How to be a Disciple of Jesus Christ and find eternal joy through the beatitudes.
A disciple of Jesus's has the priority in life to love God, love others by helping them love God, and advance the Kingdom of God's rule.
Jesus started with the statement of his purpose which as disciples should be our purpose. Matthew 5:17, Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Then his disciples asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Find Hope
People find hope when they daily acknowledge and thank God for being their creator, savior, provider, and king and humble themselves to his Word, Jesus Christ.
cripture: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3
Summary verse: I am the Lord your God...have no other gods or their images before me.... do not misuse the name of the Lord your God,... remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Exodus 29:2-11
Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD. Psalm 144:15
Principle: I need to submit all of my aspirations, significance and will to God's rule, his word, and love him through honor and obedience. I find fulfillment under God's rule in his kingdom.
Practical Application:
The disciples were having their vision of the Messiah being a temporal leader to free them from Rome, to a supernatural leader to free them from their own aspirations.
Know, acknowledge and thank God for him as creator, provider, savior, ruler and follow the example of his Son.
Heal
Experiencing God's greatness, holiness, love, mercy and grace cause me to mourn over my sin against God and others and repent. I can find comfort in my relationship with God and others being restored.
Scripture: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10
Therefore, I urge you,brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1
Principle: As I acknowledge my sin, repent, and humble myself before God I will be comforted in God's love, mercy and grace.
Practical Application: Study scripture to know God's character and commands, repent from my independence and find comfort in him.
Humility
As I submit to God I humbly love others unconditionally for their eternal benefit in the kingdom.
Scripture: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5
Honor your father and your mother, do not murder. do not commit adultery... do not steal... not give false testimony against your neighbor...do not covet your neighbor’s house, wife, servant, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:12-17
Practical Application: Demonstrated by praying for others eternal salvation and prioritizing their needs for their eternal benefit in the Kingdom.
Holiness
Seek to know God's character and commands through his word so that I can obey him, love him, and love others rightly. Seek to actively build disciplines in my life that help me grow and keep my way pure.
Scripture: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matt 5:6
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:27-29
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James 3:17
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
Practical Application: Find my fulfillment in knowing God's truth so I can truly love and obey him and others.
God's Heart
As I experience and understand God's great undeserved mercy for me I can show compassion and care to others who do not deserve it.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matt 5:7
“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:8-9.
Practical Application: Choosing to prioritize compassion and care for others who are not able to defend themselves or who do not deserve it, over my personal comfort.
Honest
As I am transparent about my intentions and stop lying to God, myself and others I will understand God's character.
Scripture: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10
Practical Application: Ask the Holy Spirit to use God's word purge me of my addictions to selfish comfort, power, pride, and lies to control others so that my intentions will be pure with those God brings into my life.
Heirs
As I love and serve people there will some who are at war with God and other people. Show them God's love so they will seek to know God and be restored in peace to Him and others.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12;17-18
Hated
Expect some people to reject God, reject the Gospel of Jesus, reject me, and take their fears and pain out on me when I invite others to the Kingdom.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:44-45a
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:18-19
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:13
Summary: When things are difficult find your peace, rest and provision in God"s faithfulness so you can focus on his kingdom. Matt 6
Happiness
We Are blessed when we find happiness and eternal joy in loving God and those he brings to us.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34-36
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11
…through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2
Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD. Psalm 144:15
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. Ecclesiastes 7:14
Application: Anxiety, Anger and Addictions control us when we focus on our significance in this temporal world. We are freed from these when we focus on God's calling for us as a disciple, and his purpose for us in his kingdom.