Two brothers, Harry and James, were playing right before bedtime, and somehow Harry hit James with a stick. Tears and bitter words followed and they were still angry as their mother prepared them for
bed. Mother said, "Now James, before you go to bed you’re going to have to forgive your brother."
James thought for a moment and then replied, "Well OK, I’ll forgive him tonight, but if I don’t die in the night, he’d better look out in the morning."
1. BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY.
This is a super important attitude. If we don’t show mercy to others we will not be shown mercy.
Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you…
Mark 11:25-26
Col 3:13 “Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
But you don’t know what they did or said…
Matthew 18
The bait of Satan.
2. BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD.
Note: Scholars suggest the word has (2) meanings. (1) To make pure by cleansing from dirt, filth, or contamination like metals being refined by fire until they were free from impurities. (2) It refers to being unmixed, having no double allegiance.
Note: Purity isn’t just being clean; it is to be single-minded and intentionally focused. In this instance, God wants us to be focused on His kingdom and righteousness.
Mt. 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
Note: Put these (2) definitions together. A person w/ a passion for purity is one who has been cleansed in his character so that the way he looks in public is the way he is in private. You’re just like Jesus even when no one is watching.
Story: A deacon and son were driving down a country road and saw a watermelon patch a little way off the highway. The deacon told his son to keep a lookout while he went to get a melon. He snuck into the patch, took a melon and called to his son, "Is anyone coming? Look both ways." The boy wisely responded, "But Daddy, doesn’t Jesus see you?"
Ps. 24:3-4 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
2 Cor. 7:1 Here’s the challenge – it is at this point that we must live out our lives in purity. We live responsibly and obediently before God. Since we have these promises, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
See Jesus saw through the Pharisees pettiness and pretense, and looked right into their hearts –
In Matt. 15:8, “These people honor me w/ their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Matt 23:25-28 …inside your full of greed and self indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will be clean.
…inside you are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
1 Sm. 16:7 The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
Pr. 21:2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.
Pr. 27:19 As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
Ps. 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.
Quote: We’re suffering from only one disease in the world. Our basic problem isn’t a race problem.
Our basic problem isn’t a poverty problem.
Our basic problem isn’t a war problem.
Our basic problem is a heart problem. Graham
The problem of sin isn’t the world around us,
but rather the world w/in us.
3. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD.
PEACE-BREAKERS.
Peace-breakers are those people who go out of their way to break down relationships; to cause trouble and division.
We can’t AFFORD to have peace-breakers in the church, for divisive people cut away the very life principles of the CHURCH. They staunch the move of God, they can’t stand change, and they will destroy revival.
But, before we go riding off on a witch-hunt to find the “troublemakers”, and ‘deal with them’, we each need to examine our own hearts. Because you can be a peace-breaker without even knowing it! Most peace-breakers don’t realize what they’re doing - they feel justified in themselves.
Let me briefly elaborate on the EASIEST (most basic) way to be a peace-breaker. YOU CAN BE A PEACE-BREAKER BY THE WAY YOU USE YOUR TONGUE!
Gossip, slander, being a busy-body, being opinionated or judgmental. These things are a destructive force against the church of Jesus Christ. They tear down. They cause division and friction. Whenever God begins to do something good, the enemy will always try to interrupt it - and one of his biggest tools he uses is THE TONGUE.
PEACE-FAKERS.
What do I mean by ‘PEACE-FAKERS’? Well, there are ones (and I guess the truth is that we’ve all been involved in peace-faking at one time or another - it’s a temptation I know I have to guard against every day of my life), ones who prefer ‘peace’ over truth.
Peace-fakers see ‘peace’ as simply the absence of any kind of argument or discord. They will go to any lengths to avoid any kind of conflict/confrontation/unrest. In doing so they settle for a counterfeit peace that is based on avoiding the real issues.
A peace faker when it comes to evangelizing will use the phrase, “I don’t go around sharing my faith I just try to live in such a way that will see my faith in my actions.
3. PEACE-MAKERS.
Peace-makers are prepared to put others’ well-being above their own comfort level. A peacemaker is someone who does everything they can to bring GOD and MAN together. At one time you had conflict in your life, then a peacemaker brought you to God and said lets work it out.
Let me give you another ILLUSTRATION: Imagine a mother looking out her living room window at her three year old son, who is riding his tricycle in the driveway. Her heart spilling over with love, she goes to the kitchen, pours a glass of lemonade and takes it out to him. After he drinks it, she picks him up and hugs him and tells him how much she loves him. The little boy feels wonderful. BUT while mom is back in the kitchen rinsing out the glass, he gets back on his tricycle and cruises right into the street where he was told never to ride. Mom looks back out the living room window just as a car screeches to a stop, and then carefully eases its way around her precious son. She flies out the door, rushes into the street and picks up the boy, bike and all. As soon as they’re back in the safety of the house, she starts getting on to him and then ends it with a spanking.
The little boy wonders what’s wrong with his mom, who just moments ago was hugging him and giving him lemonade. Where has all the love gone? But what WE all understand is that this IS love in a different form, but just as real. His mom is saying, “The happy time five minutes ago with the lemonade and the hugs is a distant memory right now, because we are dealing with life and death. Your well-being is far more important to me than constant warm fuzzy feelings.”
Are you being a peacemaker are you doing everything you can to bring your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to Christ, so they can experience true peace in their lives.
4. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Story: In September 1999, Larry Ashbrook walked into the Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX and opened fire during a Wednesday night services killed (7).
Story: In April 1999, two teenage gunmen walked into at Columbine High in Littleton, CO, and shot the students they knew were Christians. On that fateful day, Cassie Bernall was in the library when the gunman burst into the room and asked her, "Do you believe in God?" Among her final words she said “Yes!” and stepped in God’s arms. Also on that day, Rachael Scott stepped into eternity for her faith. What’s interesting is that a year earlier, Rachel penned these words in her diary: "I’m not going to justify my faith to them, and I’m not going to hide the light that God has put into me. If I have to sacrifice everything, I will. I will take it. If my friends have to become my enemies for me to be w/ my best friend Jesus, then that’s fine w/ me.
A church in Texas has had to add a question to their statement of faith when someone comes forward to get baptized. They now ask (4) questions.
1. Do you believe Jesus is your Savior and Lord and that He died on the cross to pay for you sin?
2. Have you invited Him into you life and asked Him to forgive you?
3. Will you strive to honor Him in your daily life by living according to the Bible and by sharing His love and truth w/ others in your words and by your actions?
4. When you face trials, persecution, and hardship for confessing Jesus as your Lord and Savior, at home, at work and anywhereelse you might be, will you remain faithful to your Lord?
Jn. 15:20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ’No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
1 Pt. 3:13f But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this w/ gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Mt. 5:43-44 Love your neighbor…
Conclusion:
Story: A couple from Bakersfield, CA purchased a new boat, but they were having serious problems. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t get the boat going. It was sluggish no matter which way they turned or how much power was applied. After an hour of trying to make it go, they putted to a nearby marina, hoping someone could tell them what was wrong. A thorough check on the topside of the boat revealed everything was in perfect working condition. The engine ran fine, the out drive went up and down, and the propeller was the correct size and pitch. Then, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He came up choking w/ laughter. Under the boat, still strapped securely in place, was the trailer!
Note: Ridiculous! But not more ridiculous than the many believers are puttering around wondering why their Christian life isn’t working – it’s simple, they have sin attached beneath the surface of their lives that needs to be removed.
