Sunday Morning Recap On A Tuesday...

On Tuesday's I hope to post some thoughts from the lesson that was previously taught at Merge the Sunday before...

Series: You Say You Want A Revolution
Lesson: The Beatitudes (Part Two)
Text: Matthew 5:7-12

Some Thoughts:
---Jesus tells us, "You want to see a revolution in your life, let me show you how to live!!!"

---There is an interesting balance in these Beatitudes. The first four deal with how we relate to God then the last four will address how we are to relate with each other in this world. But we don't see two separate lists, or a pick your favorite and ignore the ones you don't like. Instead these beatitudes support one another and build on one another as we get to see a snapshot of living Holy Lives because of Jesus.

---If the promises of the first four beatitudes are true then it is safe to assume that our relationship with God WILL have an effect on how we relate to one another.

v.7
---Jesus is very serious about our need to live in relational forgiveness with one another through mercy. To the point that He says when we refuse to forgive, it is an if we never understood the great forgiveness of our Heavenly Father to the point that we may not even have it.

---Essentially, when we act in mercy we are acting in love. Anytime we act out in love...we reflect Christ. Anytime we reflect Christ...we draw closer to God. Which make us even more loving people.

v.8
---"the pure in heart are the single-minded, who are free from the tyranny of a divided self" R.V.G. Tasker

---It is not possible to live as the pure in heart and continue to compartmentalize your life. Jesus isn't just Lord on Sunday and when you are around church people. There should be no "work" you and "home" you and "church" you.

v.9
---There is a way to promote peace without looking wimpy or spineless.

v.10-11
---Jesus is very clear about the blessing that comes in persecution for the right reasons. There is no blessing for those who are simply the creepy, judgmental, condescending Christian that no one wants to have anything to do with.

---We must have an accurate view of what persecution is. You are not being persecuted because one of your co-workers asks you to turn down your KLTY. You are not being persecuted is the greeter at Wal-Mart wishes you Happy Holiday's instead of Merry Christmas. You are not being persecuted if your school district won't mandate prayer time in the school.

---What does it mean to be persecuted for "righteousness" sake? Simply put, it means to be persecuted for being like Jesus Christ Himself.

---Could it be true that our Christianity in this country does more blending than shining? Could that be the reason we don't experience persecution like they do in other parts of the world? Has the world become tolerant of us because they can't see the difference that lives in us?

---IS THE REASON I DON'T FACE MORE PERSECUTION IN MY LIFE BECAUSE JESUS ISN'T RECOGNIZABLE ENOUGH IN HOW I LIVE????

---Our role in God's story is to (in love) help people see not how ill-advised sin is but how deadly it is and how Jesus has come to take the punishment of that sin on our behalf. We have been shown love and we have been scarred by it.

---People are still literally putting their lives on the line for the Gospel; but I fear our greatest obstacle is that we prefer comfort more than the revolution. We only want to speak half truths about Jesus (not enough to ruffle feathers, but enough to appease our guilt).

v.12
---2 Reasons we can rejoice and be glad in the mix of persecution:
1. Persecution because of righteousness is evidence that we are united to Jesus.
2. If we are perescuted because of righteousness, we can be certain that the Holy Spirit has been at work in our hearts, turning us from our sin towards Jesus' way.

---John Stott writes:
"The beatitudes paint a comprehensive portrait of a Christian disciple. We see Him first alone on his knees before God, acknowledging his spiritual poverty and mourning over it. This makes him meek or gentle in all his relationships, since honesty compels him to allow others to think of him what before God he confesses himself to be. Yet he is far from giving in to his sinfulness, for he hungers and thirsts after righteousness, longing to grow in grace and goodness.

We see him next with other, out in human community. His relationship with God does not cause him to withdraw from society, for he is not insulated from the world's pain. On the contrary, he is in the thick of it, showing mercy to those battered by adversity and sin. He is transparently sincere in all his dealings and seek to pray a constructive role as a peacemaker. Yet he is not thanked for his efforts, but rather opposed, slandered, insulted and persecuted on account of the righteousness for which he stands and the Christ with whom he is identified.

Such is the man of woman who is "blessed", that is, who has the approval of God and finds fulfillment as a human being."