Integrity- People of God

The beatitudes are the teaching of Jesus on being blessed of God. God tells us that His ways are not our ways. It becomes transparently clear with Jesus’ teaching as to who are blessed and how to be blessed. In these teachings Jesus gives us another perspective, or another way to look at life and the things we are going through. 

We all know how to respond in anger, bitterness, hate and revenge to life’s problems because it is what we have been taught and is part of the fallen nature of mankind. Jesus comes with simple phrases that have profound meanings, that challenges our very being, which is the essence of who we areand who we want to be in this life.

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. NKJ

In this life, society despises, shuns, rejects and ignores the poor. Those who are homeless and who are of low degree are invisible to mainstream society. The author, Ralph Ellison, of “The Invisible Man” alludes to, the fact that some people become nameless and invisible as they move through society. Though they are worthy of respect and should be valued as one created in God’s image they are often overlooked, unseen and invisible to those in mainstream society and those of higher means. Though the world may treat them as obscure or unseen, their principal and overarching value rests in the fact that they are a living soul, breathed from God and created in His imageand not in what society deems them to be. 

God calls the person who is poor and humble in their spirit, blessed. A meek and humble spirit is of great worth to God. Pride and arrogance were the things that caused Satan to rise against God in heaven and he took a third of the angels with him when he failed. God has respect to the person who does not esteem themselves higher than they should. We should respect ourselves and others to the degree that God has regarded us. We are worthy because we are His image bearers but not to thesense or the degree of haughtiness and pride. 

There is a promise and an assurance to those who are humble and modest in their spirit. They are blessed, fortunate and divinely favored of God and they are given access to the kingdom of heaven on earth. Those who are humble and poor in spirit, God not only reveals Himself, but the eyes of their understanding are opened to how they should operate and navigate in the kingdom of heaven on earth.  

Ephesians 1:17-18 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, NKJ

We see those who continuously walk-in pride and conceit are frequently blinded by their own self-importance. They often lose sight of basic truths and their rational judgement gets off course as to what is right according to God’s word.  Their eyes have been blinded by the little “g” god of this world, Satan,who is the prince of darkness and is the author of pride and arrogance. 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.  NKJ

Jesus called those who mourn, grieve or express feelings of sorrow, because of their loss, blessed. Because they are supported and reassured through the word of God, that they will have eternal life with Him. 

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

This world tends to look down of those who grieve and are sorrowful because of a loss of a job, income, a home or a loved one. People are constantly being told to get over it and to move on. This fallen world has little patience for those who continue to weep and express grief, because it has nothing to offer those who are mournful. God has an answer for those who mourn, Jesus said they will be comforted. God the Father has sent His Holy Spirit to be a comfort and a guide for those who trust in Jesus. 

John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. NKJ

John 14: 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. KJV 

John 15: 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the 

Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: KJV

Jesus says the meek are not only blessed but they will inherit the earth. This fallen world system tends to see those who are meek as weak, or as a coward or fearful. This is because society assigns those terms as a different definition to the word meek. The world views meekness as being timid, docile and unassuming. God’s definition of meek and humble is one who is strong and chooses to bring their strength under control. We see this in Jesus. He laid aside rights as the Son of God in heaven to become like mankind so to bring redemption and salvation to humanity. 

Matthew5:5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. NKJ

Philippians 2: 5-8 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross NKJ

Being humble and meek are attributes of God. Jesus chose to humble Himself that He may fulfill His God given purpose. Each follower of Christ must choose the path they will take in this life. Whether to walk with the mindset that is humble, which in essence is the expression of God’s love, or to live in pride according to this world. Christ followers should know they are royalty, as children of The Most-High King, God, but they are to express themselves in meekness, having theirstrength under control with a humbleness of mind for the benefit of others. 

Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. NKJ

Meekness is the opposite of Satan’s characteristics of pride and arrogance, which tend to make people think more highly of themselves than they should. 

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. NKJ

God has promised that the meek shall inherit the earth. As with any inheritance it is a promise of a future blessing, which is an eternal blessing for ourselves and our children. Satan is constantly tempting humanity with the pleasures of sin for a season, with immediate gratification. Telling them they can have it now, but it is not without a great price of destruction in the end.

Some people think they can deal with the demonic and witchcraft to get what they want instantly and then walk away when they are ready. This is another lie of the enemy. Satan hasbeguiled many with the promise of immediate delights and pleasures, but will take them down further into evil and depravity then they intended to go, and will keep them longer in a state of wickedness then they planned to stay. Satan is a thief and he comes to fulfill his ultimate purpose, which is to kill, steal and destroy all who are created in the image of God.

Hebrew 11:25-26 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. NKJ 

Many people will not only forfeit their own souls and their future but that of their families, their children and their posterityfor future generations. Their choice to yield to Satan’s devices or witchcraft can sacrifice their entire family on the altar ofinstantaneous indulgence and gratification and set them on a course of eternal condemnation. Each and every one of us has an opportunity to turn from this path of wickedness and repent to receive and accept Christ as our Savior and Deliverer from our wicked ways. 

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.NKJ

In Christ we not only have an opportunity for an abundant lifeon earth, but a future inheritance and an everlasting and eternal promise for us, our children and our posterity. 

Psalm112:1-4 Praise the Lord, Blessed is the man who fears the Lord Who delights greatly In His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. Unto the upright there arise light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. NKJ