Now that the Kingdom Is Yours

Dax Whitson reads (NIV), then get up and pray.

Dax Whitson reads (NIV), then get up and pray.

1. CONGRATULATIONS

Pray

Say that the two hindrances to un

Describe the beatitudes as Jesus’ congratulatory note to those who see as the very nature of kingdom life here and now.

The beatitudes are Jesus’ congratulatory note. But not at the end of a journey: Elementary, junior high, high school, or even college diploma. He stands at the beginning, a t the the entrance door. And says, “Congratulations, you’re in the kingdom.”

2. AN IRRESISTIBLE FLOW

Imagine the beatitudes as water flowing downstream. From three headwaters forming deep in the Tahoe national forest—the inner qualities of the blessed character, unseen by human eyes and seen only by God.

The headwaters merge into a single stream feeding that hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness—the central quality of the blessed character.

It widens into a river, into the Sacramento river basin--as beautiful actions that people see in a parched and thirsty land.

In the beatitudes Jesus describes this irresistible flow from God out into the world.

3. NEATLY PACKAGED IDEALS

But neatly packaged ideals can drive you mad sometimes. Precisely because they come as finished products. And seeing your own condition, you wonder how in the world you will attain to an ideal too high. The beatitudes can drive you to despair and give up, or to wait for these qualities to be given to you in another world. Despair—if you see the beatitudes as a salvation issue all but impossible to attain. Wait—if you see the beatitudes as promises of rewards for when you get to heaven, as a sort of diploma after a grueling journey: “Over the sunset mountain, someday I’ll safely go, into the arms of Jesus, he who has loved me so,” as an old chorus says.

4. DON’T DESPAIR OR WAIT

But Jesus says not to despair (read ). Grace will be given to outdistance and defeat sin in your life (read ). You can keep at it free of condemnation (read ). And don’t wait until you get to heaven. Heaven has drawn near to you (read )! So near, it is has entered your heart even as I speak (read ).

Delay: “I thought the beatitudes are for when we get to heaven.”

As for the kingdom of heaven, it it has drawn near (read ). So near, it is in your heart (read ). The beatitudes tell you .

But Jesus says not to despair (read ). Grace will be given to outdistance and defeat sin in your life (read ). You can keep at it free of condemnation (read ). And don’t wait until you get to heaven. Heaven has drawn near to you (read )! (ad lib on “the kingdom of the heavens” slide here) So near, it is in your heart as I speak (read ).

5. FOR THE HERE AND NOW

So the beatitudes are for here and now. But for what? Is it not superfluous, now that the kingdom is yours? “God saves us as we are, where we are” you say. “God saved the thief on the cross. I bet you he didn’t have such blessed character! He had no time.” Oh, but he had! All seven qualities are present in his statement (read , ).

They are here free to be discovered in increasing measure, here in the kingdom of grace. But for what? “This is not necessary to be saved. God saves us as we are. God saved the thief on the cross. I bet you he didn’t have such blessed character!” Oh, but he had! All seven qualities are present in his statement (read , ).

Point out two hindrances to understanding the beatitudes: (a) Seeing the beatitudes from the lens of salvation, (b) Seeing the beatitudes as future promises—promises for the world to come.

What are the beatitudes for?

To prepare you to face persecution with grace and peace (recite )

What for? To prepare you for persecution (read , ); to stimulate you to live as a preservative

(recite )

To shift your life’s focus from salvation to preservative (recite )

So you are able to see blessedness in being

(recite )

To elevate your life’s goal beyond self-fulfillment to praise (recite )

To prepare you for a life of praise.

6. THE KINGDOM IS ALREADY YOURS

Don’t fight yesterday’s battles. The kingdom is already yours, yes. And grace abounds to transform you here and now. Now it’s time to reframe the beatitudes. Your salvation is secure. Now it is time for you to discover its beauty as life lived for the purpose of praise—God’s not yours.

(Pause here for closing song. Then go back and pose the questions below, then pray.)

Questions for Discussion/Reflection

Am I still framing my walk with Jesus as a matter of salvation rather than a matter of praise? What would it take for me to have a paradigm shift?

Prayer of Blessing

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Amen. (,