How many of you would agree that attitude is everything? When we are faced with a circumstance, its our attitude that makes us or breaks us at times. A study was made by Stanford Research Institute that reported that only 12.5 percent of our success in life is determined by knowledge; the other 87.5 percent comes from attitude. More than skill, knowledge, or aptitude, our attitude helps dictates our success in life.
Minister and best selling author Chuck Swindoll writes this, “I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. The attitude I choose keeps me going or cripples my progress. When my attitudes are right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme.”
In todays reading from the Gospel of Luke, also found in the Gospel of Matthew, it gives us a very profound sermon that when compared to the times and importance of its subject, its known as one of the most important recorded sermons Jesus gave. This sermon, also known as the beatitudes, was presented amongst a host of thousands of people. So we read from chapter 6, “And then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great multitude of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled by unclean spirits were being cured. And all the people were trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.”
So if you could just imagine, and place yourself there to hear some very prophetic words of wisdom that when listeners hear him, they are prone to ask themselves the question “Where do I fit in, and Am I among the blessed or cursed?
So let us hear the words of Jesus, “And He raised His eyes toward His disciples and began saying, Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when the people hate you, and when they exclude you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and jump for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For their fathers used to treat the prophets the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all the people speak well of you; for their fathers used to treat the false prophets the same way.”
In reading from the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel of Matthew tells a little more poetic version of Jesus Sermon. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
In hearing these words, you should be hearing the word ‘blessed’ more often than not. The word beatitude is actually not found in any English bible, but it is known and originated in the modern world the Latin word ‘Beatitudo’ in the Vulgate Jerome’s Latin Bible 390-405AD. The word Beatitudes are also known as makarisms from the equivalent Greek term Makarios commonly used to introduce blessings directed to God.
Regardless of how we read these words of Jesus, at the heart of being blessed is the recognition of God as God. Jesus is telling each of us today, those who focus their lives on God and value covenant relationship with God are declared blessed. They take refuge in, trust, fear, find strength in, and are disciplined and taught by the Lord who is their helper and hope. Often these qualities of a faithful and blessed life are elaborated in the verses surrounding the beatitude.
In contrast to the 10 Commandments given to Moses, Jesus gives the Beatitudes in a positive spirit, listing the values in life which will lead to prosperity and salvation. Each of the beatitudes brings blessings into the life of a Christian.
So what does that mean to me you may ask? Without a doubt, we could go on a very long series of bible studies and sermons to discuss each beatitude that Jesus give us, but in titling the sermon today Be the Attitude, I wanted to try and emphasize, how our attitude, like Jesus proclaims in this sermon, makes the whole difference in how we relate to God and each other.
"Early in life, I decided that I would not be overcome by events. My philosophy has been that regardless of the circumstances, I shall not be vanquished, but will try to be happy. Life is not easy for any of us. But it is a continual challenge, and it is up to us to be cheerful—and to be strong, so that those who depend on us may draw strength from our example."
—Rose Kennedy
When I think about attitude, I immediately think about Joshua. The chosen leader of Israel following the death of Gods servant Moses, and in Gods promise to Moses as well as Joshua, he stated “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua had to create a great attitude to exercise the faith needed to do Gods work.
Another example is Joseph, whom was sold into slavery by his own brothers, became a prisoner in Egypt and all the while kept faith in God while keeping a positive attitude that God will deliver him. Joseph’s attitude of mind was to hate sin and live in Godly fear. This meant that his life was blest by God.
Being blessed by God is exactly what Jesus is saying to us in his sermon, and in our daily lives. One way to think about being blessed is we got to do more than just make plans or make a vision about what we need to do; you also got to do something just as important in stop doing what prevents us from being blessed. You simply have to seek wise counsel from whom? Almighty God!
Happy are you who are poor because Gods kingdom is your. So as often as we say the rich get richer and poor get poorer, remember the poor is what needs to be blessed. Poor in spirit, not being poor in wealth. Happy are you who hunger because you will be satisfied. This is not speaking just of physical hunger, but spiritual. Did not Jesus tell us “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?” Millions of people do go hungry in the world every day, and there isn’t much greater pain than the pain of hunger for sure. But God does satisfy them all.
Happy are you who weep now, because you will laugh. If you are mourning, deep in grief? Good news lays ahead for the Lord will bless you and make you laugh. Grief is most commonly temporary, but some its harder to get through than others, and that’s ok. Notice in these promises, its in future tense. No where is it imply hunger or mourning to be satisfied at this very moment. You will be satisfied in Gods timing when its best for you.
Happy are you when people hate you, persecute you, insult you, misuse you, condemn you as being evil. Rejoice when that happens. Leap for joy because you have a great reward in heaven. The ancestors did the same thing and they also received the great reward. When we suffer, it’s the most profound question that is addressed throughout history. It’s a very difficult question to answer, but millions around the world are impoverished, put down because of their belief in Christ. When we suffer and see our loved one die from something, God tells us to trust him. When we have trials and tribulations, God loves us enough to say have faith in me. We will suffer in this world, but never never alone! We have to keep that attitude as a Godly attitude.
Inclosing friends, I want to emphasize that these beatitudes are shinning statements on the emphasis of having a faithful relationship with our Lord and Savior. While God promises us to be blessed, the direct opposite is to be cursed! God desires us to serve him, Love him and honor him, just as he does to us who seeks him out!
James tells us “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Notice its says blessed!
1 Peter tells us, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes through tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” This clearly tells us we are blessed amongst being Gods chosen people, especially when going through trials to prove our faith in Him, we will become more precious than the finest Gold on earth.
I challenge you friends, when we think negative, have a less than stellar attitude about something, think about what God is telling us in his sermon. We are blessed, because he blesses us who seek him out, who Loves him, who serves him. As I stated in my previous sermon Hebrews 11, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.” The reward of being blessed. Don’t just experience the attitude, Be the Attitude of God.
Rick Parise
the beatitudes dwell amongst the meek
I am the number of justice and fullness
if I am divided I am still equal
strong and pure I have proven longevity
I am poor in spirit, so that I might gain
divided twice I am still strength an cannot be changed
I am pure
I am merciful
I am of the infinite
and I rest within persecution
I am Eight
Amen