The Beatitudes - Qualities of the Citizens of God's Kingdom Pt 3
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Today we’re going to finish our look at the Beatitudes
This is Jesus teaching his disciples about God’s expectations for citizen’s of His Kingdom
These are principles to aspire to spire to keep them perfectly & not rules to condemn us when we fail
So today we live in God’s grace, with God’s Spirit helping us to live the best life we can (slide)
So the 1st 3 beatitudes
Citizens of God’s Kingdom are patiently humble
Citizens of God’s Kingdom grieve over sin & evil
Citizens of God’s Kingdom totally depend on God (Slide)
2nd 3 beatitudes were
Citizens of God’s Kingdom are obedient & trustworthy
Citizens of God’s Kingdom merciful
Citizens of God’s Kingdom completely devoted to God
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(Slide) So let’s move on to Beatitude number 4
Ok so Matt 5:9 traditionally reads “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Now the different translation doesn’t really differ from that...
The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God.
So what is a peacemaker?
As we continue thinking about what it means to live as future citizens of God’s Kingdom today… (Slide)
I decided to word this beatitude simply
Citizens of God’s Kingdom bring peace
Citizens of God’s Kingdom bring peace
I think this beatitude is a fairly easy concept to understand - talking about someone who makes peace...
Or more accurately someone who seeks peace, lives in peace with others & brings peace to others
So this is talking about how we, as citizens of God’ Kingdom, relate to all other people
If we identify ourselves as followers of Jesus we should be seeking, nurturing, fostering peace
The Hebrew word often translated peace is shalom - which means complete wholeness, wellness, and harmony
So God wants us to seek, nurture, & foster wholeness, wellness, and harmony amongst the people in our community
This Jesus teaching was the complete opposite to other Jewish people’s views at that time in 1st C
Many wanted a political revolution where the people would rise up against the Romans...
And fight the occupying armies to throw them out of their land & win their freedom
The Jewish people ignored Jesus and eventually did just that - which ended in violence, defeat, & death
Today we seem many people having the same attitude as the Jewish people did
The sing to anger & violence to solve disputes and problems
This is especially true in times of strife & hardship like now wth the Covid-19 virus [Watch Video]
Bible Scholar RT France says that to be a peacemaker means to have an “absence of selfish ambition”
That attitude is desperately needed in our community, especially at times like this
Throughout scripture God has commanded his people to act in a completely different way - to seek peace (Slide)
Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.
If we are truly follows of Jesus then we should be copying his example
Jesus came to earth specifically to bring God’s peace to us by reconciling us to God (Slide)
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Jesus has made it possible for us to receive God’s peace - to receive God’s shalom - His wholeness, wellness, harmony
So as peacemakers we have the honour of receiving a new identity...
As Matt 5:9 says we’re now God’s Children - son’s & daughters of the Most High God
And ambassadors of Christ called to bring peace, harmony to others (Slide)
The Apostle Paul adds a helpful footnote to this beatitude
If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
We might not see peace received by those people we bring & offer it too...
But we must ensure that as Christ’s ambassadors & God’s Children, we are doing our part regardless of what others do with it
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That brings us really to the last beatitude - which is often spilt into to parts
Let’s look at vs 10 which normal is translated
“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...
Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me.
I think this is actually a helpful translation
Keep in mind we’re defining what it means to live as future citizens of God’s Kingdom today… (Slide)
I’ve decided to word beatitude #8 as...
Citizens of God’s Kingdom seek to live righteously
Citizens of God’s Kingdom seek to live righteously
So its important we put aside the persecution aspect & first focus on why Jesus said his followers would be persecuted
Jesus said it’s because of Him & righteousness that his followers are persecuted
Righteousness is one of these words we use often in services - but what does it mean?
It means having the quality or characteristic of noble, honest, trustworthy, ethical, principled, pure behaviour
So Jesus is saying He expects His followers to be consistently noble, honest, trustworthy, ethical, principled, pure in character
This one beatitude sums up all the other beatitudes into one thought...
That Citizens of God’s Kingdom should seek to live righteously
Now Jesus isn’t saying we just to show ourselves outwardly to look good or to look godly, holy
This isn’t talking about wearing our good clothes and happy face on Sundays
Living righteously means every part of our lives is focused & dedicated on God & God’s Will revealed through scripture
Its a life that will be lived at times in contrast or in conflict with the society around it
seeking peace & justice for all people; grieving over the world’s evil; demonstrating mercy & empathy towards others
Being dependant on God’s provision; being obedient & devoted to God -
All these characteristics or traits aren’t lifted up in our society today as being things to encourage each others to pursue (slide)
Brian & Hannah Tamaki are quite polarising - people either love them or hate them
In reality they do a lot of good for many people - but its over shadowed by.... misguided & selfish ambition
Recently it was report Brian Tamaki preached born-again Christians could have special protection from Covid-19 virus
He acknowledged modern medicine could help tackle pandemics but also referred to what he called the "PS-91 protection policy",
He quoted Psalm 91:3. "For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
& said born again Christians are only ones that can walk through atmosphere & be protected from the virus through Ps 91
A lot of people have been posting on line angry at what Tamaki said
On the other side of the coin - Kanoa Lloyd from TV3 The Project, live on TV & spoke out against Hannah Tamaki
She said Hannah Tamaki a "strange choice" to appear on the Dancing with the Stars TV program because of her "dangerous ideals"
she said "I love Dancing with the Stars, & I don't really think I want to see a homophobic paso doble or a xenophobic cha-cha,"
Consequently the producers of the show came out the next day said Hannah Tamaki wouldn’t appear on the show...
& said “we now recognise this was a mistake and we apologise.”
But there were again people who complained online about Kanoa Lloyd publicly voicing her opinion agains Hannah Tamaki
Now these are just 2 opinions from 2 people from opposite sides of the fence
Both think their position & opinion are right, true, correct… that they are being righteous
Both people received abuse - can we say persecution even?
But I wonder… is the expression of their opinions & their actions really about being righteous?
Were they seeking peace & justice for all people; grieving over the world’s evil; demonstrating mercy & empathy towards others
Being dependant on God’s provision; being obedient & devoted to God?
Living righteously doesn’t mean retaliating when someone attacks us or proving we’re right over someone else
In fact its the complete oppositie way of loving compare to how this world operates...
Where people are self-centred, self-demanding, proud, seeking personal security & survival above the good of others
So it should come as no surprise that if we live as Jesus calls us to that we will come up against opposition
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This is where the second half of this beatitude kicks in
Let’s just read again what the alternative translation says;
Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
So our last definition for understanding what it means to live as future citizens of God’s Kingdom today… (Slide)
I’ve decided to word this beatitude #9 as...
Citizens of God’s Kingdom rejoice in persecution
Citizens of God’s Kingdom rejoice in persecution
This sounds like a contradiction right?
Now remember Jesus is referring to persecution, abuse, opposition that occurs because we’re living a righteous life
But if we are obnoxious, argumentative, divisive, judgmental, aggressive - then chances are we’ll also face persecution
However that’s our own fault and we won’t experience God’s blessing promised in these verses!
However if we stand in allegiance to Jesus & live in a way that conforms to Jesus life & teaching & in return we suffer persecution...
Then God will bless us by allowing us to bear the honour & name of Jesus
Now we shouldn’t be surprised if we do face persecution from people because of our life & allegiance aligning with Jesus (Slide)
Firstly Jesus himself suffered verbal & physical abuse from his own people, & then was murdered by them!
Then they spit in His face and beat Him; others slapped Him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit You?”
And scripture is very clear that God’s people can expect persecution from others (Slide)
Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My instruction: do not fear disgrace by men, and do not be shattered by their taunts.
Of course when you’re going through some opposition or persecution its easy to think you’re the only one going through it!
But Jesus reminds us that we are never alone in our persecution from others
In fact we are in good company - from history we have God’s faithful servants including the prophets
Who suffered horrendously at the hands of their own leaders & people
Of course Jesus did, so did the Apostles & the early church
And in fact throughout the history God’s faithful servants have suffered persecution for choosing to live righteously (Slide)
Sadly this continues through to today - this video is from The Guardian Newspaper
It shows us what the Christian church is going through there as [play video]
The Chinese government is closing & in this case pulling down churches
These are Christians who refuse to preach the Communist Government version of the Bible but stand by the true gospel
Many ministers & Christians are being imprisoned - and some die in prison
So how on earth can we feel happy or joyful while facing this level of verbal or physical abuse?
When Jesus talks about rejoicing He’s not referring to our feelings / how we are feeling
Instead rejoicing in the midst of persecution refers to what our attitude is to be when we’re faced with it (Slide)
Peter who suffered a lot of persecution & was eventually crucified upside down by the Romans said this
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”
& Goes on to say (Slide)
Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.
In other words our focus is to remain not on what’s going on now but on what will happen in the future
We’re to maintain an attitude of joy & hope - knowing that whatever happens, this life is just a speck...
Compared to the wonderfully eternity God has planned for us in the future
Jesus has promised he will return & bring justice, peace, healing, wholeness for all who trust in Him & not themsleves
So Jesus is asking you & me to keep a heavenly perspective while living a life that aligns & mirrors his life & teaching now
& never forgetting his promises of hope - in the resurrection & renewal of all creation & the destruction of sin, evil, death (Slide)
So at the end of the beatitudes we’re left with 1 big long question that summarises all the beatitudes together
Am I living righteously by seeking peace & justice;
grieving over evil & sin;
showing mercy & empathy;
depending on God’s provision;
being obedient & devoted to God;
keeping focused on heaven?
It’s a the ultimate question that Jesus leaves us with today
Let’s just spend a moment in silent reflection on how we are doing in living righteously today
Let’s Pray
Merciful God,
We respond to your word with heavy hearts, knowing we can’t live up to this in our own strength
But we ask that you Spirit continue his work in us
To transform our minds & heart to become more like Jesus
That we may be ambassadors of Christ to this world
Help us to remain focused on the promise of resurrection & secure eternity
So that no opposition will distracts us from living the life you’ve called us to
And help us never forget that we’re surround by those who have gone before us
Who have also suffered for living as citizen’s of Your Kingdom
In Christ’s name we pray, Amen