Sandstreams Safe Haven

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The effects of salt and light are complimentary. The function of salt is to prevent decay and the function of light is to illuminate the darkness. The Christian’s compassion to his fellow man shines the light of love, joy, peace and justice.

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep“. Accept this responsibility. Stop the spread of decay in society by being salt and promote the spread of truth and goodness by being light.

Study:
Proverbs 4:18 – the path of the just is the shining light.
Philippians 2:15 – shine as lights in the world

What is the consequence of being salt and light in a decaying and dark world? John 15:8, I Corinthians 14:25

Apply:
“Heaven in the midst of hell. Light in the midst of darkness. What a security!”
(Tramp for the Lord by Corrie Ten Boom) Can we possibly apply the heart of Betsy Ten Boom as she lay dying in a concentration camp, longing to be salt and light to the world, even to those who had so abused her?

Pray:
1 Peter 3:15 Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

Resource:
I encourage everyone to read Tramp for the Lord

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Matthew 5:13  Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savor wherewith shall it be salted?  It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.

Disciples are to be moral disinfectant in a world where moral standards are low, constantly changing or non existent.  R.G. Tasker

Being salt to the those around you is Christian character as exhibited in the Beatitudes.  We are to be godly rather than worldly because spiritual salt hinders the process of social decay.  If we care for others we will be motivated to have a passion for righteousness,  a pure heart and match love and truth for hatred and lies.

Study:
Matthew 10:26-28 – Be a conspicuous proclaimer of the truth.

Apply:
Does my life show what God is like?   Luke 17:20-21 - The kingdom of God cometh not with observation.  Christians are called on to live out His teaching in an age that will not recognize Him as God.  This brings limitation and very often persecution in our lives.  The kingdom of God is among you.

Pray:
To stay salty by remaining rightly related to God through Jesus Christ

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

And then the warm fuzzy picture of having “beautiful feet” for bringing peace and glad tidings of good things to my fellow man brings me to the fierce reality of being persecuted. I tend to want to gloss over this one because I am one who does not like pain of any sort including not only physical but emotional pain such as rejection from another person.

But who am I to not face a bit of hardship in my life considering what Jesus did for me? Would I avoid bringing peace to someone just because I was afraid of being rejected? How could I be so selfish as to keep these “glad tidings” to myself? That attitude would take me right back to being poor in spirit and mourning. I can’t go back there again. I don’t think it’s possible. So I tread forward, grasping onto the promise that being persecuted for Jesus sake will make the kingdom of heaven mine. And the blessing is not just for the future but for right now. I can enjoy this blessing right now by having a joyful heart which carries an eternal weight of glory. Besides, this “suffering” is not for a creed or my conscience sake, but for one I love, Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:17 puts it all into perspective: For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

We really need to go back to verse 16 and see what led us into this verse: For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Now jump to verse 18 for even more encouragement: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Study:
In Acts 5:40-42 we see apostles departing from the council after having been persecuted – - rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. Did they cease to teach and preach Jesus Christ?

Further study on being blessed from persecution:
Mark 10:30
Luke 6:22-23
John 15:20-21

Apply:
Review the blessings from Matthew 5:2-12 considering them a comprehensive portrait of the Christian. Take to heart the fact that Jesus considers Christians to be different from the world and blesses those whom the world pities and calls rejects.

Pray:
Luke 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy for behold your reward is great in heaven

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.

Romans 10:15 How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!

It’s not about bringing peace to the world. It’s about bringing and presenting the peace of God to our fellow man. It’s about allowing ourselves to be God’s vessel with “beautiful feet.” This is not possible if we have not been blessed for being poor in spirit or have not mourned, if we have not learned to be meek or thirst after righteousness, if we are not merciful and pure in heart – we are incapable of bringing peace to anyone else much less our selves.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Those who are pure in heart are naturally peacemakers.

Colossians 1:20 And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him I say whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

The blessing for being a peacemaker is to be called the sons of God. To be called a child of God means you are loved, you are cared for and you will have eternal life!

Study:
Read Ephesians 2:11-22 and see the role of a peacemaker.

How did Christ reconcile conflict in vs 13-17?

What can be gained by peacemaking? (vs 18-22)

Apply:
Many Christians say they are called to be missionaries or called to do work for Christ but all Christians are called to be peacemakers, bringing the peace of God to their fellow man and living peaceably with all men. Consider specific areas that you can begin working and praying for peace.

Study 2 Corinthians 13:5 and “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith;”

For further study and meditation:
Colossians 3:5
I Peter 3:11
Romans 12:18

Prayer:
Be thankful for the reconciliation we have in Christ’s work on the cross and pray for wisdom and courage to be a peacemaker for Him.

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

I usually end these studies with a thought on how to pray but today I feel I must pray at the beginning, for I am so much aware of impurity in myself and around me – - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9). How can one ever have a pure heart and be human. Lord, I desire desperately, to see You. I plead in Jesus name, for forgiveness. Renew my heart and change my nature.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

An impure heart comes from spiritual blindness. Sins of impurity are covetousness, (greed), oppression (those who oppress), a lustful carnal mind, craftiness and double mindedness.

So what does it take to get a pure heart? I Corithinans 3:2-3 tells how: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

No one was ever born with a pure heart. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Only by the Holy Spirit can one be made pure and here we go back again to the first blessings of being poor in spirit and mourning for redemption, hungering and thirsting to make God’s grace a part of our being, changing us into a new creature that seeks after righteousness, holiness and purity.

Then can God be seen in all His love and fellowship with Him is available at all times and we look forward to the day that we will see Him face to face. The gift of grace is free to ALL. It’s as easy as allowing your heart to accept it and grasp it. When you do, you will be changed. You will see God.

Study:
The pure in heart see God in nature, in scripture and in life around them. Most of all, the pure in heart begin to discern God’s true character. How does knowing God’s character help the Christian in his daily walk?

Study the following verses:

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord

I Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass darkly; but then fact to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Apply:
Psalm 24:1-6 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness therof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hat not lifed up his soul unto vanity, nor worn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob,

David is describing a person who is pure in heart. What do these verses say it takes to be worthy of God?

Double mindedness is listed as a sin of impurity. What distracts Christians away from a singleness of heart?

Pray:
Sincerity and singleness of heart.

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy

Who are the merciful and what does this characteristic look like?

First, the merciful are those that have been shown mercy, they have obtained it by way of the progression of blessing brought about in the first 4 beatitudes. For in order to be merciful one must have already recognized his own sin and repented. He must be meek, having acknowledged to others that he is a sinner. He must hunger and thirst for righteousness which brings about compassion to others for they are sinners also.

Mercy is exhibited by Jesus Christ when he taught the poor, healed the sick, and had compassion for those who mourned and were troubled. He forgives all offenses. One who follows this example will do the same and to all of his fellow sinners, the merciful will long that they may be brought to know the savior and attempt to reach them and pray for them. He is considerate, kind and gentle to *all* mankind. God’s mercy extends to all men, so then should ours.

The blessing then in turn is that he will receive mercy himself from God. Luke 6:38 says Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Study:
Consider these verses:
Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble
Matthew 6:14 – If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Mark 11:25 – and when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses
Hebrews 6:10 – For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister
James 2:13 – For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Read the parable of the unmerciful debtor in Matthew 18:21-35
What is Peter’s motivation in asking Jesus this question in vs. 21?

In verses 23-35 we see two different attitudes or characteristics, the master’s (vs. 23- 27) and the servant’s (vs 28-34). What was the consequence of the servant’s actions?

How seriously should we take verse 35?

Apply:
It is easier to understand mercy when you remember the times you have been shown mercy and forgiveness yourself. Meditate on the times that God has been merciful to you.

Pray:
Pray for continual reflection of mercy which has been shown to you and pray for opportunities to show mercy to others.

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

One who hungers and thirsts after righteousness is one who strives to have integrity and to be kind, merciful, loving and anything else that would aid in good actions towards his fellow man. He strives to have correct feelings towards God as well. He desires to know, obey, praise and love God. This is hungering and thirsting for righteousness and he cannot be content until he is like Jesus.

Being blessed for hungering and thirsting after righteousness is another one of those great paradoxes of God. Resolving it is as simple as just believing that it is true because God said it.

Blessings are manifested in various forms. It is a blessing to be made to know the true value of things. It is a blessing to know what is good and it is a blessing to have a heart for good and true things instead of earthly things that don’t last. It is a blessing to be delivered from foolish deceptions and to clearly see that you must be helped by God and saved by His grace. It is a blessing to know that hungering and thirsting after righteousness is always a effect of the Holy Spirit and He is in fellowship with God.

And who is not blessed? The one who says he is perfect already. Those who feel that accomplishments and experiences have enabled them to be righteous now and forever are sadly mistaken.

Experience is a gateway, not an end. Beware of building your faith on experience, the metallic note will come in at once, the censorious note. You can never give another person that which you have found, but you can make him homesick for what you have. Oswald Chambers

There is no bitterness in this hunger. The more you hunger and thirst the more you will be filled. And the more you are filled, the greater capacity you will have to be filled.

Study:
Righteousness has several definitions: legal, moral and social. The Scribes and Pharisees showed an external conformity to rules. This is the “righteousness” that Jesus tells us, at the end of Matthew 5, that we should exceed. Moral righteousness is righteousness of character and conduct. And social righteousness is righteousness that motivates us to aid our fellow man. In Romans 9:30 and 10:4 how did the Gentiles discover righteousness?

In Romans 9:32 what are the two ways for seeking righteousness? What is the consequence of seeking righteousness by way of works?

In Isaiah 65:13, Psalm 107:9 and Luke 1:53 note the specific blessings of being hungry and thirsty for righteousness.

Apply:
What motivates you to strive for righteousness? Is this hunger and thirst pressing or dull?

What motivates you to strive for righteousness in your community? Is this motivation keen or complacent?

Pray:
Lord, please increase my faith, hope, love and grace. Put that pressing desire for righteousness within me and give me a longing to improve character and community.

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Matthew 5:5  Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

It is important to get the right definition for meekness here.   Matthew Henry defines it as the ‘silent submission of the soul to the providence of God concerning us.’  But that doesn’t satisfy me completely to the point of being able to apply it to my own life.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss eloquently defines it this way:

Meekness is calm confidence, settled assurance, and rest of the soul.
It is the tranquil stillness of a heart that is at rest in Christ. It is the place of peace.
Meekness springs from a heart of humility, radiating the fragrance of Christ.

I’ve found that a whole Bible study can be done on the character trait of meekness all by itself.  But here, we just need to understand what it takes to inherit the earth and maybe understand why we would want to inherit the earth in the first place.

I have determined that meekness is easiness of spirit which demonstrates a heart of stone turned into a heart of flesh.   Meekness requires a taming of the soul which is then able to understand God’s divine truth and precepts.   The meek are willing to learn  (James 1:21).

Have you noticed the progression of these first 3 blessings?   First, we are poor in spirit – recognizing our sinfulness.  Second, we are mournful about it and weep over our sins as well as the worlds – repentance.  And third, in becoming meek, our souls are prepared to hear and apply God’s word.

Psalms 37 speaks of the blessing of inheriting the earth.  It seems that Jesus is quoting verse 11 “but the meek shall inherit the earth.” In verse 9, those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth. In verse 13 the Lord shall laugh and see His day coming. And to wrap up our understanding of inheriting the earth, turn to 1 Corinthians 3:22. Paul points out that if you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s, all things are yours.

Study:
Read Psalm 37 and note all the times that meekness is necessary and then note the consequences of being meek in those situations.

The word ‘fret’ is used 3 times in this passage (1, 7 and 8)  How does fretting contradict an attitude of meekness?

Find all of the promises for all those who continue in meekness.

What do you find in verse 9 that would explain inheriting the earth?

More references to study:
Numbers 12:3
Isaiah 11:4
Gal 5:23
Romans 4:13
Abraham (Gen. 13; 16:5, 6)
Moses (Num. 12:3)
David (Zech. 12:8; 2 Sam. 16:10, 12)
Paul (1 Cor. 9:19).

Apply:
There are many ways that we fret in our daily lives which means we’re not really trusting God.  Concentrate on turning your fretful heart into a heart of meekness and quiet.

Pray:
Pray for gentleness and humbleness to replace pride and harshness.  Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will bring it to pass (Psalm 37:5)

A gentle person neither provokes evil nor is provoked by evil. Charges of sin do not prevail against such persons insofar as they are not the cause of sin. The meek one is more content to endure an offense than to commit one. For unless one is unafraid of being offended, one cannot be without sin. For even as weeds are never lacking in a field, provokers are never lacking in the world. Therefore that person is truly gentle who, when he or she has been offended, neither does evil nor even thinks of doing it.

–Anonymous

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted
Romans7:21-25 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is ikn my members.
O wretched man that I am,  who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

The mourning ascribed here is not that of mourning a loved one but the mourning of the loss of innocence, righteousness and self-respect, a sorrow that brings us to repentance.  Not only should we weep over our own spiritual poverty but that of the world.

Psalm 119:136  Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

Those who bewail their sin are comforted by the forgiveness of God.  We should experience more godly sorrow of Christian penitence :

2 Corinthians 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Revelation 7:10 portrays the blessing of being comforted in more detail:

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters:  and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Study:
These verses also give a picture of comfort for those that mourn:

Isaiah 61: 2, 3 – to give them beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…
2 Corinthians 1:7 – consolation for those who suffer

Apply:
What is the difference between self pity and genuine sorrow over sin?

How has God comforted you in your sorrow of sin?

What is the struggle Paul is experiencing in Romans 7:21-25? Do you empathize with him in anyway?

What are the solutions given in verses 24 and 25 for his wretchedness?

Pray:
“O wretched man that I am,  who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord”

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Matthew 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

When I became a Christian I wanted to live a life that was pleasing to God.  I wanted to do works of righteousness – do everything right – to have God shine His blessings down upon me.  I admit my motives were not exactly righteous.  I was hoping that if I was good – - really good, He would keep bad things from happening to me.

I’ve come to realize that I am not capable of being righteous.  I despair in that fact.  As long as I am self-absorbed and think that I can work hard to be loved by God I will fail over and over.

So how do I develop good Christian Character?  How do I take on the image of Christ, capable of being salt and light to the world?   Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” – the first principle in the Kingdom of God.  Being poor in spirit is the realization of absolute futility and coming to that  understanding of our inner being allows fertile ground for Jesus Christ to begin a great work within us.

The process is all very uncomfortable at first because it’s such a drastically different way of thinking.  The message to the Laodicean Church in Revelation 3:17 shows the first step in recognizing spiritual poverty.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Verse 18-19 gives the remedy:

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:  be zealous therefore and repent.

Study:
*Read Revelation 3:20.   This verse is usually an invitation to a non Christian.  How might this apply to someone who is already a Christian?

*The following verses add more positive depth to this principle of being poor in spirit.
Psalm 51:17 – broken spirit
Proverbs 16:19 – humble spirit
Isaiah 57:15 – contrite and humble
I Corinthians 1:26 – not many mighty or noble are called

Apply:
Consider your motive for being obedient to God.  Is it a response to His love or an effort to earn it?

All the great blessings of God are ours not because we obey, but because we have put ourselves into a right relationship with God by receiving Christ Jesus the Lord, and we obey spontaneously. From God’s Workmanship by Oswald Chambers

Pray:
Pray for the “gold tried in the fire” and the “white raiment” – repent and gain a new awareness of your spiritual poverty and see His amazing generosity.

We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.
Oswald Chambers

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley