The Satisfaction!

The Satisfaction!

Matthew 5:6 AMP

[6] “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied. 

We have already established that God seeks men who will give their lives totally to Him. He does not do partial commitments, false religion or half-hearted devotion. He wants my all, or nothing at all. I believe this has been made quite clear since the beginning of this series on the Lord’s sermon on the mountain. These words, as have also been pointed out, are for disciples, not the uncommitted crowd. The demands are tough enough; how do you expect a man who has no allegiance or devotion to Christ to put up with these?  It is a disciple who knows his master, what the master desires, and is careful to follow and obey the master. Does this describe me?

The classes of people referred to in the verse above are those who know their true state: hungry and thirsty after righteousness. These people have their pasts, and they know how far God has brought them. They are not full of themselves, or proud of any achievement, but they know they stand simply by God's grace and mercy. They also know what is lacking in their lives, are never satisfied with comforts or convenience, and are always seeking ways to please God and be in His favour. These desires are presented as hunger and thirst. When a man is truly hungry, he is never at rest until the hunger is fully satisfied. When a man is truly thirsty, there can be no rest until that thirst is appeased. 

Why is this hunger and thirst so important? It is because these are truly never satisfied all at once and are never truly gone for a true disciple. You do not outgrow a need for God. A disciple never becomes his master. Yes, you may have a mastery of an issue, but it is not a ground for pride or self-sufficiency. It is a mastery that makes you humble, and reminds you that whatever it is you have is given to you by God. It is a never-ending quest for more of God; the more of Him you know, the more of Him you desire. The more of Him you know, the more of Him you realise you are yet to know. You cannot be so full of God that there is no room for more of Him. 

This state is one that Jesus refers to as blessed. These people know the need, know the right source for the supply, and they seek after Him with all their hearts. It is no wonder that the promise of Jesus for such people is that they will be completely satisfied. How can you be completely satisfied if the hunger and thirst are never gone? This is where God is not like man; He can give you all of Him, and yet you will always come back for more of Him, because you cannot have all of Him in this lifetime. If I will be truly satisfied, I need God to fill out all areas of my life. Whatever He controls, be sure it will work out well. God's time of favour is here. 

The Inheritance!

The Inheritance!

Matthew 5:5 AMP

[5] “Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.

Again, the message in the verse above is for those people who have made a decision to surrender control to another. It needs to be emphasised over and over again that there are messages for the general public, but there are demands and expectations for specific audiences, and in this case, disciples. The verse above is taken from the first Sermon of Jesus on the mountain, as He sat down with the men He had chosen to follow Him. There was a massive crowd at the foot of the mountain, but at this time, the message was not for them. It will be hard to demand accountability from someone who has not opened an account with you.

It is hard to expect allegiance from someone who is not subject to your rules of residence or citizenship. As it is applicable to the world's system, so is it also applicable to the spiritual system. The first step towards getting a hand on the blessings described in the verse above is to have the One who can give them to you living inside of you. How can I be led the right way if I do not have the right content and control? The world is a pressure cooker; it demands instant gratification, and also places unreasonable demands for riches, relevance and reward. It is a never-ending cycle because you do not have a clear view of what success and satisfaction look like. 

The verse above refers to the gentle, whilst another person calls them the meek. What does this mean to be meek? It is 'the quality of being quiet, gentle, and submissive, often reflecting deep inner humility' it is sometimes associated with timidity, but more accurately defined as "strength under control", which is the ability to assert power but choosing to exercise restraint, kindness, and patience. Reflect on this: Moses had power: he could call out water from a rock; his staff was used to perform mighty miracles; God spoke with him face to face, as a man speaks with his friend; God defended him vigorously even against his own brother and sister, yet he never sought an advantage. 

He did not seek to be bigger or better than anyone. That is being meek or gentle. Even when the occasion calls for it, can I trust God to sort things out, whilst I wait on His leading and guidance? Can I speak only as and when He commands, not to push an agenda, but to seek His glory? It is not a wonder, then, that the reward for being meek or gentle is to inherit the earth. It is not so much the tangible space called earth, but the benefits, blessings and balance of the earthly phase. Picture a man who has God inside Him, and peace all around him, even in the face of pressure. There is inward peace and spiritual security. Who else, except God, can give you these? God's time of favour is here. 

The Refreshing!

The Refreshing!

Matthew 5:4 AMP

[4] “Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].

As we read yesterday, there is special access given to people who have made up their minds to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and are striving to follow and obey Him on a daily basis. As always, there are instructions for the disciple, and other directives for the crowd. The expectations from the crowd are not the same as those for the disciple; one is not yet committed to the cause, and is free to flow in any direction that the wind may blow. It is not so for the disciple; the decision to surrender is not one to be taken carelessly or without thought. There are no guarantees of a smooth life, but there are ful guarantees of support and help when you need them.

This is why the message in the verse above is critical for us today. Let it not be that a man thinks he is now above the power of sin because of salvation. Yes, that is what you get, but the power over sin does not come from muscles, brainpower, brawn, influence or connections, but from the One who tasted and defeated sin and death on the cross. He is the One who provides all that I need for life and Godliness. By His help, I can face the fiery darts or the schemes of the devil. I am not in any position to beat my own chest, and rely on anything I have to beat the devil at his own game. The victory comes from God, and it is secured by total and daily dependence on the Holy Spirit. 

So that there is no temptation for anyone to think it is impossible to live a life free of sin, remember that the help we need does not come from anything we are, have or know, but from the God who knows, loves and cherishes us. He will not let go of us, and will not leave us to our own devices. Even if it happens that we fall, He does not let go, and He will do all He can, like the Good Shepherd, to restore us to full fellowship with Him. This is why a daily walk with God is critical here: do not let the devil utilize a guilty conscience to drive you farther away from the Help that is present as well as eternal. Even if I fall, I have the sure word of God that He will help me up.

As the verse above makes clear, it becomes important for me to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, so I know when I am wrong, and can take immediate steps to return. If the sensitivity is lost, it becomes harder to be pricked by sin. For all who mourn over their sins and repent, the assurance is that they will be comforted. The bible makes clear that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repent, and I can add that there is also joy when one who has fallen also gets up again. I have all the help I need to live above sin, and I know that no matter what happens, I am not alone. What comfort! What joy! What hope! Do you have these? God's time of favour is here. 

The Possession

The Possession!

Matthew 5:3 AMP

[3] “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].

One definition of inheritance that speaks to the verse above is this: 'to come into possession of or receive especially as a right or divine portion'. It is not the usual way by which men receive an inheritance. The owner of the possession has to make his will clear as to who takes over what and how, and whatever it is to be inherited must still be in existence and under the ownership and control of the person giving that thing away. You cannot write into a will that which is not yours at the time of death. I also note that the definition above speaks to divine portion. This is critical: the inheritance here does not look anything like what the natural man handles.

This inheritance is of divine origin and focus, but its reality will indeed be felt, seen, and handled when it is received. As we also know, you have to belong to the family of the man giving out his possession, for you to even dare think of getting anything. In the same way, for this divine portion to accrue to me, I have to belong to the family of the One who owns the eternal reward. I note that the words above were said to His disciples, not the crowd. Yes, the crowd was listening, but as we know, proximity does not always equate possession. Being close to the heir means nothing, unless the testator mentions your name directly. Am I one of the disciples? 

Being part of the family gives me access to the benefits of the family, but the verse above takes a step further to make clear what I need to do to lay hold of the inheritance. As this is a divine portion, it is not about what I deserve, merit or work hard for. I need the right attitude to have access to what is available. The verse above speaks about being poor in spirit; being empty of all spiritual arrogance. It is good to be a disciple or follower as the first step, but it does not end there. I must stay connected to the supply that I need for the journey. I do not have it all figured out by myself; the One who calls men to Himself, is the One who can help me stand. Do you have Him? 

The reward is His to determine, and when the heart is right, I have access to what has been promised. It is interesting to note that the verse above speaks to the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven being for those who are poor in spirit. Heaven is the ultimate goal, yet we have a taste of it whilst on earth. My life of submission and surrender is the platform on which heaven is made manifest. I start to enjoy all that heaven represents, even before I I lay hold of the eternal life that has also been promised. This is where God is not like man: He lets me have a taste of the real thing even before I lay hold of it permanently. This is what I am entitled to by my new birth. What of you? God's time of favour is here  

This God!

This God!

Psalms 42:11 AMP

[11] Why are you in despair, O my soul? Why have you become restless and disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Depending on which version of the bible you use, at the top of the chapter from where the verse above is taken are written the words: 'Thirsting for God in trouble and exile'. This reflects seasons of pain and distress, as seen in some of the words used in the psalm here. The writers were called the sons of Korah, and these were a Levitical guild of temple musicians and gatekeepers. They knew the standards of worship in the temple, and did their best to maintain and uphold those standards, even in the face of apostasy from both the leaders and the people. As one who has had an encounter with Jesus, do men see His imprint in and on me? 

These men must have seen a lot of evil in their own days. With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, they led the people to the house of God, singing and dancing in festival, yet it appeared that their hearts were weighed down with some things. You read words like 'My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?'. Even though these men looked happy, their hearts were heavy. We do not have all the details, but it was clear that their souls were in despair. What are my current circumstances causing my heart to be in pain or distress? Like the sons of Korah here, there is a solution worked for them, and would work for me too, if I apply correctly. 

As the verse above makes clear, we would always have moments of despair, when it seems that the burden is more than we can bear. Life on this side of eternity was set up to be brief, no matter how much you have, or how many people you know. This is why I cannot afford to live life without the help of the God who has conquered sin, death and the grave. As the sons of Korah lay it out, I keep God in remembrance at all times. I keep God right at the centre of my heart, before anything or anyone else seeks to make a claim on my heart. I do not permit anything negative to settle in and on my heart, before it leaves a lasting impression on my heart. 

I seek to subject all things to the litmus test of God's word. I must know what God says about everything that touches me, and this is only possible when I know His word for me for every situation. Hope in God is built on a clear understanding of who He is, what He can do, as well as embracing His wisdom when it seems like He is quiet. I expectantly wait for someone who I am confident will come through for me. He brightens my day and stays in, when everyone else stays out. He never fails, disappears or disappoints; He is my ever-present help. Why would I stay in despair when I have an eternal God? Do you also have Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Grace!

Grace!

2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP

[9] but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 

One definition of grace is 'unearned and undeserved favor; God's unconditional love and generosity, freely given to humanity despite our flaws or failure to earn it. It is often summarized as getting what you don't deserve, such as blessings/salvation, and not getting what you do deserve (punishment). It is in the light of the above that the verse above needs to be understood. Paul was a man who had seen the world.  He was learned in the ways and customs of the Jews, and he was zealous to defend those ways. Thank God for the same grace that is the focus: God did not judge him based on his bad conduct, but He reached out and saved Paul. 

My past is not as important to God as my present and future. There is no useless or wasted experience; God can use anything at all for His glory. Paul went from a serial and serious persecutor on the church, to a serial and serious promoter of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was given some unique and special encounters with Christ, and the church today is blessed because of the lessons of the life of Paul: a man credited with writing about 24% of the books of the new testament. In God's wisdom, there was a bigger message to be preached; with all the special encounters Paul had, he needed a constant reminder that it is all about God's support, not his skills. 

Man is prone to pride and self-sufficiency, and we all need the very consistent reminder that we are nothing outside of God. Paul needed a thorn in his flesh to remind him to constantly depend on God. Three times, Paul asked God to take this thorn away, but rather than take it away, God gave Paul something that would outlast the thorn: His grace and help. As the verse above makes clear, God's grace is more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation. God's power is best seen in man's weakness. If I could do it on my own, why would I need help? The fact that the work is not mine, means that what I need to succeed has to come from the One who owns the work. 

It is not a wonder, then, that Paul came to the conclusion at the end of the verse above: when I have God's backing, there is no room for pride or self-sufficiency. Paul made up his mind to gladly boast more in his weaknesses, so that the power of Christ could completely enfold him, and dwell in him. Reflect on this: as I empty myself of all that is me, I give more room for Christ to be made manifest in and through me. The more of Him I allow, the more of Him I resemble. When men come in contact with me, do I ooze with grace from God, or am I all about personal charm? God wants to dwell, not rent temporary space. If I allow Him, He will display His power. He will not force Himself on anyone. Would I yield? Would you? God's time of favour is here. 

Inspired!

Inspired!

Matthew 10:19-20 AMP

[19] But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you within that [very] hour; [20] for it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

There came a time when it was just Jesus and His disciples. The crowd was not there, so there was no temptation to perform for the audience. Jesus summoned the twelve men He had called to follow Him as disciples, and gave them authority and power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. That is amazing. It is not a mistake to read this about those who followed Jesus at the time. It is still the same call today, as well as the demand and supply economics of God. As long as there are willing vessels, there is always a willing God to fill up the vessels, and use for His glory. 

A common mistake to make, even when you are sure that God is leading you and backing you up, is to think that nothing can go wrong. Many people will assume that going where God sent you guarantees you smooth sailing, but as we know, the devil also has an idea of what lies at the end of your obedience, and he will try to sway you from that commitment. He will raise opposition, resistance and obstruction. That is the promise in the verse above: persecution is part and parcel of the call of God into service for Him. I note that the verse above starts with 'When they hand you over', not IF. You cannot pray your way out of it. Prepare for it: get ready the right way for it. 

When it happens, it is also normal to feel helpless and inadequate. Truthfully, that is the right way to feel. You are standing as the human representative of an immortal God, and He has promised to back you up. He has said that I should not worry when the arrears and persecution start;; the right words and the right message will be given to me. I can only say here that it is dangerous to launch out into the world without the safety net of God's presence and power. I cannot face the world with whatever weapons and gulle the world gives. How can you defeat a system with the same tools that the world has invented? I will need all the resources which the One who has totally defeated death can supply.

As the verse above makes clear, there is help available from God at all times. There is no experience so dire that God is not there with me. He asks me not to worry; His presence will guarantee the right words. After all, how else will the world hear the word if it does not create the platforms and channels that will support the message? Let the fear be taken over by the God who promises His power and help at all times. He asks me to be ready and available, and He will do the rest. There will always be a supply that will match the demand of the moment. Can I trust this immortal God and give Him my all? God's time of favour is here.