Sermon Tone Analysis
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American Idol
Intro
Matthew 5:1-
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Pray
[..Makarios]
One of the most stark aspects of our text for the day, to me, is the use of this word here - makarios.
Now this word is an interesting one.
I say interesting, because tradition almost dictates that we only see it as meaning one thing; blessed.
After all, almost every older translation has this word translated that way.
But that doesn’t make them right.
Now hear me clearly, that doesn’t make them wrong either, but just because tradition dictates something doesn’t mean that is the absolute only way to take it!
In fact, tradition alone, without context, isn’t a reason at all.
So we have to look into the word - how it was used other times; even if it was used any other time.
We have to look to see if that is the only way that the New Testament authors ever used that word.
And it turns out, when you do that, you find that it isn’t.
Now, to be sure, if very often is, but it is also often translated as fortunate, and of great importance - Happy.
[pic of happiness]
Ah…the elusive happiness.
That thing that we all seem to chase and never seem to get enough of.
We spend parts of our youth chasing after that alone, only to find that happiness itself can’t be grasped and manipulated, but rather, it is a thing, living and breathing, that is to be experienced.
And as soon as you find it, it seems like it always runs away, right?
[story?]
I remember when I was young, I always seemed interested in finding happiness in life, right after I found sadness or difficulty.
I would get knocked down, and then suddenly I was only interested in being happy.
As if I wasn’t interested in that to begin with.
No we are all constantly chasing after happiness, church.
Don’t fool yourself.
Something inside us yearns for joy, and for light - especially in the darker times in our lives.
I mean, you can hear it resonate throughout the Bible!
David cries out time and time again in the Psalms about just this very thing!
You have put gladness in my heart, David says.
Happy are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness.
In Him our hearts rejoice!
We trust His holy name.
You can hear it resonate throughout the Bible!
David cries out time and time again in the Psalms about just this very thing!
I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God, Isaiah tells us.
Paul reminds us to, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!”
[examples…]
Church, they are reminding us that we are desperate to be happy and to feel joy and contentedness and that it can only be found in God!
But even though we seem to constantly yearn for it, and we logically know where is should be found, we just can’t seem to find it.
And, y’all, I think that this text reminds us of why we can’t seem to find it!
But even though we seem to constantly yearn for it, we just can’t seem to find it.
And, y’all, I think that this text reminds us of why we can’t seem to find it!
[blessed are…slide here]
I think we can’t seem to find it for two reasons.
First, we are looking for it in the wrong places.
That seems a little obvious, but it is worth noting.
We look for our happiness in prestige, or wealth, or fame.
It is like we are all on American Idol, or some other reality show like that; whatever your favorite is.
[talk about show briefly…make sure you talk about the golden ticket and how it is almost as if the contestant’s happiness is dependent on the judges liking them.]
And that mentality is evident in our lives.
It is almost as if we think, if I can just win this thing, then I will be happy!
If I can just get that job, or that promotion, or that house, or that car, or that boy/girlfriend.
If I could just get 5 minutes alone!
If this problem went away, or that issue was resolved - then I could be happy!
Life seems like it is imitating art sometimes.
As if we could earn our own happiness with the approval of others, like on those shows.
As if we could somehow become content, if only a panel of a few once famous people would affirm our ability to push air through our vocal chords in a stylistically appropriate way.
Let me say it plainly.
As if doing anything for the approval of others could every bring happiness.
Church, we all want happiness, but you will never get there if you are trying to win the approval of anyone apart from God.
Never.
That American Idol mentality only shows that we idolize others, or worse, ourselves.
And it drives a wedge between us and God.
And between us and true happiness as well.
[makarios]
The second reason I feel we can’t find happiness is this word that we began all this with.
You see, tradition has allowed that this word point to a time in the future.
And rightly so, you see, our true happiness comes with God in eternity.
There is no doubt about that.
But the cost of using a word that points to some time other than now, is that we assume the price for that happiness is our present unhappiness.
And to be honest, the Greek phrase doesn’t imply that at all!
And quite frankly, I don’t think Jesus is either!
Here is how I read it, church; happy are the ones who are poor in spirit, or to put it another way - happy are those who realize they need more spirit.
In particular the Spirit of God.
Happy are those who realize that, because they will be filled with God.
You see, church, happy are the ones who are poor in spirit, or to put it another way - happy are those who realize they need more spirit.
In particular the Spirit of God.
Happy are those who realize that, because they will be filled with God.
Happy are those who mourn - maybe not in that exact moment - but happy are those because they have had something worth mourning.
They have felt the heights of love.
They have, in some way, seen the face of God in another.
Happy are those who are meek - or humble.
Happy are they, because they understand that this life is about others, and when they removed the need of self, they found that they have so much left to offer this world, and God.
Happy are those who thirst for God!
Because in God is love, and in Him is joy!
And if you thirst for Him, you thirst for all that He is!
You thirst for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control!
Happy are those who are merciful.
Because it is in showing mercy that we best imitate Christ!
And when we do that, we feel Christ’s love for us even more!
Happy are those who are pure in heart.
Paul tells Titus, and us, that, “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.”
How happy we can be, church, if we just think with pure hearts, and stop trying to find evil in this life.
Happy are the peacemakers.
Happy because they are satisfied that they did their best to help others live at peace, and somehow see God.
And Happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness.
Not because being persecuted is fun.
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