Untitled Sermon (6)

BE-ATTITUDE

INTRODUCTION:

Matthew 5:8 ASV 1901

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

THE BEATITUDES ARE VERY OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. THESE BEATITUDES INITIATE ONE OF THE MAIN THEMES OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL THAT THE KINGDOM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IS NOT OF THIS WORLD, BUT OF THE NEXT.

THIS MORNING’S MESSAGE IS CENTERED ON THE PURE IN HEART-I PARTICULARLY LIKE THE KJV WHERE IT SAYS FOR THEY SHALL---SEE—GOD.

There is such beauty and comfort when you read of these lessons of life that all those who are Paul referred to as the Called in Romans 8:28 can relate to.

THESE BEATITUDES ARE MORE LIKE the Big Brother’s ADVICE TO HIS 12 BEST FRIENDS.

They are water to the thirsty and life to the dying…they offer spiritual nuggets to— those who hunger for the truth of what their walk will be like —as you turn it over to Jesus. The Jesus who by the way---JUST LOVED SO MUCH THAT HE WENT TO THE CROSS ---to prove it.

THIS HISTORICAL JESUS challenged the powers that be…as we see in the tone of the Beatitudes. This manuscript dates back to approx 30 AD. IT WAS A RUTHLESS TIME --WHEN THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT OCCUPIED PALESTINE and the religious leaders then---THE PHARISEES, THE SADUCEE’S, ESSENES AND THE ZEALOTS. all demanded some form of heresy—based on their own religous dogma…We saw how they were to observe THE LAW OF MOSES—but twisted it to meet their own interpretations.

ALL THE BEATITUDES HAVE AN END TIME or-ESCHATOLOGICAL MEANING— which just means--the PROMISE OF SALVATION.

WHILE WE AGREE THAT THE BEATITUDES OF JESUS PROVIDES A WAY OF LIFE THAT PROMISES SALVATION, WHAT WOULD THEY BE WITHOUT ALSO BRINGING PEACE IN THE MIDST OF OUR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS —and not just in heaven —but right here on earth.

THE OPPOSITE OF BEATITUDE IS MISERY-a kind of ---MISERY OF BEING AFFLICTED -

THESE PASSAGES STRESS —deeply—THAT RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES --ON THE OUTSIDE DID NOT AT ALL MEAN THAT A PERSON IS RIGHTEOUS On the inside.

IN FACT: JESUS PROTESTED --IT IS NOT WHAT GOES IN TO THE MOUTH THAT DEFILES A PERSON—BUT IT IS WHAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH-THAT DEFILES”-JESUS WAS DOWN RIGHT ANNOYED WHEN THOSE RELIGIOUS LEADERS CONDEMNED THE DISCIPLES FOR NOT WASHING THEIR HANDS.

FALSE PIETY AND SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.—WAS THE KEY TO THIS PASSAGE. JESUS POINTED OUT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO USED GOD’S WORD LIKE A WHEEL BARROW..PUSHING IT WHEREVER THEY WANTED TO GO--- USING—it against those they felt were beneath them..JESUS HAD A WORD FOR THEM...-HYPOCRITS.

My friends -ITS NO SECRET THAT THE WORLD--is upside down an downside up-- BUT GOD ---HAS NOT BEEN ASLEEP OR TAKING A NAP...DON’T GIVE IN YET—FOR THE SONG WRITE REMINDS US---BLESSED ASSURANCE…WE HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF A GOD WHO NEVER LEFT HIS THRONE…BUT REMAINS HIGH AND LIFTED UP…HIS ROBE IS SO LONG THAT ISAIAH GASPED WHEN HE GOT JUST A GLIMPSE OF IT TOUCHING THE CLOUDS…BE NOT DISMAYED WHAT ERR BE TIDE…GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

FOR WE HAVE HOPE…AND TROUBLE I HAVE BEEN TOLD DON’T LAST ALL WAYS...- OUR JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING.

WE CAN THANK MARCY FOR WATCHING OUR FRONT DOOR AND PRAYERFULLY KEEPING THE CHURCH PRAYED UP.

Amen

Thanks be to God…my friends FOR WATCHING OVER US AS we stayed THE COURSE... prayer is powerful ..Keep them coming...DON’T-- become lazy or content.

People still are having hard times…unemployment has cut back and although companies are advertising they need people…whatever is going on is ROUGH OUT THERE.

Although the children went back to school… nothing is etched in stone. Pray, pray for BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART...the administration—THE TEACHERS, THE BUILDINGS, I WANT TO SEE THE BEST —PRAY…THAT THE RIGHT DECISIONS WILL BE MADE ALL AROUND...for the safety of not just the children but themselves…

we don’t have to talk about Palestine…or Florida. Yet---We are called—the people of God... Romans 8:28 -called according to His purpose..servants of the Most High God…yet---cautioned to remember--the needs of others in our prayers and resources...

CONTENTMENT -can be catchy---for it is the byproduct of laziness…and laziness—is not acceptable…not for Christians —just as these Beatitudes state…there is a CALL and no one gets a “Go Pass Go pass” easy.

THE NATION NEEDS OUR PRAYERS -OUR OFFICIALS NEED OUR PRAYERS…THOSE LIVING UNDER tyranny and oppression need our help.

GOD WANTS TO CHANGE HEARTS..this

morning’s title—Be-Attitude—is an active word…a right now word for action.

And -I just believe—we’ve been called for “such a time as this” Here we are in what is called a “variant” I don’t know what that really means—yet we have been a date and a time to prepare for it: ????The Devil is a Liar…This is our Father’s world…and I believe...His patience is running thin. He says in the Bible-Do not mock me—or put me to the test....THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE…AND WE CAN REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT…CHURCH THIS IS OUR FATHER’S WORLD…HERE WE ARE AGAIN ON A SUNDAY—I CALL IT A HOLY DAY…A DAY WHEN MIRACLES HAPPEN…A PLACE WHERE SOULS GET SAVED AND SICKNESS IS RUN OUT OF ITS DOORS…SO IN THE NAME OF JESUS…LET SATAN KNOW HE HAS TO FLEE…AND BE ASSURED THAT THE LORD, THY GOD, HAS A PLAN FOR US…AND HE WILL BRING IT TO FRUITION…FOR HIS WORD IS GOOD FOR ALL TIMES.

We are LIVING....in an immoral world IT NEEDS A MAKEOVER-- A change of heart…FROM GOD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LOVE...

AN NOT OUTRUN—GOD…FOR IN THE END HE WILL SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT!

LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS SHORT STORY:

AN AFRICAN MAN BORN INTO A strict and treacherous-MUSLIM FAMILY-was SENT OFF by his father TO A MUSLIM SCHOOL WHERE HE WAS TAUGHT HOW TO BE A GOOD MUSLIM. HE HAD TO LEARN THE KORAN BY HEART…and the evil that it taught.

HIS teacher would ask he and the other children...TO RECITE PASSAGES of the Koran. If he missed one..HE GOT HIT ACROSS THE KNUCKLES…now THERE WAS A CHRISTIAN BOY WHO LIVED IN HIS -NEIGHBORHOOD --WHEN HE AND HIS YOUNG FRIENDS SAW this boy alone ON THE STREET—they would hide where he couldn’t see them and then they ambushed him from behind. AND HID WHERE HE COULDN’T SEEM THEM. THEY AMBUSHED THE BOY-HIS NAME WAS ZACARIAH. THEY BEAT THIS BOY UNMERCIFULLY-BROKE HIS ARMS, HIS LEGS AND LEFT HIM UNCONSCIOUS.

NOW THE BULLY IS OLDER -HE HAD A NEPHEW WHO WAS DEATHLY ILL…THE CHILD WAS SO SICK THE DOCTORS PRONOUNCED THAT HE WOULD SOON DIE. THEIR WERE COPTIC CHRISTIANS LIVING NEAR BY AND HEARD ABOUT THE CHILD. THEY WENT TO THIS MAN’S HOUSE AND ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO PRAY FOR THE CHILD. THINKING NOTHING OF IT…HE SAID OK. AS THE MAN REACHED OUT FOR THE CHILD’S HANDS HE SAW A CROSS ON ONE OF THE MEN’S WRISTS…HE STOPPED THEM--CALLED THEM NAMES…UT THE CHRISTIAN -APPEALED TO HIM…HE THEN LET THEM PRAY FOR THE DYING CHILD. AS THE MAN PRAYED…THE CHILD’S SLOWED DOWN TO NORMAL HIS HIGH FEVER BEGAN TO DROP…AND HE OPENED HIS EYES. THEN HE MIRACULOUSLY BEGAN TO MOVE AND GOT UP…THE CHILD NCAPABLE OF MOVING…NOW HE WALKED. THE MUSLIM MAN BEGAN TO CRY-THE COPTIC CHRISTIAN EMBRACED HIM AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD ALLOW HIM TO PRAY —THE MAN GAVE HIS LIFE TO CHRIST…HE RAN TO TELL HIS FAMILY....HIS FATHER WHEN HE HEARD—BECAME VERY ANGRY AND SWORE HE WOULD CUT HIM FROM THE FAMILY. THE MAN WANTED TO SHARE HIS GOOD NEWS AND THE MIRACLE OF THE NEPHEW REGAINING HIS HEALTH…THE FATHER DID SOMETHING SO HORRIBLE…HE FOLLOWED THE ANCIENT RULES OF THE MUSLIMS WHEN ONE LEAVES THE RELIGION…THEY DUG A HOLE AND HAD A FUNERAL AND ACTED OUT HIS DEATH. HE BY THEIR CUSTOMS WAS A DISGRACE -- AND THE REST OF HIS FAMILY FOLLOWED THE FATHER.

YEARS LATER THE NEW CHRISTIAN MAN IS NOW A PASTOR -WHILE ATTENDING A MINISTRY CONFERENCE…A MAN WALKED UP TO HIM AND ASKED HIS NAME. HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF…I AM ZACKERIAH…THE BOY YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS BEAT UP AND LEFT FOR DEAD. IT WAS SUCH A TENSE MOMENT…TEARS BEGAN TO FLOW-HE LET THE MAN KNOW THAT ALL THESE YEARS -HE NEVER HATED HIM, HE PRAYED FOR HIM...THEY EMBRACED AND AS THEY CRIED. ZACKERIAH SAID HE PUT HIS NAME IN HIS BIBLE AND GOD BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER. THE GRAVE YOUR FAMILY DUG ZARIAH SAID IS EMPTY—AND SO IS THE ONE THEY DUG FOR JESUS…HE ACCOUNTED THIS EXPERIENCE AS A MIRACLE…THE MIRACLE OF A HEART BEING CHANGED AND A LIFE NOT LOST BUT FOUND.

THIS LIFE LESSON ---IS THE WORK OF JESUS’—AND THE PERILS OF A BAD AT-TITUDE...—ATTITUDES- CAN BE RELEARNED AND PEOPLE CAN COME OUT OF DARKNESS INTO JESUS’ MARVELOUS LIGHT.

BEING CONTENT WITH OUTWARD OBSERVANCE WHILE THE HEART IS FULL OF SELFISHNESS AND WORSE ---SIN IS NOT ONLY UNGODLY BUT IT IS NOT HOW JESUS TAUGHT THOSE THAT CALL THEMSELVES FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.

THE TEXT SPEAKS OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO FELT THAT THEY HAD THE AUTHORITY —THEY ACTUALLY WERE DECLARING THAT THEY WERE (god’s) little g. They were declaring-that they were special -and looked upon non-Jews as “unclean” !!!

God wants to change hearts—he SENT HIS SON —they called Him JESUS-THE Lilly of the Valley-The HEART REGULATOR,

the man known as Zacheriah, forgave the Muslim/converted preacher. He let him know--I DID NOT HATE YOU

MY FRIENDS—THE WORD “B” IS an ACTIVE---word that takes on a posture--OF its own—you can “B” all things through Christ who strengthens you-w are reminded... LIVING OUT LIFE AS A VESSEL OF EITHER GOD OR THE DEVIL…WHAT A CHOICE.

BECAUSE GOD IS ACTIVE AND ALIVE, YOU CAN SPEAK TO HIM..FOR I KNOW AS IN THE CASE WITH THE MUSLIM AND THE CHRISTIAN-GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS. Phil 4:13,

Be Attitude---Our attitude may just get in the way of good work or even excellent work —to get done-

Be Attitude—is a selective work, for the kingdom to come…In Jesus’ Name...

WE ARE HIS HANDIWORK…A PRODUCT OF His LOVE..

And be not dismayed...the DEVIL’S TIME IS RUNNING OUT-

LOVE…A LOVE OF CHRIST JESUS—Is THE BEST CURE AND REMEDY FOR ALL Times-

IF YOU HAVE NOT COMMITTED YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST—do it right now-today- invite Him in and let him be your legal defense—now so many people —are long standing Christians, but they never-gave their life to Christ…they truly don’t know that —attending church, or being on a committee, doesn’t make you save, anymore than working in the kitchen of a restaurance makes you the COOK! let the Lord -Jesus Christ -- know all about your troubles…and in His matchless Name —Be made whole!

Glory to God in the highest.... AMEN