Living in the Kingdom (part 4)
Living in the Kingdom
(Constitution of the Kingdom)
Matt 5
The Beatitudes (The Attitudes that must Be!)
“People are just about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” --Abraham Lincoln
Part 4
Intro: As Jesus rubbed shoulders with people, He met those who were discouraged and had been beaten up by life and by others. He came across those who were so poor in spirit that they had trouble looking Him in the eye. He encountered people whose spirits were so weighed down with grief that He wondered how they could cope. He saw men and women who possessed a great inner strength, but allowed the other person to have their own way, rather than shoulder their way in to get what they supposedly had coming to them. They were meek – willing to keep their God-given strength in check, using it to help, not harm others.
Matthew 5:4 (NKJV)
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
1. We will find comfort from sorrow due to grief in life:
- A citizen of God’s Kingdom knows sorrow in this life.
1. Using the strongest word for “mourn” in the Greek language (Barclay, DSB, v.1:93), Jesus pointed to a hard to accept truth—Life is not exempt from pain. - 2. The sorrow & pain that comes into our lives may come from several source: life itself, loved ones, our own guilt before the Lord.
James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
It does not seem logical to say that those who mourn are blessed and happy.
The entire situation of the world is negative in relation to God’s plan & purposes. Satan, sin, self, darkness, and worldliness predominate among all people on earth. God’s glory is insulted, Christ is rejected, the Holy Spirit is frustrated, the church is desolated, self is corrupted, and the whole world is evil. Hence, God wants us to mourn over such a situation.
Psalm 73:8-11 (NKJV)
8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. 11 And they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
Psalm 73:25-28 (NKJV)
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.
2. We mourn over the condition of the world:
Though we like creation morn because of the condition of the world the pain the suffering and distress we can be comforted because we know that the King is coming, the enemy will be defeated, and the earth will be regained by Christ.
Romans 8:19-23 (NKJV)
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
The joyful news, God stands ready to comfort our hearts as we turn to him: he helps us to bear the burdens this world brings, and he stands ready to forgive the repentant heart—and once we have been comforted, we can in turn reach out in love and compassion and help someone else find the comfort of God (2 Cor. 1:4)
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
- We mourn over the condition of our own lives/sins.
Israel spent years not honoring God and worshipping false gods, and breaking all of God’s commandments. Many times God allow their enemies to defeat and destroy them. Then He allowed them to be taken in to bondage in Babylon to be slaves.
-Israel did not at first grieve over their sins. True repentance did not characterize Israel as a nation. After losing their freedom and identity as God’s special people who were blessed by Him, they began to grieve. They mourned for the good old days when the nations feared Israel and their God. They longed to be able to worship their God again in His holy temple. They humbled themselves and came to a place where they repented for the evil things they and their fathers had done.
It was in response to the mourning over their sins & failures that God spoke comfort through His prophet. “Comfort my people, says your God.” There is something about being truly sorry for our sins & failures that invites the blessing & favor of God.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The wages of sin is death, and death always produces separation, which produces grief (something lost)
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
“Blessed are those who mourn with godly sorrow that produces repentance, for they will be comforted with forgiveness and live with no regrets.”—Mark Opperman
-That is what it takes to enter into the kingdom of heaven. That is what it takes to enter into a relationship of love with God. This is more than just regretting the past. It is bringing our past, present, and future before God and saying, “I’ve messed up big time! I am deeply sorry. Please forgive me and start leading my life. I can’t do this thing without You!”
-Just as the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit, so the comfort that comes from God belongs to those who mourn their own sinfulness and invite God to help them.
God will bring joy and comfort, from mourning of loss, mourning of our own sins/failures and mourning of the condition of others.
Psalm 30:4-5, 11-12 4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Matt 5
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. [1]
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[1]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Mt 5:3-12). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.