Happy #1

Read this featured blog post by Pastor Jeremy Vines

Introduction

Wouldn‘t it be great if we could go camping with Jesus?




Our Family Camp is coming up in July 23-26


Camping with us is great!


Camping with Jesus is better!


According to Eureka Camping.com


10 Health Benefits of Camping

  1. Fresh air
  2. Socialization
  3. improved moods
  4. Less stress
  5. Exercise
  6. Sunshine
  7. A good nights sleep
  8. Good Food
  9. New Challenges


Camping makes you HAPPY!



Gospel of Matthew

Did you know that Matthew, who wrote the Gospel of Matthew, in the Bible recorded exactly that. Jesus on a mountain teaching the people.


Matthew was a tax collector, so just so you understand that dynamic - it means he was a Jewish man who hated by all the other Jewish people. He collected the tax money from he Jews and gave it the Romans. Tax collectors had a terrible reputation - because not only did they take the money from the people, but they often kept a lot for themselves.


But Matthew had an encounter with Jesus that changed his life.



Matthew 9:9 (ESV)Jesus Calls Matthew


(Jesus) saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.


Matthew did Follow Jesus - and he gave us one of the most thorough Gospels that we have today.


The only thing we know about Matthew’s encounter with Jesus is that Jesus passed by his tax collecting booth and Jesus said to him - “follow me”.


That’s what we know - but I think we can presume some logical interaction - Matthew clearly was a witness to the acts and reputation of Jesus before that moment. He almost certainly was an eye witness to the healing of a paralyzed man and the rejection of Jewish religious authority.


But most importantly - I think we can assume that Matthew felt that Jesus would reject him, as he was rejected by most of the Jews for being a tax collector. Many places in the Bible the words Tax collected include the word ”Despised”...


Yet, what does Jesus say to him - “Follow me”. Instead of rejecting him - he invited him.


Another thing we can assume about Matthew is that he was detail oriented. We can gather this from his Gospel writings and from the fact that he was a tax collector.


He gives us a detailed record of the day people went camping with Jesus - known as a the sermon on the mount.


The beginning of the sermon on the mount is a portion of scripture known as the beatitudes.


I want to look at these today but I want you see them from a different perspective.


Most of the time we see these from the point of view of blessing. Which makes sense in that everyone of them begins with this line.


“Blessed are…”


But here is where I see a problem with much of modern theology. Many people today view blessing as an entitlement.

Entitlement Thinking

Entitlement thinking is when we believe that someone - anyone - owes us something. Now this can be a subtle undertone in modern teaching or an outright platform of modern teaching.


For example - much of modern teaching about healing is that God wants to heal your physical body - everytime. Every single time and that only variable to healing is exclusively our level faith.


This leads to a wide variety of false teaching and beliefs - like saying, I was already healed it just hasn’t manifested yet. Listen - that is not biblically accurate teaching. That is NOT what the Bible teaches us. It is entitlement thinking to believe that God owes us healing. Does God heal miraculously today? YES! I believe He does. Does everybody who prays for healing get healed? no.


That’s a subtle entitlement teaching. But there is a lot of flagrant entitlement teaching in the church today. The prosperity Gospel is entitlement thinking completely unrestrained. This is the “name it and claim it” doctrine. It is the belief that any desire you have (material or otherwise) - if you enough faith - you will have it.


Look, I am not trying to argue my opinion vs. other people’s opinions. If you want to pray for a new car or house - great - you should pray about that. But if you believe that the only thing between you and material blessing is enough faith - then you have falling into a false teaching. This is NOT Biblical teaching.


And what I find so shocking is how many people don’t even ask if this kind of teaching is Biblical or not, for one obvious reason, we WANT it to be true.


I want you to see these beatitudes - but want to take the entitlement out of it - and see what the exchange really is.


I believe Jesus was starting His campout message with anti-entitlement teaching. He is setting them up for a gut level talk about a wide variety of issues. And he opens with clarity about what we are entitled to. So powerful.

Beattitudes

Before we look at the whole text - let me show you the picture of potential. This is so cool!


  • We can receive the kingdom of heaven
  • We get back what was lost due to sin
  • We get to live in absolute peace
  • We experience right standing with God
  • We receive mercy
  • We get to see God
  • We get to be called the sons of God
  • We will get a great reward


I think it is important to clarify that much of this is part of our salvation. Just by the nature of our being saved by grace through faith. However, I think Jesus is teaching us that to greater extent and some of these only IF certain conditions are met.


Matthew 5:3–12 (ESV)


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

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.


Blessed: The Greek word used here, makarios (meaning “happy” or “fortunate)



Matthew 5:3–12 (ESV)

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Well - what does it mean to be poor is finances? It means you don’t have enough. But enough for what?


Have you watched children in an impoverished nation playing? That have no idea that they are poor. Some of the happiest people in the world have the least amount of money. And some of the most miserable people in the world have all they need and yet it is never enough.

Being poor in finances is more than just not having enough - it is knowing you want more.

Poor in spirit means you Know you want more of the Kingdom of Heaven.

If you don’t want Jesus to come back before you have a chance to do this or that… You are not poor is spirit. You think you have too much already.


4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.


This one confuses some people because they think it means we supposed to be sad and miserable. As if in mourning for a loved one…

That is not what this is saying. The context is the kingdom of heaven.

There are two common interpretations of this. 1. Is that the morning refers to mourning for Israel to be restored. 2. Mourning our sin.


5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.


Meek Refers to someone who is humble or gentle.

Psalm 37:11 (ESV): But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

This is not a reference to land alone - but to peace as well.


6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.


Hunger and thirst is metaphor for DEEP DESIRE.

Dr. Ed Cole used to say - “Lust is insatiable - but Love is easily satisfied.”


7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.


This is a consistent recipe for mercy throughout the scriptures. If you want mercy - give mercy.

One of the worst places we can get into as A Christian is where we start give our Judgment, because we believe we are better than others (or that the are worse than us).


8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.


Pure of heart does not mean perfect as one who finally achieves a sinless life. Can I give you my opinion here? I think it is really the culmination of the previous 5.


Your recognize your need for God and are poor in Spirit


You mourn your past sin. Not celebrate it. You regret it and if you could you would go back an undo it.


You are kind and gentle to others


You deeply desire the righteousness of God


You genuinely give mercy to others


See God? Now there are varying opinions about what this actually means - But I think it is quite simple. When we see Jesus and know he is God.

In a few Chapters Matthew records an encounter between Jesus and the Disciples. He asks them - Who do people say that I am? Then he asked them who do YOU say that I am?

Matthew 16:16–18 (ESV): Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We are never more pure of heart than the moment we see Jesus - and know who He really is.


9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.


Peacemakers are simply those who Make peace - or work for peace.

Bible Knowledge Commentary: The peacemakers (v. 9) show others how to have inward peace with God and how to be instruments of peace in the world.


Conclusion

Now I am going to stop there for this week. Because when we look at the next two - I am going to show this in way I bet you have never seen it before...


Jesus is on a mountainside with a great crowd of people. He is gearing up for some of the most direct teaching about life matters from Jesus that we have on record. The are camping with Jesus. And he leads this message with a list of things that will make you happy. Notice he does NOT say what many would have him say today. I just want you to be happy. He says Happy are those who:


Know they need me


Regret their sin


Are gentle and humble


who deeply desire righteousness


who give mercy


who are pure of heart


and who work for peace


Blessing from God is not an entitlement - it is an opportunity.



Watch this message here