Happy Is
Journey through Matthew • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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6Welcome
6Welcome
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Offering
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With that all being said let’s jump into todays message.
If you are new to our church today, it would be helpful for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”.
What that means, is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible and then breaking them down from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Our goal, to better understand not only what God’s Word says, but what it means in our lives today.
That being said, if you’re new to our church, we are currently walking through the NT book of Matthew.
And so if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go online to YouTube or any Podcast service where you can watch or listen to messages leading up to today.
I want to begin today’s message by studying a little bit of Vocabulary.
Our First Word today is Repent
Repent: “to change one’s mind”
Repent: “to change one’s mind”
The Greek word used here is Metanoeo
The word Greek word used for Repentance is Metanoia which can literally be interpreted as
The process of experiencing a psychological re-building or “healing”
To repent is to Change your Mind about Who Jesus is and Place your trust in Him.
What does that mean though.
Gluten Issues
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Our Second Word is Gospel
Gospel: “Good News”
This good news is the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah.
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Mark adds to this by saying:
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
The gospel in Matthew changes from the Beginning of Matthew to the End of Matthew.
The Gospel we know is this.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
However the Gospel Jesus is talking about is That He was the Messiah spoken of in the OT and that Within Him is the Power to establish the Messianic Kingdom in their lifetime if Isreal would Change Their Minds.
Last week I spoke about this and it caused a little confusion. Let me expound on that a little.
First of all this is not an issue that Changes Salvation or the interpretation there of. This is an attempt to further understand the intricacy that is going on in this passage.
I feel that I am discovering that Jesus is in fact making an offer to set up his Kingdom in this statement. Which would be an offer by God to stick to His side of the Covenant.
This is an offer to Fulfill
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
And a direct fulfillment of
5 And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—
6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
So to get back to the text at hand Jesus is preaching in the synagogues.
But what are they changing their Minds about.
Well we first have to truly understand the religious culture of this day.
When Jesus shows up on the scene Isreal had been led by terrible teachers known a Pharisees who traced their linage from Ezra but had distorted everything Ezra set out to do.
○ When the people of Israel returned from exile in Babylon, they were determined never to repeat the mistakes that led to their captivity
■ Among their leaders was a teacher named Ezra, who began to instruct the people in following the Law of God
■ Ezra was a man who knew and loved God’s Word and he taught it truly
■ He desired to instill a heart of obedience in Israel so they might never be removed from the land again
■ As a result of Ezra’s leadership, the people of Israel recommitted themselves to knowing and following God’s commandments
However once Ezra had passed things kind of got out of control.
The next generation began to add to the commandments of God.
In fact for every commandment they added 10 more restrictions.
This collection of oral traditions became what is known as the Mishnah
Mishnah
Mishnah
This mess of legalism basically took over for scripture and became a list of does and don’ts that left most people feeling unable to relate or connect with this God and his rules.
So now we find Jesus surrounded by all these people who would have all felt like righteousness was unobtainable due to their inability to stick to the teachings of the Mishnah.
So Jesus walks up on a Hill or Mount, sits down and prepares to deliver a message that will help Change the Minds of his listeners as to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus is about to Demonstrate:
His Authority to Preach the Truth.
Keep in mind in his audience is a collection of literally thousands of sick, paralyzed, demon- possessed outcasts.
People who had been taught by the Pharisees that their suffering was due to sin that they brought on by not following these manmade rules.
The very idea of salvation had been robbed from these people.
The truth is this is not uncommon in the world we live in today that preaches works of Faith.
Acts of Pennance or Prayers of pennance.
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
The mentioning that Jesus sits down demonstrates the Posture of a teacher. It was common for Rabbi’s to teach from a seated position.
Jesus is going to begin this message by countering all the things that the Mishnah has taught about those who are part of his Kingdom.
Also notice that our translations use the work bless from the Greek word Makarios- which can be extended to happy, to be envied, spiritually prosperous, with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and Salvation.
As we read these passages and study them it is important we understand that these are attributes of those who have already received the Kingdom.
This is not a system for Salvation.
Salvation comes when we put our faith in Jesus as the Messiah and place our trust in the finished work at the Cross.
A lot of teachers teach that this is a list of requirements to enter into Heaven.
Like in order to enter the Kingdom you have to check all of these off.
Now I do believe these are attributes that demonstrate Sanctification.
Sanctification is the process of being set apart for God’s purposes.
The first four of the Beatitudes are responses to God.
The second five are responses to the people around us.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Don’t go sell everything
“I’m Rich”
Poor in Spirit is to realize my need for Grace.
Envied is the person who realizes that outside of Jesus their righteousness is nothing.
It’s literally the opposite perspective of that of a Pharisee
Pharisees were proud in spirit, proud of their piety, proud of their reputation and completely in denial of their sinfulness
They weren’t just qualified for Heaven, they expected to be welcomed into Heaven with great fanfare and high praise
But Jesus says that’s not who we will find in the Kingdom
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
You all need to cry and grieve more.
This is not a free pass to never get over things.
By the context, we know mourning refers to feeling sorrow for the devastating effects of sin, both of our sin and that of others’
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
This is not mourning because I am fearful that I am not getting in.......
This is mourning because I am tired of the things in my life that make me hide from my relationship with God.
King David gives us a beautiful connection to this idea.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
This is not the idea that we have to be week and pitiful
The War Horse
Full of the power to fight but completely in submission of the rider.
Happy is the person bridled by the master.
Being gentle or meek means accepting our station in life as God has assigned it, and seeking to please Him from that place.
It’s the opposite of earthly ambition, of seeking the power and riches of this world.
The Kingdom citizen will exhibit this attitude, and to the extent he or she lives according to this conviction, they will receive reward in the Kingdom.
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
To hunger is to not have the thing you desire.
Have you ever been so thirsty or hungry you thought you were going to die.
Lost in the Lost Maple tree forest.
Those destined for the Kingdom long to see righteous reigning on earth, yet we realize this is an unreachable goal apart from Christ’s ruling!
We hunger and thirst for righteousness, but we don’t think we can achieve it by calls for social justice or at the voting booth.
We recognize righteousness can only be found in a kingdom ruled perfect by the King of Kings.
For now, God’s righteousness reigns in our hearts by His Spirit, but we await the day it reigns from sea to sea on earth.
Those who Hunger and Thirst are looking forward to Micah’s Promise
1 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it,
2 and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;
4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
5 For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.
6 In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted;
7 and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.
But once again, Israel’s leaders didn’t hunger or thirst for righteousness
They believed they had already found it in their law and customs
They were already satisfied by the system they established.
Especially since it rewarded them and kept them protected and in power.
Such men will not be found in the Kingdom.
The next 5 Beatitudes represent how those who are a part of the Kingdom act in relationship with those we share this Earth with.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
When you have been shown mercy the natural response is to show mercy.
Expound
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Jesus says the Kingdom citizen is one who possesses a pure heart.........
Upright and Honest
Kingdom citizens do not seek to profit from another’s loss or gain at another’s expense
This is not a list that gets us into the Kingdom it is how those who are already a part of the Kingdom Act.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
This is not about keeping peace this about making peace..........
This doesn’t mean I don’t stand up it means I make peace when the dust settles.....
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
I did not fully understand this one until this last year. I am still hearing and healing from the lies that were told about me and the attacks that were thrown my way because I stood up for Righteousness. Even by those that call themselves brothers.
However, I have been blessed through it.
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Growth in my own Spirit.
As we close today let’s look back on this list and reflect on the Character Sketch Jesus has given us of those who are Kingdom Citizens.
1. The person entering the Kingdom seeks the Holy Spirit to help them become a humble person aware of their own unrighteousness and resting in God’s mercy and grace.
2. Citizens of the Kingdom are saddened by their own mistakes and long to see God’s righteousness prevail.
3. With the Holy Spirits help a Kingdom Citizen submits to God’s authority, seeking to please Him rather than placing their trust in the world’s rewards.
4. A Kingdom Citizen is aware of the mercy they have been shown therefore, they seek to show mercy to others, to deal honestly with others, to make peace with others.
5. The Kingdom Citizen understands that they will be persecuted by that world because they love Jesus.
6. The Kingdom Citizen is allowing the Holy Spirit to prepare them to enter the Kingdom.
If you are sitting there this morning wondering if you are a part of this Kingdom.
Let me tell you how you can become part of the Kingdom.
Now for the rest of us.
Altar and Worship.