind in general. He also indicated the dire need for practicing restraint through meekness.

As we further our study of these statements known as the Beatitudes, we will hear Jesus express the need for even more changes in attitude and action on the part of His hearers. Let's open our Bibles and look at the next few statements that Christ makes in His introduction.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness-for they shall be filled

The absolute essentials of bodily existence are the elements of sustenance-food and water. The human body by nature desires many different things; above all sustenance. Without food and water life ceases. When someone is hungry or thirsty-truly famished or truly parched, every other need is put aside to focus on feeding those specific needs for food and/or water. It is the recognition of this need that is to be recognized in our soul. Our soul longs for those things which are able to sustain it. As Jesus says we hunger and thirst after righteousness-just like the priority of food for a hungry body, so should righteousness be a priority for the hungry soul (Matthew 6:33 "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness"). 

There is a need within each of us. We by nature are created with the ability to reason beyond ourselves; to long for the eternal; to seek something more. Too many mistakenly believe that this need for God can be satisfied with material-worldly things. Trying to fill this need with material things is like trying to fill the Grand Canyon with a teaspoon. This void within us cannot be filled with the material because it is spiritual-only God can fill the void-it is God that we need (Psalm 63:1). 

The scripture continues with the words of promise: "They shall be filled". God has made Himself available to us (Acts 17:26-28). We can draw near to Him and He will draw near to us (James 4:8). 

Blessed are the merciful-for they shall obtain mercy

Mercy is a foreign thought in a relatively self-seeking society. Mercy is "giving" not "taking" and this goes against the grain. This "mercy" is even toward those who continually offend us (Matthew 18:21-22). When we look closer at this statement of Christ we can clearly note that the mercy, of which He speaks, is not an occasional sensation of pity-it is something that is much more prevalent. Our mercy towards any one and everyone is a result of our own desire for the same. We know that we need mercy so we ourselves are merciful. We are merciful because of the great mercy that God has shown us (Titus 3:1-5). 

Jesus says, "they shall obtain mercy". Although we all have rebelled against God, we can obtain God's mercy through Jesus Christ. Mercy is God giving us what we do not deserve-freedom from sin and eternal life in His glory (Romans 5:8-9; John 3:16-17). 

Blessed are the pure in heart-for they shall see God

We must purify our hearts. We have already looked at James 4:8 "purify your hearts". It is that verse that gives us the true essence of heart purity. We can conclude that an impure heart is a double-minded heart. A pure heart is single and sincere. (J. B. Phillips in his translation says, "Blessed are the utterly sincere"). We need to keep our hearts pure (Proverbs 4:23-27). A double-heart is found in someone who says one thing and means another or one who pretends to love when they do not. A pure heart is single-minded, sincere, honest, and above reproach.                   

We are told that those who purify their hearts shall see God. Blessings from God flow to those who dedicate themselves to Him. Matthew 6:33 "All these things will be added unto you."  Matthew 7:13-14 "Straight is the way that leads unto life..." The greatest of all blessing is found after hearing the words, "Well done My good and faithful servant enter into the joys of your Lord" (Matthew 25:21). 

Conclusion:

These three beatitudes have made us aware that we must seek righteousness with an absolute hunger and thirst. We must be merciful, if we expect to receive mercy and we must also purify our hearts by focusing on the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

The differences that are expected in our lives need to be seen. "Self" is no longer our primary concern. We seek God's way-the higher way. If you are not a Christian today you have a void inside you that nothing else will fill except righteousness.

You can make your life right with God. There is a chart of the back of this bulletin. The instructions are there. If you do not understand, ask. Ask now before you leave. Your soul is longing for God. Find His satisfaction now. ~tss

Article Two: Beatitudes 003

We are continuing to sit in the audience, listening to Christ as He shares these lessons known collectively as the, "The Sermon On The Mount. We have so far looked at the first six beatitudes and we have discovered how radical the statements of Christ were then and still are in our time. 

In this session we are going to finish up the beatitudes-the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount. These attitudes and actions, which Jesus proclaims as necessary, to be content and happy; should be a part of each of us. As a Christian we are to be all of these things and more. Let's consider the last two beatitudes and wrap this context up.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Because of what is declared throughout the remainder of Christ's teaching, we can conclude that these peacemakers are not those who are willing to compromise truth for peace. In matters of revealed truth, peace cannot be found through compromise. Even here in these last few statements of Christ, we can clearly see that we must be strong and strict with the truth-we are to hunger and thirst for the truth.

Paul in the book of Romans instructs us to "Live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). This "peacemaking" is in relation of man to man but it will only be what it needs to be if all involved are at peace with God-to be at peace with our fellow man we need to bring them to peace with God. The peacemakers are those who bring others to the peace only found through Christ (Philippians 4:7). We are to seek peace but only by first seeking truth (James 3:17 "first pure then peaceable"). 

They shall be called sons of God. As "peacemakers" we have sought and found peace between us and God through Jesus Christ. We are called sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26). There is great privilege in being a "child" of God (1 John 3:1-3); a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). As adopted children, through Jesus Christ, we have every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3-10).

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Happy and content while persecuted? We usually do not associate happiness with being reviled, accused of evil or beaten. It is not the physical abuse that we find joy over, it is what happened to bring about the abuse that leads us to this happiness-the pursuit of righteousness. Consider Acts 5:40-42: They suffered because of their righteousness, or you might say that they were righteous enough to suffer. Jesus said that the world will be against us if we follow Him (John 15:18-20). The true and full measure of happiness comes at the end of the way-Heaven (Matthew 5:11-12). We have all confidence in the knowledge that in the end the saints will rise up victorious over the world and enter in to the gates of Heaven forever (Revelation 22:14).

New Courage from the Beatitudes

Jesus has just painted a word picture of a Christian. Humble, contrite, self-controlled, desirous for righteousness, merciful, single-minded, seeking and bringing peace, and a servant willing to suffer for the cause of Christ. This is a challenge to us. Jesus has laid out the rewards both temporal (contentment) and eternal (theirs is the kingdom of heaven). If we want those rewards we must become in whole a picture of the beatitudes.

How am I going to get there? Prayer: "If any man lacks wisdom let him ask of God" (James 1:5). Seek the wisdom to "walk in" these words. Study: Knowledge to guide our steps (Jeremiah 10:23; Psalm 119: 101 "I restrain my feet from every evil way that I may keep Your word"). Diligence: "Having done all to stand, stand therefore." (Ephesians 6:13-14). 

Conclusion:

We should now understand the beatitudes better, or at least we have just had our understandings renewed. Either way we know what we have to do. We can always improve ourselves before God if we are humble enough to recognize the necessity of improvement. Admitting that we are in need requires humility. The recognition that you are lost if you are not a Christian is not easy to face-it is a difficult necessity. If you recognize that fact; you can change. Change your life right now by following the steps outlined on the back page of this bulletin. Consider the steps. Read the passages. Obey God's word and become a Christian today. ~tss

If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list.   Sean

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