*Please pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance in this. We're delving in deep.*
Summary:
The Beatitudes (Supreme blessedness; exalted happiness - according to dictionary.com)
Verses 1-6
The crowds gathered by Jesus, so He went up and sat on the mountainside. His disciples went up to Him and Jesus began to teach the people.
Blessed Reward
1. Poor in spirit Kingdom of Heaven
2. Those who mourn Will be comforted
3. Meek Inherit the earth
4. Hungry & thirsty for righteousness Will be filled
Lori's Thoughts:
1. What does it mean to be poor in spirit? It could refer to the downhearted, but why would you be rewarded for that? What if it means those that rely on the Holy Spirit rather than on their own spirit to walk through this life? Those that serve the devil learn to control their own spirits to perform "magic" or supernatural things. We are not supposed to make this connection without God's specific instructions. Otherwise, we will be exposed to the devil and his demons.
"Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:31)
"...those who practice magic arts...their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur." (Revelation 21:8b)
"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)
"...for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." (II Corinthians 11:14-15)
So, you see, angels are spirits. Satan was the angel Lucifer and deceived 1/3 of God's angels (see Isaiah 14:12-15). A medium is a person that conveys spiritual messages. A spiritist is a person that communicates with the spirits of the dead to communicate with the living. See I Samuel 28 to see what King Saul experienced with the Witch of Endor.
If you are reading this and you are involved in the occult, to any degree: as simply as reading your horoscope or as deeply as being a bride of Satan, you can be set free. Ask God to bind all doorways you have opened to the devil and remove all unclean spirits from within you. If you can't, but want to, get help from a trustworthy servant of God. Ask God to lead one to you if you don't know or can't access one. Then, you must submit to God and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit, so that the demons cannot return. Make God your Savior and Master. All occultic practices must stop. Your connection to the spirit world must cease. Let God lead your actions. You must be sincere in letting go of any practices against His will or the devil will have legal ground to attack you. See Matthew 12:43-45.
Let Christ baptize you with fire and with the Holy Spirit. This is the way to heaven.
2. Those that mourn will be blessed with comfort. Why do/will we mourn?
" 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.' " (Luke 9:23-26)
" 'Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.' " (Matthew 24:9)
Sounds contradictory, right? If you want to save your life, you'll lose it. That is, in pursuit of riches or fame or power, you will lose your soul. Those that give their life in service to Christ, loving God and others above themselves, will gain eternal life in heaven. The world will hate us because we tell them not to indulge in pleasure and self-service. Some of us will be hurt emotionally or physically. Some of us will be killed. But, we have much to hope for.
"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him." (I Thessalonians 4:13-14)
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4) Read the rest of the chapter to see what else we will gain.
I'm just excited to be able to see the One that taught me Love, Peace, Joy, and Hope, despite my circumstances.
As Heather Williams put it: "In spite of it all, Hallelujah!!!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX2uM0L3Y1A
3. Those who are meek will inherit the earth. Meek: humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others (dictionary.com). Example: I was working on a computer in the common room of a lab I worked for, a few years ago. The RA busted in, yelling at me about another student who took the lab van without authorization. First of all, she scared me by slamming the door on the way in. Second of all, she was misdirecting her anger towards me.
I calmly restated what she had told me, making sure she knew that I understood what was upsetting her. She stopped yelling and the redness in her face subsided. Then, I told her that I would speak with the individual in error. The RA then quietly left the building.
This is meekeness. When something frightening runs your way, draw serenity and wisdom from God. Freaking out will only add fuel to the fire. Staying calm will help you think straight. You'll see that the problem may not be as big as you first thought. It can be diffused by your meekness. It is a peace that surpasses understanding.
Our reward is inheriting the earth. Does Jesus mean this earth or the next earth? I think He means the next one.
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away..." (Revelation 21:1a)
4. Those that hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. The definition of righteousness that makes the most sense to me is this: right standing with God. No one can achieve this of their own accord. The blood of Christ covers us, if we have accepted Him. Then, we may approach the Father.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10)
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " (John 14:6)
We will be filled when we seek God and desire to be on His side.
" 'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.' " (Matthew 7:7-8)
May you be supremely blessed.
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