LHIM Classes

Sessions 6 & 7 Notes Download

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

THEY SHALL SEE GOD

God replied to Moses’ request to see Him with: “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” (Exodus 33:20). The Gospel of John concurs with the impossibility of humans seeing God – “No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18).

Pure in Heart:  This phrase refers to those who have a sincere, undivided devotion to God. It emphasizes inner purity and integrity rather than just outward religious observance. The pure in heart will see God.

The promise of seeing God has two aspects. The first aspect means experiencing a closer, more intimate relationship with God. It suggests that those who are pure in heart will have a clearer understanding of God’s will and presence in their lives. The second aspect of the promise will be fulfilled when Christ comes back

Revelation 21:1-4   The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

HEART – The word “heart” is often used metaphorically to represent the control center of a person’s being which influences their actions and decisions. Proverbs 4:23

ESV – Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

REV – More than anything else you protect, guard your heart, because from it flow the issues of life.

KJV – Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

NASB – Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

NET – Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.

NIV – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Hebrews 4:12 – Intentions are housed in the heart.

Romans 10:9 and 10 – Believing is an issue of the heart.

Mark 12:30 – Love is housed in the heart.

Matthew 12:34-35 – Good and evil are in the heart.

Matthew 5:27-28 – Sin is another matter of the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:10; Luke 16:15   God looks on the heart and deals with people accordingly.

That which is in our hearts is in our lives. Tomato seeds produce tomatoes; cucumbers seeds produce cucumbers. In like manner, the issues of life are determined by the “seeds” planted in the heart. We would not consider cutting off the tomatoes to glue on cucumbers. The deception we face is thinking that by changing circumstances, situations, or associations, we can change our lives. The truth is the heart is that which must be altered to have genuine lasting change. We change from the inside out, not the outside in.

Jeremiah 17:9   Based on God’s standard, not humans, the heart is deceitful and is desperately sick; who can understand it? No one is born with a “good heart.” Christians, when born again, receive the gift of holy spirit which is “Christ in you”.

Galatians 4:6 states: “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts….” However, even a Christian must contend with his own heart, which by nature is wicked.

A grave deception is thinking that others are the cause of our own issues. Circumstances, such as where we live or where we work, are not the root cause of our problems. Situations or the way in which we are placed in relationship to our surroundings are not the cause of who we are. What dwells in your heart determines what is in your life.

Mark 7:6-8   “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”

Matthew 23:25-26   The Pharisees and Scribes were obsessively concerned with their religious appearance and actions with the intent of impressing people.

Jesus Christ saw through the outside into the inside, the heart.

Proverbs 23:7, 26   The thoughts of the heart are what a person really is, even if the actions of his life reflect something different.

Romans 2:13-16, 28, and 29   The Jews believed they were acceptable to God because of their heritage and simply because they heard the law. At the same time, they judged the Gentiles unacceptable because they were not of the right blood line and did not outwardly observe the law.

How to Change the Heart

James 3:6-8; Matthew 15:18-20   We do not have control over the outer without controlling the heart.

Psalm 119:11   When God’s Word is housed in our hearts, then godliness will be in our lives.

The truth is that any of us who have tried to change our hearts on our own by reading, studying, memorizing, etc. have failed miserably. We cannot change our hearts without God’s help.

Psalm 10:17   Humility is the realization we cannot do it on our own, but He can! Humility is “I can’t; You can. Lord, help me.”

Psalm 27:14   Wait for Yahweh; be strong and let your heart take courage.

Psalm 73:26   My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 51:10   David had no illusions about his heart and knew full well only God could clean it and give him a new heart.

Psalm 86:10-12   An undivided heart is one with wholehearted devotion, singular focus on God, without divided loyalties or distractions.

Psalm 119:32-36; 141:3 and 4   As we hide the Word in our hearts and trust in Him, He will guard our hearts.

Friends may tell us “Read your Bible” or “Control your thoughts” or “Pray about it” or “Talk with a counselor or a minister.” These suggestions are all good advice. However, no matter what we do or how many outside sources we seek, we will not really change until we, by ourselves, in our own minds, acknowledge our inability and ask for God’s help.

Isaiah 57:15   God will revive the heart of the contrite.

Ephesians 3:14-21   God can and will change the heart if He is sought.

2 Thessalonians 3:3-5   When we pray for God to direct our hearts, we can be fully persuaded He will respond because His Word says so.

Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8   God is holy. For mankind to have any kind of relationship with God, we must live holy lives. The grace and mercy of God have been made available through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, for those of faith to live holy.

1 Peter 1:13-16   Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Romans 12:1-3   Jesus told us to pray daily for the forgiveness of our sins because sin is a constant issue with all of us.

Sessions 6 & 7 Notes Download

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Exodus 34:6 NAB Then Yahweh passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “Yahweh, Yahweh God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

ESV Yahweh passed before him and proclaimed, “Yahweh, Yahweh, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Mercy typically signifies the kindness and forgiveness extended to someone, especially when there is the power to punish or harm. It involves a compassionate response to those in need or distress, often highlighting forgiveness and leniency. Compassion is defined as feeling and concern for others that inspires assistance. It describes someone who is empathetic, understanding, and caring towards others’ suffering or misfortune. These concepts are closely aligned and often indistinguishable in the New Testament translations.

When the lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbor?”, Jesus’ response provided the more essential information the lawyer needed to know − mercy and compassion.

Luke 10:30-37 Compassion and mercy are used here as synonyms. The “seemingly” religious men could not be bothered to help the man in need.

They lacked compassion and mercy for the afflicted. A significant indicator that we are not walking with God as we should is when we feel annoyed or imposed upon when faced with helping someone in need. Another gauge is when we are blind or have a hardened heart that prevents us seeing the obvious need someone may have. In such times, self-interest takes precedence over Christ-centeredness, making repentance and seeking God’s help imperative. The merciful Samaritan, the least likely person in their culture, had compassion that required his time, energy, and resources.

Jesus lived like the good Samaritan in that he constantly gave of himself to those in need. One of many records in the Gospels tells of a time when for three days Jesus ministered to thousands of people. He did not do “group healings”; rather, he worked with each individual. Can you imagine how exhausted he must have been? Yet, his concern was not for himself but for the people. He said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” The miracle of the loaves and fishes followed.

Apparently, people in Jesus’ day were expecting the Messiah, the son of David, to come with mercy to heal.

Matthew 9:27-31 Two blind “have mercy on us son of David”

Matthew 15:22-28 The Canaanite women seeking healing for her daughter

Matthew 17:14-20 Father with lunatic son

Matthew 20:29-34 Two more blind men

Mark 10:46-52 Blind Bartimaeus

Luke 17:11-19 Ten leprous men

Every healing and deliverance Jesus performed was a result of God’s grace and mercy, not the merit of the afflicted. Jesus never asked those seeking his help if they had been good or promised future obedience. Only one of the ten lepers returned. Others whom he told not to tell anyone of their healing ignored his instructions and told everyone. Salvation, healing, and deliverance are not earned or deserved; they are gifts from God.

Ephesians 2:1-5 Emphasizes that redemption and salvation come through God’s grace and mercy, not our own works. We are not saved because we are “good boys or girls”, but through faith alone. Jesus healed thousands without demanding sinlessness or any other requirement beyond faith.

Luke 6:31-35 The awareness of God’s mercy in our lives is necessary for right living for we are instructed to be merciful as God is merciful. We are to be different, much different than those without Christ.

Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 103:1-22

Our dealing with others should not be reactions to their actions, but rather reflections of how God has dealt with us. He has been and continues to be merciful to us. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus frequently uses the word “blessed”, derived from the Greek word makarios. This term signifies a profound, enduring joy and contentment that stems from a right relationship with God. In the beatitudes, “blessed” refers to a state of spiritual well-being and divine favor. Things are right when we are merciful to others.

Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” James 2:13 states the opposite – “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy, mercy triumphs over judgment.”

Jesus told a parable that explicitly illustrated this point when Peter asked how often he should forgive someone who offends.

Matthew 18:23-30 Jesus tells Peter to forgive not just seven times, but seventy times seven, emphasizing that forgiveness should be limitless. He tells a story about a king who forgives a servant’s enormous debt. However, this servant refuses to forgive a small debt owed to him by another servant. When the king learns of the unforgiving servants’ actions, he punishes him severely, highlighting the importance of showing mercy as we have received mercy.

1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Sessions 4 & 5 Notes Download

Matthew 5:6   Jesus selected a graphic and relatable metaphor that effectively communicates intensity and frequency for righteous desire. God honors free will (2 Chronicles 15:2, 4, and 15). Even if our inclination is pride, sin, and stubborn resistance, He honors our choice. Jesus communicated a virtuous progression to develop godly desires which will enhance fellowship with God. Humility eliminates pride; mourning eliminates sin. When pride and sin vanish, we become meek to receive God’s will. Humility, mourning, and meekness lead us to desire His righteousness. When His desires become our desires, He will bring them to pass.

Psalm 37:4-6   God will give us His desires if we ask Him. Psalm 42:1-2; 63:1; Jeremiah 29:13

Matthew 7:7-11   That which we want determines that which we think and do. Before Christ, what we wanted was not what God wanted, rather what the devil wanted for us.

Ephesians 2:1   Whatever we passionately want, desire, or lust for occupies our thoughts and life.

The effective worldly advertising agencies understand that the public buys the products they desire. Rather than focusing on selling their product, they focus on building a want for the product.

Humanity’s primal desires can sometimes conflict with desires for righteousness.

Survival vs. Altruism: The instinct for self-preservation can morph into selflessness. One ends up with self-interest rather than compassion, charity, and helping others.

Reproduction vs. Chastity: The drive for reproduction and sexual fulfillment can conflict with premarital celibacy or marriage fidelity.

Social Connection vs. Integrity: The need for belonging can sometimes lead to compromise of righteous values. Peer pressure might push people to act against their moral beliefs, such as premarital sex, pretentious behavior.

Power and Control vs. Humility: The desire for power and control can conflict with humility and servitude.

Pleasure vs. Discipline: The pursuit of pleasure can conflict with self-discipline and temperance. Indulging in excessive eating, drinking, or other pleasures can be at odds with moderation and self-control.

Knowledge vs. Faith: The desire for knowledge and understanding can sometimes lead to conflicts with the Bible.

James 1:13-15   Blaming someone else, situations, or circumstances for our own sinful behavior is very easy to do. However, the Word of God emphatically and frequently communicates that no one or anything is to blame for our own sin. We do what we do because we choose to!

Appetite Determines Lifestyle

Matthew 5:6   Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Matthew 6:33   But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Two aspects of righteousness to consider are the spiritual gift of righteousness and the state of moral integrity and justice that aligns with applying God’s will.

Spiritual righteousness – Romans 3:22; 4:3-5; 9:30-10:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:24

Moral righteousness – Matthew 5:6, 10, 20, 33; Ephesians 4:24-32; 6:11-14

Moral righteousness is a state of moral integrity and justice that aligns with God’s will. It encompasses living in a way that is pleasing to God, adhering to His commandments, and seeking to promote justice and fairness in the world. This righteousness is not just about personal piety but also involves a commitment to social justice and ethical behavior.

John 4:31-35   Jesus is the great example. Jesus is speaking to his disciples about the urgency of spiritual work. He uses the metaphor of a harvest to illustrate that the time for gathering souls is now, not in the future. The “fields” represent people who are ready to receive the message of the gospel. He is encouraging his disciples to recognize the immediate opportunity for evangelism and to act on it. Sharing God’s righteousness with others keeps it alive in us. Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 10:2; Galatians 6:9

Maintaining hunger for righteousness is realized as we endeavor to share with others.

Sessions 4 & 5 Notes Download

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5 ESV)

“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5 NAU)

Some English Bibles translate the Greek word praus as “meek”, while fewer translate it as “gentle”.  In contemporary non-biblical literature, praus is described a horse that had been broken-in, becoming submissive and trainable, following the master’s lead and instruction. The spirit of resistance was replaced with a spirit of cooperation. The English dictionary definition for “meek” is quiet, gentle, easily imposed on, and submissive. “Gentle” is defined as having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character.

Humility and meekness are essential qualities for cultivating a relationship with God. Humility is recognition and acceptance that we are not sufficient of ourselves, but that our sufficiency is of God. Simply stated, “I can’t; He can; I’m going to let Him”. Meekness corresponds with humility in that it is receptivity toward God and the things of God without being argumentative and without stubborn resistance.

Moses is a great example of both humility and meekness. Numbers 12:3 – “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all the people on the face of the earth”

Genesis 22:1-2   God was testing Abraham’s faith and obedience.

Genesis 22:3-18   Abraham was extraordinary with humility and meekness.

Hebrews 11:17-19   Humility and meekness are grounded in faith.

Matthew 11:28-30   Jesus is the ultimate example of walking with God, as he consistently listened to and obeyed God’s instructions, even to the point of suffering and dying on the cross. We connect with Jesus by accepting his lordship and emulating his behavior recorded in the Gospels.

Luke 4:14-30   The people in his hometown were not willing to receive from him.

Matthew 13:10-17   The multitudes’ motivation lacked sincere humility or meekness to worship God and accept the lordship of His Messiah. As a result, they were not worthy to receive the clear and empowering teaching that Jesus shared with his genuine disciples.

Isaiah 6:9-10; Mark 4:10-13; Luke 8:9-10; John 12:37-41; Acts 28:23-31; Romans 11:6-10; Jeremiah 5:21-25; Ezekiel 12:2ff

SIN HINDERS MEEKNESS – James 1:21(ESV)   Meekness follows humility and mourning. Mourning refers to the mindset of someone who is genuinely repentant and regretful of his or her sin. Sin must be dealt with because it blocks us from receiving with meekness God’s Word and direction.

TRADITIONALISM HINDERS MEEKNESS – Matthew 15:2-3   The Jews held firmly to their religious traditions, which hindered their acceptance of the gospel message. Traditionalism still causes many to be stubbornly resistant to God’s Word and to be fossilized in their limited knowledge.

CLOSEMINDNESS HINDERS MEEKNESS – Romans 11:33-36  When we consider the great magnitude of God’s knowledge, we see how foolish and prideful we are to limit ourselves to our minuscule understanding. How could anyone ever think his own knowledge is complete and refuse to learn more? Yet, this is a common deception to which many fall prey. Often, an honest, sincere desire to believe, think, and speak accurately about God moves to a presumptuous conviction that our beliefs contain the whole truth about God. This has the practical effect of confining God to our understanding.

All believe their views are the truth, which is why they hold them! Most of us would not claim that our beliefs limit God in any way. However, quite often the unintentional consequence is that our concept of God is limited to the rigid structure we have built in our own minds. The honest, sincere desire to be right slips into narrow-mindedness or closed-mindedness. We become deceived into not considering anything other than what we believe to be the truth. In doing so, we think we are taking a stand for God! From this posture of mind, it is a very small step to criticize, condemn, and fear all those who believe differently than we do. “Surely they must be wrong because they do not believe what I believe.” Too often, we perceive other sincere, committed Christians as a threat because their beliefs are different from ours. Therefore, we think we must avoid them. Our convoluted thinking moves to:  “How can we associate with someone standing outside the proper theological structure and thus outside God?” This mind set opposes meekness, closes God out, and causes division in the family of God.

FEAR OF BEING WRONG HINDERS MEEKNESS – Galatians 2:11-13 Regarding God, many people would rather stay ignorant in their wrong beliefs than concede they have been wrong. We get deceived into not thinking about it because of fear. Another common reason for a lack of meekness is comfort. Most denominations have an unchangeable, written statement of beliefs which is very comfortable for people. Again, people get nervous or feel threatened by the possibility of having been wrong about God. Once we decide what we believe, we are not willing to hear more, so we will not! Anything we do hear we conform to our preconceived definition of God or disregard altogether. Is God omniscient since He tried Abraham?

LAZINESS HINDERS MEEKNESS – 2 Timothy 2:15  To walk with God requires constant diligence and hard work. God encourages us to study His Word daily, and, when we do, we receive new information. This may be unsettling to some because work is required to determine if what is being encountered is true. When new information is taught, we are challenged to search the Scriptures to see if these things are so. Because of laziness, we opt to reject the possible new insight which results in a lack of meekness.

MISPLACED LOYALTY HINDERS MEEKNESS – Our loyalty to a man or an organization can result in a lack of meekness also. When a teacher does not correspond with Dr. So and So or Reverend So or So or my denominational belief, we are tempted to ignore and shun it. Our loyalty belongs to the Lord God Almighty and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:15   Meekness without spiritual wisdom is very dangerous because there are many false prophets and teachers. Some well-intentioned, zealous people constantly chase after some new insight and make themselves and others vulnerable to false doctrine. Neither sincerity nor feelings are a guarantee for truth.

Matthew 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 John 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1

Gentleness – 1 Corinthians 10:1; Galatians 5:22-25; 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Ephesians 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:10-11; 1 Peter 3:14-16

Matthew 5:5 is quoting Psalm 37:1-11.

Sessions 2 & 3 Notes Download

Mourning can be understood in various ways. It encompasses the grief and sadness felt from the loss of someone or something deeply cherished. Additionally, it may encompass the sorrow we feel due to the sins of others, our community, and especially our own sins.

1 Thessalonians 4 acknowledges the mourning we endure with the loss of a loved one and states that “you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.” Jesus is coming back with the Kingdom of God! God promises us in Isaiah 25:8 and Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.” Our hope provides great comfort, especially in the most difficult times.

Jesus mourned over Jerusalem, Luke 19:41-44, and was aware of its sinfulness and impending destruction. He wept over Jerusalem. Paul reproved the Corinthians for not mourning over the sexual immorality that was known and accepted in the church – 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. He warned the Philippians to be aware of those among them that were sinners and did so “weeping”, Philippians 3:18-19. Like the godly men of old, we too should weep more over the evil present in the world. “My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law” (Psalm 119:136 ESV).

The context of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 strongly suggests that the mourning primarily pertains to the penitent sinner. The book of James, a similar writing to the Sermon on the Mount, succinctly tells the correct attitude we should have regarding sin and mourning.

James 4:8-10. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable [experience hardship] and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Psalm 32:1-11; 31:10 Sin should burden us to the point of repentance and confession. One of the many great promises written about the Messiah deals with the comfort Jesus brings whenever we mourn properly.

Isaiah 61:1-3. The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of Yahweh and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.

1 John 1:6-10 Mourning precedes confession, which leads to forgiveness and then cleansing. If sin does not cause regret, if it does not bother us, dangerous is our situation, and the possibility of change is dismal.

2 Corinthians 7:10 Highlights that worldly sorrow, characterized by sin-consciousness, guilt, and condemnation, does not lead to freedom but rather to deeper darkness. In contrast, genuine mourning brings about a transformation away from sin and into a restored, joyful relationship with God. Godly sorrow leads to the following actions.

2 Corinthians 7:11. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

Earnestness is diligence, intense effort, serious attention to our thoughts, words, and actions plus renewing the mind and living for God. Walking in darkness, we become lazy, careless, not considering our thoughts, words, or actions. We grow indifferent and thoughtless toward God and the things of God. Indifference to sin is lethal.

Vindication or Clearing entails fully embracing the responsibility of the sin with a strong determination to rectify the harm caused by it. This clearing may include making amends with others whenever possible. Walking in darkness, we rationalize our sin by blaming others, circumstances, or situations plus dismiss it as not being that significant — “no big deal.” We live with sin and do not care enough to change. Indignation is a righteous anger directed at our own sinful behavior, not at God, the devil, or others. When we walk in darkness, we become passive and accepting of sin.

Fear of God When God is at the forefront of our minds, honoring and worshipping Him becomes natural. We also become mindful of His thoughts about us. Walking in darkness, our focus shifts to ourselves and worldly matters, causing our thoughts of God to fade. As a result, our attitude of reverence and worship diminishes because we forget Him.

Longing or Vehement Desire is a powerful, relentless force that is deeply felt, an urgent, passionate hunger for God and the things of God. Walking in darkness fosters a hunger for and involvement in worldly matters. Lust, selfishness, and worldly desires then replace the longing for God.

Zeal is to be hot, fervent, on fire for God. It is to have enthusiasm, fervor, passion, ardent and active interest. Walking in darkness, life becomes humdrum, complacent. Time and life slip away with no urgency pertaining to godly living. We have no fire for godly living.

Avenging of Wrong is to make right or just what was wronged while sinning. Walking in darkness, we do not care that evil has its way of ruining our lives and ill-affecting those who love us.

If you have difficulty relating to the above, ask God for help as David did in Psalm 25:4-9 and 51:1-12.

Psalm 103:8-12 God’s forgiveness extends infinitely. He removes our sins from us completely, putting them at an eternal distance. It’s not a temporary relocation; our wrongdoings are gone forever. 2 Samuel 12:13; Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34; Micah 7:19

David (2 Samuel 24:10), Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:12-13), Peter (Acts 4:8-13) and Paul (1 Timothy 1:12-17) are examples of our merciful, gracious, and forgiving God. Judas (John 20:19-27; Acts 1:18) could not accept forgiveness.

Romans 6:15 and 16, 20 and 21 God’s forgiveness is readily available; however, forgiveness should never be used as a license to sin. How foolish! What is the fruit of sin? Why would we who are free want back into the bondage of sin? The life with God is so far superior to a life of sin!

Sessions 2 & 3 Notes Download

By far, most of the people Jesus spoke to were materially needy, poor. Most people throughout history were and still are impoverished; so, many disciples were substantially underprivileged. However, it is essential to recognize that poverty of itself is not a virtue that leads into the Kingdom of God. Because the needy had no refuge but God, poverty has come to have spiritual overtones and to be identified with humble dependence on God.

In moments of severe peril, when self-reliance was futile, David turned to prayer. Reflecting on his experience, he wrote, “This poor soul cried out, and Yahweh heard him; he saved him from all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6). He was not financially poor; rather, he was humble.

To Jesus, “poor in spirit” equals humble dependence on God. Humility is, first and foremost, the cornerstone of his teaching because all else hinges upon it. The proud or self-reliant reject submission to God striving to navigate life independently. “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6). God cannot and will not collaborate with the prideful as they adamantly resist listening and obeying. Conversely, God delights in the humble and provides grace to them in

The significance of humility is evident in the frequency of Jesus’ teachings on the subject.

Matthew 18:1-4 Babies seem to understand their limitations and fully expect and even demand for their parents to provide for them completely.

Luke 22:24-27 The greatest is the humble servant. Jesus is the greatest example of humility.

JESUS IS THE EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY

Jesus’ humble dependence on God shines brightly throughout the Gospels, starkly contrasted with the egocentric arrogance of the religious leaders who constantly opposed him.

Jesus’ single concern was to “do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).

John 5:19, 30; 6:38; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10; and 17:4

Luke 22:42 Many godly people were humble, but Jesus is the only one who was always humble, even to the point of his suffering and death. He is the perfect example of humility.

Philippians 2:3-8, 13 Be like Jesus.

Psalm 10:17 O Yahweh, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear.

Psalm 145:14-19 Yahweh sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Yahweh is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. Yahweh is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.

16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.

“Haughty” means blatantly and disdainfully proud; having or showing an attitude of superiority and contempt for people or things perceived to be inferior.

18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.

28:25-26 An arrogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in Yahweh will prosper. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.

Psalm 107:11-13 This psalm highlights the pattern of human disobedience, suffering, humility, repentance, and God’s mercy. They emphasize that even when people turn away from God, He is always ready to rescue them when they call out to Him.

2 Corinthians 3:4-5 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate [sufficient] in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy [sufficiency] is from God.

The realization that we need God’s help too often comes when our backs are against the wall. Asa, king of Judah, was “good and right in the sight of Yahweh his God.” When faced with an Ethiopian army boasting a million soldiers and 300 chariots out numbering him by twice the force, he was humble and sought the help of God.

2 Chronicles 14:11 Because Asa humbled himself before God, the Ethiopians were overthrown and destroyed.

2 Chronicles 16:1-13 Rather than seeking God’s help as he did with the Ethiopians many years before, he hired mercenaries to fight for him. He tried to work out his problems on his own, which ended in his demise.

2 Chronicles 32:24 Hezekiah was sick unto death, with humility prayed, mourned his sin, asked forgiveness, and received 15 more years to live.

25-27 He always had the choice to depend on or to ignore God and live life on his own with the corresponding results.

1 Kings 21:25-29 Ahab was a wicked idolater who caused much harm to many people. Yet, when he humbled himself, God responded. For God to respond at all to Ahab gives testimony of how much He honors humility.

2 Chronicles 33:12-13 God’s mercy is so great that when an individual humbles himself, even if he is as evil as Manasseh, God will forgive and deliver.

The first time I watched Chuck counsel a drug addict, I was shocked at his confident straight forwardness. He told the man what was necessary for him to do in order to get free from his addiction. However, the man strongly resisted the suggestions. “I don’t have the time for all that, and I don’t want to go to meetings.” Chuck said, “Ok, keep on using. You haven’t suffered

Micah 6:6-8 God requires that we walk humbly with Him; no humility, no walk with Him.

Session 1 Notes Download

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ declaration of what he wants his disciples to think and do. Therein is our value system, ethical standard, spiritual devotion, purpose for life, and destiny. Throughout history, God’s overarching aim has been to have a distinct people for Himself. He wants people who are holy and set apart from the world to belong to Him. These people are to be different from all the rest and are to love God and model holiness to attract others to His family. First, Israel were the chosen ones, God’s special covenant people who were to be different from all others. Leviticus 18:3-4 “You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes. You are to perform My judgments and keep My statutes, to live in accord with them; I am Yahweh your God.”

Exodus 19:5-6 The phrase “kingdom of priests” indicates that the Israelites were to serve as mediators between God and the rest of humanity. They were to live in a way that reflected God’s holiness and goodness, thereby attracting others to Him.

However, they consistently overlooked their distinctiveness as God’s people and basically integrated with other nations adopting their customs, practices, and way of life–“But they mingled with the nations and learned their practices” (Psalm 106:35).

Israel did have brief times when they obeyed and stayed separate as Balaam, the crooked prophet, acknowledged – “As I see him [Israel] from the top of the rocks, and I look at him from the hills; behold, a people who dwells apart, and will not be reckoned among the nations” (Numbers 23:9). However, Balaam devised a plan that seduced Israel into becoming just likethe Moabites.

1 Samuel 8:19-20 During the era of Samuel, Israel once again displayed a desire to emulate worldly customs and abandoned their distinct identity. History reveals that Israel miserably failed to live up to their calling and failed to accomplish God’s desire to bring the world to Him.

Christians are the ones now called to be this distinct, God-centered people who strive to glorify God and attract others to Him. When Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, he foresaw that his disciples would soon receive the holy spirit, which would empower them to emulate his way of life. The sermon details the precise thoughts and actions that disciples of Christ embody as they walk by the spirit. True followers of Christ are to be different–different from both the religious and the nonreligious, from the Pharisees (Matthew 6:1-18) and the Gentiles (Matthew 6:24-34). The sermon emphasizes the importance of avoiding the pitfalls of religious hypocrisy, as illustrated by the Pharisees in Matthew 5:20, and steering clear of the behaviors associated with non-believers, as cautioned in Matthew 6:8 with the directive, “Do not be like them.” We are not like everyone else. WE ARE DIFFERENT!

The sermon depicts the lifestyle Jesus expects us to model as we follow his own way of life. He is the golden example of the instruction he provided for us to follow. In the Gospels, we see his heart, thoughts, motives, and character traits by his actions. He lived every aspect of the sermon he taught. With Jesus, there is no double standard or hypocrisy. The sermon establishes a benchmark that he proved was achievable in practice. The ascended Christ sent the holy spirit to each disciple enabling him or her to live in alignment with his teaching and example.

John 14:12-14 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

John 14:16-18, 26 The spirit of truth enables Jesus to be with us always.

Jesus presents a radical way of life, a genuine counterculture, with a code of ethics opposed to or at variance with the prevailing social norm. Some have said that Jesus’ teachings are a continuation of the Mosaic law and contrary to the Pauline Epistles. Jesus indeed does not contradict the moral code set forth in the Torah. Actually, he deepens our comprehension anddemands even greater adherence to them. However, it is important to note that he does not endorse every aspect of Mosaic law, particularly those pertaining to sacrificial rituals and governances.

After Jesus ascended, he called Paul to be his apostle and gave him the revelation that is now written in the Pauline Epistles (none of which contradicts the Sermon on the Mount).

Luther, Calvin, and others thought that the Sermon on the Mount taught a doctrine of salvation by human merit and good works, which is incompatible with salvation by grace and mercy. However, in this class, we will see that the opposite is true. Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels lay the foundation for his inspired teaching in the rest of the New Testament.

Ephesians 2:1-10

John Nelson Darby in the 1830’s developed a theology called dispensationalism that separates the Gospels from the church Epistles because of the misunderstanding about salvation and Jesus’ Gospel teachings. Darby is considered to be the father of modern dispensationalism, futurism, and pretribulation rapture. His dispensational theology was popularized in the early 20th century by the wide circulation of the Scofield Reference Bible and, later, with the Companion Bible by E.W. Bullinger.

Dispensationalism asserts that the Gospel teachings were primarily intended for the people prior to Jesus’ ascension and are not directly applicable to the contemporary church. Consequently, it places greater emphasis on the Pauline Epistles, often relegating the Sermon on the Mount as not directly relevant to the church today. Ironically, an openminded study of the Sermon of the Mount, without preconceived dispensational views, reveals that adherence to Jesus’ Gospel teachings are impossible without the enablement and direction of the holy spirit that one receives with the new birth. The church Epistles do not contradict the Sermon on the Mount; rather, they augment it.

The great mystery remained concealed until it was unveiled to the Apostle Paul, for had the devil known the outcome of Jesus’ death, he would not have crucified him (1 Corinthians 2:7-10). Hence, the Sermon on the Mount remains silent on the accomplishments of Christ’s death and resurrection. It is in the Pauline Epistles that the full scope of what was accomplished on the cross is made known. The sermon addresses the practical aspects of living after accepting Christ’s work, while Paul’s letters articulate both the doctrine of the new birth and its practical application. Although the Sermon on the Mount does not delve into the doctrine, it aligns with the practical application. It focuses on the transformation that occurs as we walk by thespirit and obey our Lord.

The sermon is not a set of rules and regulations designed to transform oneself without the help of God and Christ. On the contrary, truly understanding and applying the teaching require supernatural intervention, which profoundly deepens the disciple’s relationship and dependence on his or her Father and Lord. When the instruction is faithfully followed, a supernatural transformation takes place.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Jesus deals with attitudes of the mind. He does not tell us religious rituals or formulas as the Pharisees demanded.

Matthew 5:3-12 “Blessed” in this context describes a divinely bestowed enablement and well-being which provides holiness and happiness. Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, whose trust is Yahweh. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Indeed, we enjoy feelings of happiness and holiness as we live with these virtues, but the greater blessing is stated in the second half of each beatitude. The humble will receive the Kingdom of heaven, mourners are comforted, the hungry are satisfied, the pure in heart will see God. The double blessing lies in our partial experience of the eight blessings both now and in the future when Christ returns.

If you want to alter your life by enhancing your relationship with God and our Lord Jesus Christ, if you want to become a much better person who is supernaturally changed from the inside out, then Jesus’ teaching is for you. Once the true meaning of his instructions has been grasped, it is only necessary to begin putting them faithfully into practice to get immediate results. The magnitude and extent of these results will depend solely upon the sincerity and thoroughness with which they are applied. Personal transformation is a journey that requires commitment, self-reflection, honesty, courage, and continuous effort. If you are afraid to change and unwilling to put forth the effort right now, then perhaps you need more time to experience your need for what is being offered.

As we study the beatitudes, the following will be explored:

The Bread of Life

The Light of the world

The Gate to the Sheepfold

The Good Shepherd

The Resurrection and the Life

The True and Living Way to God

The True Vine

The Advocate with the Father

The Alpha & Omega, the First & the Last, the Beginning & the End

The Author and Finisher of the Faith

The Bright and Morning Star

The Chief Cornerstone

The Son of the Most High

Emmanuel

The First Fruit from the Dead

The Head of the Body

The Image of God

The Judge of the Living and the Dead

The Lamb of God

The Lion of Judah

The Root of David

The Living One who has died and now lives

The Lord of Glory

The Mediator between God and Humanity

The One whose name is above all names

The Only Way to the Father

The Mediator of the New Covenant

Our Hope

The Passover Lamb

The First-born from the Dead

THE High Priest

THE Apostle

THE King

THE Lord

THE Priest

THE Prophet

THE Redeemer

THE Rock

THE Savior

The Second Adam

The Seed of the Woman

The Seed of Abraham

The Seed of David

The Son of David

The Son of Man

The Son of God

The Soon-returning Lord of lords and King of kings

YHWH’s Anointed

John 14:25-15:11 

After Last Supper

Israel as a vine

Psalm 80:7-19  

Psalm 80 goes on to hint at this great messianic hope when it declares that in the face of Israel’s tragic, lamentable state, their hope is that God would “rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself” (Psalm 80:17). Even the great kings of Israel who represented God’s “right hand” in the world failed. It would be great David’s greater Son, Jesus Christ, who would stand as God’s man at His right hand, the “son of man” who would represent all of humanity in the incarnation. He becomes God’s great victor who exercises God’s kingly rule in the world.1

Israel is the “son of man”; yet, it is Messiah who fulfils what Israel could not.

MacArthur NKJV Study Bible note: son of man. In this context, this phrase is primarily a reference to Israel. In a secondary sense, the “son of man” may allude to the Davidic dynasty and even extend to the Messiah, since he is so frequently called by that title in the NT.

Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Hosea 10:1-2

Jesus as the genuine vine, accomplishes what Israel did not.

Exodus 19:5-6a; Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15

Vinedresser: geōrgos – “worker of the soil”

What does the pruning:  “the word which I have spoken to you”

John 15:4. Abide: to dwell, live in; literally to abide in a city or a house

The connectedness of the believer with Jesus

I in you  à relationship

Jesus abides in us when his words abide in us.

Fruit: external demonstration of the internal qualities and characteristics that define a person

Ephesians 5:8-9

Philippians 1:11. Filled with the fruit of righteousness

Gal 5:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1. Dr. Timothy Tennent: Seeing Jesus in Psalm 80, Published Date: October 5, 2018

John 14:1-6

My Father’s house:

Only one who had access into the Holy of Holies was the high priest, and that was only once a year.

Hebrews 6:19-20; Hebrews 10:19-22; Hebrews 4:14-16

Synoptic Gospels record the veil of the Temple is torn in two after Jesus’ death.

Isa 53:10-12

Revelation 3:12

John 1:29. “…Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

Jesus as the gate to sheepfold provides access to people of God.

Jesus as the way provides access to God.

2 Corinthians 6:16