The Beatitudes (Part 4) | Frank Brancato

It's wonderful to be here with all of you today to worship.

God, we have wonderful crowd, and we have several visitors

that are here and we want to say you are our honored guest and

welcome. And please come back every

opportunity that you have to be with us.

You are so welcome. We're glad you're here.

I'm very excited about the series that I've been preaching

for you and that is on the greatest sermon ever preached.

It is as I've said so many times I've called it the great Sermon

on the Mount preached by the master so long ago and today is

The Sermon on the Mount. This is the Beatitudes which are

covered in the first 12. Verses of Matthew Chapter 5 and

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

this is part 4. This is our final lesson on the

Beatitudes. But before we begin with what

Jesus is going to talk about in Matthew chapter 5 verses 10

Matthew 5:10–12

through 12 we have to back up and I'm going to be very brief

about this as I've done as a recap on the other series

lessons. We have to notice what he

already said very briefly because they all flow together

and they all work together. This is a masterful sermon,

preached by Jesus. So long ago and I'm just going

to say this to when we're done with the Beatitudes, after just

a few minutes today. These are qualities and

characteristics that will help us for the rest of our life.

You remember that Jesus is giving us specific things that

have give you true, blessedness, and true happiness.

I'm going to say this if you really want blessedness and

happiness. In your life, please listen to

the words of Jesus. That's number one, number two,

if you can apply what Jesus is saying, in the Beatitudes, in

your life and they can be in you and they can abound in your

life. You'll be able to handle all the

other, very difficult things and Meaty things.

He's going to preach in the rest of this sermon, which covers.

Matthew 5, 6 and 7. Okay, let's just Begin by saying

what he's already said. Jesus began in Matthew Chapter 5

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

in this great. Sermon on the Beatitudes.

He says, blessed are the poor in spirit.

You remember what that means? It means to literally be

spiritually destitute. And all that means, is this, if

you want to go to heaven, or anybody wants to go to heaven,

it begins with This, you have to come to the realization.

I'm nothing without God. I'm nothing without Jesus

Christ. And what's wrong with that?

That's great stuff. I am spiritually destitute

without God. I'm nothing on my own.

I need Jesus. You know why?

Because I have a sin problem and I can't make my sins go away.

So that therefore Here Comes number 2.

It begins with being poor in spirit, I'm destitute and

spirit. Without God, I have a sin

problem that only Jesus can take away.

So it leads to number two, and it's going to cause me to do

this. It's going to cause me to mourn

over those sins. Yes.

God wants us to be guilty of the sins that we commit not to live

in a state of Perpetual guilt. He wants us to do something

about it. This is wonderful.

When you mourn over your sin and that all that means is Godly

sorrow and repentance. You're going to do something

about it, what are you going to do?

I'm going to obey the gospel. I'm going to be baptized for the

remission of my sins contact. The blood of Jesus have my sins

washed away and therefore I'm comforted because I'm forgiven.

There's a great benefit in blessing and relief in knowing,

I've made mistakes. But I've been forgiven.

But there's more. After you obey the gospel and

you become a Christian, you're going to make more mistakes.

First John chapter 1 says, if we confess our sins, he's faithful.

1 John 1 · chapter mention

And just to forgive us, our sins and cleanse us from all

unrighteousness. So guess what I'm comforted

again, because when I mourn over those sins with Godly sorrow and

repentance and I ask God to forgive me, I'm forgiven.

So I'm comforted. But then number three, what

about the things that we have? Bitch really struggle with.

And I think sometimes some of the sins that are in our life

are some of the things that keep reoccurring, the habitual

struggles because those are our weaknesses, right?

We all get that and sometimes the sins we commit our the same

things over and over again. I'm so thankful that the Bible

gives us a plan for that too. James 5:16 confess your faults,

James 5:16

one to another and pray one for another that you may be healed,

the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much

again, I'm going to mourn over those things.

I'm going to confess that to my brother.

He's going to pray for me, God's going to forgive.

I'm going to be comforted because I'm forgiven.

One final thing this is by the wave sin is the context of the

passage but there's a secondary thing too.

And you remember this, when we study this a long time ago,

several service sermons ago Sometimes the child of God will

mourn over the injustices that are in the world because

sometimes things are just bad. When we do that, the child of

God is comforted knowing that God is ultimately in control, no

matter what. Don't you see?

It is great to be a Christian, it is great to be a child of

God. Now we have the proper

relationship with God and now it's going to lead us to the

mental disposition that we have to have moving forward.

And that's the spirit of meekness meekness is not

weakness. Jesus said this about himself,

he was the epitome of Of strength, Jesus, come unto me

all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest

take my yoke upon you and learn of me for.

I am meek and lowly at heart and you shall find rest unto your

souls. For my yoke is easy and my

burden is like incidentally, this Spirit of unassuming

meekness is also the quality and the characteristic that will

help you persevere. No matter what comes your way in

your Christian Life. Great stuff.

Then you got to do this. Jesus says blessed are those

that hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be

filled if we're having a problem, living a righteous

life. Maybe it's because we are not

hungering and thirsting after it but I love this promise if you

hunger and thirst after righteousness, you will be

filled. And that is by the word of God.

Okay. At least to something else.

Jesus says, blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain

mercy and I'm going to tell you this.

Don't you think if we can always have it in our mind, a complete

remembrance, and reminder that God was merciful to you and to

me, Don't you think it'd be easier if we remember that to be

merciful to somebody else? And maybe if we're not merciful

to some other people, maybe it's because we've forgotten that God

was merciful to us, God extended Mercy To Us by not giving us

what we deserve and that's to be lost.

I'm so thankful that he extended that Mercy.

But look at the promise that, God, that Jesus gave here.

Notice what happens if I am merciful, I'm going to obtain

Mercy, that is from God. So, if I want God's mercy, I

have to be merciful to other people, but there's a secondary

benefit here, too. Don't you think this too?

If I am merciful to my fellow man, don't you think maybe not

all the time because sometimes people are just mean.

But don't you think other people are going to be merciful to me

if I'm a merciful person to other people.

Maybe in general, sure. What else?

Then Jesus says blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see

god notice please if you want to see God one day you got to be

pure in heart. And remember this being pure in

heart is more than just having a good heart having good motives.

And just being well, I mean, well, way more than that, as we

studied before being pure in heart is always connected to

proper and acceptable worship to God.

So, what am I saying? I'm saying this, if you are not

a worshiper of God, You're not pure in heart.

Got to be pure in heart. What else?

Then Jesus says this is the final one of a recap.

He said blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be

called the sons of God. God wants us to be people of

Peace. He wants us to be peacemakers

and not peace Breakers. That's what he wants.

What does the Bible say? Whatever is lies within you.

In other words, whatever is in your power live peaceably among

all men, that's what God wants. God is a God of Peace.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. So if we are people of peace, We

are like God in that regard and we're called the sons of God,

okay, how are you a peacemaker to waste?

Number one is living peaceably among our fellow, man.

That's our relationships, right? That's number one, number two,

that made me maybe not quite so obvious.

We are also a peacemaker when by our example or our words, we

lead people to the gospel which has the power to save and a

person is Because they're brought to Jesus Christ and they

are brought because of your example or your words.

They're converted to Christ. They're saved now, they're at

peace with God. You've just become a peacemaker.

So we're peacemakers by based on our relationships and based on

leading people to Jesus Christ so that they can be at peace

with God, all of that is covered in Matthew 5 verses 3 through 9

Matthew 5:3–9

and here comes verse 10. Then he says this blessed are

they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, okay?

In spite of verse 9. The Christian sometimes is going

to live in his life. And is not going to have peace.

Because sometimes in life, the Christians going to have trouble

and sometimes they're going to be persecuted.

Now I'm going to tell you this. I'm not talking about Trials of

life and this sermon. We've talked about that in the

past that is not. We're talking about, we're

talking about specific things. Now, we're talking about

persecution, And I'm so thankful because later on in our lesson

Jesus is going to give us three ways.

We're persecuted three Very practical ways that were

persecuted. Okay, so we're talking about

persecution. So even though in verse 9, it

says, blessed are the peacemakers and all of that

Jesus says, sometimes a person is going to be persecuted for

righteousness sake. In fact, Paul promises Timothy

that all who will live Godly will suffer persecution.

Second Timothy chapter 3 and verse 12.

2 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

Yes, and all who desire to live Godly in Christ will suffer

persecution. I've got to tell you this, we

live in a wonderful country. I know that there's a lot of

people that want to bad-mouth the country and things are not

perfect in our country. I get it, but I'm thankful to be

in this country. I am so thankful we live in a

Land of the Free. And even though we have

difficulties and we have things that are going on in the country

that perhaps we don't like or perhaps even God doesn't like

I'm so thankful that there's no laws that keep us from doing

what we're doing right now. I'm thankful for that.

I'm also thankful that in my life, I get to get up in the

morning and do just about whatever I want.

We live in the land of the free. So maybe we're not persecuted

like the days of the early church will talk about that in

just a moment and maybe we don't have great persecutions against

our life. Like what once was or maybe

would happen in other countries? If you live a Godly life, Paul

told Timothy in one aspect or another you will suffer

persecution but there's a blessing.

There's a blessing. And more on this in a moment.

But Jesus says for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

All right. What exactly is the essence of

what the Lord saying? He's saying two things.

Please get this. He's saying two things. 1

blessed is the one whose conviction of mind is strong

enough to weather the physical abuse of persecution.

He's not just saying blessed, are you if you're being

persecuted, what exciting in the essence is this blessed is the

one whose conviction of mine is strong enough to weather the

physical abuse of persecution. And I'm going to tell you what

that is all about strength and courage.

Sometimes we think that the persecuted person is the week

10. No, no.

In this case, it's the strong one, that's number one, we

talked about in the essence of what the Lord is talking about.

That's number one, here's number two, Blessed is the one whose

Godly character is so anchored that he cannot be bribed with

physical comfort. I have on here, Hebrews in all

capitals. And I'm going to tell you why.

When the Hebrew writer wrote the book of Hebrews, he was writing

to Hebrew Christians. He was writing to people that

were Jewish by Blood. No doubt raised in Judaism and

that's all they had ever known. But Along Comes the preaching of

the gospel and they're converted to Jesus Christ.

Do you know what happened to them?

Many of them had great persecution.

So much. So you know what they were

doing. They went back to the law of

Moses and they rejected Jesus because why it?

Easier they were being bribed with physical comfort.

Little side note here. As they were nearing, the

destruction of Jerusalem, the persecution got great and

believe me. And by the way, that's why I

believe Hebrews 10:25 some different positions about that

Hebrews 10:25

about the day approaching and Hebrews 10:25 is that the end of

Hebrews 10:25

time. Is that the first day of the

week? I do believe it's the

destruction of Jerusalem in the context.

I'm just going to tell you why they could see that day coming.

In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus told his disciples.

Matthew 24 · chapter mention

He said there's going to be a lot of bad stuff going to happen

and he's talking about the end. He's not talking about the end

of time as everybody thinks in the world today.

That Matthew 24 is talking about all the end of time and look how

bad things are happening. They see here, I come.

No, that's the destructive Jerusalem.

They can see that day coming. There was five remote signs.

Jesus has five. Things are going to happen, but

the end is not near. And then one specific things

going to happen, immediate sign, then the end comes and he says,

get out of here and get to the mountains.

He's telling Christians how to depart and not be destroyed in

the destruction of Jerusalem. That's Matthew 24, they can see

that day approaching and that's why in Hebrews 10:25 because

Hebrews 10:25

many of these Hebrew Christians were turning their back on

Jesus, because it was easier to go back to Judaism, Then

followed Jesus and remove the persecution.

That's why he says not forsaking the assembling of ourselves

together as the manner of some is, but exhorting, one another

and so much, the more as you see the day approaching.

That's why I believe the day approaching is the destruction

of Jerusalem. All that being said, I'm done

with that. But I will tell you this.

They were greatly persecuted before the year, a.d., 70 and

instructive Jerusalem and they were told hang in there.

Don't quit. You know, why?

That's the essence of what the Lord's talking about?

If you're persecuted for righteousness.

Sake, blessed is the one whose Godly character is so anchored,

he cannot be bribed. With physical Comfort.

Okay, let's back up in time in the Lord's Ministry.

Now as he was speaking, these words, the scribes and the

Pharisees are already planning to destroy Jesus.

How do I know that Mark, chapter 3 and verse 6, then the

Mark 3 · chapter mention

Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the

herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

You know what's interesting about this, don't underestimate

the bond of hate. The herodians and the Pharisees

were at odds with each other, but on this occasion or when it

came to the topic of Killing Jesus, they bound together and

they plotted how they might destroy him.

There was another time to, by the way.

In Luke chapter 6, Jesus does a great thing.

Luke 6 · chapter mention

He heals a poor man that has a withered hand.

That's a great thing. He performs a miracle and you

would think everybody would be? Oh, that's wonderful.

Maybe even follow Jesus because of it.

You know, what happens? He heals a man with a withered

hand, but he does it on the Sabbath day.

And you remember what they said about Jesus, they hated him.

The religious leaders for two reasons one.

He said, I am the Son of God and to, because of how he had on the

Sabbath. But he said, I'm greater than

the Sabbath, I'm lord of the Sabbath and all of that.

So we know all that. They're mad at him for that.

So, this man, gets healed of a withered hand.

This is their response to that, Luke 6 and 11 but they were

filled with rage and discussed with one another what they might

do to Jesus. So Jesus knows that persecution

is coming and it's going to grow in intensity and he warns his

disciples, it's coming but then he says there's blessings, if

you remain faithful, and that's the key.

One of those blessings for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

I don't know what it's going to be like, folks, I just know it's

going to be greater than anything we've ever seen.

When God says time shall be no more and Jesus comes back. and

when the righteous Get to Go to Heaven, I don't know what it's

all going to be like, I know it's going to be greater than

anything I can possibly fathom. But regardless of whatever

persecution or hardship, you've gone through in life.

I guarantee you this It'll be worth it.

When you see Heaven, and the only way you can see Heaven is

regardless of the persecution of the hardship.

You got to remain faithful. You gotta stay true.

Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Now, I got to say this about

persecution and suffering police.

The Lord is not saying here that all persecution is beneficial.

He's not saying that. God is not interested in

suffering and self-denial. Merely as a religious exercise.

Or doing without something as a religious exercise giving up

something during a certain time of the year as a religious

exercise. That's not what he's talking

about. He's not talking about

self-denial and pain and suffering as a religious

exercise. That's number one, number two,

he's also not interested in this.

He's not interested in those that pose as persecuted to gain

attention you know, Jesus talked about that, by the way, not

being persecuted, but by fasting, then when Jesus talked

about fasting, he said when you fast don't do this, don't walk

around with a long face at home. Fast of starving, don't do that.

So, everybody can see that you're fasting or walk around

your hair uncombed and not showered dirty rags and walking

around stumbling around. So people, go, oh, what do you

go with you on fasting? You know, Jesus says wash your

face. Put a smile on your face so that

nobody in the world knows what you're doing, except God, that's

what matters. Going through something as an

exercise to be seen of others is not with the Lord's talking

about here, when he says persecuted.

It's not what he means when he talks about suffering, and it's

not what he means. When he talks about abstaining

from something. There has to be a reason for the

suffering. In fact, Peter makes it clear

what the reason is, Peter does notice First, Peter chapter 4

beginning, in verse 14, if you are reproached for the name of

Christ, get that? Blessed, are you for the spirit

of glory and of God rests upon you on their part.

He has blasphemed get this. But on your part, he is

glorified keep that in the back of your mind.

God is glorified when you suffer as a Christian, okay?

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief and evil doer,

or a busybody, and other people's matters.

Yet, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be

ashamed but let him glorify God. In this matter, there are some

things in life that are worthy of suffering for If I'm a

murderer, I got that coming. I should suffer as a murderer.

If I'm if I'm a thief, I should suffer as a thief.

I got that coming or if I'm a busybody in other men's matters,

if I'm an evildoer, I've got that coming.

But when I suffer as a Christian, it's different.

Peter says, God is glorified when you suffer as a Christian.

Now. 1st Peter chapter 2 and verse 14.

Or to Governor's, as to those who are sent by him for what the

punishment of evildoers. And for the praise of those who

do good in Romans chapter 13, you know, it talks about, it

Romans 13 · chapter mention

talks about the powers-that-be or the structures that are over

us and law enforcement would be included in those governmental

structures right there for two reasons, to punish the wicked

and reward or protect the innocent.

So if you're a good person, don't be afraid of law.

You're only afraid of the long when you're doing something

wrong. Peter calls them evildoers, it's

for the punishment of them, but it's for the praise of those

that do good. So suffering because one is a

Christian is Honorable because as we've noticed in the previous

passage it, glorifies God. So, going back to Matthew 5 and

10. The Lord's point is this When we

are mature enough, please get this.

When we are mature enough, To endure persecution for his sake.

Then the kingdom of heaven will be ours.

When we're mature enough to do that, in other words,

persecution of some kind is going to come and see, you know

what? You may have no way to do

anything about that. It's coming.

Sometimes we spend so much time worrying about things, we can't

change. And we don't spend enough time

on the things we really can make a difference in or the things we

really can change. So, I'm going to tell you this.

I don't know how it is in your life, but I'm telling you this,

if you are persecuted and Jesus gives three ways we are.

If you're being persecuted in your life because you're a

Christian, if that is true, There's nothing you could do

about that. You got no power over that.

But you do have power over something.

And that is how you going to handle it and your attitude

about it. Oh, she's talking about

attitude. Again, man, Frank's always

talked about. I know it's coming again.

Remember when I say attitudes the aroma of your heart all

that, it's all about your attitude, I'm gonna add

something. You may have seen this on

YouTube. Because it went viral.

Okay, is a long time ago but there was a little boy Down

syndrome. I watched this over and over, I

thought this was just great. This little boy with Down

Syndrome is a little boy. He was a young man with Down

Syndrome by now and how old he was, but he did something that

was really good. And he received all kinds of

praise and recognition for it. He was being interviewed by a

reporter And the reporter said this young man down.

And he said, Do you think you're down syndrome?

Was a disability? you know, he said, The only

disability in life. Is a bad attitude.

And I thought, man, that's great.

This was a guy that had challenges.

He didn't care, he didn't feel sorry for himself.

He didn't call himself disabled and I know about politically

correct words. I don't know what they are.

So if I'm offending you, I don't mean to.

I don't know disability disabled, I don't know handicap.

I don't know if those are bad words, I don't know.

I'm just saying they're coming from the right place.

I'm not trying to do anything wrong.

I'm just telling you Sometimes people look at their life and

use whatever disability that they have or whatever

shortcoming comes their way or whatever mishap that comes their

way as a reason not to achieve for the rest of their life.

It's about your attitude and your response to it and that man

that had a reason said the only thing in life.

That's A disability is a bad habit.

Look at the next verse. Now, in verse 11, then Jesus

says this blessed, are you this first continues?

The with the same idea as verse 10, but Jesus is making the

point that suffering sometimes is the result of righteousness,

okay? Now let's go back in time,

historically. Okay.

Historically speaking, when people back, then in the early

days of the church, after Acts chapter 2 profess to be

Acts 2 · chapter mention

Christians, publicly, you had talked about suffering,

persecution man. They suffered persecution,

sometimes they lost their job. Sometimes they lost their

business. And when you lose your job and

you lose your business, you lose your livelihood.

That's bad. Sometimes when you win against

the state's religion and often times, for example, in Rome,

that would have been paganism. but when you win against the

state's religion, sometimes it led to imprisonment and yes, the

extreme was even losing your life.

You think you're persecuted today?

You may have some stuff and Jesus is going to give some

Credence and some Merit to the stuff we do go through in a

minute. So hang on.

I want you to get into perspective and get the attitude

in the mindset, right? Because you know what, when you

want to really talk about persecution, look at this that's

really bad stuff. Especially imprisonment, losing

your life. Professing Christianity today

though. You know what?

It might lead to? How about losing friends?

How about alienation of friends and family.

What if your family is against you?

Because you're a Christian, How about friends that will not will

no longer talk to you or speak to you because you've changed

your life? You're not fun anymore.

By the way, if you got to lose some friends because you're a

Christian and they won't be your friend because you are, they

weren't your friend. They were not your friend and

you don't need them. You might have that though.

Might come your way. Yes.

You know what Jesus is saying to you, if that is the case.

You are blessed if you suffer those things for his sake.

And I want to tell you something right now, if you're suffering

as a Christian, the Lord is standing up in a symbolic way

cheering you on. I believe that just like when

Stephen, the first martyr was stoned to death.

He looked up in the Bible says the heavens were opened and he

saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

Wow. I think any time I've always

kind of believed that that anytime in a symbolic sense,

perhaps and the Lord, who knows, everything looks down and sees a

Christian that's being persecuted for his namesake and

they will not give in and they will not cave, just maybe the

Lord standing up for you too. And he's saying, don't you quit

I'm with you all the way. if he can be for us, Who in the world

to be against us? The Lord's going to get

specific. Now, this talk about specific

ways of persecution in verse 11. Here's the first way. when they

revile, you Jesus, mentions three basic waves, that evil

people will persecute the righteous.

Number one is with words with words.

What is the word revile mean and that's what he's talking about

here. There's three things and I'm

going to tell you in advance, okay?

I think because we live in the country we live in and maybe we

don't have number to kick in that.

We're going to talk about, maybe we're not persecuted with number

two on this list, but one in three really do apply Even in

our country. Number one, is when you are

persecuted with words, the word revile carries the idea of

seriously insulting, and literally means to cast, in

one's teeth, according to mr. Vine, in other words, somebody

is going to Sears. SLI insult you for being a

Christian. Okay, you can tell that.

You got that? so, they insult you We've all

been insulted. So they insult you, I know it's

hard. But listen, it's nothing.

You can't handle the second one. Though is the word persecute.

And persecute is talking about physical harm.

In fact, the actual work persecute means it has the basic

meaning of putting the flight when threatened with bodily

harm, according to mr. Vine.

And I got to tell you again, I've lived my whole life in this

country and I don't know what it's like in this country for a

Christian to have bodily harm, threatened upon them and may

have happened. I just don't either know about

it or if I did. I don't remember.

So, I put that out there as a little thing.

Little disclaimer. but, you know, in the Philippines there

was a time in the Philippines when bodily harm Was going to be

a problem if we were caught. And we were told by

law-enforcement don't go to this area.

It's a bad, the Muslim influence during this election year were

so great. They were taking people and cap

and taking as captive American missionaries.

And holding them for ransom and even some were killed.

That would be losing your life for the cause of Christ.

We were safe. God took care of us.

He answered our prayers. We were smart though.

We showed up a day earlier than we were supposed to be there so

they didn't know and then we left the day earlier than we

were supposed to leave. So we got in and out, for the

devil knew we were there. as I say, but that could have been

something. But in this country, I don't

know if the case But maybe somebody might revile you or

make fun of you or cast words your way.

What about number three, though? What about this?

Here's number three, and say all kinds of evil against you

falsely for my namesake. I have to tell you something,

okay? When somebody spreads a false

rumor against me, I have to tell you some, I'm going to share

something with you. I have a weakness and I'm going

to tell you it right now. The way that I'm wired and I

always have been If somebody says something about me, that's

not true. My first thing that I have to do

is confront that person. And I've got to prove what

you're saying is not true. Because my name and my honor and

my integrity means something. I'm not saying that that's bad

and that's not necessarily my weakness.

Here's my weakness. It bothers me so bad.

I can't even sleep. Even when it's not true.

I don't have the ability to just let that roll off my back.

It's a struggle for me when I was a little boy.

I was going through a period And I was some things were being

said or whatever. Some other kids or whatever.

And my dad set me down and I said, Dad, I'm handling it, I'm

good, but that was talk to me about it.

I kept saying, I'm alright, I'm handling it.

He said no, no, it's not the, it's not the problem.

The problem is it's bothering you and you can't let it go.

That's my weakness. Okay.

What about nesting General things?

But what if I am being persecuted or somebody speaks

things against me falsely because I'm a Christian for the

name of Jesus Christ. What if those things are said,

guess what? Jesus is going to tell me how to

respond in the next verse you know he says rejoice.

Rejoice. Now, did you know this?

Joy, by the way, rejoicing is Joy.

It's not happiness. There's two different things.

There's a difference between joy and happiness.

Okay, happiness is based on circumstances.

So somebody might say, well I can't be, how can the world can

you be happy about? What's happening to you?

You have to be happy about something bad being happened,

happening to you. In fact, if you are there's

probably something wrong with you.

Nobody likes that man, I'm so excited that that terrible thing

just happened. Yeah, I'm happy, no.

So what that means. But you know what?

Jesus says to do Rejoice. That's joy and joy is a choice.

Because it's an exercise of the will.

It's a choice. You're exercising, your will.

So you can have joy at the very same time, you're unhappy about

the circumstance. He didn't say be happy about it.

He said be joyful about it. One chooses to be joyful, in

spite of difficulty because of his eternal relationship with

God. That's why.

Joy is a discipline that must be learned.

That is so huge. You might say, well I'm

struggling with that. Okay.

We all are, but it's learned. It's a discipline that has to be

learned here. Stopped to consider, you're

never going to graduate as a Christian ever.

You ever said that you're never going to say.

I've made it. You're going to grow the rest of

your life. I hope you're going to grow the

rest of your life because when you stop growing, you start

dying. I hope.

And I pray that I'm not the same man today than I was a year ago.

I hope and pray. I've made some improvements.

And sometimes improvements come with necessary change.

I hope that's the same with you. It's a journey to process and

these disciplines must be learned.

What did Paul say to those Philippians?

He said I've learned whatsoever State.

I am therewith to be content. Contentment is learned.

Contentment falls into the category of rejoicing or having

Joy so you can be content and not be happy.

With us. Then he says this first, he

says, if you're persecuted for righteousness sake, okay, have

enjoy or rejoice. And then he says this and I

really had to wrap my head around this.

I spent a lot of time on this trying to understand and figure

it out. He says, and be exceedingly.

Glad do you know why I had to really think about this one

because of what it actually means.

The phrase be exceedingly. Glad literally means from the

original to Skip and jump with excitement to be overjoyed.

Wow. How's that?

How in the world am I going to do that?

Two ways. How you going to do that?

Two reasons? Number one, Be glad literally

means to skip and jump with excitement to be overjoyed.

The Christian can skip for joy as he excitedly.

Realizes that God has everything under control.

That's number one. God still in control.

So I can be exceedingly, glad not necessarily the

circumstance. And boy, I don't like what

happened to me. But here's the greatest one of

all. Number two, for great is your

reward in heaven. That's how we can skip for joy.

In a symbolic sense, me give you some passages now that support

this second, Timothy 4:8, finally, this is what Paul said.

There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the

Lord, the righteous judge will give me at that day and not to

me only, but to all those who love his appearing Earthly

possessions fade, and they may be lost, but Heavenly Treasures

are Eternal. Okay, there's a practical reason

to There's a practical reason to have joy when somebody wrongs

you and that's this. I think there's great

contentment, knowing that if somebody wrongs us, we don't

have to make it right by way of Vengeance, we don't have to go

fix it with them. we don't have to straighten them out, we don't

have to correct them, we don't We will have to worry about

their punishment for doing a terrible thing.

God deals with that. God doesn't.

I think there's contentment and knowing that knowledge in Romans

Romans 12 · chapter mention

chapter 12. Beginning in verse 19.

Beloved do not avenge yourself, but rather give place to wrath.

Give the place to wrath. What is it?

Where is it for? It is written.

Vengeance is mine, that's God. Give it to God.

Vengeance is mine? I will repay says the Lord.

Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is

thirsty. Give him a drink for in.

So doing you will Heap coals of fire on his head.

Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.

I have to say One little thing about this fire on the head you

can't say this, your motive can't be I'm going to be nice to

him because I really want to blow fire a coal on his head.

No When you do something good for someone that's done bad to

you, you know what happens, it's like pouring coals of fire on

their head because you know why you're giving them no reason at

all. And no justification for their

poor behavior. Number one, and number two,

you're giving him nothing to retaliate for Back off.

No. Fight here. no fight here, and

it makes them infuriated Let God take care of it.

You've heard me say this before Mercedes again, if you have

bitterness in your life because of what somebody has done to

you, please put it down. Bitterness is a heavy load.

Put it down, and your bitterness is doing nothing to the person

that you're mad at is doing everything to you.

It's tearing you up. So put it down.

It's a heavy burden. Remember Joy comes from this to

Great blessings. Here it comes from knowing that

persecution is not permanent. What does Paul say about that?

Is one of my favorite passages and all the Bible.

You've heard my sermon on it. I have a I have one whole sermon

on these two verses. I love it.

I'll be very brief here. It is.

Second Corinthians 4:17, 18 for our light Affliction, which is,

2 Corinthians 4:17

but for a moment is working for us a far more exceeding and

eternal weight of Glory. In other words, look, the

afflictions that we're having in our life are considered light

and their momentary and they're not going to last They're not

Eternal, it's going to go away. But it's also working for us an

exceeding and eternal weight of Glory.

Another though was what that means.

Is this an eternal weight of Glory weight?

Of Glory is your capacity to serve, praise and honor God in

your life. The more you're willing to

endure the greater Your Capacity to serve praise and honor God

and it's not only in this life but it's also in the life that

is to come in heaven. One day, it's all about God,

it's all about our service and when you're willing to endure,

the more you are, the Later, you will be for God in this life on

the other side of the persecution and in heaven for

eternity. Wow, here's another one, is my

mother's favorite Bible. Verse my whole life growing up,

Romans 8:18. For I consider that the

Romans 8:18

sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared

with the glory that shall be revealed in us.

What Peter say, first. Peter, 16 and 7 in this, you

greatly Rejoice, there's a word of yet, though.

Now, for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by

various trials that the genuineness of your faith being

much more precious than gold, that perishes, though.

It be tested by fire, may be found to praise honor and Glory

at the revelation of Jesus Christ, okay?

But back to our passage, there's one more thing.

All these great blessings. You're going to have the Kingdom

of Heaven. You're going to understand that

God's going to take care of it, you don't have to have Vengeance

in your heart, you can lay down. Down the bitterness and all

that. You can lay it down and give

place to wrath. Give it to God.

And it's not permanent, it's temporary.

And you get to go to heaven. Okay.

One more thing. I love this and just in case

you're thinking nobody in the world could possibly understand.

The terrible thing that's happened to me, I'm going to

tell you something right now. If you're honest with yourself,

you can open your eyes and find out, somebody said it worse.

Jesus says this how he said too, by the way, For.

So they persecuted the prophets that were before you By the way,

if you're going through all that stuff, you're in good company,

you're in the illustris company. Of Jeremiah.

Zechariah. Elijah.

You're standing in there with the prophets that were

persecuted far worse than anyone will ever be persecuted in this

life in this country. You're in good company.

In conclusion. Here it is very briefly for the

last time. Here are the Beatitudes And I'll

be brief. You got to be poor in spirit.

For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

It leads to being morning, over your sin.

I'm going to be comforted because I'm forgiven, it's going

to give me the mental disposition of being Meek.

And I'm going to inherit the earth, and that means I'm going

to inherit my allotted portion in heaven.

It means going to heaven. What else?

I'm gonna hunger, and thirst after righteousness.

And Jesus says, I'm going to be filled.

And that's through the word of God.

I'm going to be merciful because I understand that God was

merciful to me. And when I am merciful, I'll get

God's mercy again. And continually, and even people

in this world would be more inclined to be merciful to me if

I'm merciful to others. I got to be pure in heart but

want to see God and that's always connected to proper and

acceptable worship. I'm going to be a peacemaker.

Jesus says, blessed are the peacemakers for theirs is they

shall be called the sons of God. I'm a peacemaker by my

relationships and by Leading other people to Christ so they

can be at peace with God and I just may be persecuted for

righteousness sake, but Jesus says, okay.

You have the Kingdom of Heaven, if you persevere and you hang in

there, don't you quit? Those persecutions come in three

ways. Words bodily harm or even false

rumors. And Jesus says, if those things

happen to you for my name's sake rejoice, And be exceedingly.

Glad That's it. Those are the Beatitudes I have

now preached five, sermons, covered 12 verses so I don't how

long it could take us get through the Sermon on the Mount

but anyway, Sermon on the Mount the Beatitudes.

Now are entered our invitation. We never close a time when we

teach them the word of God, without extending an invitation

to somebody that might be subject to the gospel call.

If you're not a Christian, the steps to become.

One are very simple. You must hear the word of God

Romans 10:17. So, faith comes by hearing and

Romans 10:17

hearing by the word of God. You've done that today, but now

you got a choice after you hear the word of God.

You got to believe with all your heart, Hebrews 11:6 without

Hebrews 11:6

faith. It's impossible to please him

for. He who comes to God, must

believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who

diligently seek him. Then you got to repent of your

sins acts 17 and 30. Truly these times of ignorance,

God, overlooked. But now commands all men

everywhere to repent, that just simply means I'm changing my

life. I'm changing my mind.

I'm changing my life. And here's the best part, it's

going to lead to my change in my relationship with Jesus.

Great stuff. Then what?

I'm going to be willing to confess that Jesus Christ is the

Son of God acts 8:37. Then Philip said, if you believe

Acts 8:37

with all your heart you made and he answered and said, I believe

that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

These are the steps that lead to or up to, or Point toward the

point of salvation. But the next one is, when you're

saved, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins, Mark

Mark 16:16

16:16, he who believes and is baptized, will be saved.

But he, who does not believe will be condemned.

If you've never taken those steps of obedience, we'd love to

assist you in that. Maybe you have, maybe you

straight away. What a great time to come back.

Come repent of those things confess, those things will pray

with you and for you and God, will forgive and restore be one

of either Class come forward while we stand and what we see.

We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the

Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you

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