Kingdom Living

As believers we have been made citizens of the kingdom of God. We used to be  children of the world. We were depraved, unable to seek God. However, God chose us to be His children. We were made citizen of His kingdom through that redemptive process called salvation.

Jesus Instructs the Disciples How to Live in His Kingdom?

He does this in Matthew 5 during His Sermon on the Mount. In that sermon He makes a number of statements commonly called the beatitudes. He says a lot more than what we will look at today, but today we will focus on eight beatitudes.

1. Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

Those who are poor in spirit have a right assessment of their spiritual condition. They realize they have no righteousness in themselves. They have come to understand the truth that the only righteousness one may obtain comes by faith in the only righteous person who ever lived--Jesus Christ the Righteous. Those who are righteous have heard the Gospel, repented of their sins, and have believed in Jesus Christ, the sinless Savior.

Not to be poor in spirit is to be self-righteous. These are proud. Those who are proud believe they will be accepted based on their good works, or they rely on God being unwilling to punish their sin. They do not see their sin in truth. They cannot understand because their minds are darkened. As it is written. 

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:4-5) NKJV

We must ask, Do you have a right understanding of your condition? Are you poor in spirit? Do you count all your good works as unmeritorious as they relate to your righteousness? Doing good works is good. However, only by faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross will you see the Kingdom of Heaven.

2. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4).

Mourning is the result of seeing your sin for what it is: a failure to honor the Blessed Savior. Every true believer desires to live a holy life. Of course we often fail to accomplish our desires. Those failures reminded us of our old man. Paul encourages us to put off that old man.

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:20-24)

Seeing failures causes one to be grieved. There is a realization that that old man is still hanging around. When we fail to mortify our sin, it causes the believer to mourn over his condition. 

How is it that mourning makes one blessed? Well the mourning over sin, that Christ addresses here, is not from fear of punishment. It is from a deep conviction by the Holy Spirit, our Comforter. It is the groaning of the soul that makes one desire relief.

Jesus says those who mourn are blessed because they will be comforted. Who has run to the cross after a failure and NOT found our Blessed Savior waiting there with open arms? As it is written, “. . . He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

So, in this life one may find comfort at the cross through repentance and confession, but there is a future comfort, also. The Scriptures tell us there is a future eternal comfort.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord . . . (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:4).

Do not despair in your struggle with sin. It is a sign of life for you. Repent and cry out to the Comforter. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit (Psalms 34:18).

3. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). NKJV

There is no better example of meekness than our Savior. When facing the cruel world leaders He restrain the use of His power in order fulfill His ministry to save His elect. 

Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him, "It is as you say." The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!" But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed. (Mark 15:1-5) NKJV

Why was Pilate amazed? Wasn't it because the response he received was much different than expected? Pilate expected excuses and pleading. Of course, he received neither excuses nor pleading.

Jesus could have avoided all of this pain, suffering, and humiliation and simply destroyed the entire world. He has the power to do so should He will it. However, Jesus responded in meekness.

What is meekness? Some have described it as power under control. John Gill, an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian describes as follows:

[As those] who are not easily provoked to anger; who patiently bear, and put up with injuries and affronts; carry themselves courteously, and affably to all; have the meanest thoughts of themselves, and the best of others; do not envy the gifts and graces of other men; are willing to be instructed and admonished, by the meanest of the saints; quietly submit to the will of God, in adverse dispensations of providence; and ascribe all they have, and are, to the grace of God.

The idea of meekness goes against the world's view of rights and privilege. Societal norms have fostered an increasing number of hostile characters. You don't need to look hard to find individuals violently asserting their rights. As believers, we should seek to model Jesus before the world.

Don't misunderstand, meekness is not cowardliness or weakness. Just the opposite is true. Meekness as said before, in other words, is strength under self-restraint.

So, let us walk in meekness. Do not be quick to respond to others harshly. Give deference to others and rest upon the grace of God. The Scriptures tell us that the meek will inherit the earth. Not this earth at least not in it's present condition; but the new earth or ultimately heaven where our Lord is and in Him of course. 

Please understand, this is not an admonition to work your way to heaven through asceticism. Instead, this is an admonishment to live out your salvation as one who has been blessed with salvation. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, not of works lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit. The word translated meek in the New King James Version is translated gentle in other versions. It is the same root we find in Galatians. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) [emphasis added]

Pray fervently that the Spirit of God fill your heart so that you might walk as our Lord did. The lost will be amazed at your reaction to their insults. Perhaps this will open their hearts to the Gospel. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

4. Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

One might think the filling promised to those who hunger and thirst is the imputation of Christ righteousness. Clearly, those who seek after Christ in faith trusting His atoning work, will be imputed with Christ righteousness.

However, this understanding seems to be outside the context. Christ is speaking to His disciples at this point. He left the multitude and went up on a mountain and sat down to teach them. Most would agree He is describing the ideal attitudes believers should demonstrate.

Ideally, we should hunger and thirst for righteousness. This craving is at its greatest when we have immersed ourselves in the Scriptures. The Word of God is a lamp, and it provides reproofs and instruction (Pr. 6:23). For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

As we consider our lives we will see many shortcomings. Those very shortcomings create in us a hunger and thirst for righteousness. When that happens, God is faithful to fill our hearts with convictions. He fills us with His Spirit enabling us to walk in the Spirit. This results in joy and peace.

As a believer, you have all you need to fulfill your thirst for righteousness. Note what Peter says:

. . .His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:3-8).

Peter gives us our prescription to satisfy our hunger for righteousness in the passage above. Diligence is part of that cure. However, doesn't hunger and thirst cause you to be motivated to seek nourishment? Who, when hungry, doesn't seek food? As a believer, we should expect a thirst for righteousness. We should have a desire to live right for right sake.

5. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

As believers we have received so much mercy already. Let us be thankful for the rich blessing God has poured out on us. However, there seems to be something more here. If not more, then at least a correlation.

The correlation is mercy will be met with mercy. Those who are merciful shall obtain mercy. How does this play out in our lives? Well, the implication is believers should have and cultivate a spirit of mercy and forgiveness. 

Mercy is an intrinsic quality of the Holy Spirit. 

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:16-17) [emphasis added]

Having the Holy Spirit in our heart, we have the capacity and duty to be merciful. Believers will never come under a judgment of condemnation, but we are told to deal with forgiveness carefully. "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions (Mark 11:25).

Clearly, this does not constitute a requirement for salvation. However, it speaks to the disposition of God toward our behavior. We can grieve the Holy Spirit. Note:

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:29-32). [emphasis added]

The practical aspect of this is if we are merciful to others then our failures will be met with mercy. Another aspect of mercy is pity. If we are willing to pity others, God will have pity on us. Therefore, no matter what is in view, forgiveness or pity, we should respond as we would have God respond to us. Before you attack or complain a brother or sister consider how much you have been forgiven—how much mercy you have received. Then it will be much easier for you to be merciful.

6. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

Clearly this blessing will not be fully realized this side of heaven. No one without a perfectly pure heart can see God. Even Moses was not afforded this blessing.

But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. "Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."(Exodus 33:20-23)

Moses got a glimpse of God's back which was a blessing with a profound effect. His skin was glowing after his encounter on the mountain. His appearance was so radical that the people feared him.

It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. (Exodus 34:29-30)

However, there is coming a day when the saints of God will see God. John tells us this is true.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)

We will see the glory of God unveiled. I believe what we will experience, beyond the visual, is a fuller understanding of who God is. We will see without the blinders of the flesh the reality of God. OH, what a blessing that will be. 

However, there is a blessing for the pure in heart now. The more we immerse ourselves in God's Word by faith, the more we see who God is. Learning of Christ now will increase our longing to see God. Therefore, as the writer of Hebrews says:  " . . . since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"  (Hebrews 12:1-2). Amen!

7. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

Who is a peacemaker? Notice they are not a peacekeepers like police. The police restore order and safety in volatile situations. However, the police, while they may help bring about mutual agreement between two opposing parties, their main concern is to prevent violence and enforce the laws of the land.

A peacemaker helps others to find mutual agreement. The police seek to stop violence and public disputes without regard to the parties agreement. The police might stop a fist fight between two individuals, but those individuals will likely still hold animosity in their hart for the other person. It is the peacemakers who are blessed not the peacekeepers. 

It should be mentioned that peacemakers don't just seek compromise between parties. To seek compromise in dealing with sin is to cover a festering wound. It will not heal. It must be cleaned then bandaged. This is of what the false profits were guilty.

They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, 'Peace, peace!' When there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14)  "That is, the false prophets and lying priests, who pretended to be physicians, and to heal the sickly and distempered state of the people; and they did do it, in their way, but not thoroughly; they did not search the wound to the bottom; they drew a skin over it, and made a scar of it, and called it a cure; they made light of the hurt or wound . . ." (John Gill).

No, peacemakers are those who walk in the peace of God. They have the ability to stay above the fray and facilitate true peace. If sin is involved, it is dealt with in a loving way. Repentance is sought when needed. Clarity is brought to those involved. Their main concern is unity in the Body of Christ.

For example, a peacemaker will seek to bring two brothers to a place of unity. Like Paul said. Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (Philippians 2:1-2). Paul is not saying to the Philippians you must think exactly like each other on all issues, like carbon copies of each other. That is unanimity not unity. Instead he was calling the Philippians to be united in their love for Christ and each other. He wants them to agree on the major doctrines of the Gospel, and to be busy spreading it the world. Peacemakers will have the ability to focus on those things that are important and bring others to see the same.

They will be called children of God. It doesn't say they will be children of God. These are those who already are children of God. They will be called children of God for their demonstration of Christ likeness. Like Christ, they will be helpful in bringing brothers together in unity.

 8. Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted for Righteousness

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:10-12).

This blessing is for those who have been trumpeting Christ by word or deed. Just living a holy life will often bring persecution to the believer. This truth magnifies the hatred people have for our Lord. Those outside of Christ rejoice in evil.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:28-32). 

Let us be careful to recognize that this persecution comes upon believers for righteousness sake. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). Don't miss the connection between our identification with Christ, and the resulting persecution. The world hates Christ and it will hate anyone associated with Him. People may be persecuted for all manner of reasons, but this blessing is reserved for those who are persecuted for Christ sake!

Oh how wonderful the thought that our reward is great in heaven when we suffer for righteousness sake. Let us be bold and magnify Christ in word and deed. Salvation is by faith alone and grace alone, but our rewards are tied to our works. 

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward (1 Corinthians 3:11-14).

You may be thinking, "That is all good, but it is in the future, how do I appreciate it now?" Here are two thoughts to ponder: One, think about your association with prophets who were before you. Two, think about what it means to be blessed.

Should we not consider it an honor to be associated with the prophets and Christ? Consider the following admonition:

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Finally, think about the joy knowing that you are suffering for Christ! Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven . . . (Matthew 5:12). This may seem counter intuitive, like oil and water don't mix, but this is joy.

Joy is not happiness. Joy is the settled peace knowing that Christ knows all about your situation and will see you through. Joy has an anchor in heaven and realizes . . . that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).

Brethren, walk in the Spirit and be bold today!