Crazy Happy Satisfaction

Last Sunday we took a closer look into the Beatitudes. We expounded on the first four which are: Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

I want us to continue looking at the next four beatitudes. So, if you have your bible and you would like to follow along that way, go to Matthew chapter 5. I will begin reading at verse 7.

Matthew 5:7–12 NIV

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1. Blessed are the Merciful

When I was a kid we played this game called mercy. You and another kid would lock fingers and then you would try to bend their fingers backwards and you wouldn’t let up until the other kid cried “mercy!”

Many times when you read about mercy or you hear the word mercy in Christian circles you also hear the word grace with it. We sing songs about God’s grace and mercy. However, there is a difference between grace and mercy.

Mercy is compassion for people in need. The Greek word for mercy is eleos. It always deals with what we see of pain, misery and distress, from results of sin. The Greek word for grace is charis. It always deals with the sin and guilt itself. Mercy extends relief, Grace pardon; mercy cures, heals, helps; grace cleanses and reinstates.

Jesus does not specify the categories of people he has in mind to whom his disciples are to show mercy. There was no need for Jesus to elaborate. Our God is a merciful God and shows mercy continuously; the citizens of his kingdom must show mercy too.

The world does not like to show mercy. It is more in favor of revenge. It sees forgiveness as tame and less satisfying. But those who show mercy find it. Our text tells us, “blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

This is not because we can earn mercy by mercy or forgiveness by forgiveness but because we cannot receive the mercy and forgiveness of God unless we repent, and we cannot claim to have repented of our sins if we are unmerciful towards the sins of others.

Remember last Sunday when we talked about meekness. When we are meek we are acknowledging to others that we are sinners. So, to be merciful is to have compassion on others for they are sinners too. They both go hand in hand.

2. Blessed are the Pure in Heart

When we think about the heart we think about the muscle that pumps the blood throughout our body. When the heart stops we die. But the heart Jesus refers to here is much deeper than that. And not only does he say heart but he says pure in heart. There is a difference.

The “pure in heart” are those who have devoted themselves to God and have been freed from sin’s power by God’s grace. What is grace? It is God’s undeserved favor. That grace now enables us to please God and bring honor to him by the way we live.

By being pure in heart, we have the same attitude that God has—a love for what is true and right and a hatred of evil.

Hebrews 1:9 NIV

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

When we are pure in heart, our heart and not just our heart but all of us. Our mind, will and emotions are in tune with God’s heart. This means that our thoughts and desires are pure according to his standards of holiness.

God says,

Leviticus 11:45 NIV

45 I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

It says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Only those who are pure in heart will see God. To see God means to be his child and experience a close personal relationship with him, both now and in eternity.

3. Blessed are the Peacemakers

Listen carefully to this statement that I am about to make.

“Every Christian is meant to be a peacemaker both in the community and in the church.”

God calls his children to be peacemakers. And this is not just passive compliance, but it involves action. Peacemakers actively work for peace. They pursue reconciliation. They want to end bitterness and strife.

Too many times, especially on Social Media, I see too many christians looking for a fight. As believers we should not get in arguments with unbelievers. If you can’t have a peaceable conversation with something who has a different opinion than you, just don’t have a conversation on that topic. Wait until God opens an opportunity for you to have a peaceable conversation with them.

If you are praying for that person, God will give you a moment to share, don’t force it.

James 3:18 NLT

18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

We are not about being right, we are about expanding God’s kingdom and you trying to tell someone that is not receptive how you are right is not doing you or them any good. If our evangelism efforts are barbaric then they just cheapen the gospel and damage the cause of Christ. Then what good have you done.

Jesus said “blessed are the peacemakers...” not, blessed are those who are right all the time.

Look at how that verse is ended, “…for they will be called children of God.”

Children of God is someone that reflects their Father’s character. Peacemakers reflect God’s heart, his character.

During Christ’s time there were two groups of people that Jesus wanted to bring together: the Jews and the Gentiles. Christ’s purpose was to create in himself one new man in place of the two, basically making peace.

Colossians 1:20 NIV

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

That is why Jesus says peacemakers will be children of God. God is about bringing peace. When we are peacemakers we are doing what the Father has done. It is the devil who is the troublemaker. God loves reconciliation and it is through his children that he wants to make peace.

4. Blessed are Those Who are Persecuted Because of Righteousness

I think it is quite interesting that Jesus goes from talking about peacemaking in one verse and persecution in the next verse. He goes from the work of reconciliation to the experience of hostility.

And in case you are wondering, it is possible that we may try to make peace with some people and they refuse to live at peace with us. Some people even take the initiative to oppose us and even some slander us. This is not just because of our differences but for righteousness sake. They have rejected the Christ we seek to follow. Persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.

How did Jesus expect his disciples to react under persecution? Look at verse 12.

Matthew 5:12 NIV

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We are not to retaliate like an unbeliever, nor are we to sulk like a little child. He did not tell us to lick our wounds in self-pity like a dog or just grin and bear it. We are to rejoice and be glad. Luke uses the phrase leap for joy.

And why? Because great is your reward in heaven...

We may lose everything on earth, but we shall inherit everything in heaven.

As we have looked at each one of the beatitudes we understand that this is what every Christian disciple is intended to be. We can conclude that being despised and rejected, slandered and persecuted, is as much a normal mark of Christian discipleship as being pure in heart or merciful. Every Christian is to be a peacemaker, and every Christian is to expect opposition. Those who hunger for righteousness will suffer for the righteousness they crave. Jesus said so both here and elsewhere. So did Peter and Paul.

We should not be surprised if anti-Christian hostility increases, but rather be surprised if it does not.

Conclusion

Jesus paints a very vivid picture of true discipleship. Can we walk through it again? The true disciple of Jesus is seen first alone on his knees before God. He is acknowledging his spiritual poverty and mourning over it. Being on his knees crying out to God makes him meek and gentle in all relationships. He is hungering and thirsting for all righteousness. He is wanting to grow in grace and in goodness.

Then, we see him next with others in the community. His relationship with God does not cause him to withdraw from society, nor is he insulated from the world’s pain. He show’s mercy to those that are battered by adversity and sin. The true disciple of Jesus is transparent in all his dealings and seeks to play a constructive role as a peacemaker. And in the midst of this role he is not thanked for his efforts, but rather opposed, slandered, insulted and persecuted on account of the righteousness for which he stands and the Christ with whom he is identified.

This is the Crazy Happy Life. But this isn’t what the world sees. The values and standards of Jesus are in direct conflict with the commonly accepted values and standards of the world.

Think about it this way.

The world says the rich are to be blessed, not the poor, whether in the material or in the spiritual sphere.

The world says the happy-go-lucky and carefree are to be blessed, not those who take evil so seriously that they mourn over it.

The world says the strong and brash are blessed, not the meek and gentle.

The world says the full is blessed not the hungry.

The world says those who mind their own business is blessed, not those who meddle in other men’s matters and occupy their time in do-goodery like ‘showing mercy’ and making peace.

The world says those who attain their ends even if necessary by devious means are blessed, not the pure in heart who refuse to compromise their integrity.

The world says those who are secure and popular, and live at ease are the ones who are blessed, not those who have to suffer persecution.

That is what makes this life in Christ a Crazy Happy Life, because it is complete opposite of what the world thinks. Jesus will not compromise his standards for anyone.

Next week, we are going to find out what is the result of living this crazy happy life. You don’t want to miss next week.