1st Beatitude

           Well we were last reading about Jesus preparing for his ministry while he was in the desert and was tested by the Devil. So moving onto Matthew verse 17 of ch 4: Jesus repeats the words John used as his trademark: 

        "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!" (or as in The Message) "Change your life. God's kingdom is here!" 

    It is interesting to note that Matthew used the words kingdom of heaven rather than kingdom of God even though both are the same thing.  He did this out of respect to the Jews who do not pronounce God's name.  Something for us to remember when with people of other cultures or faiths perhaps.  Jesus then called his disciples.  They knew Jesus before and so when he came and told them to follow him they obeyed at once, knowing that their lives would be forever changed.  "Come follow me and ill make you fishers of men"  The response was simple and striking.  No complaints of how they needed to do this or that first.  No mumbles about how it might be hard, uncomfortable or dangerous.  No, they got up and followed Him. 

SERMON ON THE MOUNT 

    This is essentially the Christian Manifesto if there would be such a thing!  We've all heard about the Beatitudes plenty of times, but do we know them?  Can we repeat them all?  Do we obey them?  I know i fall on my face in this respect, so hopefully this bible study will encourage us to really learn these words of our Jesus, really apply them to our lives.  Let's memorize these words and learn what they mean and apply them daily.  

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (NIV) Matthew 5:3

"God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them." (The New Living Translation) 

    To be poor in spirit - People who are truly repentant, utterly convinced of sin; who see and feel the state they are in by nature, being aware of their sinfulness, guiltiness and helplessness.  For theirs is the kingdom of heaven - The present inward kingdom: righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, as well as the eternal kingdom, if they endure to the end.  The word "blessed" is first applied to God, and means more than "happy," as it has sometimes been translated.  Happiness comes from earthly things; blessedness comes from God.  It is not randomly received; a reason follows each beatitude.  The poor in spirit.  The humble, in contrast with the haughty; those aware of spiritual destitution.  The same state of mind is referred to when he speaks elsewhere of a contrite and broken spirit.  Is the kingdom of heaven.  Such shall become members of the kingdom that Christ will establish.  The Jews were rejected from this kingdom on account of their spiritual pride.  In other words: "You will be blessed by God when you humbly realise that you are spiritually dead without Him.  Turn to Him and you will enter into Heaven."  

    Lets remember this and live like it! With this comes assurance that God is watching over us and will be waiting for us when we pass out of this world which is like a mist compared to the reality of what will come!

Praise God!

 love Tim