Homily Pastor Dan Neary

The Beatitudes (Part 3)

Third of 12

Life in the Kingdom

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• What to do
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• What not to do
• Describe
• Here’s the reality
• Subscribe
• Take it up and live it

Jesus began His sermon with what we now call the Beatitudes… the blessings.

In today’s vernacular, Jesus might have said:

You’ve heard me say that God’s Kingdom is near….
Do you want to know what God’s Kingdom is like?

Sit with me and let me teach you.

First of all, the Kingdom isn’t so much about a place; it is about people.

And it certainly isn’t about a castle; it is about a King. God is that King.

The people in the Kingdom are poor in spirit, and they are happy.

They are happy because they are in the Kingdom, both now and forever.

They are happy because they have come to realize that they have nothing that earns them favor; but by God’s grace they are welcomed into the Kingdom.

The people in the Kingdom mourn; and they are happy.

They are happy because they find comfort;
they are happy because they know the Comforter.

They are happy because they are sorrowful for their sin yet find great joy in knowing that their Savior has made a way in spite of their sin.

The people in the Kingdom are gentle; and they are happy.

They are happy because they have all they need; in fact they have everything.

They are happy because they are not merely subjects of the Kingdom;
they are heirs of the Kingdom.

The people in the Kingdom desperately pursue righteousness;
and they are happy.

They are happy because they are filled with what they need.

They are happy because once they realize how empty they are in and of themselves, they find the fullness of God himself.

They are happy because when they decrease, God increases in their lives.

The people in the Kingdom freely give mercy; and they are happy.

They are happy because they are continually receiving God’s mercy.

They are happy because they have found relief for the consequences of their own sin; they are happy because they can lead others in The Way by demonstrating mercy.

The people in the Kingdom are pure in the very core of their being;
and they are happy.

They are happy because they see God working in and through their lives,
and they will see God eternally.

They are happy because they have been cleansed from above
by the Blood of their Savior.

The people in the Kingdom make peace; and they are happy.

They are happy because they are owned by God.

They are happy because they realize that the only true and lasting peace comes by The Prince of Peace.

The people in the Kingdom suffer in this world; and they are happy.

They are happy because they know
that their real citizenship is in God’s Kingdom.

They are happy because they suffer on account of their Savior.

They are happy because their suffering indicates
that they are His and that their reward is in eternity.

Hardest Beatitude

• Hardest to Understand
• Hardest to Accept

I think it is right to call v. 10 the last of the Beatitudes.

• 11,12 expound on 10

• “Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” serves as bookends

Hardest to Understand

• Most Paradoxical

Hardest to Accept

• Against my natural inclination.
• Craving for acceptance
• Lust for immediate satisfaction
• There’s no escape
• It does not say, at all, that the Christian is blessed with rescue

Hardest to Understand

• Easy to misunderstand
• Persecution comes in so many forms
• Bully
• Race
• Politics
• Systemic
• Position
• Prison
• Much of it has little to do with righteousness… more to do with us
• Foolishness
• Fanaticism
• Cause
• False Positioning as a Martyr
• Sometimes punishment is mistaken for persecution
• Because of Righteousness; Because of Jesus

Hardest to Accept

• We know who generally does the persecuting… religious people
• The religious without relationship
• AND the religious with relationship
• Response
• Retaliation
• Resentment
• Rejoice!

Why?

- The clincher isn’t it

- Why do I have to understand this?

- Why do I have to accept this?

Difference!

The world doesn’t punish goodness.

Your neighbors don’t despise morality.

This culture embraces spirituality.

Diversity is celebrated.

Difference is despised.

Difference reveals the bankruptcy of the kingdoms of this world.

The hardest beatitude? They are all hard. They crush me.

These beatitudes reveal that I have nothing… and they demand everything.

I read these verses, and I read about these verses.

I pray… and I feel like I might just drown.

Drown both in the misery and the glory of it all.

Could this be the most stark difference about Christianity that differentiates it from every other system in the world?

Revealed right here in the Beatitudes… not in the superficial meaning of it all.

If you just glance over these and take the icing off the cake here, the world will congratulate you.

Be merciful. Try to be pure.

Be peaceful. Try to be meek (whatever that is).

Be nice.

Do your best with all this and you’ll be a good person.

If you try your best, the world will congratulate you…
because if you’re any good at it,
they’ll see the best of themselves in your striving.

You know… we’re just all doing the best we can… hang in there champ.

But that isn’t at all what the Beatitudes are about.

What the Beatitudes really reveal is our total weakness met with God’s great strength.

THAT’S the difference.

This description of this Kingdom starts with the clear conviction that the heirs of this Kingdom bring nothing and can earn nothing…

But it also demands adherence to a standard that is impossibly high.

It is both impossibly hard to attain and ridiculously easy to receive.

And that is offensive… and it brings persecution.

It slaps pride in the face because it reveals that no one is righteous and no one can attain righteousness.

I’m afraid for myself that I’ll somehow get inoculated… that I’ll get comfortable with all this.

I’m afraid for you that you’ll get “just enough” of Christianity.

There is no such thing as “just enough;” there is no middle road…
no moderate position.

Am I different than the unbeliever?
Am I different… how would I know… how would I really know?

Persecution for righteousness sake.

This Beatitude, like none other in my judgment, gives us a clear test.

The difference is plainly stated in one of the Scriptures most well known passages beginning with John 3:16

In this age that looks for X-tremes… I fear that we have churches filled with the spiritually inoculated. Just a bunch of nice Christians.

Not that I’m against nice… but is nice all there is?

Is Christianity my hobby?

Is Christianity my job?

Is Christianity worth sacrifice… the ultimate sacrifice?

Do we settle for style?

I wonder if all our effort to make Christianity attractive is, in the end, counterproductive.

In our effort to be appealing, relevant and sensitive do we miss the point entirely and never do folks the favor of confrontation?

Not confrontation with us… confrontation with themselves and there sin…
and confrontation with the Cross of Christ.

Am I merely nice and pretty good?

Or does my life call the people around me to draw conclusions?

It seems that if I really get a hold of this Kingdom, those around me will see that I am different… and they’ll be forced to make a decision.

Some, I hope, will be drawn by the fragrance of the Kingdom.

But others, the Scripture promises, will be repulsed by the stench of their own sin,
and they’ll take it out on me.

This certainly can’t be my desired goal, but it is a definite reality.

And when this persecution comes… rejoice and be glad!