June 7, 2020

RUN THE RACE: RUN IT WITH HEART!
June 07, 2020
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

It seems crazy that someone would hope to win a game or competition without knowing the rules, doesn’t it? Yet it happens! Can you think of an example?

Open:
Today we continue our series, Run the Race, as we realize there are responsibilities we have as believers, so that we can not only endure the hills, valleys and hurdles in life, but finish well. Jesus was very clear as He gave us the foundations for our training—telling us what godly actions will produce positive results when we live according to His word. Jesus called them “blessings,” or literally “Happy are those who,” have the heart attitude that will bring us to crossing death’s finish line with a “well-done, good and faithful servant.” Today we will look at the first four Beatitudes.

Key Verse: Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the gate of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

Focal Passage: Matthew 5:3-12

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

  • Read Matthew 5:3. For the next several verses, Jesus taught that one would be “blessed” by accepting the truth in each one; what did He mean by blessed? Can you think of any other verses that begin “Blessed is “?
  • Did God mean these would bring happiness to you? What are some things the world (and possibly believers) consider equivalent to happiness? Is this what Jesus meant, or did He mean a much deeper fulfillment?
  • What kind of poverty was Jesus speaking of here? What would cause you to be poor in spirit? Read Isaiah 29:19. Does this verse refer to the same heart attitude? What will the reward be for those who humble themselves before God in repentance?

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted

  • Read Matt. 5:4. What would the world assume the word “mourn” refers to? What did Jesus mean? Had the Old Covenant of sacrifices created a life of sinless perfection? Is there anything we can do to earn our salvation? Is this why we mourn?
  • Besides grieving over our own sinful state, what are some other issues that will give us a broken spirit of mourning? Read Psalm 34:18. What can God do with a broken heart or contrite spirit?
  • What are some of the ways people look for for comfort? Was this what Jesus meant? If you come to Him mourning your sinfulness, realizing that you can do nothing to merit His favor, what will He do with your repentance? Why does this explain how grace and healing begins?

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth

  • Read verse 5. What do most people think the word meek means? Is this correct? Can someone explain what it actually means? Does anyone have an example of meekness? 
  • Do you know anyone who is meek? Will you share why you perceive this person to be powerful, yet filled with kindness and gentleness? In this past week, have you seen meekness displayed by anyone during the turbulent, violent actions that have gone on in America?
  • What will be the inheritance of the meek? Do you think Jesus was speaking of the earth as we now know it? Why or why not?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled

  • Read verse 6. Other than for a time of fasting, have you ever gone without food or water for a period long enough to trouble you? Can you conceive of hungering and thirsting so completely for righteousness that it would break your heart? What are some things we sometimes crave? Have you ever craved righteousness that much?
  • What does God promise to those who crave to be righteous before Him? Where does the change in one’s life have to begin?
  • Do you feel confident as you think about the Bema Seat judgment, and what it will be like? What can take away your concerns?

Close:

Can you imagine what it must have been like for the common people who were listening to Jesus on the hillside in Galilee? As is mentioned in the scriptures, “the common people heard Him gladly,”(Mark 12:37), and “He taught as One having authority, and not as one of the scribes” (Matt. 7:28-29). They were being filled with teaching so different than what was taught in the synagogues that many perceived it as Truth, and recognized Jesus as the Messiah.

Jesus began this discourse with people gathered all around Him. If you’ve been to Israel and stood on the area where He taught the Beatitudes, you can easily imagine the scene. There had to have been a sense of awe that filled them. Some, no doubt, were the ones who said, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s Son?” Others, representing the religious leaders, would have been furious that Someone who had not had the benefit of their teaching would take it upon Himself to teach the people. But the others—the ones whom God had loved from eternity past, were taking it all in, trying to understand what He meant, and in effect, hungering and thirsting to be clean from their sinful nature. How many had only hours or days before death? Would they have absorbed His words, like the thief on the cross, and believed that He was the Messiah?

No one is promised tomorrow—or, for that matter, two minutes from now. Make certain that you are ready to cross the finish line, ready to throw your arms around Jesus, praising Him for what He’s done for you.