Recalibrating Honor
Notes
Transcript
Matthew 5:3-5
INTRODUCTION
I asked AI what would be the most dangerous technology if it wasn’t colaborated correctly.
It’s answer= AI
It could use drones to target people.
It could use genetic engineering to bioengineer pandemics.
Should we be concerned that AI knows this?
AI is becoming the most influential person in your kid’s life.
It has already created a number one country song.
AI is replacing living role models.
Role Models- who do you want your children looking up to?
#1 influencer in the world= Ranaldo. He plays soccer.
#1 American influencer= MrBeast - crazy stunts and philanthropy.
Charles Barkley, "I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids."
When I was young Brian Bosworth was the coolest person I knew.
Who should you look up to?
Who are those worthy of receiving honor?
For the Jews: it was the Pharisees. The public face of Judaism. They showed everyone the right way to live. Highest of educations.
Jesus elevated those who were despised in society as those who should be honored. Reversal.
Jesus is teaching on what it means to live in His Kingdom.
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.
Set-Up
Blessed- fulfilled-- contentment and joy- that goes beyond physical circumstances. Goes to heart of those who follow Christ.
Remember: Sermon is to believers and those who think they are: These are not the way you earn salvation. It is the way that the saved live. It is the fruit of a changed life.
This is what it means to be holy as God is holy. A high moral standard that brings contentment to those who are followers of Christ.
These beatitudes build on each other-
We are going to look at the 8 beatitudes as one list of 8 over the next 3 weeks.
8 Characteristics of Those Worthy of Honor
8 Characteristics of Those Worthy of Honor
(First 3)
1. Humble
1. Humble
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
A. Definition: Spiritually Bankrupt
1. Not speaking of quality of faith.
2. It's the acknowledgment of one's spiritual powerlessness and bankruptcy apart from Christ.
3. Poor= to shrink, cower or cringe."- like a beggar asking for money. Ashamed to show their face.
ILL- Malawi culture
4. Opposite of the person who is spiritually proud of what they do for God. Those who think they deserve to go to heaven on their own actions and merit.
B. Isaiah 66:2
2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
C. Proud in spirit -vs- poor in spirit
a) Luke 18:9-14
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
b) It is an attitude on the inside that expresses itself on the outside.
c) Humility is the foundation of everything to follow in Sermon on the Mount.
(1) Only the humble are teachable.
D. The Result= "The Kingdom of Heaven."
1. Who is part of the Kingdom? The one who thinks he is righteous or the one who knows he is not?
2. Isaiah 6- Isaiah saw the Lord- "Woe is me."
a) Seraphim touches his lips with the coal- your iniquity is taken away.
3. We do not receive the Kingdom until we realize need and accept the gift.
4. Give up your kingdom. Receive God's kingdom.
Luke 12:16-21 (Rich Fool)
16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,
17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’
18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
2. Broken
2. Broken
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
A. Definition
1. Luke uses the word "weep" when he retells of a similar teaching of Jesus.
2. Jesus is referring to a spiritual quality- not just physical.
3. How do we respond when we realize we have sinned?
a) It should lead us to mourn our sin.
b) Sorrow in itself, however, is not enough.
4. 2 Corinthians 7:10
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
a) Sin should break our heart.
b) It should lead us to repentance- changed direction.
c) How do you know if you truly repented? Change!
5. Why do you keep going back to the same sin?
a) It hasn't broken your heart the way it has Jesus.
b. We do what we believe. It is a belief problem. Sin is always a problem with what we truly believe.
We are all unbelievers needing to surrender our wrong beliefs to Jesus.
(1) He died for that sin.
b) Feeling bad is not enough- tears are the beginning.
c) Godly sorrow for sin leads to repentance.
B. The Result= "Shall be comforted."
1. How are we comforted? We are forgiven.
2. Romans 5:8
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
3. Romans 10:9
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
3. Meek
3. Meek
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
A. Definition
1. Meek= humble, gentle and not aggressive. Power under control.
a) Not taking advantage of their power in order to gain physical things. Realizing the spiritual gain behind control.
b) We should not put ourselves over others in order to further our own agenda. Trust in God to direct the events.
2. ILL-- Tamed horse vs wild horse —same power- just controllable power.
ILL— David driving my truck to the gate.
3. Time of Christ- this type of humility was not valued. The poor were at the whims of the landlords. Rich were ruthless.
4. James 5:1-6
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.
2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.
3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.
4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
5. We must learn to control our sinful desires and earthly ambitions.
6. We are no good to God unless we are under control.
7. James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
B. Result= "they shall inherit the earth.”
1. What are you after? Wealth? Eternal?
2. What earth will we inherit? We inherit the new earth (Rev 20-22)
3. Why do we so often chose the temporary reward of this world over the eternal reward of eternity?
CONCLUSION
Remember: The beatitutdes build on each other.
Humility- surrendering to God;
Leads to "mourning of sin";
Leads to "a controlled life."
FULFILLED LIFE
These results build as well.
Part of the Kingdom of God
Brings Comfort
Inheritance of earth (new earth)
This all starts with understanding you need Jesus.
Your righteousness is as filthy rags.
Is your honor found in Jesus?
Is your honor found in Jesus?
