The Beatitudes

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN : KINGDOM LIFE

Introduction

As I mentioned a few weeks ago that I came back from the summer and felt an overwhelming desire and move for us as a church to engage with our community, our city of Christchurch. To truly connect with those that are not yet believers and are in desperate need to hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I had a word I felt the Lord had given me. The word was “Endeavour”.

Merriam Webster defines this word as: “to attempt (something, such as the fulfilment of an obligation) by exertion of effort. endeavours to finish the race. 2. archaic : to strive to achieve or reach.”

William Carey said it best:

“Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” - William Carey

As stared at the beach, the rolling waves brought in fresh new ideas and endeavours…

Parent Workshops

Kids Camps

Alpha

Mission Trips

Youth Ministry

So before we get on to these Kingdom endeavours we first need to define what is “kingdom”?

Kingdom

As Reggie McNeal would describe it as:

“The Kingdom of God is life as God intends it to be, his original blueprint for all of creation. The Kingdom narrative is the grand and heroic story of what God has done, and will do, to bring about fulfilment of his plan and purpose for the universe.

…Life as God intends it is full life, abundant life. Jesus expressed this sentiment when he declared, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10). As creatures made in the image of God, we are drawn to this promise because we sense it is the life we were made for. We’re attracted to the promise of abundant life because, in the centre of our beings, we know there is more to life than what we often experience, These aspirations we share as human beings are rotted in the grand narrative of the Kingdom.

Context + Content

Before we can dive into these preliminary statements from the Mount, we need to look back at the previous scriptures to give background (context) to where and what Jesus is doing and saying.

Matthew 4:12–25 ESV

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

We see Jesus Preaching and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus is teaching in the synagogues and healing the sick and demonic oppressed.

Let’s now look at the working text for the series:

Matthew 5:1–12 ESV

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. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Before we get into the “beatitudes” Jesus does some amazing actions first.

Jesus goes to a higher place where all the people are. Speaks to his disciples.

Jesus sits down.

Jesus opens his mouth.

Jesus goes to the upper area (mount) to where the people are especially his selected team.

there is intentionality here with Jesus that he has “read the room” and positioned himself exactly where he needs to be for full effect.

Jesus draws his disciples close but the masses are also in earshot. Being on the mount, his voice can naturally carry to everyones ears versus a crowded city where ambient noises could have drowned out his articulated words.

Jesus sits down.

culturally and to this day in some middle eastern cultures, when the main speaker sits with everyone, it’s a symbol that they are to conduct their intimate business.

Jesus also sits as a function of keeping his incarnation at the fore front. He is eye to eye with his people. He is saying to all those that God sits with us. God is eye to eye with us. We breathe the same air. I am with you.

Jesus opens his mouth

another middle eastern tradition that what ever this elder is about to say has eternal and gravitas.

we are to be still. open our hears to hear. Listen with our heart as these words are not frivolous or flippant but laser focused and weighty.

“Blessed”

This is a greek word which means “makarios”

Some translations call it “happy” - weak rendering

maybe: “fortunate” or “in-sync” would be a better way of rendering it.

it would have connected to a god-like “joy”

“Poor”

The image of 2 men with 2 definitions of this word “poor”

Pēnes: A man that works for a living but has no superfluous means. Man that has no extras but he works for his sustenance.

Ptōchos: from the root word “ptōssein” which means to cower or crouch.

a poverty where it has been beaten to his knees.

A man who has nothing at all or is absolutely destitute.

Jesus in this moment isn’t speaking in Greek but in Aramaic.

In the closer Hebrew text, “poor” is divided into 4 realms:

poor

b/c he is poor, he has no influence or power /help or prestige

b/c he has no influence he is down trodden and oppressed by others

the man, no earthly resources at all, puts his whole trust in God

Therefore we can say it like this:

“Blessed/Fortunate is the man who has realised his own utter helplessness and powerlessness and who has put his whole hope, trust and strength in God.”

2 Bi-products from this Realisation

1. Completely detached from things…

These people have a looser grasp on the material as they have realised that they do not give true happiness.

Illustration: Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

The son, thinking that he will have blessing and happiness but squandering all his father’s inheritance in wayward living. He only then realises after it’s all gone, that none of it truly gave him God’s joy and blessing. It was thru his sheer poverty he realises that his spirit needed to match his physical poverty and return to his Father and seek forgiveness and restoration.

2. 100% attachment with God

When the prodigal returns home, the father runs to him and kisses him and celebrates by placing the robe (safety and covering), ring (inheritance and re-connection to the family) and the shoes (purpose).

In this moment, the prodigal understands 2 major concepts:

death to self -sufficiency

His poverty realises that he needs to be in 100% dependence on God if he is going to survive the famine.

He is no longer the centre of his world. God is.

2. death to self saviour-ship

The prodigal realises that only God can restore him. He knows that his father has no legal requirement to receive him back into relationship.

Grace and Love enter the equation as God steps in to bridge the gap of what he deserves (death) but he is given like (john 10) reminds us of: fullness and abundant life thru Christ in God.

Man that returned to The Mustard Seed church after having everything in the world. He realised where he had true happiness(blessedness) from a relationship with God was when he was in the youth program at the Seed!

Even Paul made this revelation of contentment and happiness:

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Challenge

How do you come this morning? Have you come with a surrendered heart, mind and soul?

Have you been the master and commander of your life? How has this worked for you? Do you need to yield and trust completely in the Lord?

The text is against wealth. It’s not anti-commodities or “things”, it’s asking a deeper connective question: Do you own your things or do they own you? What is your center? What is your value? Where does your spiritual formation and the Kingdom fit/crash into your life?

I will place no value on anything I have or possess unless it is in relationship to the kingdom of God.

David Livingstone