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Inductive Study On the Beatitude

Inductive Study on the Beatitudes (1)

Matthew 5:1-3; Phil. 2:5-8; 3:1; 4:4.

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.

The call to study is pertinent as it redefines all of humanity in every field of human endeavor. We are who we are largely because of what we eat and what we study. Just as physical food shapes and sustains the body and contributes immensely to our growth, what we continually study, meditate upon, and expose our minds to shapes our character, worldview, convictions, and ultimately affects our lives. God’s word nourishes our mind; hence the study on beatitudes.

Beatitude comes from a Latin word beatus meaning happy, blessed; while beatitudo describes the profound state of supreme joy. Jesus taught His disciples and those who came to hear Him on these basic fundamental truths that redefined the soundness of their environment through the influence of His teaching. Teachings on Beatitudes reveal the character of Kingdom people, making them identifiable kingdom citizens. Common lifestyles noticed are humble rather than proud, repentant rather than hardened, meek rather than aggressive, hungry for righteousness rather than worldly success, merciful rather than cruel, pure rather than hypocritical, a peacemaker rather than a divider, and faithful rather than compromising.

Jesus does not merely tell us what to do; He describes what kind of people Kingdom citizens become.

1. The Poor in Spirit

Isa. 66:2; Ps 51:17; Luke 18:9-14; James 4:6

Blessed are the poor (not those who are spiritually impressive) in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

To be poor describes those who recognize that they have nothing spiritually to boast about and are completely dependent upon God. Being “poor in spirit” means one recognizing his spiritual bankruptcy and saying, “God, I need You more than ever before.” Ps 42:1-2

This is the foundation of Christian discipleship. Before a person can receive God’s grace, he must recognize his need for it.

Manifestations of the Poor in Spirit

Spiritual poverty produces:

Humility. Prov. 22:4; Acts 20:19; 1 Peter 5:5. It is the state of brokenness and complete denial of self so that Christ can be seen and made manifest in us despite what the man owns or possesses. It is a virtue that demonstrates the indwelling of Christ in a man.
Dependence upon God and not on self-righteousness, human achievements, or societal position. Prov 3:5-7; Jere 17:7-8
Personal examination in the light of God’s word. I am living in conformity with His word and not the world. Psa 139:23-24
Being teachable and pliable in the hands of God. Prov. 15:31-32; Isa 64:8; Jere. 18:6

Inductive Study on the Beatitudes (2)

Isaiah 61:1-3; Matt. 26:75; 2 Cor. 7:8-11.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Jesus was in no way instituting a mourning school where professional mourners are raised and trained. Generally, mourning is a common human disposition to those who are grieving over the loss of a loved one, expression of sadness, disappointment, or rejection. Spiritually, it represents a heart that is sensitive to God and hence can mourn over sin, attachment to ungodly values, separation from God, and worldly allurements that challenge holiness, confront sanctified life, and try to rebrand Christianity to blend with worldly demands.

Practical Lessons

Godly mourning can become a doorway to deeper intimacy with God. Matt 26:75; John 21:15-17; Acts 5:24-29. Peter was a victim of open denial of Christ. He bore precious tears that revealed a heart that loves God unconditionally. He demonstrated a high level of brokenness when he realized his weakness, and by this, he gained the absolute trust and confidence of Jesus. Ps 34:18
Not all sorrow has spiritual impact. 2 Cor. 7:10. This is the pain one feels when he realizes that his error, sin, failure, etc., has grieved God and damaged the relationship. Under this condition, you find it difficult to kneel down and pray; your conscience fights you by constantly pointing to the wrong, though you try to wish it away. It transcends feeling bad because someone caught you, which describes worldly sorrow. Two mindsets point to godly sorrow:
- I can’t believe that I hurt someone. This mindset breeds personal reflection and determination to rewrite the wrong.
- I have sinned against God and hence turn to Him in repentance. Ps 51:4
Your heart must be broken over what breaks God. This portrays genuine conviction and draws the individual towards God, where he finds restoration and comfort. Ps 34:17-19; 51:17
The convicting prayer of the sinner in the temple compared with the proud religious Pharisee stands as a clinical analysis of a godly sorrow, where the former portrayed his recognition of sin and a desire to be right with God. Luke 18:9-14.
The people of Nineveh hearkened to the warning of Jonah despite the manner in which the message was presented and proceeded to fast, believed God, humbled themselves, and turned from their evil ways. Jonah 3:5-10.

May the word of God bring us to a position of reality with Him in our practical daily lives in the name of Jesus. It is the only thing that will matter hereafter.

Inductive Study on the Beatitudes (3)

The Meek

Num 12:3; Psalms 37:11; Matt 11:29; John 13:15; 1 Pet 2:21-23; 1 John 2:6

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5.

Meekness is the finest quality of Christian life that defines the man who is truly dead to self despite available opportunities. He is the man who refuses to drink from the perceived cup of opportunity (like Shimei) by weighing the options on the scale of divine demands. Simply put, meekness is strength under God’s control. It should never be equated to weakness or foolishness. It is a veritable kingdom value that looks away from aggression, power tussle, self-promotion, control, etc.

Qualities of the Meek

He does not need to win every argument, as he brings himself under God’s word as a guide to the ultimate decision. Judges 11:1-2, 6-8. (David lamented over what strength and advantage would have pushed him to do and thanked God for the intervention. 1 Sam 25:21-22, 32-34, 39)
He uses authority responsibly. He does not use power to usurp others. Matt. 11:29; 2 Tim 2:24.
He submits to God’s will with absolute trust in Him to deal with wrongdoing rather than taking matters into his hands. This does not mean you should not protect yourself or others. Rom. 12:17, 19; 2 Thes 1:6.
He is pliable and teachable. James 1:21.
He examines his will and actions in the light of God’s will. James 4:7.
He stands for what is right without compromise. Moses confronted Pharaoh and defended God’s directives without fear or reverence of personality against God’s will.
Meekness is pointed out by Peter in 1 Pet 3:15-16 as a key function in Christian Apologetics (branch of Christian Theology that deals with the defense of the Christian faith).

The Gains of the Meek

Matt 5:5.

Blessed by God. They are often in a state of divine favor and well-being occasioned by God.
Inheritance with peace. They will inherit the earth not by use of force or domination but as a gift from God. Ps 37:11; Roms 8:17; Rev 21:1, 4.
They possess grace to use influence for service rather than domination.

Inductive Study on the Beatitudes (4)

Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness (1)

Isaiah 55:1-6; Psalm 42:1-2; Matt 6:33

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

Hunger and thirst are powerful driving forces that define the state of humanity when expressed in desire for food and water or any other related issue of life. Those who express this same desire for righteousness are filled with relevant responses to their demand. It is this deep, persistent desire that shapes our lives and redefines our Christian calling. The extent to which a man can grow and go in ministry is not a function of when he came into the church but the degree of his thirst, quest, and hunger after righteousness. 1 Cor 15:9-10.

In this study, we shall look at:

The Components of Righteousness
The Conditions for Hunger and Thirst
The Centralities of Our Desire

1. The Components of Righteousness

God will only respond to genuine spiritual hunger by filling those who pay the requisite price. Men and women alike are willing to pay whatever it will cost them to become rich in this present world, including getting it through rituals, sacrifice, while others are ready to sacrifice everything in pursuance of the goal in life. They do so with all the temperance and obedience to the rules to obtain an earthly victory, certificate, medal, crown, etc. 1 Cor. 9:24-27.

Right standing with God.
- Righteousness begins with being rightly related to God, which can only be obtained through salvation. John 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:17.
- Develop faith in God. Heb 11:1, 6
- Love God and all that involves Him: a life of holiness, integrity, obedience, and passion for kingdom matters.
- Study His word where you will be guided and instructed in life. Prov. 4:2; 1 Tim 4:6
Right conduct before God.
- Produces holy conduct. 1 John 3:7
- Live a life of godliness. Titus 2:11-12
- We must reflect the life of Christ that indwells in us. Acts 11:26
Right relationship with others. Acts 24:16
- The theology of horizontal relationship is key in our righteousness, justice, mercy, forgiveness, honesty, love, integrity, etc. Micah 6:8; Acts 24:16.
- Who we are with God will automatically show in the way we treat and relate to others in private and public, including our maids, servants, and masters.

Inductive Study on the Beatitudes (5)

Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness (2)

Isaiah 55:1-6; Psalm 42:1-2; Matt 6:33

Last week, we established the various components of righteousness that can lead to the believer being filled. Today, we shall look at the other two key factors.

2. The Conditions for Hunger and Thirst

Ps 42:1-6; Matt. 5:3, 6

All truth is parallel. Physical hunger begins when the body recognizes its need for food and, in a conscious move for satisfaction, captures and controls human attention through an evolutionary survival mechanism that shifts the brain’s priority toward finding food and keeps it focused until eating satisfies the quest. Spiritual hunger also starts when you recognize the need for God and His righteousness, which consciously equips you with an active, restless pursuit of God’s presence and righteousness. It is this quest that pushed the early contemporary church Christians of the 70s to trek for kilometers in the absence of transport to attend a Bible study, reflecting on what was taught after every service and physically went into tears when the opportunity to serve God, either in singing choruses, teaching Sunday school, arranging chairs, sweeping the church, etc., was denied either because they came late or they examined how they spent their day and felt short of such holy services or because they did not pray enough for the meeting of that day.

Key factors to consider:

Recognize that human strength alone cannot produce true righteousness. Isa. 64:6; Rom 3:23
Desire the pure milk of the word, which is the recipe that strengthens and nourishes our spiritual appetite. Ps 119:97; 1 Pet 2:2
Continue in fellowship with God, which is the backbone of every godly person. This is where we are taught and generate craving desire for prayer, worship, meditation, obedience. Ps 63:1; Jere 29:13; Heb 10:25.
Hunger and thirst naturally create a drive for action. We must actively pursue righteousness. 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22.

3 The Centralities of Our Desire

Matt 6:21, 33; Col 3:1-3

A) Desire Must Be Persistent

Ps 63:1; Phil. 3:12-14; Desire reveals our placement of priorities; you can only pursue with vigor, sacrifice, and zeal what you desire to achieve or accomplish. By desire, a young man is ready to pay all it takes to marry the wife of his choice even when God says no. Righteousness should be a primary desire in every believer; this explains why Christ used the strongest terms (hunger and thirst) to classify it.

The beauty about hunger and thirst is that no matter the expensive nature of the food you eat, hunger will still come after some hours. Hence, hunger and thirst will surely return as long as we live. Our pursuit of righteousness cannot be a one-off desire; it must be continuous. Where then is this strange weakness of coming to church, attending Bible study, etc., coming from?

B) Assurance from Jesus

Matt 5:6; Ps 107:9; John 4:13-15; 6:35; 7:37-38. They shall be filled. The woman at the well received what she never bargained for in life when she had an encounter with Jesus. Tonight, the same experience can be yours. There is a well that never runs dry.

Beatitudes Study (6)

Mercy: The Reward of Being Merciful (1)

PS 41:1-10; Matt. 5:7; Eph. 4:32
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
~ Matthew 5:7

Mercy means responding to another person’s suffering or failure with compassion rather than simply giving them what they deserve. It is an act of love without restraints or strings attached despite obvious reasons for defense. In this study, we shall look at:

THE DYNAMICS OF MERCY
THE DEMANDS OF MERCY

1. THE DYNAMICS OF MERCY. Eph 2:4-5

Mercy does not mean approving sin. It is compassion expressed through action, a decision to withhold judgment that someone deserves by extending grace. It should never be misunderstood as weakness or compromise. It is simply love governed by truth and grace. Its dynamism can be expressed through the following:

Rejecting the sin while loving the sinner to guarantee restoration. 2 Sam 12:1-13; Mark 2:14-17; John 8:1-11.
In the cases above, we see mercy separating the PERSON from FAILURE and confronting SIN so that the SINNER can be restored to God.
Correct someone while remaining compassionate. 2 Cor 2:6-8
Mercy knows when to CONFRONT and to COMFORT. We must correct the behavior without crushing the person. The aim of mercy is to transform and not to destroy.
Establish righteous boundaries without hatred. Gen 13:5-11; 1 Cor 9:19-23.
Rather than dwell together and probably have greater conflict, Abraham established boundaries between himself and Lot. Later on in life, when Lot was captured, Abraham risked himself to rescue Lot. Mercy does not mean giving unlimited access to someone who continually causes harm. Set boundaries. You need to live in order to evangelize to more souls. Despite the glorious heaven Elijah was to embark on, Elisha did not ask Elijah to go with him. 2 Kings 2:9.
Forgive without pretending the wrong never happened. Gen 37; 45:1-15; 50:15-21.
Joseph did not pretend that the betrayal did not happen. He too needed the wounds healed. Gen 50:20. What happened was wrong, but I refuse to allow what happened to determine the condition of my heart. Jesus did not permanently address Peter by his failure. He was restored and responsibility entrusted into his hands. John 21:17.
When we recognize where to apply mercy, and we release it, we will surely reap mercy. Luke 6:36-38.
This is not an attempt to manipulate God. A merciful lifestyle automatically places us in alignment with the character of God and the operation of His mercy.

The question to reflect on is: Am I compassionate toward people who have failed, erred, or wronged me at one time or the other in the journey of life?

Beatitudes Study (7)

Mercy: The Reward of Being Merciful (2)

Micah 6:8; Hosea 6:6; Psa 41:1-10; Prov. 21:13; Col 3:12-13.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

There is a blessedness, cost, and responsibility of showing mercy. It is the willingness to cross boundaries of sacrifice and personal comfort in order to take responsibility for the suffering of others.

The Demands of Mercy

Mercy places a high demand on every Christian as expressed in Matt. 5:7. “Blessed are the merciful” (show, practice, act mercy) is a responsibility, while “they shall obtain mercy” is the blessing. There are seasons when you just have to overlook the past, probably resulting from a wounded mind, abused privileges, and wasted opportunities, in order to show mercy so that you too can reap from the pool of mercy’s resources.

While compassion feels the pains of another person, mercy moves a step further to respond to it. Also, while compassion moves the heart, mercy moves the hands. We shall look at five demands of mercy.

See Beyond Identity

Luke 10:25-37; (Luke 9:51-56 & John 4:9 explosive atomic tribal differences); Gal 3:28; James 2:1-4

In the midst of those who ought to have been frontline practitioners of mercy is a classic dynamic portrait of being merciful. The priest and Levite are presumably revered custodians of mercy, yet the Samaritan, a person from a community known for their hostilities, did not allow difference to cancel duty. The man did not just end at emotions, neither did he generate a Pentecostal message to a wounded man on the dangers of traveling alone in times like these. He was moved into a compassionate action and became the reason why the wounded man had the opportunity to live again. Are you a source of joy to those around you, or do you take delight in seeing people suffer? Genuine mercy may cost money, your reputation, comfort, convenience, etc. Human dignity is too expensive to trade along tribal or political lines. Why is it that football fans put away ethnicity, political bigotry, and unite support to gain victory for their nation or continent in case of world events?
Mercy Interrupts Our Convenience

Luke 10:31-34

While the priest and Levite passed by, the Samaritan stopped. This obviously was not his destination. It was a call to duty by mercy. The demands are diverse. It may mean visiting a neglected person, using your influence to defend someone who is being treated unjustly, etc. You obtain mercy by showing mercy. May your mercy buy mercy for you? Mercy traced Mephibosheth to his hiding and brought him to the King’s table, located Manasseh, and convicted a violent, hostile, and pagan nation of Nineveh to be in favor with God. You can be a recipient of favor tonight.

Inductive Study On the Beatitude

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