"Bible Studies For The Serious Saint"
Lessons That Engage The Thinking Processes
Classes Presented By Pastor / Teacher John E. Coleman

Sunday after Sunday I preach at Anselm.  A hand full of listeners tune in but I thought it necessary to share with you some of the material that I share week after week.  This last Sunday I spoke from Matthew 5:10-11  Here is the outlive for you teachers out there.  Please feel free to use it.  Listen to the Sunday Theologically Speaking to get an idea how you might be able to teach this to a study group.  I placed it up like this for your listening and reading the outline at the same time.  If you do radio, you can do practically any study in the very same method.  Think about the ramifications of the text and what you want the listener to come to know about the lesson.  Note the title, then listen to how I present that theme throughout the whole of the message.  I did a web cast in abut an hour with this outline.  preaching it took a bit more than an hour.  There is a difference between preaching under the inspiration and doing a study on these verses.  Each week I plan to have another study up for you.  (Please forgive me for the typos!  read close enough and you will find some.  (LOL)  You have my outlive right after I finish it.  Enjoy!  Pastor John

Anselm Bible Church “Strangely We Behave”  Matthew 5:11-12   

May 13, 2007

Introduction: it has been said that we Christians are a very strange lot of people.

• Historically our kind has been viewed as rather strange and inclined to behave in ways that defy reasonableness.
• We as a people have become accustomed to being slighted in that we seem to have left off important matters of conscience.
• The name of our calling at times is not only offensive; but lowly thought of as being rather inconsistent of the normative in any society.
• Our population can be said to be those likened unto some Old Testament sage who for the love of grasshoppers and wild honey seek to disregard the better places of ingestion as well as convenience.  

In Spite; of our not being understood, welcomed as social contributors to a new age as well as a world of change and re-arrange; we are here and there is a particular way in which we shall be identified by the one that calls us.

I. We must see ourselves as our Lord Does; V.11a  “Blessed are you” 

Greek Usage. Mak-ários is at first a poetic word and refers to the blessedness of the gods.

Later it comes to be used for the freedom of the rich from normal cares and worries.

The verb makarízō means “to extol as, or declare to be, blessed,” while makarismós means “extolling as blessed,” and is first used by Aristotle as a technical term for “beatitude” (macarism).

A.     The implications of Jesus words here is that He is personally aware of the state of our lives.

B.     There is a certain characteristic that each of us display to our creator.  This is what He sees in us as we live out our trusting Christian experience.

(1)   Thus all Christians are the believing ones; those who trust alone in God for all of their lives.

(2)   We have the privilege of being called by His name personally.  So many in this life is seeking fulfillment; “We’ve already obtained that title; thus; we blessed!

(3)   This cannot be said of all religious people; Only To The Elect!    Quote: In the NT is use of the term for the distinctive joy which comes through participation in the divine kingdom.

(4)   It becomes a blessing being associated with Christ and living a life of divine righteousness.

(5)   Our blessings have nothing to do with the amount of material things that we may process in this life.

(6)   All in contingent upon our relationship with the living Savior; Christ Jesus Lord!

(7)   It is not the expression “I’m Blessed”, No this being blessed in seen in something else other than our depraved human recognitions.

(8)   It is God saying that I am highly favored through my connection with Him.

POINT: Though we have had this recognition conferred upon us; we never see or feel it in us.

“The Invisible Persons We Never See”

• The moment any of us see our blessed state; it vanishes before our eyes.
• For the moment we see it becomes vanity, futility and arrogance.
• It was never intended for us to recognize this quality; though we are called to manifest it every day of our lives before our Lord and mankind.
• This invisible characteristic will never be rewarded; “In This Life!”
• Others like ourselves may see a glimpse of the quality; but never in the form of compliance to their flesh; only by way and use of the Holy Spirit.

II. What is the good of owning this characteristic of being blessed? V.11b

1. God would not make us of such high quality without regard to our ultimate purpose.

1. That same purpose for which He makes us; He Himself has demonstrated the success of the first installment.
2. We live in a day and age when thinking positive about every aspect of life reigns and rules.  We do all that we can to secure the status of happiness avoiding pain at all cost; we strive for the pleasures in our American lives.

POINT:  it is not the Devil that we might fear;  God will care after him is time; our concern is found in the first part of the second part of the verse!  “When People”

• Jesus knew something about the two kinds of humans that co-exist.
• He understood that His creation would live in a way that would cost.
• This cost would be tried by the other of His creation that refuse His divine instruction.
• He had already experienced the term; “When people” on a tree crossed.
• He fully understood and understands today that the challenge of a lived life will cause the reaction; “When People”!

Living The Blessed Life Demands A Fair Consequence:

^ Insults aimed at  you

Persecution of you physically,

falsely saying all kinds of evil things against you

You May Be Saying: How can I survive this; is this the reason He saved me?

You May Be Thinking Right Now: I really did not bargain for this as a rational defense.

You Even May Be Poeticizing The Idea That: Jesus didn’t say that!

2. James 5:10-11  We see that the Brother of Jesus thought it outrageous that any disciple could see themselves as exempt from the results of having a relationship with Him.

1. When insults are hurled our way; we think of Him who endured the same on our behalf; Hebrews 2:10 
2. When Persecution attacks your life; Our minds relate to those before us who have forewarned us with faithful words; 1^st Peter 4:12-13
3. When men say things to pull you down; Luke 6:22

POINT: People will do these and much more if Jesus pronounces you; Blessed

• Now, lets answer just a few questions at this time.
• Are you Blessed?  Are you pretending are do you welcome this pronouncement that He gives each of His children?
• What do you think will be the consequence of those that profess to be blessed but really are cursed?
• What if in your heart you detest the fact that being a disciple of Jesus Christ these are promises made only to those that know they know him?

III. A command in which only a few can keep: V.12

1. There is no way that a human being can makes himself laugh when in his heart he or she is really crying.

1. The mystery of our faith is that only those whom God has called could ever embrace such language.
2. We thus see that the Christian way is fully restricted to the “chosen”.
3. Each of us can fully undertake a soul searching at this time in order to see in the first part of the message has produced ultimate joy in our hearts.
4. If disparity and anxiety has overtaken you thus far; your answer dictates one of two things;

(One) You are lost from the foundation of the creation of the world throughout eternity.

(Two) You are living in rebellion and have not fully considered all that the Savior speaks. Analyzing Our Text: Greek: { khah’-ee-ro} To be overjoyed or taken over in happiness.

Ø      I look forward to what ever happens to me in this life.

Ø      I see it as an adventure with my Lord leading me through dangerous paths.

Ø      I am Getty about the experience of suffering for the Savior; so look at my response to the severe trial.  My faith dictates my reaction to difficulty.

Ø      Allow Joy to abound in my heart in spite of my circumstances.  But Why?

2. I’m am not a creature of habit bound to this environment; V.12b

1. The reward always fits the trial; How much are you willing to receive from your Savior after this life is done?
2. Jesus assures us that there is more than just a since of amusement on the other side of death.  What are the glorious promises that He offers?

Rewards; great Greek: Megas  We of all people have experienced God’s greatness in the earthly realm.   The wealth over there is not be compared to a nosebleed seat in a filled Basketball Arena.  There is a great difference in a mega church as opposed to mega suffering for the reward of eternal life.

Heaven; There is nothing on this earth which can ever be compared to what God has prepared for His children; for the bible says; 1^st Corinthians 2:9

POINT:  The reward of God poured on His children is not to be compared to anything one has ever experienced on this earth.  We are living on the earth; with all of it’s physical beauty; there is no comparison!

A Company Of Others; Though it may not cause us to fair lightly; we were not the only ones as believers that have suffered severely.

Conclusion:  Others in the past have goner through what we are not going through.  They survived; thus we too shall with the help and power of the Lord in our lives.

More Bible Studies For You!

I shall attempt to place more studies up as I have the spare time on this page.