Genesis 13:1-4 comments: God is in control

Genesis 13:1 ¶  And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2  And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3  And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4  Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

Like the Hebrews in the Exodus, Abram leaves Egypt being given much goods by the Egyptians, only Abram gets his from the Pharaoh’s hand while the Hebrews received theirs from all their neighbors (Exodus 11:2). Abram, now a very wealthy man, returned to the place where he had built an altar to God and called upon His name in 12:8. We, too, in a time of great deliverance, should return to where we first called on God for help, at least in our minds, to get straightened out from the false self-confidence that often comes when we escape something bad ‘by the skin of our teeth.’ Here, Abram, at the place where he built the altar, calls on God again. This whole episode brings to mind that even when we are not praying, not acting out of concern for God’s will but for our own self-preservation, that God is directing the reality of our lives and manipulating events and people to push us toward the end He has set for us. I recommend stopping at this point to read Psalm 139 and contemplate God’s sovereignty over the affairs of men, even heathens like the Pharaoh. Abram and Sarai escaped Egypt by God’s will and not Abram’s dishonesty and cleverness or the Pharaoh’s self-glorying protestations of being morally offended. God used Pharaoh’s power to save them from harm for His purpose.

Psalm 105:15  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Genesis 12:14-20 comments: Sarai and Abram in Egypt

Genesis 12:14 ¶  And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15  The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16  And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. 17  And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife. 18  And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19  Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20  And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

Pharaoh’s princes saw Sarai as something worthy of the Pharaoh and perhaps were too afraid of his wrath to steal her for themselves but thought to use her as a way of gaining his favor. Abram, thought of as her brother, was treated very well and made wealthier for his supposed sister being part of the Pharaoh’s harem. Racists insist that verse 14 says that Sarai was attractive to the Pharaoh because she was white skinned and, of course, the assumption is that darker skinned men always prefer “white” women. This ignores the context of verse 11 and fair to look upon means she was attractive, desirable.

Genesis 6:2  That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Esther 1:11  To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.

But, you will believe what justifies your bigotry and prejudice and will force the Bible to justify your social beliefs, taking the non-believers’ and the skeptics’ eyes off of the gospel of Christ and onto your inconsistencies, hypocrisies, and moral weakness.

Whatever the case, God plagued Pharaoh and his house for this action, thereby saving Sarai from suffering the humiliation, the unfinished murder of being forced sexually against one’s will. Pharaoh makes himself out to be a just man who is done wrong by Abram although we know by Abram’s repeat of this behavior and Isaac’s copying of it that the chance of Abram being eliminated was likely, regardless of this heathen’s protestations of his innocence. Still, he sent Abram and Sarai away with all of their possessions. The plagues put a fear in Pharaoh that would have served a later Pharaoh well if he had heeded them.

Genesis 12:10-13 comments: down into Egypt

Genesis 12:10 ¶  And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11  And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12  Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13  Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Later, we will get the definition of famine which is a period of little food and a poor return for farmers. We look at a word in context and compare its use against like phrases in the verse or passage.

Genesis 41:27  And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

Grievous is shown later to mean that there will be no surplus during a famine. It will then be a grievous famine.

Genesis 41:31  And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

Grievous is an abundance of calamity in the curses on Egypt in Exodus 9 and it is a very difficult burden to bear in 1Kings 12 and 2Chronicles 10. Grievous causes grief, obviously, but it is important to see how the Bible defines words in context and I want to reinforce that for you to help in your own personal reading.

Abram does what we would consider a cowardly thing rather than trusting in God to deliver him. He tells his wife, who is in her 60’s but still at that time still a fair woman to look upon, to lie and say she is his sister, not concerning himself in this whether she will suffer humiliation but in preserving his own life.

Abram, as Abraham, will do this again in Gerar in chapter 20. His son, Isaac, will also do this with his wife, Rebekah, in chapter 26 in Gerar, as well. Apparently, by this, we know that it would not be uncommon for a man to be murdered so that someone could obtain his attractive wife as a sexual resource.

We know that fair to look upon means that a person is sexually desirable. In our modern world women seek to dress and look like this although if they considered the assortment of characters they would be attracting, most of which do not look like their favorite movie or music stars, they might think better of it. Sarai, like other women, had little choice in the matter and was little better than a commodity or a pack animal under prevalent laws and customs. It is only in Christ that woman’s status rises.

Galatians 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Unless, of course, she is an Independent Fundamental Baptist, in which case she is typically still in Egypt.

In this general time, although you cannot seriously accept the dates put forth without absolute proof of which there is none, Mizraim’s Egypt (see comments on 10:6) was ruled by a Pharaoh, a king, who held absolute power. Later, the Greek historian Herodotus will tell us that there could be as many as 12 rulers leading from various places claiming all to be THE Pharaoh. This makes any attempt to put the Pharaohs and their dynasties in any absolute dating plan difficult. In addition, the commonly accepted method for dating ancient Egypt is not without its detractors and is controversial. So, when reading about Old and New Kingdoms, Intermediate Periods, Dynasty dates, etc. etc. be very skeptical and cautious about accepted conclusions. Egypt’s ancient history is probably much more compressed than current scholarship would be willing to let on.

In any event, depending on the flooding of the Nile River to irrigate crops, rather than an abundance of rainfall, Egypt was the place to go in most famines in Canaan. Egypt was also the superpower that would have held the kings of Canaan as tributaries in those times when other empires were not in control such as the Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians.  Soon, we will see that part of Canaan at this time was held in tribute by several kings from further east; including Elam and Babylon.

Nine Blessings sermon notes - given at Lake Marburg Baptist Church today

In Matthew, chapter 5, there are nine verses that each start with the word Blessed, nine short simple verses that are so filled with meaning and depth as to be incredibly profound. And yet, Christians read them, recite them, and pass over them as being not applicable to the dispensation we’re in as I heard a famous Bible teacher, J. Vernon McGee say, and miss some of the most beautiful thoughts in our faith.

They are a gift from God and a blessing that should fill your mind, your spirit, with thoughts of what it means to be a follower of Christ, a Christian.

Matthew 5:3 ¶  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

It is true that Jesus is talking directly to a bunch of beard-wearing, pork-abstaining, sabbath-observing, temple-going Jews but every verse in God’s Bible has an application to we Christians, we who profess faith in Christ’s righteousness and not our own, who believe that He was God in the flesh, died for our sins on the Cross at Calvary, rose on the third day, and that by faith in His death, burial, and resurrection we are saved from an eternity of agony in the wrath of God.

I want to talk to you about some things regarding these verses and what they mean to me. This is personal.

First, let me say that the best way, I think, to interpret the Bible is by cross-referencing not the typical fundamentalist ripping verses out of context to mean things they were never intended to mean except in the mind of some preacher or teacher with an agenda or lack of reading comprehension.

It has been said that these verses are the foundation of authentic Christian discipleship and the basis for joy and happiness as a Christian. Joy is one of those fruits of the Spirit, proof that the Spirit of God indwells you. If you have none of these things you might want to reexamine who you belong to.

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

9 declarations of Blessedness in Matthew, 9 Fruits of the Spirit in the 9^th book of the Bible in Galatians. 3 x 9 books in the New Testament. It has been said that 9 is the number of fruit-bearing.

To be blessed is to receive a benefit from God, to be happy in the Lord’s will for you.

Genesis 30:13  And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

But more importantly it is proof of being approved by God, stamped with His seal of acceptance, embraced by His love.

Genesis 5:2  Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Genesis 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

God blessed us with so much and continues to bless us with His grace, His unmerited favor, and eternal life.

3 ¶  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? By cross-referencing to see how the Holy Spirit used this and similar phrases elsewhere we find it written that;

Psalm 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalm 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Isaiah 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Even if think you are saved but you are proud, are certain that you are always a righteous person, that God is lucky to have you on His side then you will miss the point of the first blessing. Unbelievers who don’t think they even need to be saved because they are just good people and if there is a God He ought to include them even if they have never thought of him are also stuck. To come to Christ you must first understand that without Him you are spiritually bankrupt, completely destitute of any merit at all. You have nothing with which to commend yourself to God. That person, not the proud, self-righteous person, will acknowledge their need for Christ.

Are you poor in spirit? Do you recognize your helplessness before God? Or do you spend so much time dislocating your own shoulder trying to pat yourself on the back for being right that you cannot see that without Him you are nothing. If your sin has not broken your heart then something isn’t quite right with you. A poor spirit is one that acknowledges this and their guilt for sin.

Psalm 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalm 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Isaiah 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

That thing that separated us from God, that even now draws us away from Him in our thoughts and deeds, our sin, do you mourn over it? Does it break your heart?

What does it mean to repent? The words repent and repentance don’t just carry with them an intellectual assent to something like just changing your mind. They involve a turning from something like sin or an action you were purposed to do.

Exodus 32:12  Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

Jeremiah 4:28  For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

Jeremiah 18:8  If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

Jeremiah 26:3  If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

Ezekiel 14:6  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

Ezekiel 18:30  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Jonah 3:9  Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Repentance also implies belief as you repent from sin and turn to God. Sin is downplayed in today’s Christianity so repentance from it usually receives short shrift except in the most fundamental of churches. Consider these verses;

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So, if sin before we are saved and after we are saved is not an issue then what do you think about these verses, if we are just to admit we sin like we admit we chew gum and move on? And why did Christ trouble Himself to die on the Cross?

1Corinthians 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

It looks to me based on the context that Jesus here makes a spiritual application for mourning as in regard to contextually mourning for sin’s very existence.

I realize preachers have taken this too far. The most stunning example is Charles G. Finney’s insistence that if you weren’t trying to make up for all of your past sins to the people you had wronged then you probably aren’t saved, which is foolish. But modern preachers not preaching against sin is just as foolish, if not moreso.

You cannot simply dismiss sin and your sin nature as a bad rash and forget it. We need to deal with our sin, or, more importantly to have Christ deal with it.

1John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Have you mourned for your sin? Do you weep even now over what you feel so helpless to overcome? Haven’t some of you ruined your families, driven your children away from you? Haven’t some of you wasted your youth on alcohol and promiscuous sex, looking for love and acceptance, a replacement for your father or mother, pursued money and found bankruptcy, messed up your kids? Do you feel nothing? Has someone gotten you to believe that everything is just peachy? David was forgiven but he suffered terribly for his sin, in his family. Don’t you mourn?

Death in this world was one consequence of sin. There is no dignity in death, I heard it said. There is suffering if we are not killed instantly and unless we are drugged in our last hours. Death is often agonizing, lonely, painful, and fraught with tears and pleas for mercy. Death is all around us. How can you be awake, acknowledge that our sin caused this condition, and not mourn for sin?

            Those who realize they are spiritually bankrupt without Christ will have the kingdom of heaven and of God. Those who weep and mourn over their sin and the very fact that sin itself exists will be comforted by God. My sins have cost me a great deal of satisfaction and contentment in my life. My life is so much less and my choices are so much more limited because of the sins I have committed. I have wept over sins already forgiven, wept because I wish so much that I had never done them. I know that is selfish. I know I’m supposed to just be saying that my sin put Christ on that Cross. But, I know what I know and I feel what I feel and I’m just being honest with you. I do know that my sin has offended a Holy God and separated me from Him before I trusted Christ. My sin is personal to me and to those I’ve wronged. Man’s sin brought death into the world where death did not have to be present.

Hebrews 2:14 ¶  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

But, we have this promise, a promise I cling to as I yet mourn for sin, a promise to be comforted.

Revelation 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

In the Bible the meek is often associated with the poor.

Isaiah 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isaiah 29:19  The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Amos 2:7a  That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek…

But for this interpretation of this sermon let’s look at this statement.

Numbers 12:3  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Moses was hardly poor and also why would a man who killed an Egyptian and led a couple of million people through the desert be called meek? What is this definition of meek?

I think it is clear that we are talking about Moses’ relationship with God. You know that poor people, oppressed people even, can be just a wicked as the powerful in their oppression of each other and defiance of God so meekness as poverty cannot possibly be the definition in this case. No, Moses was meek towards God and toward God’s will. Moses’ pride did not puff Him up.

Meek is contrasted with wicked.

Psalm 147:6  The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

You aren’t righteous just because you don’t have any money. There is something else going on here with these words.

Exodus 32:31  And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32  Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin — ; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

Notice the similar statement by Paul.

Romans 9:1 ¶  I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2  That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5  Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

The essence of meekness then is a heart for the lost, mourning for those who are bound for an eternity in God’s wrath, who do not see the truth because that is what God wants so badly.

1Timothy 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Meekness is also a profound meekness toward God’s will. Jesus said;

Luke 11:2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Matthew 26:42  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Remember what Job said.

Job 13:15a  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…

Moses did not want to go speak to Pharaoh. He was very resistant to the idea. But, in the end he did as he was told. You can read about his reluctance in Exodus 3. Moses and Paul, strong, self-willed characters, did what they were told even if it took a few turns to get to that point. In the end they were meek towards God’s will.

If you simply refuse to obey God, complain constantly about His will for your life, twist His Bible to meet a political or social agenda you have, and just all around actually worship a God who reflects you rather than the God of the Bible you are not meek by this definition. You are a tare, a phony, or maybe you are Christian who will have to dragged by your feet down the street by the Holy Ghost on your way to heaven kicking and screaming. Pride, self-righteousness, and arrogance are example of the wickedness I am talking about.

6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Jesus and Paul condemned the tradition of men and much of what men call authoritative; in Mark 7 the oral law of the Pharisees and in Colossians 2 including worldly philosophy called a vain deceit.

But, God has a standard of righteousness and it is His standard of righteousness we should seek. Christ set the standard for righteousness and is, in fact, our righteousness. We should long to be filled with the Spirit of God rather than our own spirit.

Christ’s standard of righteousness is clear.

Matthew 7:12 ¶  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:35  Then one of them, [a Pharisee] which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38  This is the first and great commandment. 39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

In fact, read the entire sermon that starts in Matthew 5 to get a picture of Christ’s standard for His followers. It is a blessed state we are in when we hunger to be filled with God’s standard of righteousness, His law, and His word.

7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Mercy is one of the most magnificent traits of our Creator. In fact, mercy is so important that He wants us to view it in a special light.

James 2:13  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Most of us have the opportunity every day to show mercy with our speech. However, we speak roughly to those around us and seek revenge for real and imagined slights and hurts with our words. We even try to dominate each other with words. It is shameful the way Christians don’t feel that they need to watch what they say. I get so sick of hearing mean-spirited Christian say things like, “I just tell it like it is,” or, “You gotta have a thick skin.” There are a lot of excuses Christians have for not acting like Christ. Oh, I know what you’re gonna say. Christ spoke roughly to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Well, I’m not talking about you standing in front of some highly self-important Baptist Dr. Whosit and admonishing him harshly for twisting the Bible into knots. Jesus reserved his toughest language for the religious establishment but was kind to the common people and to people who sought Him.

Mercy like this is very difficult for me. I want so much to lash out when I feel that someone deserves it but I need to be kind even when others are not.  Please stop with the double-entendres, the veiled threats, the hidden insults, and the snide comments. It does not draw anyone to Christ through you. It repels them.

8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

David had this to say about what it means to be pure in heart.

Psalm 24:4  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Paul gave us;

1Timothy 1:5  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

2Timothy 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

And Peter;

1Peter 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Choosing not to sin as much as lies within you, maintaining a good conscience, having sincere faith, avoiding the lusts of youth that sadly determine so much of so many of our future lives, and following righteousness, faith, love of one’s brothers and sisters in Christ, and peace with them are very important facets of striving to be pure in heart.

We need to pray each day that God keeps us from sin and does not allow us to harm our own testimony for Him. Sin quenches the voice of the Holy Spirit in our heads and hearts and sin is what separates the unsaved person from God. Sin is our main issue spiritually as death is our main issue physically. Christ paid the penalty for our sin, reconciling us to God but we can so often try to go it alone in this world by choosing service to sin rather than obedience to Christ.

I really do want to be pure in heart. As a Christian I’ve been promised that I will see God and I do see God in His constant action right now in my life and in the world around me. But, I want this blessing, this joy, from communing with our Creator with a pure heart, desiring not to sin and loving the brethren.

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Romans 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

In the 1970s a popular recording duo released a song about Henry Kissinger, who was trying to make peace in the Middle East, entitled ‘Peacemaker’. This verse in Matthew is NOT about a diplomat trying to make peace between warring countries no matter how much the worldly twist it out of its context.

This verse is about those who are part of the effort of God to make peace with mankind, who is in constant rebellion.

Isaiah 52:7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Christ, God in the flesh, is the instrument of that peace with God.

Luke 1:78  Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Which brings us to this very important passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:1 ¶  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [This shows that conversation in the Bible is more than just talk, but behavior. See Galatians 1:13; Philippians 1:27; and James 3:13 for examples]

    4 ¶  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [notice the implication that we are already seated in the heavens] 7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

    11 ¶  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

    14 ¶  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain [Jew and Gentile] one new man [the church], so making peace; 16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

They are called the children of God who pursue God’s ministry of reconciliation to bring peace, an amnesty, in man’s rebellion against God. These peacemakers, not worldly diplomats, are God’s ambassadors.

2Corinthians 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Ephesians 6:20  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Persecution and staying faithful to Christ and God in response to it is an important doctrine in the New Testament. Persecution is expected and perhaps in some sense, even welcome. But, it is a fact of life at some point if you live as a Christian and announce your faith to others. Jesus said in the context of sending out His Jewish disciples to the nation of Israel;

Matthew 10:16 ¶  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 26  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30  But the very

hairs of your head are all numbered. 31  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Keep this in mind when reading what Paul said;

2Timothy 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

And John wrote what he was told;

Revelation 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Christians were accused of many things falsely in the early days such as being cannibals because of the Lord’s Supper or as the Romans would accuse them of, as the historian Tacitus noted, hatred for humanity.

Obviously the stakes are higher here than your bellyaching because your boss made you take an Old Testament Bible verse saying homosexuals should be killed down from your cubicle. Let us not trivialize the Bible to match our lack of commitment to Christ.

But let us also not forget that Freedom of Conscience is not Freedom of Religion. You being free to think what you think and believe what you believe is fine and dandy but it is not the same as the freedom to practice what you believe, to worship where and as you think right, and to tell others about your faith. There may come a time in this country soon when Christians may not be able to worship openly because we and those before us backed down on our right to Freedom of Religion.

It is difficult to think of being persecuted and lied about as a blessing or as a state of being blessed. Are you willing to be truly persecuted, not inconvenienced, but to experience life-threatening contempt and hatred, and lies, thrown against you and your family for your allegiance to Christ?

These blessings are wonderful expressions of what it means to follow Christ.

Matthew 5:3 ¶  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

You will not experience these blessings without the fruit of proof of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling.

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

This is our calling, commanded by our Lord. Its not very macho by our culture’s standards. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll get man’s respect. No, it rather suggests you will receive his and her contempt. But, they are your marching orders as well. We cannot claim Christ without obedience to Him. If we want His blessings, they begin here;

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

And end here;

John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

What I have talked about is what lies between. Please consider it.