The Disciples Character Part #2

Vignette

Narrator:

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been introduced to a few fictional characters as we have been studying through Matthew Chapter 5-7 Better known as, the sermon on the mount.

(Hank enters the stage and sits at the table listening to the book)

We once again watch the local coffee shop, Celestial Beans, where we find Hank sitting and listening to his audio book, “Living the life of the Sermon on the Mount in Modern Times”, How to discover your purpose as a disciple of Christ.

Bob: (enters the coffee shop, gets a coffee, and sits near Hank at his table)

Hey, I remember you

Hank: (pulling his earplug out) What?

Bob: I said, I remember you from last week and your book.

(he then takes a sip of coffee)

Hank: (Looks at Bob and waits for him to finish his coffee and to start talking again. After waiting, Bob doesn’t engage in conversation, so he puts his earbuds back in his ears)

Bob: (Just as the earbuds go back in)

So, what do you make of the whole idea of being poor in spirit and meek?

Hank: (pulls out he ear plugs & SIGHS, - resigned that he must listen to this guy)

What was that?

Bob: You know…. being meek…. That’s just another what of saying you’re weak… you know… if you’re weak you’ll turn the other check.

Hank: I don’t think that’s it….I think it means we are honest towards God and truly confess

Bob: (interrupting) well confession is good for the soul. Picture this, there was this one time see… (if he has some grand tale of past exploits)

Hank: (interrupting) Confessing to God, not blabbing to the world. It’s our relationship with God. You know…one with God.

If we truly understand or position against a Holy God, we become meek, we know our place

Bob: and when we know our place, we see ourselves in true perspective, and my place (with finality) is right here with my ear buddy. (Pats Hank on the back)

(Bob begins to tell a story). Let me tell you the time……

Hank: (Sighs and puts the earbud in the one ear away from Bob and begins to listen)

Introduction

The two characters are wrestling with the first four Beatitudes we covered last week. As a reminder or if you weren’t here the first four or Part one of the disciples character is our relationship with God.

Our definition:

A Disciple is one who is seeking God, while being transformed into the image of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit in the context of community.

Community defined three ways as

One with God

One with a few

One with Many

One with God-

poor in spirit. The moment when we realize that we come to God with nothing and he grants us entrance into the kingdom of God

Mourn our sinfulness, we realize that our relationship with God requires that we come broken and ask for forgiveness. He grants us comfort in forgiving us our sin.

Meekness- not weakness but a spirit that realizes our dependency upon God.

Finally, the progression in our relationship with God. The context in which as disciples of Christ should be seeking God is a great hunger and thirst for righteousness.

As I said last week, drinking salt water doesn’t quench your thirst, but it will drive you to drink more. Seeking after righteousness is the inward desire to be more like Christ. To have the mind of Christ

Pastor Jones writes,

“The Christian Gospel places all its primary emphasis upon being, rather than doing.”

D Martyn Lloyd-Jones- Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

We are disciples of Christ by the description of our relationship with God. It’s primary and the basis for the next four beatitudes.

Jesus when he spoke these to the people it was not by chance or randomness, but rather an intentional steps in our character development.

Folks let me end the review of Part one of our character with this illustration.

It has been said, that

https://illustrationexchange.com/illustrations?category=229

actor Jim Caviezel admitted that playing the role of Jesus in the blockbuster film, "The Passion of the Christ," has seriously limited his career, saying that he has since been "rejected in (his) own industry." 

Caviezel says he was warned by the film's director, Mel Gibson, that this was a real possibility. Caviezel responded saying, "We all have to embrace our crosses."

The actor wasn't at all surprised by the reaction to the film. "Jesus is as controversial now as he has ever been," explained Caviezel. "Not much has changed in 2,000 years."

APPLICATION

While Jim Caviezel , reported to be an avowed follower of Jesus Christ, it was ironically not his personal faith, but his portrayal of the Savior that landed him on the Hollywood blacklist. Usually, "playing" at being a Christian elicits an safe response at best. 

It's not until we get "real" with our faith that we begin to pose a real threat to be come counter cultural. The Christian who is serious about following the Savior can expect nothing less than scorn and disdain from the world. 

Jesus was telling the people in the first four beatitudes that is how they are to approach God.

It’s about Us and God

It’s how we come to God.

Look once again at the words we sang earlier Just as I am

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desperate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

I come guilty to be pardoned

By the blood of Christ the Lamb

And I'm welcomed with open arms

Praise God, just as I am

The first four were about coming to God. Getting to know God

With all this in mind, let’s move to the next set of beatitudes.

Scripture

Matthew 5:7–12 ESV

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.

Overview

Let me tell you this. When you come to these verses the focus has changed. It’s about our relationship with others. In other words, how you go or respond to others.

These verses are a description of how you go.

How you go to other people.

How you interact with other people. How you treat them.

graphic illustration

these last four shows how we interact with others.

Merciful

Matthew 5:7 ESV

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

One of the modern shows that i have watched, highlights a character that is brilliant in all matters of knowledge, but lacks social cues to live in his current world. In order to survive he has built his live on rules and social contracts. For example, if he was to receive a gift from someone, he would be obligated to give a gift of equal value the the gift giver. His quandry became, what is of equal value to me and the other person.

The thought of Christmas gift giving was a social structure that was most difficult for him. In order to avoid the struggle, he chose not to give or receive gifts.

It’s easy. I don’t expect a gift; therefore, I don’t need to give.

In one episode of the show, he found out that their new friend to the group was going to give him a gift. All the other friends have learned not to give, but this new friend didn’t know, nor quite frankly, didn’t care about the social rules of the group. A gift was coming.

Knowing a gift was coming he went off to the store and bought several “level” of gifts that he thought would be of equal value to a possible given gift. His plan was to hid the several gifts in his room. Open his gift to him, then go to the room and pick out the gift that best “fit” his gift value.

His plan would work, sort off. He thought. in case you haven’t seen it, I won’t spoil the ending.

Merciful people receive mercy.

Is this a social contract?

Do we act merciful to others because of what we might get back from them.

We show mercy and in turn we should receive mercy from others when we need it.

One of the lessons we taught our boys in which we received feedback as they were older is the concept of apologizing and forgiving one another.

you know the scene. The kids get into a fight. You break it up, you ask that they apologize to one another and forgive one another and its over. The way things should work.

Later in life, one of our boys stated that it may have worked in the house, but not the real world.

It’s not the world in which we live, and you know, as I thought about it, he was right.

This world in which we live does not follow the sermon on the mount. Its counter cultural. They don’t live by the words found in these scriptures. They are not seeking after God. They are not being transformed into the image of Christ. They are not empowered by the Holy Spirit, but they are in a context of community.

The words outlined in this passage is for those who are in the Kingdom of God.

Those who are disciples of Christ who are following the words of Christ

We become the examples of residence in the Kingdom of God to this world.

We show mercy not because we give mercy rather we are merciful because we have already recieved mercy.

Let me explain.

When we have come to God, broken and have been healed. We have received the Grace of God not out of what we have done but because of who God is and what he has done.

If by showing mercy to others so that we ourselves can be the recipients of mercy we have it backwards. We have lessened the grace of God in our lives.

It is not a social contract that we have with others.

Its not an issue of works. God doesn't demands that we are to be merciful and therefore he will be merciful to us.

For if we read this verse as an action and a promise, then we are misunderstanding what Jesus is trying to tell the people and us.

If you are puzzled, you’re not alone. This as many people have written is one of the most misinterpreted verse in this group.

For it is easy to read it as such. Action and promise.

let’s look at other scripture,

The parable found in Matthew 18

Matthew 18:23–35 ESV

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Mercy is given not to get, but rather we give mercy because we understand what it looks like.

We understand mercy because of God’s grace and mercy towards us.

it’s because of the mercy received we then in turn give that mercy to others.

Showing through us the mercy of God.

To look at these verses and to have it as a what you do is what you get takes away the very Grace of God in our lives.

Pastor Jones states,

“What makes me merciful, the grace of God. If I am not merciful there is only one explanation: I have never understood the grace and the mercy of

god; I am outside Christ; I am yet in my sins, and I am unforgiven.”

-Jones pg 105

Blessed are the Merciful for they shall receive mercy

Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:8 ESV

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

Here we are faced with the most maginicant, and soul seraching passage of scripture.

If given to our own mind, our own thinking, we are described as anything othe than pure.

The popular interpretation is to regard purity of heart as an expression for inward purity, for the quality of those who have been cleansed from moral—as opposed to ceremonial—defilement.

We sing, I have been washed by the blood. An expression of the cleasing that takes place when we accept the forgiveness of our sins

look at the Psalms

Psalm 24:3–4 ESV

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

Stott writes,

More precisely, the primary reference is to sincerity. Already in the verses of Psalm 24 quoted above, the person with ‘clean hands and a pure heart’ is one ‘who does not lift up his soul to what is false (sc. an idol), and does not swear deceitfully’ (4). That is, in his relations with both God and man he is free from falsehood. So the pure in heart are ‘the utterly sincere’ (jbp). Their whole life, public and private, is transparent before God and men. Their very heart—including their thoughts and motives—is pure, unmixed with anything devious, ulterior or base. Hypocrisy and deceit are abhorrent to them; they are without guile.

Our goal as disciples of Christ is to have Christ at the center. The center of our heart.

It’s not about action but of or being and personality. It includes our mind, it includes our will , it includes our heart and those three things will drive us to see others as God sees them.

to see God is linked to the pure in heart because only purity can stand in his presence.

What do we hold onto in this world that is opposed to God?

What do we hold in our heart yet still strive to see oursevles as pure.

Is their bitterness, malice, gossip, resentment in the heart, why would we think that we can stand before an almighty God and see him.

We need to bring those things in our lives that defile us, the draw us into sin and bring to God for forgiveness. It is then and only then that we can be called pure.

As I said a few weeks ago, there is no halway with God.

You can’t have your foot in one part of the kingdom and the othe in God’s Kingdom.

As I said before there is not dual citizenship in God’s Kingdom.

We must ask ourselves tough questions. How is our heart.

If eternity was through that door, have we done everything possible to bring those things in our lives that need to be removed to God.

Yes, God do the cleasing, but if we desire to walk through that door and see God, are we holding onto things that will only destroy that time with god

Matthew 5:8 ESV

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

Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 ESV

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

Now in terms of peacemakers, if you hold to the fact that these descriptions are for all believers, not just a select few.

That is all those who consider themselves a part of God’s kingdom. They will be and should be described as peacemakers both in the church and in the world.

You know, I have been in other churches and have pastor friends in other churches that have people who openly stir up unrest in the congregation. It is that type of person who somehow believes that the absent of peace will strengthen the body. That is farthest from the expectation of members of the Kingdom of God.

We should do everything we can to have peace among one another.

But you say, Pastor, Really!

To I have to have peace with my neighbour who continually shovels the snow from his sidewalk onto my driveway?

That neighbor also parks his car in my spot in front of my house.

Blessed are the peacemakers

What about that co-worker who consistently comes to my desk and grabs my stapler and never returns it.

What about the fellow church member who intentionally sits in my favourite spot in church, just to get me excited.

What about??????

you get it, blessed are the peacemakers

It is clear beyond question throughout the teaching of Jesus and his apostles, however, that we should never ourselves seek conflict or be responsible for it. On the contrary, we are called to peace, we are actively to ‘pursue’ peace, we are to ‘strive for peace with all men’, and so far as it depends on us, we are to ‘live peaceably with all’.

Like mercy we can only be peacemakers when we ourselves understand the cost of peace. The greek word used here for peace is the same word used in reconciliation with God.

Christ’s work on the cross has reconciled us or made peace with us and with God. We stand right with God in our relationship through Christ. To become transformed into the image of Christ is the embodiment of a peacemaker. That is the reason the phrase sons of God. We will be reflecting God’s grace of reconciliation with one another.

Persecution

Matthew 5:10–12 ESV

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

One wold think that if you are truly seeking to be at peace with one another, there would be no persecution.

Not true, said Jesus, in fact, if you are seeking after righteousness, a hunger and thirst for righteousness, there will be those who are violently apposed to that righteousness.

the truth hurts, and those who refuse to hear or even see the truth will respond.

Take notice, Jesus said, “for my sake” not your sake.

We have to make sure we are standing up for God and not ourselves.

The news that is discouraging here on earth is that persecution may and will continue and we have to wait until heaven to be relieved and rewarded.

Doing right, may come at a cost, but the reward is great.

Let me read you this,

Jesus Himself clearly communicated not only the inevitability of such treatment, but spoke of the blessing that would follow saying, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:1-12).

Jesus Himself clearly communicated not only the inevitability of such treatment, but spoke of the blessing that would follow saying, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:1-12).

A Disciple is one who is seeking God, while being transformed into the image of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit in the context of community

As the worship team comes forward to lead us in our song of response may we respond.

If you are disciple of Christ, seeking to know God…The first four beatitudes. While being transformed into the image of Christ, living these last four, empowered by the Holy Spirit. We can’t do these without the power of God’s Spirit.

in the context of community. Both in the church and in the world.

We seek God’s kingdom to come, but strive to be living disciples in this world in which we live to bring Glory and honor to God. Amen