The Beatitude Attitude

Posted by David Whitten on September 24, 2011 under Staff |

The Beatitude Attitude

Matthew 5:1-16

Intro:

I wonder what it would be like to hear Jesus preach or teach. He is the master speaker. I believe there is none who spoke like him.  I would love to hear him speak with passion and love. His words would be riveting. His inflection would draw you in and captivate you.  With his words he would move you to laughter and tears and at the end of his speech you are moved to action.

I had an opportunity of a life time in the year 2000. I remember sitting on the mount of beatitudes in the Galilee listening as one of the preachers of from our group read the sermon on the mount found in Matthew 5-7. I imagined what it would be like to be there as he spoke that day.

Well I can’t turn back time but we can look in to God’s the recorded words and find inspiration. This morning I’d like to look at the first portion of this incredible sermon . Lets open up to matthew 5:1-16.

Video the beatitudes matt 5:1-16

What we find in The Beatitudes are nine attitudes that faithful followers need to display. Let’s look at these today.

I believe that Jesus is intentional in the order if the beatitudes he lists here in at the beginning of this great sermon. I believe that all he said that followed was purposed and some of the most useful  and powerful information afforded to us as Christians

These behaviors are actions that every kingdom seeker should display in their walk with Christ.

Let’s look at them one by one.
Attitude 1 – We need an attitude of HUMILITY.
If you are going to be part of Christ’s kingdom we must submit to it’s king. So the first step toward kingdom mindedness is humility.

Jesus said in v 3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3

By talking about being “poor in spirit”, Jesus is saying that this is the opposite of self-sufficiency. “Poor in spirit” speaks of those who realize that they are in total helplessness and lost apart from God.

When we think we are OK because we are a “GOOD PERSON” we are depending on our own self righteousness. But self righteousness will not make you happy. Self righteousness will not get you into the Kingdom of Heaven. Apart from God we are totally lost. It is only by God’s grace that we are saved. Any of us! That is a humbling thing. Going to church will not save you. Reading your Bible will not save you. Praying will not save you. Only a relationship with Jesus will save you. Look at what the Bible says in Luke chapter eighteen:

¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood up and prayed about^[a] himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’    ¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’   ¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Luke 18:10-14

What is the difference between the two men? One approached God in his self righteousness the other approached God in his humility. One was accepted the other was not. Look at what psalm chapter fifty one says:

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.                                                                                                                                                           Psalms 51:17

We have the idea of being spiritually bankrupt here.

If we truly want to be blessed we need an attitude of humility.

Attitude 2 – We need an attitude of REPENTANCE.

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.                                                                                                                                                            Matthew 5:4

Here Jesus is speaking about those who mourn over their sin. This is the ability to see sin as it is and to have godly sorrow over our practice in it. This is a sorrow that produces repentance and leads to salvation. This is true sorrow that affects a person down into their soul. There is deep agony because one knows they have done wrong and deserves punishment.

Do you remember the story of King David? How he sinned? He had an affair with Bathsheba which was wrong in the first place but in order to cover it up he had Bathsheba’s husband killed. Did you know that David felt sorrow, remorse, guilt, and shame for what he had done? He mourned over his sin. In fact Psalm fifty one is a psalm of David and how he felt about his sin. Read along with me

Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.                                                                                                                                                                      Psalms 51:4

Folks when we have sinned we should feel guilty. We should feel shame. We should mourn over our sin. We should take it to God for the scripture says if we take our sin before Him, we “shall be comforted.”

Look at what first John chapter one and verse nine says:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.                                                                                                                         1 John 1:9

When we sin – we need an attitude of repentance

Attitude 3 – We need an attitude of TEACHABILITY.

Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5

Now most people seem to think that meek means weak, a spineless person without any backbone at all. But in the original language, “meek” is used in bridling a horse, or taming a wild animal. The word “meek” is a picture of “power under control.” So when we talk about a meek person, we’re talking about one whose life has been brought under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and God is in control of his or her life.

What this Beatitude tells me is that I am to drive my life but allow God to be my navigator. It’s like saying, “Jesus, I’ll drive. You just tell me where to go. If you say turn left – I’ll turn left. If you say turn right – I’ll turn right. If you say turn around – I’ll turn around. I’m turning my destination over to you.”

The meek are sensitive to the divine will of God. The meek are not easily provoked or irritated. They are not proud, self sufficient or stubborn. They are not unmanageable or ill tempered. In fact Jesus Himself was meek:

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.”

Matthew 11:29 (KJV)

Meekness is supreme self control empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT.

We need to be sensitive to the will of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. We don’t need to cower like a mouse – but roar like a lion – over injustice. We need to keep our heads about us – and use our intellect and our energy for God’s glory – and when God calls us to be bold – we need to be submissive enough – that we don’t hesitate to step up to the plate. We also need an attitude of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us as we deal with those around us.

Attitude 4 – We need an attitude of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.                                                                                                                                                  Matthew 5:6

God is righteous and we need to have the same desires that He has. When something is wicked we need to call it wicked. When something is sinful we need to call it sinful. When something is pure and holy we need to hold on to it. We need to have a burning desire for it. We need to study it and live it. Our driving passion – our driving hunger – needs to be on those things that are pleasing to God. Look at what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy:

“ ³ I will proclaim the name of the LORD.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
⁴ He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Deuteronomy 32:3-4

God wants us to have a desire so strong for Him that it is almost like starvation hunger. The desire for righteousness should drive our lives.

Attitude 5 – We need an attitude of MERCY.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.                                                                                                                                                  Matthew 5:7

Forgiveness and mercy are what God demonstrates to the undeserving sinner. That undeserving sinner is us. Did you know that the manner in which you forgive people is the manner in which you will be forgiven? Look at what it says in The Lord’s prayer:

“And forgive us our debts,                                                                                                                                                           As we forgive our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12

How do you show mercy and forgiveness?

John Wesley visited the governor of the colony of Georgia. The governor mentioned an incident involving a man who had angered him and remarked, “I shall never forgive him!” Wesley responded, “Then I hope sir, that you never sin!”

¹⁴ For if you forgive men when they sin against you,                                                                                                        your heavenly Father will also forgive you.                                                                                                     ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their sins,                                                                                                            your Father will not forgive your sins                                                                                                      Matthew 6:14-15

We need to have an attitude of forgiveness and mercy.

to be Continued …   http://www.greatbridgechurch.org/2011/10/04/the-bestitude-attitude-ii/