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Vol. II Number 27 July 19, 1998
When Jesus preached the ``Sermon on the Mount'', he was preaching a message that was anathema to his audience. He was telling the people that the poor, humble, meek, and righteous shall become the rulers in lieu of the rich and mighty. His audience was incredulous when they heard this doctrine, for they imagined that only the rich, famous, and powerful have enough strength to rule. The same viewpoint is prevalent today. How many times have you heard that the Congressmen know so much more than we do? Or, if they're rich they must have more knowledge than we. All of these thoughts are contrary to the teachings of the Bible and Jesus Christ. Jesus, in his sermon told his audience that it isn't the rich, famous, and arrogant who are going to inherit the earth, but the meek and lowly!
Matthew 5:1-12
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set,
his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
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.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
The Poor in Spirit:
It is the poor in spirit who will inherit heaven, not the proud and arrogant. It is the ones who seek the Lord Jesus with all of their heart who have heaven as the promised land, not the ones who put on a ``good'' show. The poor in spirit are the ones who don't depend on their own resources and faculties, but seek the Lord and His resources and faculties. The poor in spirit realize that there is nothing good within themselves, except the Lord Jesus.
Psalms 14:3
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none
that doeth good, no, not one.
Psalms 53:3
3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is
none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 3:12
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable;
there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
It is the poor in Spirit who realize that there is nothing good within themselves except the Lord Jesus. Is it any wonder that their's is the kingdom of heaven?
Blessed are they that Mourn:
Those who mourn will be comforted by the Lord Jesus. Those who seek the Lord with all of their heart in time of distress and trouble will find the comforting arms of Jesus around them. They will find a comfort that cannot come from family or friends, for only the Lord Jesus can bring real comforting to those who mourn.
The Meek shall inherit the earth:
The meek who trust in the Lord will inherit the earth during the millennial reign. They are the ones who sought the Lord while the rest of the world was living it up. They are the ones who sought the Lord's righteousness while the rest of the world was living in debauchery and sin. These are the ones who realize that they only have Jesus and nothing else matters. They may not have a lot of gold in their account, but when you have Jesus, you have riches untold.
Psalms 147:6
6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Psalms 149:1-9
1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the
congregation of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful
in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with
the timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with
salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in
their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints.
Praise ye the LORD.
Zephaniah 2:1-3
1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the
fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD's anger come
upon you.
3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his
judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the
day of the LORD's anger.
It is the meek who are the rulers during the millennial reign. They who trusted in the Lord during the days of wickedness will be elevated to kings and princes during the 1000 year reign, while the kings and rulers of the world today will have fetters and chains as a reward. The meek will be elevated while the might will be brought down.
Hunger and Thirsting for Righteousness
It is those who hunger and thirst for the righteousness of the Lord Jesus who will be filled. These are the saints who seek the Lord's righteousness. These are the ones who search after the righteousness of Jesus and are fill with his divine glory. These are the ones who are filled with the glorious spirit of Jesus when they seek after the Lord. This filling of the Lord's righteousness can only come from above. It cannot be taught or learned. It can only come from Jesus, for without His divine spirit dwelling inside of you, there is no righteousness!
Romans 8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin
in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they
that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the
law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of
his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit
is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,
he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by
his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
It is the ones who rest in the power and righteousness of Jesus who will be elevated to kings and princes. They are the ones who seek after the love of Jesus and his righteousness. These are the ones who put the Lord first in their life. Whereas the rest of the world is seeking after wealth and prosperity, the saint seeks after the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The saint of the Lord will be lifted up while the wicked will be brought low.
3014 E Street Philadelphia, PA 19134 Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637 Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037
Services:
Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . . . . . . 12 NOON
Sunday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM
Wednesday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM