Worship Call 0678 Blessed

moving into the beatitudes this morning I am considering the fact that People generally look at negative circumstances of any given person with pity and sorrow. There is a view that this person in his or her circumstances is one on the most miserable lots in the world. but what they cannot see and measure or many even understand is the happiness that does not depend upon one's circumstances. Maybe folks cannot understand this kind of happiness in Matthew 5 apart from experiencing it themselves. and that is with the right view of the Kingdom to come.

We begin with the Adjective describing the soul of the believer who holds a cognitive reality of the “already, but not yet,” circumstance of the Kingdom which is at hand.

μακάριος [makarios/mak·ar·ee·os/] adj.[1]

can be translated as Happy with the implication of enjoying favorable circumstances.

It is the state of the soul. It is the restored condition of the soul that has returned to the place where was always meant to be.

We can’t imagine what it was like in the garden. And the state of, let’s say euphoria, of living in perfect environment, in perfect harmony with our Creator our God.

But let’s try.

Would there be any sorrow? Any Guilt? Any bitterness, anger, hatred. And can these things accompany happiness in the life, at least the blessed happiness which comes with being in the company of our Lord and creator.

Can we imagine a perpetual happiness?

That is what Adam and Isha had. Those things that causes grief, pain and soul anguish was outside of the garden, was outside of the relationship with their creator. It was the moment that they stepped out of the boundaries of that environment beginning with their broken relationship with God which brought upon the heart those things that invade the soul and drives happiness right out.

For a time after the point where Adam took from that tree, man had no hope. They were not subject to the mental attitudes that comes with a broken relationship.

Fear

Bitterness

Anger

Grief

Sorrow

Arrogance

Hatred

Hopelessness

Envy

lust

And so much more would invade the hearts of a fallen creature robbing one of the former happiness that the pair used to enjoy while in the garden.

I think within the hearts of man we realize that there is something missing within themselves. Within the world. It is not the way it is supposed to be. I believe that even though we might be joyful and happy one day that the next day the hammer might fall, and it will be doom and gloom all over again. But somewhere in our grieving hearts there is the longing for the place that man had left where there was a perpetual happiness and man seeks to come back to.

Some on their own frantic search for happiness by their own definition. Such blessing is centered around achieving their own wants and desires. On their own terms. The fulfillment of their own “Ifonly’s” for happiness.

This kind of happiness is illusive. It becomes like a drug which creates a sense of happiness, but one finds that it fades and soon one has to go on the searching for something else.

They are looking to find happiness independently and on their own terms.

The one thing we find about the garden is that it was a shared Joy and happiness both between Man and His creator.

God gave man a great hidden blessing by not sheltering man from the pain and heartache that sin produces.

Man would receive the redemption message and it would be displayed in the horrific sacrifice that would take the life of an innocent animal to make clothes for the two. The message should have been clear. There is one coming that will stand in the place of the guilty a substitutionary atonement for sin.

The Lord Provided the means of salvation but he did not lift the consequences for sin. We find that in personal application in our lives. we know that when we confess our sins that God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, but it does not mean that the consequence for that sin is lifted.

What would be the ultimate consequence if man was allowed perfect environment having no worries of the consequences of sin?

They would forget God and the Hell that awaits them on the other side.

Therefore, man with his fallen nature was no longer compatible with perfect environment, he was set out and away from it. Cherubim were placed outside the gate with a flaming sword to protect the entrance back into the garden.

Adam would live to be 930 years and imagine what it was like to watch the seed which he himself had planted take root and spread throughout the world.

The first recorded murder was of his own son by the hands of his other son. I wonder if it was the first funeral that Adam and Eve attended. It would not be the last.

Cain was expelled away from God and from him came a civilization of corruption. Cain planted the seeds which His own father gave him to plant

A broken world was further emphasized in Genesis 5 with the words over and over again

“And He Died.”

I think some of us today are beginning to realize How Noah felt in those last days prior to the flood. And for those who continue to seek for happiness in this current world, maybe through political change or some kind of ship to come in apart from a relationship with our creator you will never find it on the wrong side of Salvation.

The Happiness that is here is Matthew 5 starts with the great spiritual reset. It began with the teaching of Christ. the sermon on the mount which becomes an invitation to enter into the kingdom which was at hand.

The Kingdom is what it is supposed to be. For it is the establishment of the Kingdom By God that reverses that which the scheming of Satan produced. It reversed the curse and will bring blessing for the kingdom of Heaven will cohabit the earth and God’s will one earth will be as it is in heaven. It will be a place where righteousness dwells.

God starts however not with the environment but with the heart.

Mark 8:36–38 (NASB95) — 36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

You see the kingdom is attached not only to the environment which is to and for our pleasure but it also and must be attached to a right relationship with our creator bringing joy to both the creature and his creator.

Jesus taught much about the Kingdom to come.

And when Jesus died those that were anticipating the kingdom, they were probably for three days the most miserable people on the planet.

For to them, Jesus took all the hopes of this kingdom with him to the grave. And He did.

But

Jesus brought them back with his resurrection.

Our happiness our elation begins with that torn vail that separated us from our God. Our elation begins with such words that is spoken by our Lord as

Come to me

Abide in me and I in you

Follow me

No, we are not living in the kingdom.

The conditions of this world does not produce joy and happiness at least not perpetually.

But because my Savior lives so does the promise of this kingdom.

The beatitudes sets up a personal sense of destiny and living life in the light of eternity.

And though the current state of the world is a disaster the believer whose heart is set on the kingdom finds his and her Makarious in that which is already but not yet.

The reality within the heart knowing that there is a kingdom that is coming and that the he and she the believer in Christ will the permanent resident of that wonderful abode with their Lord.

To night be continue with our study on the Subject of the Holy Spirit

Genesis 1:31 (NASB95) — 31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Matthew 19:14 (NASB95) — 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:13–30 (NASB95) — 13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there. 16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. 23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

[1]Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

Related Media

Related Sermons