JSM | Identity .3 | Crave Righteousness (6/23/24)

 Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount | Identity .3 | Crave Righteousness 
By Rev. Nicholas Sybrowsky
Heb. (נּט רּקהץ מּןביםךשד דּטנרם'דלט)
Gk. (Βψ Ρεω. Νιξηολασ Σψβροωσκψ)

Series Playlist URL: Sermon Series Playlist

Watch and listen LIVE:  YouTube@DoveCreekAGTV

Invocation:

The Lord’s Prayer.

Opening Word & Reading for Worship:

Scripture declares that we are made in the “image of God” (Scripture).  Jesus the son of a Carpenter sent by God born of the virgin Mary started his public ministry near age 33

 "(1) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: (2) And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, (3) Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (5) Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (6) Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (7) Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (8) Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (9) Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (10) Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11) Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. (12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."  ~Matthew 5:1-12 (KJV)

Let’s sing praises to our King.  Our Majestic King Jesus now seated at the right hand of God the Father.  Let’s praise Him for substitutionary work upon the cross.  His blood prepares & qualifies us to be received by the Creator.  Praise God for promises to be our God and we be people of God.  Let’s praise the Father for we are His beloved children and He walks in us and lives within us.  Sing praises to our God for helping us prioritize what’s most important, let the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob know that He is number one in all detail.  Give thanks to God for providing you daily bread & helping you in your great time of need.  This need may be ever present to you today.  If in sorrow, let us cry.  If in joy, let us shout praise to God in the highest.  Praise God for His mercies endure forever!  Take and receive forgiveness and forgive that you not have vengeance hinder purity of heart.  Give thanks to the Lord for power to overcome sin & power to prevail in the face of temptation & evil.  Empowerment to overcome adversity.  Weather happy or sad today, let us sing praises in His sanctuary!

The Good Life of God’s Kingdom has come to the least likely People.  

Intro:

Thus far in this sermon series we’ve examined the entire outline of the famous Sermon on the Mount taught by Jesus the Christ our Lord.  We’re still in the introduction section of His message regarding Kingdom Identity also known as the ‘Ideal character [traits] of His disciples’ as described by the late, yet alive Rev. A. Lukyn Williams author within The Pulpit Commentary of Funk & Wagnalls Company 1913 A.D.  

 Main Text:  Kingdom Identity Mt. 5:1-16 | The Good Life 5:3-12 | :6

We’ve examined verses 1-5 of chapter 5 which includes 3 of 8 ‘blessings’ also known as ‘Beatitudes’.  We’ve covered the ‘poor in spirit’, ‘mourners’ & the ‘meek’.  Today I intend to get us into the next blessing which is verse 

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” ~Mt 5:6 (MEV)  

But first let’s revisit some content related to the last few weeks.  You can catch up with the previous messages on our YouTube@DoveCreekAGTV and/or read the sermon manuscripts right here online URL inthebookoflife@blogspot.com.  The topics of revisit are being comforted in our mourning, the word ‘blessed’, blessing & reward and the book of Matthew furthermore.  

1. The Book of Matthew. 

 Five Discourses of Jesus or is it Nine?  The Pulpit Commentary of Gloucester, England Oxford University. Scholars describe 9 Discourses within Mt. Not suggesting either is wrong or that both are right, simply observing a nuance of contrast that prompts further investigation by me.  It very well may be that they included Luke in their Matthew commentary.  The reference of 5 comes from online source Wikipedia.org June’24.    

2. Blessing and reward.  Or rather Contemporary Titles.

Theologian Rev. A. Lukyn Williams, M.A. was a Hebrew New Testament scholar at Jesus College, Cambridge and the (Principal of the Hebrew Missionary College of the London Society for promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews) Williams describes Verses 3-16 the (Beatitudes) subtitle as ‘The ideal character of his disciples’ (compared to ‘Kingdom Identity’ BibleProject).  Both subtitles are very useful in helping us understand the Beatitudes; the good life and how we ought to live in community.  We ought to strive to fulfill this call to live up to the standard of bearing the “image of God”.  Thanks be to God for empowerment through the blood of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

3. Blessed. 

More on the topic of the word “blessed” used here in Mt.  Sermon by Rev. B. C. Caffin, M.A. 

renders “Blessed” ‘not as recipients of blessing from God, or even from men, but as possessors of “happiness”(cf. the Authorized Version of Jn xiii. 17, and frequently). [In the situation of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. Jesus said, "(17) If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."  ~John 13:17 (KJV)] [Scripture] describes them [as blessed] in reference to their inherent state, not to the gifts or the rewards that they receive. It thus answers in thought to the common ([Hebrew] see pg.146 TPC Mt.) of the OT…Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  The first Beatitude is the sum and substance of the whole sermon.  Poverty of spirit stands in contrast to self-sufficiency (Rev. 3:17) [In the message to the church in Laodicea (lay·ow·duh·see·uh), "(17) You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." (Rev 3:17 NIV)] and as such is perhaps the quality which is most of all opposed to the Jewish temper in all ages (cf. Rom. 2:17-20).” [Where Paul is attempting to correct the Jews he states, "(17) You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God's law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. (18) You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. (19) You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. (20) You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God's law gives you complete knowledge and truth." (Rom 2:17-20 NLT)]~ Rev. B. C. Caffin, M.A. author within The Pulpit Commentary of Funk & Wagnalls Company 1913 A.D.  

What’s the point Pastor? 

 In other words, when I say that driving a car is inherently dangerous you know that when driving we can train and learn to mitigate the risks of injury, but despite implementation of such mitigations danger is ever present hence when you get into a vehicle you are positionally in danger of injury.  Similarly in illustration when you’ve accepted that Jesus is the Messiah and you choose to also accept him as your Lord and Savior you become inherently sanctified viz. positional sanctification with Christ’s substitutionary work causing imputed righteousness that in turn promotes personal identity as a citizen of Kingdom Identity or ‘ideal character traits of a disciple’ of Jesus.  This inheritance causes a type of happiness that is much deeper than the naked eye or rather earthly happiness.  When you’re in Christ Jesus you’re ‘blessed’ or ‘Oh how happy’ to be ‘poor in spirit’ for you have the promise of God viz. ‘the kingdom of heaven’.  It’s inherited grace not earned through personal merit, but only through acceptance of the gift presented by Jesus himself.  Thus, the reward I speak of in this message is Jesus the Christ.  Jesus is the reward and it’s in Jesus we have inherited blessing and happiness even if we face death.  We know that we have a future home, and this is the greater hope of that which is to come.  Oh, how blessed you are when poor in the spirit! 

 Remind you that the Parable of the Sower is the framework to all other parables.  As Jesus said, “they hinge on this parable.” ~Paraphrase of Mark 4:13  Now I know Jesus actually said "they are key" not hinge, but follow along with my paraphrase.  Jesus is the door, the parable of the sower is the framework and the parables connect us to effective spiritual growth, maturation and ministry effectiveness.  And here in the introduction of the sermon on the mount the first beatitude is the ‘sum of and substance of the whole sermon.’  If you get nothing else out of this series, hear and obey this.  Humility before God is the way to God.  Now, don’t go to sleep on me for the next twenty weeks.  There is more in store for you!  

4. More on :4 Comforted

…Quoting Ps. Chuck Smith again.  

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." [Ps. 30:5] Oh, how glorious it is when God brings us through the trial, brings us out onto the other side. We come out into the victory and again into the glorious joy of the Lord. We go through the trials of weeping, we go through these experiences of difficulty, and we can't see the hand of God. We don't know the way of the Lord. And we spend the time weeping, in prayer, travail, our soul travailing unto God. All night in travail, but as the morning comes, and God begins to shower forth His love and His plan and His purpose, oh what joy we get when God brings us through that night of hardship. As we have wept and travailed, and then we come out on the victory side and see the glorious victory of the Lord. ~Ps Chuck Smith Commentary BLB Psalm 30:5.  

Personally, I think the Psalmist left us a figurative pun within this Psalm and Jesus enhances our view within the 2nd beatitude 5:4.  Some of you are in a long night.  Don’t limit your viewpoint in a scenario of mourning.  What I mean is that sometimes weeping goes beyond the night.  Sometimes this night of weeping might be a form of darkness that we must travail and weep unto God until he delivers us out of that darkness.  Mourning is important to the compassionate identity of our image.  Having been made in the image of God, if we fail to mourn loss, we may fail to nurture the compassion that comes from the likeness of God.  Weep.  Weep.  Jesus wept.  Lord teach us to weep.  Let us not get tired of weeping but allow us strength to endure and mourn that which breaks your heart.  

Finally, my beloved.  We arrive to beatitude number 4 of 8.

5. Hunger and Thirst Filled :6

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” ~Mt 5:6 (MEV)  

This is one of the most important verses in the Sermon on the Mount.  Without this intense desire for righteousness, a person will not pursue a deeper relationship with God or try to develop the rest of the character traits Jesus describes.  

Our scripture as a church for the year is

 Hosea 10:12 “Sow to yourselves righteousness, reap mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and rains righteousness upon you.”

In my opinion, without pursuit of God and His Holy Image we lose sight of who we are.  We must proactively labor to plant righteousness within our souls.  We must seek His face and do so tenaciously and persistently in order to gain a clear understanding of His righteousness.  I’m NOT suggesting our efforts cause grace, but I am suggesting that if we sit by idle in this life of opportunity, we will miss the point of living and dying.  

Let me remind you of a Pneumonic Acronym that the Lord has helped me develop.  HOTTER Hearts for God must be nurtured.  Hotter hearts Honor God, Obey God, Thank God, Thirst for God, remain Teachable and moldable for God and remain ever Repentant to changing for God!  HOTTER Hearts live for the glory of God.  Morality is taught and trained into us.  We are all born with the proclivity to sin against the Creator and our neighbor.  

"(6) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Pro 22:6 KJV)

…you must fix these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, so that they may be as frontlets between your eyes (19) You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  ~Dt. 11:18-19 (MEV)

In our mid-week study, held on Wednesday’s from 7-8pm, we were exposed to one reason for why we study the Bible.  Can I share that with you today?   One reason we study the Bible is because it is essential to growth.  It is basic to growth.  The Hendrick’s father and son authors of Living by the Book, the art & Science to reading the bible have introduced me to this note that I recommend your write within your personal Bible.

1 Peter 2:2 "(2) Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation--" (1Pe 2:2 ESV)

This is Peter’s recommended approach shared by the Hendrick’s authors of our mid-week Bible Study. 

 “Let me give you 3 words to unpack the truth contained here [from 1 Peter].  [Attitude, Appetite & Aim]. Write these in the margin of your Bible, next to this verse.  The first one is attitude.  Peter is describing the attitude of a newborn baby.  Just as the baby grabs for the bottle, so you grab for the book.  The baby has to have milk to sustain its life physically; you have to have the Scriptures to sustain your life spiritually.  But [Peter] also says a word about your appetite for the Word.  You should “long” for it, he says.  You’re to crave the spiritual milk of God’s Word.  Now to be honest, that’s a cultivated taste, [or rather an acquired taste]. Every now and then somebody will say to [the Author Hendricks], ‘Professor Hendricks, I’m really not getting very much out of the Bible.”  But that’s a greater commentary on the person [asking the question] than it is on the Book.

Psalm 19:10 says that Scripture is sweeter than honey, but you’d never know that judging by some believers.  You see, there are three basic kinds of Bible students.  There is the ‘nasty medicine’ type.  To them the Word is bitter—yech!—but it’s good for what ails them.  Then there is the ‘shredded wheat’ kind.  To them Scripture is nourishing but dry.  It’s like eating a bale of hay.  But the third kind is what [Professor Hendricks call’s the ‘strawberries-and-cream’ folks.  They just can’t get enough of the stuff.  How did they acquire that taste?  By feasting on the Word.  They’ve cultivated what Peter describes here—an insatiable appetite for spiritual truth.  Which of these three types are you?

There’s a purpose to all of this, which brings us to the third word, aim. What is the aim of the Bible?  The text tells us:  in order that you might grow.  Please note—it is not only that you may know.  Certainly, you can’t grow without knowing. But you can know and not grow.  The Bible was written not to satisfy [our] curiosity but to help [us] to conform to Christ’s image.  Not to make you a smarter sinner but to make you like the Savior.  Not to fill your head with a collection of biblical facts but to transform your life” ~Living by the Book pg. 21-22. 

Did you catch the 3 words in the margin of your Bible?  Attitude, Appetite & Aim.  

 

"(6) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Mat 5:6 ESV) 

 

In Jn 4:14 "(13) Jesus said to [the woman of Samaria also known as the woman at the well], "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, (14) but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (15) The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to [Jacob’s well and] draw water."" (Jhn 4:13-15 ESV)

"(6) 'Happy those hungering and thirsting for righteousness -- because they shall be filled." (Mat 5:6 YLT)

Jn 6:48-58 speaking to the Jews he said, 

"(48) I am that bread of life. (49) Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. (50) This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. (51) I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (52) The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat? (53) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (54) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (55) For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. (56) He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. (57) As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. (58) This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." (Jhn 6:48-58 KJV)

"(6) God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied." (Mat 5:6 NLT)

6. Next Week 

If led by the Spirit I will return to some of this :6 otherwise we will be onto the fifth blessing :7 and maybe some more.  Isn’t this fun? 

 (7) God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Mat 5:6-7 NLT)

Conclusion:

"(47) "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes [in Jesus] has eternal life." (Jhn 6:47 NLT)  

and if you are knowing that you have eternal life will you be oh so happy!  For blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  And blessed are you who hunger and thirst for righteousness for you shall be filled.  

Exhortation: 

Those being filled by our generous Heavenly Father are hungry & thirsty for justice and/or righteousness.  They’ve been positionally sanctified and are being progressively sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  They eagerly await perfected sanctification. 

“Tests of Sanctified Character

Some of the acid tests of sanctified character will always be:

1. Can you labor on cheerfully without earthly reward?

2. Can you toil on hopefully without tangible returns?

3. Can you travel the road of frequent criticism without bitterness?

4. Can you lift and agonize and sacrifice and pray and give, way down out of sight, while others lead the procession and receive the honors? 

In other words, are you willing to be soil in which providential events may grow, while others fill the places of leaves and blossoms on the trees of time?”—Selected – Walter B. Knight (Author of 3,000 Illustrations for Christian Service, Character pg. 95)

Altar Call to Action:

If this sounds like you, please come forward to the altar for prayer.  If this doesn’t sound like you because you lack the character traits described, please come forward to the altar for prayer.  For at the altar of prayer we can alter the future of our identity in Christ.  We can acquire an attitude & appetite for the Word.  At the altar of God, we can adjust our aim to not only know about God, but to know and grow with God.  For when we grow then we will go for God.  The secret of happiness is humility with God.  If you want greater humility of spirit with God, come forward to pray at the Altar.

If you sense conviction to approach the Altar find a local Bible Centered Church.  Send an email and or comment on the post so we can pray with you and for you.  Our church will pray for you Dove Creek Assembly of God

Prayer & song.  

Tell it to Jesus Pg. 404 of Hymns of Glorious Praise. 

Benediction:  The Lord’s Prayer.