The King's Principles #3

English Standard Version Chapter 5

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.

Be completely sincere

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

Jesus came to usher/ guide in the Father’s Kingdom, an upside-inside out kingdom.

He is describing the heart of the kingdom. In fact, Jesus was introducing a ‘right side up’ kingdom and not an upside-down kingdom.

The religious leaders turned it upside down with their twisted, loveless interpretation of Scripture.

You cannot understand God’s commands without a relationship of love with Him.

What is the heart?

It is the seat of all our emotions, desires, affections. God always looks at the heart and not our behavior alone.

Who can have a pure heart?

The starting point is to recognize and acknowledge that our hearts are impure.

That is why we need a Saviour who alone can cleanse our hearts of a guilty conscience.

This is the message of the gospel. The blood of Jesus has justified us, but we are sanctified. That is a lifelong process.

What is a pure heart?

Another word for pure is sincere, without duplicity, to act with integrity.

It is not double-minded.

The pure heart upholds the truth no matter what the cost.

What corrupts a pure heart?

A heart gets cold when it is double-minded and unfocused.

A heart gets hard when it is clogged with pride, bitterness.

A double-minded heart.

How can I keep my heart pure?

By staying close to God’s Word.

Purity of heart requires us to be very strict with our conscience and not allow things to slide by justifying or rationalizing our faults.

Also, you need to hold up the mirror of God’s Word to your soul each day.

Doing this will prevent your conscience from being dulled, misinformed, or seared.

...for they shall see God.

What does it mean to “see God”?

It is a deeper revelation, insight, intimacy, relationship with God.

From this follows, we will know His ways, heart, thoughts, and will.

When we are single-minded about becoming Christlike, the reward is seeing God.

Why is seeing God so important?

Without Jesus, we have no life. He has the words of eternal life.

Today I am calling and encouraging us to live the Christian life as it should be: Where inside and out is the same, and it is the right side up!

For this, we will need to give up the need for self-preservation at all costs and embrace the pain of purification.

When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will cultivate a pure heart.

REFLECT AND ASK YOURSELF:

Have you caught yourself being double-minded? (uncertain, unsure, unreliable, insecure, hesitant, undecided, indecisive,)

What would you say is the reason for it?

How badly do I want the fruit of Godly living?

Strive to bring peace

V9 - Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 - “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”

Close your eyes and imagine the most peaceful place on earth.

slide crowded - crowded beach - lonely at the beach - mountains

Does it have a lot of people in it? No!

Why is that? Because people disrupt peace.

we need to learn how to get peace and make peace.

Peacekeeping involves cover-up and control, but peace-making exposes the truth.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Peace

שָׁלוֹם, shalom; εἰρήνη, eirēnē

The word for peace in Greek,

eirēnopoios, is from the root word eirēnē, meaning “peace.”

In Hebrew, Shalom means one, peace, quietness, rest.

Jesus says, not only is it blessed to have peace, but it is blessed to be a peacemaker.

How can you be a peacemaker?

a. Know Jesus - Peace is the person and the presence of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

He restored ultimate peace between man and God.

We cannot have the peace of God without peace with God.

b. Receive His peace - Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

John 14:27 NIV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

This is like Jesus leaving behind a massive mansion to enjoy, but we need the keys to get in.

So what are the keys to peace?

i. Set our mind - We need to set our minds on God’s thoughts and Jesus.

ii. Pray - When you feel troubled or anxious, do you gravitate towards praying or something else? When we pray, Jesus gives us peace.

iii. Practice what you have heard - Faith may come from hearing, but peace comes with practice.

c. Pursues His peace - We cannot be neutral about peace. We are to pursue it. Romans 12:18 says, “As far as it depends on you, live at peace with all.”

Romans 12:18 NIV

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

However, the pursuit of peace must not precede the pursuit of purity.

There is a reason for the sequence of these beatitudes. Any pursuit of peace over purity is unwise. We could fall into the trap of people-pleasing.

REFLECT AND ASK YOURSELF

When anxious thoughts and cares take over you, stop and listen for the voice of God by setting aside time for it.

Think about how you can practically incorporate this into your daily life.

Obey the things you understand. Do the things you already know to do.

The peace of God is hiding in our obedience.

Expect nothing in return except persecution

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness’ (v.10a).

Don’t expect anything from the world in return except criticism.

But God is with the persecuted church: ‘theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (v.10b).

‘You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution’

The first seven Beatitudes are about what is expected of a Christian living out the Kingdom culture.

The last one tells you what will happen when you want to be Christ-like!

Jesus is not careless with His words. He is very clear about who is blessed and why.

It is not persecution if we do something foolish, even if it is a Christian thing.

If you are living the beatitudes right, you will face persecution.

Why? Because light and darkness have nothing in common.

What is righteous living?

Remember, is it persecuted because of Christ.

There is a difference between being self-righteous and righteous for Christ’s sake.

Self-righteous is when we think we are right and feel we need to defend our convictions.

Righteousness, for Christ’s sake, may sometimes mean letting go of your ego.

That is why we need to always walk in step with the Holy Spirit and abide in His Word to understand the will of the Lord.

What does persecution look like on a day-to-day basis?

Not everyone will be called to be a martyr or go to jail, etc. Yet our convictions are challenged daily.

Doing what is asked without fudging anything.

Being asked to tell those white lies to cover up for missed deadlines.

When family taunts you for your faith or threatens to disown (deny/reject) you.

Why do you get persecuted?

Why would anyone have something against a meek person or against someone who shows mercy, or the pure in heart, or for that matter, a peacemaker?

Two responses to righteous living –

It can provoke someone to want to know the hope to which you are called.

It can provoke persecution because they cannot deal with their guilty conscience.

How should we respond to persecution?

We need to rejoice and be glad because we suffer the same fate as Jesus.

We must bless them, pray for them, do good to them.

Remind yourself these troubles are but for a while. (2 Cor 4:17)

2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV

17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

There is persecution at the individual level and then at the church.

Many churches and pastors are persecuted for their faith around the world.

The Christian calling is a great one.

It is the highest and the most challenging one you will ever have to live up to.

Kingdom culture is God’s will for the earth.

Over the last Sundays, we took you through what it is to be poor in spirit, mourn, be meek, hunger and thrust for righteousness, be merciful, pure in heart, and be a peacemaker.

How has this teaching challenged and changed you?

Ask God to show you how. He will strengthen you, guide you and lead you.

REFLECT AND ASK YOURSELF:

Have you ever been mocked for your faith?

Have you ever lost relationships because of misplaced zeal for the gospel?

Where you were not sensitive and your speech ungracious?

Can you make the distinction between self-righteous and righteousness for Christ’s sake?