It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

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Beatitudes Matthew 5:11

To be persecuted, despised and being evilly or falsely spoken of because of, the righteousness and the light of Christ that is in you, Jesus says you are blessed. You are divinely favored of God, highly exalted of God and have awesome access to God’s kingdom and His divine goodness on earth. This is a hard saying and it is difficult to bear it without the Holy Spirit and the understanding of God’s kingdom on earth.

Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  NKJ

Our natural being is full of pride and wants to be overly indulged and admired because our fallen nature is self-focusedand wants others to respect, revere and highly esteem us in this life. When people fail to receive this recognition, respect and admiration, that they believe is due them, it can lead to a lack of restraint, violence and debauchery. It is the love of self that causes people to hate, despise and even murder others for an act that appears to be disrespectful, insolent or is an insult to them.  Pride is the prevailing character of Satan. It was pride that caused him to rise up against his God and Creator and to try to esteem himself above the Most-High God, but caused him to becast out of heaven and destined for the pit of hell.

Isaiah 14:12-14 How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart:‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregationOn the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. NKJ

Those who think more highly of themselves than they should,tend to be more inclined to respond in pride, hate and violence. Whether it be a person, a nation or a race of people, when they begin to exalt themselves over others they are walking in the character of Satan. Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy those who are in the likeness of God, those who reflect His light, His image, His humility and His love. 

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus calls us blessed and highly exalted when the enemy comes to abuse, scorn us or to harass and bully us because the life of Christ is being reflected in us to a dark world. It may not feel as though we are highly esteemed or blessed when we are going through these problems in the natural, but in the spiritual kingdom we are making advancements for God’s kingdom to progress and spread throughout the earth.

Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

When we view life from God’s kingdom principles on earth we will understand our life is not just about us living comfortably. God is molding us into the image of Christ and at the same time He is advancing His kingdom of light in a dark world. Violence,hostility and cruelty is allowed to take place in this world,because it is the outcome of mankind’s choice. It is a direct consequence of the decision they made to disobey God and follow Satan. Though God does not interfere with our bad choices or disobedience, He will use them and work through them for our betterment. 

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 

God is not responsible for the chaos and violence that is taking place in this world, it is the result of mankind’s action at the fall when they gave over dominion of the earth to Satan. Satan is the ruler of darkness and comes to persecute and revile those created in God’s image. God did not leave us without hope even though we all have made bad choices but God will use those mistakes and rebellious acts for our good.  

All our troubles and problems may not be directly caused by us,but we live in a fallen world where Satan is destroying all he can. We learn through our experiences to be like Christ. It isour Christ like responses and actions that will reflect God’slight in dark places, which may be the very tool used or the seed sown in someone’s life that may bring them and others to Christ. 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

It takes the Holy Spirit to give us God’s kingdom perspective and for us to understand that we are in warfare with an enemy. Satan is attacking, persecuting, oppressing and causing violence against God’s kingdom and His people. It is faith in the love of God and His faithfulness toward us that permits us to perseverethrough difficult times and situations. This will allow the loveof God and the forgiveness of God to be seen in us. In this, we will show a dying world how-to walk-in love and how to lovethe unlovely and forgive the unforgiveable. 

2 Corinthians 4:1,17-18 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

It is when we understand, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that whatever the injustice, persecution or abuse, we are to see it as God’s opportunity to reconcile a lost soul to Himself. Just as Christ reconciled the whole world through the injustice and violence He experienced, we too can choose to trust God and pray for those who have misused and abused us. We then are giving God the legal right and access to intervene and intercede in that person’s life in our behalf.

2 Corinthians5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, NKJ

Because of God’s divine goodness and mercy, we are able to bring reconciliation to the people on earth. Those who are persecuted for Christ’s sake are blessed, divinely favored and highly exalted of God. They are also the ones who have access to God’s kingdom.

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Beatitudes Matthew 5:6-8

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled. NKJ

To be blessed is not some soft creampuff state of being, as the world has tried to define it, so to confuse people that they would fail to understand the true meaning of God’s word. To be blessed according to the Biblical reference is to be fortunate,divinely favored of God, to be given access to the kingdom of heaven on earth and to be highly exalted of God. It is a great thing to be blessed of God and also a great privilege for us to be able to bless and exalt God as being the true and living God.

Psalms 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Jesus said blessed are those who hunger and thirst, that is those whose souls are in a painful state of drought for the lack of seeing God’s righteousness. This righteousness is shown in the quality and honesty of right living, which is to do justly and justice to all mankind, and to live decently, morally and humbly in a fallen and corrupt world.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? NKJ

Not many people in most modern affluent countries have experienced true hunger or thirst where they have gone without food or water for days. To hunger is when the body is in a painful or weaken state, caused by the need for food and this causes a strong desire or craving to be satisfied. To thirst is a physical condition caused by the lack of water or fluids, which causes dryness of the mouth and throat, again causing a strong craving and desire for fluids or water.

To hunger and to thirst is hard, strenuous and tough on the body. Some people’s bodies will be in such pain that they become irritable and bad-tempered and some will use that as an excuse to be mean or cross with people. Those who are longing for God to make things right and have a strong craving or desire to see righteousness in their live, homes and communities, Jesus calls them blessed and they will one day be filled. God has promised to satisfy the yearning of those who have that strong passion for righteousness and one day they will live free from a world of sin, disgrace and degradation.

Revelation 7:16-17 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

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

To be merciful is to act in the character of God. It is God’s mercy that saved us. It was God’s compassion that saw our need and not just our failures. It was His mercy and love that provided salvation for all humanity, though they were loss because of their rebellion and sin against their God and Creator.Blessed are the merciful, those who show forgiveness when forgiveness is not merited or earned. Blessed are those who are kind, thoughtful and generous to those who are meanspirited. Blessed are those who give compassion, kindness and concern to those who have wronged them, and blessed are they who freely give to those who are in need though they do not merit it. God has promised they will obtain and receive this mercythemselves.

Psalms 136:1, 23-26 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever; And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever; Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever. Oh give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.

God is a merciful God and He expects His children to look like Him and to reflect His character, countenance and glory in a dark and perverse world through the life they live.

Matthew 5: 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

When the Bible speaks of the heart it is speaking of the true essence of the person’s soul, their very being, as to who they are internally and not just the façade, disguise or smokescreen they present to others. To be pure in heart is to be free from this fallen world’s ways that are filthy, poisonous and contaminating, the things that will pollute the heart and soulwhen they are practiced.

The Bible tells us what defiles, ruins and corrupts a person, it is when there are evil thoughts, judgements and feelings toward others. It is when a person lies or gives false information regarding someone; or they plan to steal or have thoughts of betrayal, treachery or lewdness toward others and also to speak profanities, curses or wickedly to others. All these acts can produce uncleanness in the heart of mankind.

Matthew 15: 18-20 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

The pure in heart is a person whose heart is free from these contaminating things, whose heart is focused on God and thinks on the things that are pure. This can only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who are without the love of Christ in their hearts are prone to the dangers of having their hearts poisoned, contaminated and ruined by the darkness of this fallen world. It takes the love of God and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to give us the ability to die to self and the wrongs that have been done to us. He gives us the ability to let hate goso we can forgive others and thereby, we are able to think on the things that are pure, lovely and praiseworthy.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

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The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:3-5

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

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