KINGDOM PRINCIPLES

TOPIC: KINGDOM PRINCIPLES 

TEXT: Mathew 5:1-16

MEMORY VERSE:  "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for thy shall be filled" (Matt 5:6)

CENTRAL TRUTH: God blesses those who understand and apply kingdom principle.

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever heard the statement "I would be happy if I had..." For many, this statement would be completed with things like a better car, bigger home, new clothes, more money, and so on. Yet these often bring added responsibility and burden, not a lasting happiness. A better car and bigger home mean higher payments. More money leads to an increase in spending, and clothes wear out and demand replacing. The things that seem to guarantee happiness often add more difficulty to life.

"Happiness is not found in things", someone once said, "but in us". And true happiness cannot be found outside a life that is totally committed to Jesus Christ. This week's lesson presents the source of happiness by examining the Beatitudes, a series of moral principles that are to exemplify the lives of those who have accepted Christ as their Saviour and are whole-heartedly serving Him

Allow the truths of this lesson to challenge you in your Christian walk. Instead of letting the philosophies and circumstances of this world dictate your happiness, let the Holy Spirit use God's word to produce true happiness in your life

1. PRINCIPLES PROCLAIMED: Matt. 5:1,2,3 - 10

We refer to Mathew 5:1-16 as the Beatitudes, from a Latin word meaning "blessed". The Beatitudes are part of a portion of the gospel we call "The Sermon on the Mount. This name is given to this discourse because of the location where Jesus taught these principles of His Kingdom.

In His sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke to two groups: "the Beatitudes" and "the disciples" Vs. 2. While He specifically spoke to His disciples, other passages show the multitude heard His message as well (Lk.6:17-20; Matt.7:28). Each of the Beatitudes begins with the word "blessed , a word that can also be translated "happy" or "fortunate". This word implies more than a superficial passing emotion often interpreted as happiness. Rather, it indicates a lasting sense of well-being. It also described an inner contentment in spite of outward circumstances. Through the principles in this sermon, Jesus taught His followers how they could live above the attitudes and behaviours of the society around them through their relationship with God. 

In each statement, Jesus taught a distinct principle of living. While these principles are the opposite of the attitudes and behaviours common to this world, each of them points toward the well-being believers can have when they allow these principles to be a part of their lives

When people think of poverty, they usually think about destitution and difficult circumstances. Those who are considered poor are sometimes thought to be less worthy than the rest of society. Most people today do not associate being poor with being blessed, yet Jesus linked the

together.

In Mathew 5:3, Jesus was not speaking of being poor in material goods: He spoke of being "poor in spirit. This phrase identifies a spiritual destitution that requires a total dependence on God.

The person who lives by these principles depends totally on God rather than the self-sufficiency and pride so prevalent in our day. Even the wealthy needs this kind of poverty. Those who operate by the "get all you can" philosophy of self-sufficiency and greed may gain material possession, but be destitute when it comes to spiritual things

The comfort Jesus gives those who mourn comes because in their sorrow they turn to the Lord for help. If their sorrow centres on personal sin, they rely on Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing. If their sorrow revolves around the moral poverty of the world, they find comfort in the fact that one day Jesus will destroy the wickedness of this world and establish His own righteous system (Rev.21:4)

Many people associate the meekness in Mathew 5:5 with weakness. They believe "might makes right". But Jesus plainly stated the opposite: "The meek...shall inherit the earth". Those who "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (5:6) pursue righteousness with the same earnestness as they would food. They have a strong desire for right standing with God. And God will not ignore them; "For they shall be filled". God satisfies those who are spiritually hungry. "The pure in heart experiences happiness because "they shall se God" (Matt. 5:8). Many in this world promote sinful pleasure and hedonistic pursuits as the path to happiness. But in reality, a life lived for sinful pleasure ends in destruction.

God is "the God of peace" (Heb. 13:20), and Christ is "the Prince of peace" (Isa. 9:6). Because we know Christ, we are God's children. As God's children, we will do what we can to bring reconciliation between people and God by proclaiming the gospel (2 Chro. 5:18-21). In a world that knows little peace, people possessing this quality stand apart from the world around them.

2. PRINCIPLES APPLIED

When we live according to the principles in the Beatitudes, it will make a difference in our lives. And we will make a difference in our society. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus used two examples to picture the way believers can impact the society around them.

Salt is white, which some think is a symbol of purity. Salt is also pungent. As believers, our godly living in an ungodly world will convict those who reject godliness. Salt is also used as a preservative and a flavouring agent. As a preservative, it retards and prevents decay. When we live godly lives, we retard the spread of evil and bring good flavour to our society

Jesus also used the example of light to illustrate the impact of Christians who live by His holy standards. As physical light dispels darkness, the moral light we emit drives away moral darkness. For light to be effective, it needs to shine brightly. A lamp that is barely flickering will not provid enough light to be effective. In the same way, if we do not keep the light of the gospel shining brightly in our lives, we will not be effective in dispelling the darkness in this world

Sin has darkened the minds of those who are without Christ (Eph.4:17,18). As we share the gospel, its truth can reveal the darkness of sin and the hope that we have in Christ. Our stand for morality in our communities will shine as a beacon. As we let God's light shine through us, many who live in darkness will want the light of Christ in their lives

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. How is poverty viewed by society today?

2. What does it means to be poor in spirit?

3. Why will Jesus comfort those who sorrow over moral wickedness?

4. In what way does being a peacemaker (matt.5:9) reflect the nature of God?

5.In what ways can light be ineffective?

6. How can believers provide light in this sin-darkened world?