The Kingdom of God Part 6

The stepwise progression of the Beatitudes in Salvation

We now conclude our study of the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) which describe the type of character, standards, and behaviours that are lived out in the Kingdom of God. This is what all believers should be experiencing in our lives. They are like a new law that is applied in our hearts.

v.9 Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the sons of God. The Son of God came to reconcile sinful man to a Holy God; He is the ultimate peace maker giving us peace with God and the peace of God. As we are purified so we become peaceable towards men and the desire to witness and evangelise grows i.e. to preach the gospel of peace.

 Like Father like Son, .... like sons.

We must bring the peace of God to the unbelieving out of a pure heart, with correct motives and a lifestyle which is above reproach.

v10. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution! I call it 'negative confirmation ' that you are in the will of God! It seems that every step of faith we take in God that there is a persecution raised by the enemy.

 Remember Nehemiah, at first, they mocked and then progressed through various steps to threatening to murder him. (Nehemiah is a good study in which to see Satan's strategy of

discouragement of believers). As we step out into God's plan, we will consider ourselves as blessed (and not be discouraged) in that we have been considered worthy to be persecuted for Jesus sake.

v.11 Blessed are you when men cast insults at you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely on account of Me

Bible-bashers, Jesus freaks, God-squad, nutters and worse, if you have or are being called such, rejoice Jesus says you are blessed. Do you believe Him? We are called to make up or share in the sufferings of Christ, who for the joy that was set before Him endured death, even death on the cross. Not just insults but nails and death.

We must consider ourselves blessed as the inevitable persecutions come forth and be of the same mind as Christ. v12 tells us: Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Stepwise summary of the Beatitudes in Salvation

Here is how the lesson of the Beatitudes can be applied to our salvation.

Only admission of our poverty in spirit to God can enable Him to breathe His life into us.

When we reach the point of mourning over our sins God can do something with us.

God begins to work in us producing meekness and humility.

Meekness with humility removes paralysing fear from us and produces courage in us to go and possess the land, to begin to fulfil all our destiny in Christ.

God begins to fill us with a hunger and thirst for His things. We begin to hunger for His Word and to thirst for God’s presence. We also begin to long for the things that God longs for.

As we allow our hearts to be purified our motives will become godlier and will begin to see God in others and in situations in our own lives.

Having received the peace of God, we must bring it to the unbelieving out of a pure heart, with correct motives and a lifestyle which is above reproach.

 We must consider ourselves blessed as the inevitable persecutions come forth and be of the same mind as Christ and remember to rejoice and not be discouraged. We no longer try to do things in our own strength. Our tastes and likes to begin to change.

Let us now turn this lesson into a prayer.

Beatitudes Prayer

 Lord, we come to you in Jesus name, confessing our poverty and inability to do anything for you in your kingdom. We realise that we are weak and sinful people and are fed up with our own powerlessness.

 Lord, as we mourn over our sins, forgive, and cleanse us and produce meekness and humility in our lives. Free us from paralysing fear and enable and empower us to possess the land and fulfil all our destiny in Christ. Take away the desire to do things in our own strength but fill us with a hunger and thirst for you and your things. Let us be a people like David, men, and women after your own heart. Purify our hearts, motives, and lives that we might begin to see you and bring the unbelievers to your wonderful salvation.

 Cause us to rejoice and consider ourselves blessed when the inevitable persecution and reviling comes.

Amen

Personal Prayer

Endnote: Any spiritual project that the Lord gives you can be subject to the stepwise progression of the Beatitudes. Try it and see using the Beatitudes Prayer (above) as your guide.