Be Like God In Your Attitudes (Part 2)

During Sunday service, the pastor said,

"A good attitude is like a clean shirt—people notice when you're not wearing one."

Brother Larry shouted, “Amen!”

His wife whispered, “Maybe you should try both next time.”

Historical/Cultural Context -

This Gospel is written by Matthew, also known as Levi who was a former tax collector. It was most likely written between AD 50-60. Matthew left everything behind to follow Jesus. Matthew wrote primarily to Jewish believers—people who knew the Old Testament well. Matthew had one goal: to prove that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King of Kings, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Connecting the Old Testament prophecies to the life of Christ, proving that every word God spoke was coming true in Jesus. The key themes of the Gospel include Jesus as King, The Kingdom of Heaven, Fulfillment of Prophecy and discipleship.

Biblical Text -

Matthew 5:1–12 NKJV

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - The Beatitudes Are More Than Just A Set Of Attitudes, They’re A Way Of Life.

Life Point- The Merciful

Exegetical -

Matthew 5:7 NKJV

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

Homiletical -

The beatitudes are a passage that is preached on a lot and for some reason it is never unified. The way we will approach this is quite similar as to others but with a focus on unification.

Last week we used the example of an apple. What makes up an apple?

It’s skin, It’s inner goodness and the core.

These nine statement are not describing nine different people but one individual. It is what makes up a Godly person.

One person is supposed to have these different facets to their being and personality.

Depending on what is going on in your life you may show one of these beatitudes more than the others but they should all be there.

Well how do we get these attitudes?

By spending time with God in prayer and studying the Bible. You will naturally start displaying these.

Blessed are the Merciful.

Have you ever heard what goes around comes around? Or you reap what you sew?

Galatians 6:7–10 NKJV

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The merciful obtain mercy. There are times when we need mercy from God and others and if you are growing toward Christ, spending time in prayer and Word you will find that you will become more merciful. Also you will find that when you need mercy it is extended to you.

Psalm 145:8–9 NKJV

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.

Exodus 34:6 NKJV

And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,

Illustration -

In the early days of the church, there was a well-known story of a man who had fallen into a deep pit. He cried out for help, and many passed by, indifferent to his plight. Yet a stranger, filled with compassion, descended into the pit and pulled him out. This act of mercy not only saved a life but also inspired others to show kindness. True mercy is about stepping into others’ pain and lifting them up, just as Christ does for us.

Life Point - Pure In Heart

Exegetical -

Matthew 5:8 NKJV

Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Homiletical -

There is a difference between a clean heart and a pure heart. A pure heart is one not distracted the the things of the world. John Courson puts it this way. All soap is clean. But only one is 99.44% pure. That is Ivory soap. It doesn’t have deodarants, perfumes, additives, or colorings. It is nothing but pure soap. Other soaps are clean, but they’re not pure.

The pure in heart shall see God.

This is one that the Jewish people would understand instantly. As this harkens back to the ritualistic cleansing that were required to work in the temple.

In order to enter the Holy of Holies you would have to be ritually clean or God would strike you dead. If you were pure in heart and clean before God and you went into the Holy of Holies you would have been said to have seen the Glory of God.

How do we get to be pure and Holy before God? There is no other way but through the shed blood of Jesus.

Muhammed ain’t gonna get you there, Buddha ain’t gonna get you there but only Jesus will get you to heaven, to see God. To enter into the Holy of Holies.

John 14:6 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 15:5–7 NKJV

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Christianity has been maligned in the world for years for being exclusive. Well you know what it is true. We are exclusive because we say that there is no way other than Jesus. Jesus is the only way to heaven and without His sacrifice and His resurrection you are still dead in your sins and need Jesus.

Illustration -

A young girl who longed to see her father after he returned from war would each day run to the window, her heart pure with hope and love, despite not knowing if he was truly coming back. When at last he appeared, the joy radiated from her, illuminating the room. When our hearts are pure, seeking God in zealousness, we can expect to see His presence manifest in the most wonderful ways in our lives.

Life Point - The Makers of Peace

Exegetical -

Matthew 5:9 NKJV

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

Homiletical -

Being a peacemaker is not peace at any cost. Peace is not the absence of war either. Peace, true peace is something that comes only from God.

This kind of peace is peace between God and man. A peace that exists between the individual and God.

John 14:25–27 NKJV

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

This peace is not something you get from anywhere else but the indwelling presence of God The Holy Spirit.

How does one obtain this peace?

By giving your heart and control of your life over to Jesus.

By admitting your sins and receiving Christ as your personal Lord and savior. By saying “Jesus I don’t want to tack you onto this thing I call a life, I want you to take my mess away and replace it with you, no matter what that looks like. Change my life into what you will.”

Those that share the Gospel are the ones that are called sons of God. We have many celebrities in our world and in the church world, but celebrity status does not make you a child of God, one adopted into the family of Christ. It is the everyday person who shares Jesus with others that are called sons of God.

I don’t know about you, but I would rather be called a son of God than a celebrity, even in the church.

Illustration -

When Stephen, the first Christian martyr, stood before his accusers, he did not retaliate against their violence. Instead, he prayed for their forgiveness, asking God to not hold this sin against them. His willingness to embrace peace rather than revenge exemplifies the life of a peacemaker. In that moment, Stephen was not only reflecting Jesus' heart but also fulfilling the promise of being called a son of God. By not swearing revenge, even in that life ending situation, he was being a witness for Jesus. He shared the Gospel even with his death. Can you say that would be you?

Life Point - The Persecuted

Exegetical -

Matthew 5:10–12 NKJV

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Homiletical -

Jesus was talking about social, political, economic, and physical persecution.

From what I have studied when a western country starts to persecute Christians it starts with social persecution and proceeds to political persecution. This is where we find ourselves today in America. We have started down the economic persecution but not too much on physical bodily harm of Christians.

I will tell you this there is coming a day when persecution in our country will come full force. In that day we will not be able to gather like this, we will not be able to have a business that aligns itself with Christianity and we will be harmed physically by our very own government.

Today is not that day, but around the world that day has come and has been around for a long time. There are Christians that are being martyred in a lot of countries. China is an example, plus many in Africa. Yet we get upset if the temperature isn’t just right in the sanctuary or if the color of the carpet isn’t what we wanted.

Folks we have got to get past these first world problems that aren’t really problems at all. We need to pray about our brethren around the world and we need to continue to support our missionaries to the world.

As a church we give to cooperative program, especially Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong offerings because they go 100% to the missionaries. We support missions because a church that is so focused on itself is a church that will die. A church that is focused on reaching people for Christ is a church that will thrive.

Now notice what Jesus says here. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for their is the kingdom of heaven.”

Notice he doesn’t say Blessed are those who are persecuted because they did evil. Or those that are persecuted because they sinned.

Now this is the person who is doing right. This is the person who is standing up and calling a spade a spade. Calling sin out as sin.

There was some news that broke about a famous Christian couple who have condoned a gay couple on their latest television show. Folks that is not standing up for righteousness sake, that is allowing sin to be promoted. Now I am not going into the details right now. But know this, if you are a Christian your faith in the arena of homosexuality and transgenderism is about to be tested like never before. Stand up for what is right. I don’t mean be rude and cruel, show love, but let people know where you stand in no uncertain terms. That you stand on God’s Word.

It would be unloving to say that these people are alright before God when they are not alright before God. Let them know that it is a sin and like any other sin it will send you to hell.

It is loving to share the Gospel with someone who is in sin.

James 5:20 NKJV

let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Illustration -

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor who stood against the Nazi regime during WWII and the atrocities that were committed during that time. He was imprisoned and ultimately executed for his beliefs. Despite the persecution he faced, Bonhoeffer remained steadfast in his faith, believing deeply in the righteousness of his cause. He once wrote, 'When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.' His life shows the promise that those who endure suffering for righteousness are indeed blessed and possess the unshakable kingdom of heaven.

Life Principle– The Beatitudes Are More Than Just A Set Of Attitudes, They’re A Way Of Life.

Call to Action – altar call….