THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD PERSON
Matthew 5:1-16
SPEND TIME WITH JESUS
V:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying:
The good thing about our Savior is He is ready to teach us any time we come to Him. He's available to meet with us privately. Jesus will position Himself for us away from the crowd. It is up to us to make time for Jesus
There is no excuse for not taking time for Jesus. We take time to do everything we want. We take time to go to work. We take time to go shopping. We take time to go entertain ourselves with friends.
None of this worldly time is profitable for our salvation. None of this time is soul-strengthening. Only Jesus can provide spiritual uplifting. You will never get the truth from the world.
Jesus' disciples followed Him to the mountain for more instructions. We must follow Jesus to the Bible. The mountain we must climb is the one in our minds.
PROFITABLE QUALITIES
A HUMBLE SPIRIT
V:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs, is the kingdom of heaven.
The poor in spirit is not one that does not have the spirit of God but one who knows he is not as close to God as he should be. The poor in spirit is grieved that he does not have a total commitment to God. He is struggling in his flesh and sin is weighing him down.
The poor in spirit is struggling because the peace and joy of Jesus escape him because he can't let go of his circumstances. The poor in spirit desires to imitate the love Jesus has for the Father. Because He is striving to please God, he will be blessed. The poor in spirit humbles himself before the Lord. Because of his humbleness heaven is his destination.
MORN TO DAY BUT JOY IN THE MORNING
V:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
The poor in spirit morns because of his spiritual poverty. He mourns because there is more to life with Jesus, that is blocked by the desires of the flesh. What happiness he experiences is short-lived because it is rooted in the world's cares. If only he could see the world as temporary, he could focus on the eternal blessing that awaits him.
You and I must realize that the trouble we face is allowed by God to strengthen our faith in Jesus. If we learn the joy of endurance we will be comforted by Jesus.
POWER UNDER CONTROL
V:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
The word meek is the Greek word praus which means gentle and humble. Meekness is the inter grace that sees the good in situations. Some say it is power under control. Meekness is obedience to God’s commands in opposition to confrontation. Meekness is characteristic of the mildness of temper, slow to speak, slow to act and quick to listen and consider the needs of others.
A meek mind carefully considers all the aspects of a situation before acting according to the wisdom of God. Meekness assumes that every aspect of a situation is not known.
A meek mind is not satisfied until it has exhausted every possibility.
The meek person acts according to the will of God and therefore is an inheritance of the earth which he enjoys.
SEEKS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
V:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
It is the righteousness of God that brings success and joy in life. Those who seek the
righteousness of God are endowed with the wisdom of God. They are filled with
the confidence of the Lord and peace and joy that is lasting. An Unnatural appetite for
the righteousness of God makes one independent of himself and dependent on the spiritual
nourishment of health and strength of the creator.
Our prayers to God are inspired by Him with a design to answer. Those to thirst after
God’s righteousness will be filled with the confidence of salvation.
SHOW YOURSELF AS A FRIEND
V:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Mercy is defined as the kindness of God toward the miserable and afflicted.
Jesus exercised His mercy for mankind with His death on the cross for our sinfulness.
God expects us to show mercy toward others. It is showing compassion for those in need. What goes around comes around. Because we show mercy for others, God will show us more mercy.
TRUE LOVE FROM A PURE HEART
V:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
True religion begins with a pure heart. A pure heart begins with the washing of
the blood of Jesus cleansed with the conviction of the Word. Any man in Christ is a
new creation. The new creation is under the power of Christ. A pure heart cannot
exist or continue to exist without the intercession of Christ. It is the Lord who keeps
us from all unrighteousness.
A pure heart seeks to please God. A pure heart is grieved at any thought of
sin. Because it constantly seeks God it has His presence dwelling in it.
A pure heart sees the needs of others above itself.
MAKE PEACE NOT CONFUSION
V:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Jesus came into this world for peace with those chosen by the Father. It is a
peace that surpasses all understanding. We can enjoy the peace through
our faith in Jesus. Since Jesus is the mediator for us before the Father,
we are to seek to mediate circumstances among men.
It is our job not to engage in any conversation or activity that causes
grief among men. On the contrary, we should engage in activity that reconciles
differences.
ENDURE PERSECUTION WITH JOY
V:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Christ was hated because He claimed the righteousness of the Father. He made it known
to us that we would be hated when we claim Him as our Savior. To act according to the righteousness of God is to oppose the actions of the world. God’s righteousness exposes sin.
Because the world loves sin, it is natural for us to be hated. We cannot seek heaven and
agree with sin. When we glorify God before men, He promises to lift us before men.
QUALITIES AT WORK IN YOUR LIFE
BLESSED WHEN INSULTED
V:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
We cannot expect the praise of men in this world. If we seek the praise of men we oppose God.
John 5:44
44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
Men praise you only when you agree with them. They don’t about what is right.
They care about what makes them look good in the eyes of others.
When we praise God for His righteousness, we can expect to be falsely accused and insulted by those who love sin. Sin is the devil’s influence. Satan came to steal, kill
and destroy. You are Satan’s target.
Our joy comes from the Lord and not men.
John 15:11-12
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
The joy we have is based on the promise of eternal life with Jesus. The Lord is in
the midst of your troubles making them work for your good. Enduring your
troubles produces fruit that others can see and be encouraged.
SEASON THE WORLD WITH THE WORD
V:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Salt seasons food. It gives it a different taste. The job of believers is to season the thoughts and ideas of nonbelievers with the Word of God. The world rejects God because of its ignorance.
Our job is to introduce others to the Word of God. The Word has the power to convict nonbelievers of their sins and draw them to Christ. The Word through the power of the Holy Spirit will change chosen nonbelievers into believers.
We were called to glorify God by claiming Him as our Lord and Savior. Our testimony is important to influencing and encouraging others in the Lord. God never gave anyone the job of being silent. We are worthless to the glory of God if we sit on the sidelines and just look.
MAKE SOME NOISE ABOUT JESUS
V:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Jesus is the light of the world. We are His ambassadors.
Luke 2:32-33
A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
John 1:9
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
It is the believer's job to claim the glory of God for others to see and hear.
Our lives ought to be an imitation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
When others see our faith in our actions, they may be encouraged.
Rev. M. Mitchell
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