Finding Joy In Adversity | Matthew 5:1-12

• Sermon Transcript

  Good morning. Sounds nice. I already ended today. All right? Well, I'm not asking you to complain in church, it's not what I'm gonna ask you to do. But I want I want you to raise your hand. If surprised, I'm surprised. Senegal haven't already done that. Usually, that's what children do. They'll just raise the I know what they're saying. Raise your hand, if you've faced some type of adversity this week, some type of adversity, some type of difficulty. Most of us have, you know, there are very few weeks that go by where the Wallace family doesn't face some type of adversity. It's just the law of averages. I mean, there's six of us. There's also a dog and a cat half the time. And so, you know, it's just the law of averages. And so whether it's just getting our children back and forth to school, just keeping up with their schedules and their activities, you know, whether it's in an emergency root canal that pops up, you know, the middle of the week for one of our children, which we had this week. And that was such a big deal that we dealt with it all Friday, all we could do was the root canal Friday, and then my son comes in to my bedroom at 10 o'clock at night and said, You know, I have the SATs tomorrow? Oh, gosh, what? Yes, I did. But you know, thank you for reminding me that we've got so much going on. He's got the SA T 's Saturday. And so, you know, there's just always one thing and you know, there's just constant adversity. Now, some of it is superficial. Some of it is what we would call first world problems. But some of that can be more serious. Some of it could be medical issues and things like that. And, and quite honestly, I don't know how non Christians handle life. I just don't know. I've been following Christ for so long. I just don't know how, how they do it. Where did they go when they when they reached their limit, you know, when they can't turn to God, I can't turn to, to Jesus, I just don't know. And every day is an opportunity for me, to see how God brings us through hardships brings us through difficulties. Brings us through adversity, every day is a day and opportunity to see how God is going to do it that day. That reality, brings much joy into my life. If you know Christ, this should bring joy into yours. Today, we start a new series as we spend the year going through the life of Jesus. We're just going to pause for a second and get into this chapters five through seven of Matthew, we're going to listen to Jesus teach on what's called the Sermon on the Mount. Today we're looking at the first section which is serves as an introduction of sorts to what we have been called the Beatitudes, verses one through 12. And so that's where we're at Matthew, chapter five today, starting in verse one. Seeing the crowds, he Jesus went up on the mountain. And when he sat down, his disciples came to him and he opened his mouth and taught them sane. Blessing or the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, 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 bless it are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God bless it are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Bless it are you when others revile you, and persecute you, and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account? Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us here today. To gather as your people gathered today to worship you in the power of the Holy Spirit in truth as well. I hear from you today Lord, this message that Lord Jesus, you taught probably multiple times throughout different regions. This this message that underscored Lord your your goal in ministry underscored the theology you want people to have to understand what it is to follow Jesus to follow you to, to live as a disciple of Christ. So Lord, help us understand today, how we can find joy in adversity, how you help us in those times, and that my words today reflect the intended meaning that you gave them, that you fill me with your Spirit and preaching, that, that your word is received by those in here today. Alas, these things in Jesus name. Amen. At this point, Jesus ministry is in full swing. Matthew tells you that his fame, His fame had has spread throughout the region, that great crowds followed Him wherever He taught. He had been calling people to turn from their sinful lifestyles to repent from their sins he had called his first disciples he had healed many people. And so the crowds grew as he continued to preach, and continue to teach. Many scholars believe this is a message that he would give frequently in Matthew, it's called the Sermon on the Mount. And Luke, it's called the Sermon on the plane because he was on a flat plane speaking up. And so he probably gave it these types of talks and sermons different places, his disciples probably knew them by heart. They knew what his message was, and Matthew records this. And he uses the phrase, bless it over and over in this introductory section. What does it mean? Well, it means happy, but happy in the sense that Christians can have an over whelming sense of joy. Even in the middle, even in the midst of the most depressing or seemingly hopeless situations. Christians can have a sense of joy. It's a term meaning, spiritual joy, blessing, spiritual joy. He's telling people, how they can be deeply, spiritually, profoundly joyful, and how they could maintain that, that joyfulness, even in the midst of life's disappointments, and adversities. So we often look for joy, and happiness in other areas such as love, well, if I just have this relationship, I'll be happy. Or look at it in money, if I just made this amount of money or just a little bit more, if I just had a 4% pay raise this year, I would be happy, or fame, you know, if I just got some recognition for something I've done or, or something I will do, then I would be happy in life, or power, you know, if I, if I just could control this over here or be overseeing this over here, then then I would be happy. And yes, those things may bring us temporary happiness. But none of those things brings us joy. None of those things brings us ever lasting joy. In fact, when the high of that happiness wears off, it leaves us wanting more. It does not satisfy. So today, I want to give us three areas where we see God giving us joy, three areas, God helps us as he as he gives us joy first, we can find joy. In God's comfort. We can find joy in God's comfort. First one says that seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain. And when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and tall film saying, bless it. spiritual joy for those who are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. To be poor in spirit means that a person recognizes that spiritually speaking, they're poor, especially when compared to God. It means that those who who know they are sinners, morally speaking, are blessed. Those that know that they aren't perfect, and they can find joy, though Is that No they aren't perfect can find comfort and knowing that one day, there'll be in heaven, complete and renewed. This describes a person that has recognized the difference between he and God. Like Isaiah says, In Isaiah six, five, when he stood in God's presence, he said, Woe is me, for I am lost. For I'm a man of unclean lips, I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, because my eyes have seen the king, Lord of Hosts. So being poor, in spirit is just a realization, a realization of who we are, apart from Christ. When a person realizes their spiritual need, they will inherit the kingdom of heaven. That's what Jesus says. The God comforts are conditioned, by letting us know that our poor and humble state will one day be exchanged for a Glorious and Magnificent kingdom of heaven. So we can find joy in knowing that God comforts us now. And you will comfort us for eternity. We also can find joy and God's comfort when we mourn. Look at verse four. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Now to mourn means to have an intense sorrow. And God definitely comforts us when we mourn for things that are sad, such as the loss of a family member, the loss of a relationship or a friendship or something like that. We mourn over them, God comforts us, but it has more of more intense meaning in this actually, this is not just a general grief. It's a mourning over one sin. See, one of Jesus's primary messages was deliverance, freedom from sin. So he says, joyful are those who mourn for their sin because they will be comforted because of it. They will be delivered because of it. See, when we when we sin, and we mourn over God didn't say, Yeah, that's right. You shouldn't be sorry, you knew better than that. That's not what God tells us. He comforts us, especially when we we mourn over he is there for it. Those that know that, that that we want, we realize our standing that God comforts us when we know who we are. Verse five says, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. What does it mean to be meek? How would you feel if I described you to someone else, as meek? And he's a really meek man. Me not knowing the true meaning of the word. I probably wouldn't like to hear that about myself. Telling me someone that I'm meek. I wouldn't want to hear that. Right. It would make you feel weak. Right? Oh, Charlie, he's, he's the meekest. Man. Right. But we don't really have a good idea of what meekness is. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is actually a sign of power. Meekness is the the state of having the power in the way the Greek right to desist to crush someone, but not having the power to really do something. But not it's a it's a strength under control. That's meekness. It literally means being a gentleman or gentlewoman. Instead of being polite, that of not being rude. It's, it's easy to be rude. Just tell people how you feel. The more difficult to not be to be polite. Those who have this disposition that the Holy Spirit gives, will inherit, Jesus says the new heavens, the new earth, the meek, or those who know, Jesus, you know, it's probably my wife today. She ran into someone who's a little rude to her and, and she told me what the person said, and I was like, oh, Lord, who this person is gonna get it. But she, but she was she knows how to handle people like that. Now, she's been in ministry, and she's not married to me, right? So she just told me what she said. I said, Man, it's like you're talking to me. That's great. She just handled the person right there. She was meek about it. She knew what to say. knew how to handle it right? If you're not Meek if you know if you are someone who is constantly crushing people, constantly acting out of revenge, or spite. Do you know Jesus Do you know Jesus, because see the meek do the meek will inherit the earth. He says, verse six. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied. The first three beatitudes lead us to this fourth, a person who has recognized their sinfulness when compared to a holy God. They're heartbroken about it, and they're meek. That person will then starve after righteousness after holiness, Matthew 633. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things you want the attitude. Hunger was a very frequent thing. In biblical times, we seldom truly hunger in this life, truly hunger, so it can be hard for us to comprehend. But for those that starve. After God's righteousness, He says he'll give it to them. You want to be holy, God will give it to you. You want to follow Him, God will give it to you. To be satisfied means you no longer hunger for the things of the world. joyful people are satisfied. In Christ, we can find the joy in the comfort of our satisfaction in Christ. As we hunger after righteousness, He gives us comfort. Tuesday night, my youngest daughter Annabeth, started complaining about tooth pain. And she's had some issues. She's really the only child that's on a lot of teeth issues, praise the Lord. She's had some issues with her teeth before and a lot of work has been done on him. And so we were like, well, maybe the pain will go away, which has happened. Sometimes that happens, but usually not. And then Wednesday night, she was really in pain and was crying a lot what's not like her because she's like a tough navy seal. And she was crying. And we're like, Well, you know, two pains, the worst pain if you've ever had it. And so I said, We got to get her to the dentist on Thursdays, we'd go to the dentist on Thursday, they did X rays. She'd already had a feeling done that this cavity would it's something that happened and it didn't work, right and whatever. And the dentist said, Oh, she's gonna have a root canal. We're like, oh, gosh, I've had one. And now ever since that one root canal, I floss like eight times a day. Alright, and so in. So I said, This is bad. I've been through it. Right. And so we, they couldn't do it there. It was too, too difficult. So you had she had to go to an endodontist or whatever you call them that do those those things. And there weren't any pediatric ones, right. And so we finally got her in on a Friday morning. Finally got her in on Friday morning. And the one place that was open that had a doctor and we brought her in and later down in first the dot Dennis was little little concerned. Because you know, it's not pediatrics. She's 12. And but But see, but he did fine. And I think my wife helped the dentists through it. But as she was doped up and being worked on, Emily said that the nurse came over and just kind of rubbed her arm and just physically comforted Annabeth, laying there in the bed, working on that root canal. When she was done, the dentist said, Well, you did better than most adults do. Right? You did a great job. And the miracle of modern medicine is the next day. Saturday, she woke up she was no pain. feeling amazing how that works. Before you're in horrible pain next day. Your roots are dead. You got no pain, right? And so she was able to take joy and comforts he's asking last night Casper nice, nice house. No, you had surgery yesterday. You can't spend anybody's house right. She can take joy in the comfort she had and now has. So God conferences. He brings that comfort we need when we need it. We can find joy in knowing that God is the God of comfort. When we go to Him in prayer when we seek a space and we wait and listen. We will be comforted. And knowing that he will comfort us should give us a lasting joy. Secondly, we can find joy in God's mercy. God's mercy for seven Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Those who've received mercy. Those who found it are more apt to give it you ever had a situation or life or someone was merciful to you? And you've experienced what they've experienced. And if you've been there, you're probably more apt to give it to them because you understand And what they've been through. Those who've received mercy will give it those people can find joy and giving people mercy. Since they've been recipients of mercy, see mercy is is love reaching out to those who are helpless or need salvation. Grace is unmerited favor, God's giving us something we don't deserve. Mercy is withholding punishment for something we do deserve. That's mercy. If you've ever received it, you know how nice it is. God has given us mercy through the cross, he withheld the punishment myth for us, because of Jesus's death on the cross. And because we have received a mercy we are to show mercy to others. Now, Jesus told a parable illustrates this truth, it's about forgiveness, but it's all about mercy. Look at Matthew 18. He says, The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, when it was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents, since he could not pay his Master ordered him to be sold with his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. To the servant fell on his knees, imploring men, have patience with me, it's what he's saying, have given me mercy, have patience with me, I will pay you everything. out of pity for him. The mass of that servant released him and forgave the debt, just gave it to him. When that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 an earring and seizing him, he began to choke him saying, pay what you owe to his fellow assertive fell down and pleaded with him, have patience with me, and I will pay you he says the same exact thing. The servant said in his master, verse 30, but this servant refused, even though he had received mercy, he refused any wit, and he put them in prison until he should pay the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed. And they went and reported to their master, all that has taken place, especially in a small town, I don't know. Verse 32, is master summon boom, and said to him, You wicked servant. I forgave you all that debt, because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you. And in anger, his master delivered him to the jailers, and I'm sure he'd pay all his debt. So also, my heavenly Father will do to every one of you. If you do not forgive your brother from your heart, Jesus makes the clear indictment, though those who don't give mercy have not received it. This man received it was it thankful for it? Knowing that we have God's mercy gives us joy in life. There's nothing you have to be afraid of when it comes to being judged by God if you're a believer. Nothing. Nothing. It almost sounds too good to be true. That's because it almost is. It's a great thing about the gospel. And along with this mercy, comes a purity of heart. Look at verse eight. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Now, being pure at heart doesn't mean perfect, because none of us are perfect. It's the idea of making God your God. That's what it means to be pure at heart, making God your God. You have a singleness, about knowing Him, following Him, following God, those who have a singularity, about following God their life will will see him and those who are falling after God will be people peace. So the verse nine, bless it are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. Only those who have been called sons of God will be peacemakers because they are sons of God, they will continue to make peace. The man who has tasted God's righteousness is to show mercy to others to be pure in heart and to be a peace maker when you come across that rude person. You have the right to be rude back. How is that going to work out for you? Or we can be the Chris When, and you can make peace. Those who are Christians make peace, those who have joy in Christ, no mercy. And finally, number three, we can find joy in God's rewards. We can find joy in God's rewards. Verse 10, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus promises us that his followers will be persecuted. A it's to receive salvation is super easy. You just turn from your sins and place your faith in the Lord. But then it gets difficult. This is why people say they're Christians and fall away. As he says you're gonna be persecuted. And you're not gonna be persecuted because of who you are. It's not it's not because they don't like Charlie or you whoever you are. It's because of who you follow. Just because you follow look at the Bible says, First Peter for Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you detest you, as if something strange were happening to you. We quote this verse all the time in our house. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also Rejoice, and be glad when his glory is revealed. Second, Timothy 312 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life and Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Maybe that should go on our bumper stickers. Maybe that should go on our coffee mugs to remind us the cost of following Christ book Philippians 129. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ, you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake, Jesus makes clear that will suffer for his sakes. But we're blessed in doing so. But it's not just it's not just the end here. We will reap the rewards of heaven because of this. We will reap the rewards of having portly says verse 11. And Blessed are you when others revile you, and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven. We are to rejoice for our sufferings for our reward is great in heaven. It's not bad to desire the heavenly rewards. It's not selfish to desire those things. Because if they were, God wouldn't tell us to wait for him. He wouldn't tell us to look forward to it. He says, live your life in such a way that you will have the rewards in heaven. Let that be a goal, so to speak for you and when you suffer, you will have those rewards. Some of you will have so many rewards for suffering for Christ, you don't even you only know what to do with them. And that's what he's tells us people. Yes, it's going to be hard. It's okay. In fact, it is morally permissible, it is morally right for you to desire those heavenly rewards, because that is your inheritance. This world you get 7090 years if you're blessed. But eternity never ends. Amen. never ends. And he says yours is the kingdom of heaven. Yours is that inheritance. So have joy, have joy in God's future. Rewards. Heavenly Father. We thank you so much for being a god of comfort, a God of mercy. And a garden for award. You give us all these things in life you give us comfort when we need it. And the difficulties and the hardships of life in including those that we receive just because we are falling you you give us mercy so that we can give mercy to others and show how what your character is like and show people how Christ is and how we deal with them. And Lord, you give us that reward many times in this life you give us rewards but you've promised us these tangible rewards that you're going to give us for an eternity. For some of this Lord, that seems like a long time away for others doesn't seem a long time away. It seems short. Help us all Understand that reality that even if things don't go right here, even if people don't like us here, even if we have issues here that we follow you, you'll give us that comfort. You'll give us that vision to remember that, yes, you've called us to make disciples, and you were preparing a place for us, even today. When all said and done we'll be living with you for eternity. Father, we we thank you for that truth. We love you for who you are. We ask these things in Jesus. Amen.