Ten Keys of the Beatitudes : Attitudes, what we are 'to be' based on Matt. 5-7 .
( Eph. 4:22-24 ) Our spirits have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, but our minds must be renewed, and our foundation in life is to be Christ Himself. These ten foundational keys in the Sermon on the mount are as follows:
1. ( Matt. 5:3 ) "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." Realization that there is nothing in myself whatsoever that I can draw upon or rely upon, but the full realization and acknowledgement that I need God now and forever in everything I do.
We are poor in spiritual life. Thus we need God, all the time, a complete dependency on God.
Learn about God, learn from God, and see God in all of life's activities, view life from His perspective.
2. ( Matt. 5:4 ) "Blessed are those who mourn..." Realization that the crisis and difficulties I find myself in, the pains and sorrows will not last forever. They will change, comfort is on its way.
Crisis and difficulties are never forever. Trials do not last forever because everything changes.
There is a season for all things: rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with them who mourn. Crisis are only temporary, comfort awaits. Crisis are only opportunities to experience God's presence and deliverance. Plan beyond the crisis ( 2 Chron. 20:7 ).
3. ( Matt. 5:5 ) "Blessed are the meek..." Realization that I must be in control of myself, that I must desire, must expect and must demand self to be disciplined, organized and structured.
Don't be mediocre, force self to do and go beyond the flesh. Do by your will not by your feelings.
Don't let circumstances control, but be in control by your will.
4. ( Matt. 5:6 ) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness..."
Growth and knowledge doesn't come to you, you must pursue and seek after it. Impose on yourself standards higher than others. In Christ, your potential is without limits.
5. ( Matt. 5:7 ) "Blessed are the merciful..."
Make room for others to fail, and don't be quick to judge them. Allow others to make mistakes. Give people space to make mistakes. We are all growing. Be patient . Mercy is the postponement of judgment. We are inclined to judge and condemn. What you sow, you will reap ( Matt. 7:1-5 ).
Be in a constant state of forgiving. Be quick to release others from offenses.
6. ( Matt. 5:8 ) "Blessed are the pure..."
Develop a pure mind in everything, and you will see things from God's perspective. Avoid the corruption and contamination of the world's presentations upon one's imagination by guarding what your eyes see, what you hear and what you speak. Your eyes, your ears, your tongue, and your senses are the gates of your heart ( Prov. 4:23 ).
Look at life from God's point of view, see that God is in everything. If the heart is pure, you will see God in all things whether negative or positive. As a man thinks, so is he. To the pure all things are pure, unto the corrupt all things are corrupt. As you see, hear, and speak that is what you will reap.
7. ( Matt. 5:9 ) "Blessed are the peacemakers..."
Determine to be a positive influence, look for the good in others, look for the best and the better. Be the one to bring it about. Who is without sin, cast the first stone, look at life from this perspective... but for the grace of God, go I.
8. ( Matt. 5:10 ) "Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake..."
Have a good attitude and enthusiasm toward life based on what you know. Nothing in life is to be feared, but to be understood. The world hates righteousness. Rejoice and be glad, so suffered those before you. Rejoice for great is your reward as you stand firm in the truth.
9. ( Matt. 5:11 ) "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you..."
Expect the best and prepare for the worst. See that difficulties in life are normal. Get ready for persecution. They hated Jesus, and they will hate you. Expect this. Be prepared to bless and to pray for those who are against you.
10. ( Matt. 5:12 ) "You are the salt of the earth..."
You are important for the world, for humanity, and for your generation. Know your value and your worth. We are to be the example for the world to follow. This is the spirit of Christ: that we are the elite, that we influence the best in life, that we are the standard for the world ( Matt. 28:18-20 ).
Work Out Your Salvation (Phil. 2:12-13)
BSAF on selected verses above.
Review Matt. 5:14-7:29 , make a list of your sins, and attitude distortions. Make plans to change attitudes and behavior via Section A.4, “Victory Over Sin Worksheet” . To help remove those sin barriers that keep you from developing the mind of Christ, here are some major areas to be considered:
( Matt. 5:21-26 ) Anger, Bitterness, Contempt . Unless this is dealt with, our Christian walk is crippled at the start. Jesus came to save not to condemn. We are to do the same.
( Matt. 5:27-32 ) Obsessive Lust . Keep your eyes single and pure. Women are the guardians of our culture. They are endowed with a natural reverence for that which is sacred. Make plans to break from the spirit of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
( Matt. 5:32-37 ) Verbal Manipulation . Don't force others to accept your opinions or position.
( Matt. 5:38-48 ) Payback/Revenge . Our job is to be reconciled to God, to self, and to others. Mercy is the postponement of judgment. As God does with us, do likewise. Restore and be reconciled to all of life, and be free.
( Matt. 6:1-18 ) Seeking Approval and Acceptance of Man . Develop the interior life, view life from God's perspective. You are already accepted and approved in Christ. Use self to seek to glorify God by exercising your talents and gifts for the benefit of others.
( Matt. 6:19-34 ) Wealth and Greed . Depending on and trusting in the externals of the world system (mind of the flesh) rather than trusting in God leads to frustration and despair. As a co-heir with Christ, a citizen of heaven, you already own the cattle on a thousand hills. Act accordingly, for we are to live by God's economy ( 2 Cor. 8:9 ).
( Matt. 7:1-12 ) Criticism/Condemnation . Our natural inclination is to judge and a penchant for condemnation engineering. Judge yourself first for condemning, then you will be in the position to help restore others. As God's ambassadors, we are here, not to compete, but to help complete one another.
( Matt. 7:13-26 ) Doing and Not Just Hearing . Active listening and doing of the word is the key. Severe warnings are issued to the passive, lazy and self-indulgent. Unless we develop the interior life, the heart level, daily practicing the Presence of the Lord, our house will crumble. Judge self daily to assure that you are living by the Kingdom rules of the beatitudes. Therefore, exercise dominion of self in, as, and through Christ: be on top in all of life's endeavors.
Reference: [32][Willard1]