What God told me last night!

As I ponder tonight about the souls of the people I know and love, I am carried away by emotions of discernment. I am Called and Ordained by Jesus Christ to Proclaiming the Awesome Message of Salvation and Deliverance offered to all mankind, including all I know and love, through the Death, burial and Resurrection of Christ! The discernment came about while pondering Christmas and the mad rush to buy and get more stuff. Jesus gave me this thought by way of the Holy Spirit; “William, there is not enough money or stuff in the World that can fill the vacuum in your heart, That is why I sent the Holy Spirit.” Wow, that was an unexpected proclamation! To a seasoned Christian this proclamation may seem mundane but for someone like me Spectacular! I must share this with everyone. Why seek stuff that is hear today and gone tomorrow? Why not seek Substance that will enrich your life and the lives of those you love? That Substance is the Indwelling Christ! Do you know Him? Do you feel Him moving upon your heart? Do you hear His voice? Does the Holy Spirit speak with your spirit, confirming your are Saved? If you can respond to those questions with an affirmative yes, then you need not this Devotion. If you have not or cannot answer these questions yes, then please read further.

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” These words from Jesus keep ringing in my ears! Happiness, He says, comes from hungering and thirsting for Righteousness! To be filled with the Holy Spirit is the result of that pursuit! The Holy Spirit is what brings Happiness and Substance into my life, not Material possessions! 1Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” So why do we seek stuff to fill our lives when it shall be gone, soon? Listen to this Wisdom from God’s Word; Ecclesiastes 2:22 “What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun?23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

Let us not Chase after the wind! Let us find and follow Hard after Christ! Let us seek Him with our whole heart! For He has said you will find! I would like to challenge each of you dear readers to humbly ask God to help you discover His Substance! Take this challenge if you dare. Grab a tablet of paper and right down where you spent your time the previous hour. Do this for a week. This will not be easy, but I can assure you it will show what your Pursuing in your life! Do you want to mature in your Christian faith? Do you want True Joy in your life? Do you really want Happiness? If not, then continue to Chase after the wind!

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Happy are you, If!

Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes of Jesus

Introduction:

When we go to the Sermon on the Mount we must go knowing that the beatitude’s were spoken by Jesus and is thus Holy Ground. Jesus is conveying the Truth about Blessings or better yet how a person can find true Happiness. Everyone on Planet Earth wants to be happy, don’t they? I truly believe this is a God given hearts desire of every human being. It is well documented that throughout human history all people have sought after Happiness. It is also well documented that the seeking of happiness encompasses many misguided attempts to find happiness without God. There are many who try and fail to be truly happy. Jesus will show all of us how to be Blessed or Happy if we would simply hear His Words and then apply them to our hearts and lives.

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:

There are many Bible scholars who estimate that the crowd at this Sermon reached in the thousands. There is no way of knowing the exact number but we do see and hear the voice of Jesus thundering through the Mountain and into this passage of Scripture! Jesus is the Master Teacher and it will be wise to learn from Him!

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

Blessed in the Greek means Happy or supremely Blessed. Poor in the Greek means distressed. So you will be happy if you have a poor or distressed spirit. Why? Because God promises those who have a distressed spirit will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Isaiah 57:15 For this is what the high and lofty One says– he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Again Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Is your spirit poor, distressed, broken or contrite before the Holy God who Created you? If it is then Jesus says you will be Happy!

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

The word mourn in Greek means to grieve. Jesus says we will be happy if we grieve. Why? Because we will be Comforted. Those that trust in Jesus have more than hope, they have the COMFORTER, the Holy Spirit. Everyone grieves and mourns in this life, but those in Jesus are happy and our grief turns to rejoicing because of the promise of the Holy Spirit. John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Revelation 21:4 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.” Isaiah 61:2,3 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Are you grieving? Jesus says you will be happy if you grieve. Will we be happy because we mourn? No! We will be happy because the promise of the Holy Spirit, (COMFORTER ) will turn our grief into joy!

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

The word meek in the Greek means mild, which implies humility. Jesus says we will inherit the Earth if we are humble. Pride is the opposite of humble. This promise of happiness can only come from the act of humbling ourselves. James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Again Jesus says in Matthew 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. The inheritance of the Earth implies that the Earth will always be in existence in order for Jesus to deliver this Promise. Do you truly want to be happy? Then Jesus says be humble, meek and mild, and you will inherit the Earth!

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

We all know what it means to be hungry and thirsty. The Greek word for hunger means to crave. The Greek word for thirst means to thirst for something. The Greek word for filled means to satisfy. Now Jesus is saying that if we crave or thirst for Righteousness we will be satisfied! To be happy in this life we must hunger, thirst and find satisfaction in Righteousness only! True happiness is not found in possessions, money or in relationships with other people. Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Again Psalm 42:1,2 For the director of music. A of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Righteousness comes through Faith in Jesus. If you love me keep (obey) my commands cries Jesus. His commands are Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” You want to be Blessed or happy? Crave and thirst for Jesus and you will be satisfied! As a Hymn suggest; come to the Fountain so Rich and Sweet, cast thy poor soul at the Saviors feet, plunge in today and be made complete, Glory to His Name. There is no end to the Blessings that are in Christ Jesus!

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

The word merciful means in Greek to be compassionate by word or deed. To obtain or receive mercy. For those who live and believe in Jesus , they have received mercy. Mercy can also be defined as; God does not give us what we deserve. Mercy is a property or Attribute of Almighty God. So if we are to be shown mercy we should also show mercy. If we desire to be or obtain happiness we must be merciful, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:13. Jesus also said in Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Gain mercy by showing mercy. Jesus help us to show mercy !

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
The Greek word for pure means literally clean or clear. So a person who has a clean heart will be able to see God who is the Author of Purity. The heart is our thoughts and feelings. What dominates your thoughts? What is your dominate feeling? This s what it should be Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. If this is your prayer, then I guarantee you this promise of Jesus will be applied to you! No one can truly be happy without a clear, clean and pure heart. Can they? Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Jesus clean my thoughts and my feelings that I may truly be happy in this life and the next.

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

The Greek word for peacemaker means to be peaceable. Who doesn’t want to live at peace with God and their fellow man? Will we ever be happy if there is no peace? The true peace that is offered by Jesus is the peace that transcends all understanding. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We can have peace in our souls regardless what is going on in the World! Because Jesus offers us peace, we should seek to live a peaceful life in all Godliness. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 True happiness comes upon the soul of men when they are first of all at peace with God, then with men. To be called sons of God is a great privilege indeed. So be a pacemaker and find happiness!

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

What? Jesus is saying we are blessed or happy if we are persecuted for living a Righteous life? Absolutely! The word persecute implies suffering. We who know Christ will suffer as He suffered. Isaiah 53:8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. Again Philippians 3:10-11 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. To suffer for Christ is the greatest of all expressions of love and devotion. For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven refers to Revelation 20:4; I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. To be slandered or insulted for Jesus is common in this World who despises what Christianity offers. Jesus said that if the World hates you, just remember it hated me first. We who know Jesus and share in His sufferings can rejoice because we know, great is our reward! Wow, to be happy is to suffer for Jesus. Learning how to rejoice in sufferings may sound to difficult, but great joy will come to those who grow in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ! Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Millions of Men and women from the Old Testament and for the last two thousand years have suffered for Righteousness. We who Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are going to suffer persecution, but just remember Jesus is Worthy and you are not alone!

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