Checklist for Lasting Joy, Part 1

At the beginning of his famous sermon on the Mount, Jesus presented a brief sequence of blessing, commonly referred to as the beatitude Blessed are the poor in spirit said blessed are those who mourn today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll guides us through these eloquent declarations from Jesus and helps us understand their implications for our times. Those who faithfully cling to these promises will reap rich rewards referring to the Beatitudes. Chuck titled today's message checklist for lasting joy and will begin by reading from Matthew chapter 5, you know, the most frequent command found in the Bible book of Genesis to the book of Revelation, it appears more often than any other command. Fear not that interesting. One is made us and understands us, reassures us because he knows us so well.

We have nothing to fear. Fear not, his presence is here. His powers available. His word is in our own language in whatever size print. You may desire to purchase and here we have it all but night comes and fears arise. Doctors appointments with those results from the tests news from a late night call and on and on. So easy to be caught up in life's fears. Fear not as part of the reason that we believe so strongly in the teaching of the Scriptures because the truth sets us free. The more you know of truth, the freer you will be the less you know the more in bondage. Others will want to keep you there under their thumb or your fears will grip you and never want you to be released from your imagination, which can run while but the truth equips you with information that you can then assimilate and live out and trust me on this. You can know what true freedom on this earth is all about freedom from others opinions, freedom from pleasing people freedom back again from our own fears.

Looking at the Beatitudes today found in the fifth chapter of the first book of the New Testament, the book of Matthew Jesus is delivering his very first recorded sermon it's called a sermon on the Mount as anyone will tell you who preach is one of the important features of a good sermon is the opening line that is to get the attention of the listener. One of my mentors used to say, you need to break the ho-hum in the heart of the mind of the listener with an opening line that you fought through and Jesus does, that is not in times in a roll. He uses the very same term. What is repeated once or twice in the Scriptures. It's important, but my nine times we need to know what this word means and will learn today.

What you find. Matthew five verses one through 12. I'll be reading from the new American Standard version of the Bible when Jesus saw the crowds that he went up on the mountain and after he sat down this his disciples came to him. He opened his mouth and began to teach them, saying, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called sons of God blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great for the same way they persecuted the prophets who were there before me God because the print from these this section of the page of the Bible kind of come off into living term that we can understand them. Then as the days pass begin to apply to study the book of Matthew Chuck Swindoll.

Be sure to download it, searching the Scriptures study by going to Insight world.or/studies. Another message titled checklist for lasting joy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Sound familiar straight out of the Declaration of Independence. These are called our inalienable rights.

The right to life the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Interesting isn't it. Happiness with the pursuit of as citizens of these United States. These inalienable rights are ours to claim we live here we have life here. We live in these United States as citizens, we enjoy the liberty of this great land with happiness were free to pursue it.

Can you honestly say in your pursuit that you have found it but I mean a lasting happiness, a sense of contentment and abiding bliss being truly satisfied that you have peace with in your inner life, regardless of your circumstances.

You have any idea how few people can honestly answer that. Yes no admittedly we all pursue it. Or, at least, we certainly should, but the song would become cynical. It's too good to be true, but I will answer that by saying if you know the Lord Jesus Christ.

It can become a reality. If you do not. It never will play the simple this is directly linked to the life he has promised. Remember he called it life abundant image, you will have life not only live but life abundant, you will have peace a deep serenity and you will not find it in any other source. These great promises are found in the Scriptures and I think the secret as we it would unfold is wrapped in these Beatitudes that appear in Matthew chapter 5, and Ann Arbor. I realize when I work my way through them and I've been on the four hours this past week, and even a little before then. And at the end. The longer I spend in them.

The more I smile, thinking how different this is from anything the world can offer. In fact, so different you live like this.

You're weird they think of you as a little you know you didn't quite go all the way up shades are still overdrawn you're not. You're in a dream world. If you think you can get along.

Look at the list, poor in spirit morning gentle the thinking wimp.

Those who hunger and thirst for what for money. That's the way they would tell you, but for righteousness, being merciful, pure in heart peace maker persecuted that's her lifestyle and you're telling me this is a goal to shoot for will actually I'm not Jesus is. I'm simply a messenger to tell you what he said the things his followers wrote he's come up on a mountain his disciples to follow him along with others in the crowd and they set on a little plateau probably north of the Sea of Galilee you travel to Israel you will certainly go to the mall Beatitudes, and there you sit and you'll feel the breezes as they blow in the beautiful spring flowers as they bloom, and you'll remember what it must've been like. Or you'll think of what it must've been like to accept their for he said he opens his mouth.

Verse two begins to teach them blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, what does that mean if word appears two or three times in the Scriptures, it's worth searching out but nine times in a row verses one through 11.

Each verse, beginning with RRR verses three through 11.

Each of the verses beginning with that term. What is that mean member synonyms have been offered fortunate, contented, blissful at peace privilege serene, self-contained, unaffected by one surroundings, the best definition I came across is a brief one and I offer it an inward contentment unaffected by outer circumstances. Once again, an inner peace and inner contentment that is unaffected by anything else. Think of the Beatitudes as interim attitudes that prevailed over all external situation is good to remember the Beatitudes are pronouncements that are not probabilities they're not commands their celebrations get this. The verb is are to be doesn't appear to be this do that. This is more like Psalm one began so how blessed is the one who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly are stands in the web centers or sits in the seat of the scornful. His delight is in the law of the Lord and in that law does he meditate day and night all the blessing that the blessings many times over is no verb there. So this is that all the lasting peace among the poor in spirit among the mourners among the gentle and ordinal aid of this is a new way of life based on a new way of thinking that Christ enables and may I add this when these things are modeled in our lives the world cannot believe it. It will be drawn to us like a magnet. I don't think because the church is like the world becomes of interest to the people of the world. I think when the church is different from the world. Suddenly the curiosity is aroused easy. That's why think the theme of this sermon about his chapter 6 verse eight do not be like them, do not be be different.

God loves difference and when we live a life it's different. We live a life that Christ lived that he was so different they drove him to the cross. Think about it the most perfect individual who ever lived. Live the most unusual life among people verse was so despised and treated with such hostility wound up with his hands and feet nailed to a cross.

Why because the world doesn't have a much of a place for different until you tap into it and tasted it doesn't really begin to make sent now you need to be ready for a little shock here. The truth is that were going to uncover will never appear in the media will read of them in the Wall Street Journal.

You won't hear of 60 minutes you will see them promoted at the CEO at your company unless he's a believer and is like living his life. According to Scripture, you will not see them promoted in policy handbooks, you will not hear about them in the courtroom. These are really different.

I want that the land on you with full force. Otherwise you look at it like a whirling Ulee who needs this you live like that. People walk all over it. Wait, wait, wait a minute they walk all over Jesus was he a wimp think I'll know that of all the people I've studied I've ever come across anyone stronger than he strong in Constitution strong convictions committed to the truth and purity. And yet standing against a hostile crowd who never did to his last day understand him say it was as different as a causes disciples, one of following that blend around all the other stuff all their lives and it wasn't getting any piece alone. He comes to change the world until a B can make them fishers of men and women and they think want that.

That's for me. So are these Beatitudes for now offer later differ both. Don't relegate them to the kingdom age and leave them there as if all of it will wait for us in the millennial kingdom. They'll be there for us but they're here for us now. These can be applied now and I hope to do that is best I can. These are the things that stunned the world and make them insatiably curious, which is part of the role there to fill. I like the way one man writes the ways of the God of Scripture appeared topsy-turvy to men and women of this world for God exalted the humble database is the proud because the first last and the last first.

He describes greatness to the servant, he declares the meeting to be his heirs.

The culture of the world and the counterculture of Christ or at loggerheads with each other so the Lord says I congratulate you for having the courage to live my life and I'll give you all the enablement you need to do it. So what does that include all right, let's work through the must give account of a brief examination to each one of the eight Beatitudes number one poor in spirit. Verse three Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Let's let's apply it as I did earlier or let's render it as I did earlier. All the lasting joy over the lasting peace of one who realizes his or her own helplessness. That's poor in spirit or the lasting joy of the one who understands the absence of spiritual merit and the essential need of dependence on the Lord. That's poor in spirit.

Oh the joy lasting joy of one who lives in her life without pride or arrogance who comes before the Lord empty-handed.

Like the old hymn, nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling naked come to the for dress helpless look to the for grace follow onto the fountain fly wash me Savior or I die. That's independent so the hope of the poor in spirit. Read it for yourself at the end of verse three. You truly enter into the kingdom living even though you're on this earth, you experience the blessing of living like a kingdom person you give up your own kingdom to live in the realm of his kingdom. It is no longer about you and you're not insulted by that your relieved you see the poor in spirit has no place for the narcissist and we are filled with narcissism. Every situation is all about me every ad campaign ultimately winds up with you you you in a bin for use for your your joy.

This is for you.

You can purchase this, you could drive this.

This is for you all the way through, and here he says no. Blessed are the poor in spirit who come with no expectation willing to depend on the Lord. Now it doesn't mean you walk around and say all sharks all day. Okay I like the way you Martin Lloyd Jones writes of this.

This is not mean that we are to become what I can best describe as imitators of Uriah heat may again have mistaken being poor in spirit for that. I remember once having to go to preach at a certain town. When I arrived it on the Saturday evening a man met me at the station and immediately asked for my bag. Indeed, he almost took it from my hand. My force that he talked to me like this. I'm a deacon in the church were your preaching tomorrow and then he added, you know I'm I'm a mere nobody but a very unimportant man. Really, I do not count.

I am not great. A great man in the church.

I'm just one of those men who carry the bags for the minister.

I was anxious that I should know what he was anxious that I would should know what a humble man he once how poor in spirit. He wanted to come across yet by his anxiety to make it known he was denying the very thing he was trying to establish Uriah heat, the man who thus, as it were, glorious in his poverty of spirit, and thereby proves he is really not humble is an F section of something which he obviously does not feel this is a danger which confronts many people, though not as much today as it once did. There once was a time when it was the curse of the church and affected man's very appearance and even their gait heard about the guy that wrote the book. How became the most humble men the world with 12 life-size pictures. That's what I'm talking about. It's not that is not all are nothing know I'm worthless on just a servant with young men who lived with us for a while. Years ago used to say that a lot, and he was the least servant you would want to be around.

We suggested he do this. He said really I think a better way to do it. Is that why thought servants did this note of things to bed with but I want to be a servant is more certain to be there to help stop this nonsense when you are poor in spirit. You live your life depended on the Lord, and you don't call attention to that. When you're humble you are not self-effacing, you simply set aside yourself or others, and you do so as a habit of life and the result you will know what kingdom living like the people. Second, Blessed are those who mourn, you think the first one was tough about this with Blessed are those who mourn all the lasting joy of those who mourn this of the strongest word in the Greek language for a passionate lament is the sorrow of a broken heart. The ache of the soul. Mental anguish morning over the wrongs of our world grieved grieved over one's own carnality certainly would include morning over those we have lost but it's deeper than that caring very deeply about our continuation in the same sin just getting started blessings from Jesus Chuck Swindoll refers to the Beatitudes as a checklist for lasting joy. To learn more about this ministry. Visit us online@insightworld.org. We understand it 2020 and 2021 have ushered in a season of morning for many people as we lament the direction our world is going to help you navigate these unsettling times would like to recommend a book. Chuck is written is called perfect trust. This devotional has been our featured resource for number of weeks and I'll encourage you to request a copy today while it's fresh on your mind to cultivate a stronger, more trusting relationship with Jesus. We highly recommend this book to purchase a copy of perfect trust, go to insight.org/offer. In addition, Chuck is written a brand-new commentary that complements our year-long study in Matthew and factor comes into hardbound volumes is called swindles living insights commentary on Matthew. These two books include verse by verse insight from Chuck along with charts, maps, photos, key terms and articles as well. The complete commentary is a must-have for pastors and teachers, and anyone who wants to know more about the gospel of Matthew. So the purchase swindles living insights commentary on Matthew or Chuck's popular book perfect trust. Visit us online or call us listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8880. These daily programs are made possible because people like you give generous gifts through your support. People all over the country and even around the world are learning to place their trust in God example I was encouraged to read a recent note from the listener in Indiana who said I first found insight for living while sitting in jail. Chuck help me realize I need God in my life and now I'm 40 months clean from all drugs, but to give a donation today. Call us listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888 four. Give online and insight.org I'm Dave Skype Chuck Swindoll offers more wisdom from the checklist for lasting Tuesday on insight for living in the preceding message checklist for lasting joy was copyrighted in 2015 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles Carson daunting. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited