Participants:
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000681S
|
00:01 (Breath of Life Theme Music)
00:06 Sermon #B681 - Living Your Blessed Life_Part 3 00:20 Dr. Byrd: Take your Bibles, and turn with me to the Book of Matthew. 00:23 Matthew Chapter 5 is where we are going, and we are going to three verses. 00:27 The final three beatitudes, three verses, Matthew Chapter 5, and we are going to Verse number 9. 00:35 Matthew Chapter 5, Verse number 9. 9, 10, 11, 12, the three final Beatitudes. 00:40 The word of God, Jesus Himself speak and says in Matthew chapter 5 verse number 9, 00:47 "Blessed are the peacemakers. They should be called the children of God. 00:54 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." 01:02 Verse number 11, "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and shall persecute you, and 01:08 shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, lying on you for My sake." 01:14 Because Jesus says in verse number 12, "Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in 01:22 heaven. For so persecuted, they the prophets, which were before you." 01:29 Before I talk with you, let us talk with God. God bless us now. 01:33 Oh, we have listened to a wonderful selection by True Identity. 01:37 Lord, we have listened to our praise to you. We worship you through offering 01:41 and children's ministries. We worship you through prayer on the call to worship. 01:45 Oh, but God it is time for you to speak. Speak Lord for your servant's hereth, 01:52 and we promise we will give you praise, honor, and glory, not hiding behind your cross. 01:55 Forgive me of my sins. I am not worthy to stand here today; 01:59 but Lord, I thank you for those twins called "grace and mercy." Grace and mercy, 02:05 I praise you for them because of them, we are not consumed. 02:08 And so Lord God, I pray that you would speak, and when the appeal time comes. 02:12 I pray that men and women, boys and girls, who respond to your voice, 02:16 they will make the decision to live a blessed life for you. It is in the name of Jesus, we pray. 02:23 Begging you, Oh God, for forgiveness of sin. Amen. Amen. 02:29 Living your blessed life part three. Living your blessed life 103. 02:36 We come now to part three in this series, living your blessed life. 02:42 In part one, we discussed the first three beatitudes. 02:47 In part number two, we discussed the next three beatitudes, beatitudes four, five, and six. 02:54 Today, we have come to part three, and we will discuss the final three beatitudes. 03:01 Now quickly, let us get straight into the text today. 03:04 Jesus says that in Matthew 5:9, beatitude number 7, "Blessed are the peacemakers. 03:10 For they shall be called the children of God." 03:15 Now, let us begin by looking at this word, peacemaker. 03:20 This word is what we call a compound word because it is made up of two very common words, 03:28 peace and maker. When we have peace and we have maker, we have peacemaker. 03:37 The word peace means freedom from disturbance. Freedom from trouble. Freedom from commotion. 03:45 It comes from the Greek or the Hebrew word meaning, "shalom," and in biblical days, 03:52 when Jews said, "shalom," they were wishing the full presence, the full peace, 04:00 and the full prosperity of God's blessings on another individual. 04:05 The second word after peace is maker, and maker comes from the Greek verb that means to do or to make. 04:14 So a maker then is a person that produces or makes something. 04:19 A maker does not just watch something. A maker does not just talk about something. 04:26 A maker does not just wish something, but a maker does something. 04:33 In the text, Jesus is not saying blessed are the peace wishers, or the blessed are the peace hopers, 04:42 or peace dreamers, peace lovers, or the peace talkers, or the peace watchers; 04:49 but Jesus is saying blessed are the peacemakers, which means then peace must be made. 04:57 Peace does not happen by chance. A peacemaker makes peace happen. Are you hearing what I am saying? 05:06 When we put these two words together and we put them together, peace and maker, 05:13 it describes somebody who is intentionally and actively seeking peace. 05:21 Someone who is actively pursuing peace, that is a peacemaker. 05:27 You need to know that peacemaking is not always easy. Sometimes, peacemaking can be tough. 05:37 Sometimes peacemaking does not even work. There are some people who love mess, love confusion, 05:45 and love picking fights with everybody they come in contact with. They are mean-spirited, 05:52 they are messy, and they love keeping up confusion and commotion. 05:57 I believe somebody knows somebody like that. Sometimes, 06:01 peacemakers have to become troublemakers to make peace because real troublemakers are causing trouble, 06:09 and peacemakers have to trouble the troublemakers to bring about peace. 06:12 You all don't here what I am saying? Peacemaking is not to be confused with pacifism. 06:19 Because sometimes, in order to be a peacemaker, 06:22 you have got to be a troublemaker for the sake of peace and speak up against what is wrong 06:32 and speak up for what is right. 06:36 Remember, it was Dr. Martin Luther King who said, 06:38 "In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies, 06:44 but we will remember the silence of our friends." And during this period of civil and social 06:51 and racial unrest in our world, some people, unfortunately for them, have accused me, 06:58 picture that, of being a troublemaker. They said I am a troublemaker causing discord 07:05 and causing strife simply because I have been peacefully protesting against injustices 07:12 and speaking up for the removal of Confederate monuments and statutes. 07:18 But the reality, friends, is this: if people would act right, you all do not hear what I am saying. 07:25 If they would act right, I would not have to peacefully protest. 07:29 I would not have to march if people would just act right. 07:33 I was in downtown Huntsville when we were marching earlier this year. 07:37 And somebody, I had to tell them, "Look, we are not here because of something we have done. 07:44 We are here because of something someone else has done. 07:48 If a knee had not been put on George Floyd's neck, we would not have to be here. 07:54 If Breonna Taylor had not been shot while she was sleeping, we would not have to be here. 08:00 If Ahmaud Arbery had not been shot while jogging, we would not have to be here. 08:05 If the police had not been called on Christian Cooper while he was bird-watching in Central Park in 08:12 New York, we would not be here. Do not get it twisted. Because I think sometimes, 08:17 we get this thing twisted. We are not here because of something we have done. 08:21 We are here because of something somebody else has done." 08:25 Sometimes a peacemaker has to become a troublemaker for the sake of peace. 08:31 It was the great John Lewis who said there is something called "good trouble." 08:37 I wish I had a witness in this place. 08:39 On the other hand, troublemakers, real troublemakers, who make trouble for the sake of trouble, 08:47 are people who spread rumors and gossip about others. 08:51 Troublemakers are people who constantly promote discord. 08:56 Troublemakers are people who are always faults-finding and finger-pointing. 09:02 Troublemakers are people who find joy and happiness when scandal or trouble abounds. 09:10 But I am so glad today that the good news of the gospel is simply this: 09:15 that a troublemaker can become a peacemaker. By beholding Jesus, we can become change. 09:24 But no one can become a peacemaker until he or she has found peace in himself or herself. 09:31 In other words, you cannot make peace if you do not have peace. You cannot give what is not in you. 09:39 But I am so glad that I serve Jesus. I am so glad today that I serve the Supreme Peacemaker. 09:48 I am so glad today that before Jesus came to this Earth as a [inaudible], 09:54 it was prophesied that he would be the coming Prince of Peace. 09:58 Jesus came to this earth to establish peace. His message explained peace, 10:03 his death purchased peace, and his resurrected presence enables peace, hallelujah. 10:10 Jesus' presence brings peace. 10:15 which reminds me, my friends, 10:16 that life is not determined by what you have but by who has you. 10:22 That is peace, my friends, because there are a whole lot of folk who are miserable today if they 10:28 cannot have this or that. They have got to have this car. They have got to have this house. 10:34 They must live in this neighborhood. They must have these clothes. They have got to have this, 10:39 they have got to have that. If you are able to get it, go ahead, be my guest. 10:44 But if you do not get it, do not get mad at God. 10:46 Because remember that success in life should not consist of the abundance of things you possess, 10:50 but succession that consists of the God who possesses you. Because when the car gets old, 10:58 when the house is no longer any good, where children move out. 11:04 When your body starts giving in, you have got to be able to be secure in yourself enough to know 11:12 that God is my refuge and my strength. A very present help in time of trouble. 11:19 I do not know about you, but I want to be able to go to bed at night. 11:23 I want to be able to sleep at night. I want a peace where when even stuff is not right, 11:29 that I can still get up in the morning because my God is my keeper. God is my sustainer. 11:37 God is the one who watches over me, and there is no need for me to worry if my God is watching. 11:43 Are you hearing what I am saying? 11:45 The psalm says, "I will lift up mine eyes into the hills from whence cometh my help, 11:50 my help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth." The psalm says. "He, that watches over me, 11:56 He that watches over Israel, slumbers not nor sleeps." And so if we believe that, 12:02 then why should we both be awake at night? God is watching. What do I need to be watching for? 12:09 I have peace, and I can go to sleep. 12:13 Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." 12:20 Oh, that makes me want to shout right there. Because when I am a peacemaker, I am a child of God. 12:25 I am a son of God. You are a son of God. You are a daughter of God. You are a King's kid. 12:34 Heir of salvation. [inaudible] of God. Born of His spirit, washed in His blood. 12:42 When you seek to reconcile people to God and one another, 12:47 when you try to put two family members back on speaking terms, 12:51 when you try to help coworkers get along, you are a peacemaker and you are a child of God. 12:58 You are a son of God. You are a daughter of God. 13:01 Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called "the children of God." 13:09 But we do not stop there. Let us go to beatitude number 8. Beatitude number 8 says, 13:15 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake. 13:20 For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Let me say that again. 13:24 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake. 13:29 For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." When you read this text, 13:34 it is important for you to understand that not all persecuted people are blessed. 13:40 The text says, "Only those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are blessed." 13:46 Are you hearing what I am saying? 13:48 Paul makes it clear in second Timothy chapter 3 verse 12 that all who live Godly lives in Christ Jesus 13:53 will suffer persecution. There is a tension between the mindset and the will of the Christian, 13:59 and the mindset and the will of the world. Sooner or later, 14:03 a deeply God sinner Christian will be mistreated for the things he or she believes in in his 14:09 or her life. 14:10 And even though freedom of religion is currently practiced in the United States, 14:15 Revelation 13 clearly teaches that the day is coming when that will not be the case. 14:23 Revelation 13 clearly teaches that those who love Jesus and keep His Commandments, 14:30 the day is coming when they will be persecuted by the United States government. 14:36 Do not get mad at me and call me crazy. I am not crazy. 14:41 I am just telling you Bible prophecy truth which must come to fruition. 14:47 Remember, Daniel and the Revelation are our two prophetic books in the Bible. 14:53 Daniel in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New Testament. 14:57 Daniel is Revelation concealed and Revelation is Daniel revealed. 15:03 You will remember that Revelation 13 speaks of two beasts. 15:08 The first beast is Papal Rome in Revelation chapter 13 verses 1 through 10, 15:14 and the second beast is the United States which was Revelation chapter 13 verses 11 through 17. 15:21 But how do I know this second beast is United States? I am so glad you asked. 15:25 The Bible says that the second beast comes up out of the Earth with two horns like a lamb, 15:32 but yet speaks like a dragon. And Bible prophecy, according to Daniel chapter 7 verse 17 15:38 and Daniel chapter 7 verse 23, a beast represents a kingdom. 15:43 This beast, this kingdom the Bible says, comes out of the earth. The earth is not water. 15:50 We remember that water in Bible prophecy according to Revelation 17:15, water represents people. 15:57 But the text does not say this beast comes out of water, 16:00 the text says this beast comes out of the Earth; 16:04 and the Earth represents a sparsely populated area with a small number of people. 16:11 It was the United States, the second beast according to Revelation 13, 16:15 that rose up out of the Earth from a sparsely populated area after the division of Western Europe 16:20 and after the papacy, the first Beast of Revelation 13, had to go in exile in 1798. 16:26 Think about it. The United States declared its independence in 1776. 16:32 The United States [inaudible] its constitution in 1787. 16:37 The United States adopted the Bill of Rights in 1791. 16:41 And the United States was clearly recognized as a world power by 1798. But not only that. 16:49 The Bible says that the second beast, this kingdom, has two horns. 16:54 Horns according to Daniel 7:24 means kings. But according to Revelation 13:11, 17:00 these horns have no crowns. No crowns mean no kings. Notice, in the United States, 17:09 there is no king. It has no king but it has a democratic form of government. 17:15 The two horns mean this government is rooted in two things, republicanism and protestantism. 17:20 A republic is a kingdom without a king, and protestantism is a church without a pope. 17:28 The United States has no king and no pope. The beast is lamb-like because it appears docile. 17:37 It appears peaceful, but the Bible says it speaks like a dragon. 17:42 Who is the most powerful country in the world that promotes peace but when it speaks, 17:49 everybody listens? The United States. Who is the most influential country in the world? 17:55 The United States. When the United States speaks, like it or not, everybody listens. 18:03 Revelation 13:12 teaches that the second beast will make everyone worship the first beast. 18:11 I am going somewhere here. Remember, the church cannot enforce worship. 18:16 It cannot even enforce a day of worship but the government can. 18:21 So the first beast cannot enforce anything but the second beast can. 18:26 Do not forget, friends of mine, this whole cosmic conflict, 18:31 this whole world conflict that we find ourselves in is about worship. 18:36 Who are you going to give your worship to? Choose to this day whom you going to serve. 18:41 But as for me and my house, we are going to serve the Lord. 18:44 The second beast forces people to worship the first beast. 18:50 God is telling us these last and evil days. To fear Him and worship Him. 18:56 If the first beast promotes worship on the first day of the week, 18:59 the Bible is telling us that there is going to come a day when the second beast, 19:02 the United States, will force us to worship on the first day of the week in homage to the first beast. 19:09 Remember, do not think I am crazy because currently, Sunday observance is not being enforced by law. 19:13 It is only going to happen when the issues are clearly drawn between the Commandments of God 19:17 and the declarations of men. The United States will become a persecuting power that will force people 19:23 by law to disobey God's commands just like Papal Rome; and again, 19:27 the church cannot force you to do anything, only the government can. 19:32 The church of old could not do it, but the government and Constantine did do it in 325 AD. 19:39 Who were the two most influential powers on the earth? The papacy, first beast, 19:46 and the president of the United States, representing the second beast. 19:49 When there is a union of the two, you better look out. 19:52 As the moral fiber of our country continues to fall, as wars and rumors of wars grow stronger today, 19:59 as civil unrest and racial unrest continue to mount with crime on every hand, as pestilences, 20:06 like earthquakes and hurricanes and tornados, the coronavirus 20:11 and other viruses steadily increase as our economic system is decimated before our very eyes, 20:18 the state or government will believe that there is a need for greater spirituality. 20:23 Because of the moral decline of our society, 20:26 because of the moral decline of our world and country, 20:29 the United States will make an image to the beast by legislating religious practices. 20:36 It will pass laws regarding worship and will force people to obey them or face death. 20:43 Not now, but in the future. Although these motives may appear nice, 20:48 although these motives may appear pure, 20:51 like you cannot buy certain things on Sunday before a certain time, like prayer in public school. 20:57 Although these things may seem positive, anything that is forced with regards to worship, 21:05 it is always bad. God in our worship never forces us to do anything. 21:10 God always gives us the power of choice. 21:14 But the Bible continues about the second beast in Revelation 13. 21:17 It teaches that we will not be able to buy or sell unless we have the mark of the beast. 21:22 "Pastor Byrd, how can that be? How can we not buy or sell?" 21:25 We can buy or sell but have you noticed, we are moving to a cashless society. 21:30 People today rarely carry cash. Everybody has a debit card. Everybody has a credit card. 21:35 Everybody has cash app. You can purchase your gas, your food, clothes, 21:38 even McDonald's, with a card. But not only that, we now have GPS, 21:42 Global Positioning Systems everywhere. We have GPS monitoring in our cars, in our phones. 21:48 Everywhere. You can track down anyone, anywhere at any time. 21:53 The ability of our government to identify individuals through the use of cards 21:56 and numbers gives them immediate access to your personal records, bank accounts, 22:00 and location which means they can stop any desire for purchases. 22:06 When the religious issues in our world become clear, people are forced, 22:11 and will be forced, to choose whom they are going to worship. 22:15 Either the image of God or the image of Satan. 22:20 Even the image of the mark of the beast or God's law and his seventh-day Sabbath. 22:26 Then those who choose man's way over God's way will be worshiping the beast, 22:33 and those who refuse to conform to the beast will be persecuted. 22:39 And that is why I am glad Jesus said in this beatitude, 22:43 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake. 22:48 For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." 22:51 Let me make this practical. Sometimes in this life, we are persecuted and we get mad. 23:00 We get frustrated. Why is God letting this happen to me? 23:05 Sometimes we are persecuted and we do not even realize that God is allowing it in His permissive will. 23:12 I am going to be happy about something I have been crying over. 23:15 I am going to get happy about something I have been worried about. 23:18 Because I realized that God allowed me to go through it. 23:22 And because He allowed me to go through it, it must have been for my good. 23:26 And we know that all things work together for good to them who love the Lord and are the called 23:32 according to his purpose. I do not know who I am talking to right now, but in the name of Jesus, 23:39 God is going to bless you, in the name of Jesus, God has got your back. 23:44 Serving the Lord will pay off after a while. A better day is coming after a while. 23:50 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. 23:53 Blessed are they that do His Commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, 23:57 and may enter in through the gates into the city. 24:00 I am almost done, but I got one more beatitude. Beatitude number 9. I feel my help coming. 24:06 Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say, 24:11 "All manner of evil against you falsely for mine's namesake." 24:15 But Jesus said, "Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward, not here on Earth, 24:23 but great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." 24:29 But somebody wants to know, "Pastor Byrd, how can we rejoice when we have been reviled? 24:34 How can we be joyful when we have been hated on, mocked, teased, talked about, tortured and killed?" 24:41 Make no mistake about it. Jesus in this text, He is talking about death, 24:46 because that is what they did to the prophets. That is what they did to the disciples. 24:50 That is what they are going to do to you and me. 24:52 But Jesus in the last days said in Matthew 24:9, "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted 24:58 and shall kill you and you shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake." 25:04 But you can rejoice because this persecution, it is only temporary. 25:12 Because one day, those who have lived for Christ, those who have endured for Christ, 25:21 those who have stood for Christ, those who have died in Christ, one day, they will reign with Christ. 25:31 And I saw as it were, a glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, 25:40 over his image, over his mark, over the number of His name stand on the sea of glass, 25:47 have the harps of God and they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the Lamb saying, 25:54 "Great and marvelous are thy works." Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, 25:59 thou King of saints. Let me tell somebody today. I am almost done. But let me throw this in. 26:04 You are going to be persecuted sometimes. You are going to cry sometimes. 26:10 You are going to hurt sometimes. You are going to be talked about sometimes. 26:15 You are going to be criticized sometimes, I know. You are going to be accused falsely sometimes. 26:21 But you have got to hang on in there. You have got to be in this thing for the long haul. 26:27 You have got to make up in your mind no matter how bad it gets. 26:32 I am not going anywhere until I get the promises of God, 26:36 and the promises of God are always "Yes" and "Amen." And when we endure, 26:42 God has promised us that he is going to give us a heavenly reward. 26:47 I am a witness that life is tough, that life is rough, that things get shaken, 26:54 that attitudes get shaken. Sometimes, God will shake your stuff to change your attitude. 26:59 Sometimes, God will shake your stuff to bring you to your knees. 27:02 Sometimes, God will shake your stuff so you do not trust in money. 27:06 Sometimes, God will shake your stuff so you find out who your real friends are. 27:10 Sometimes, God will shake your stuff so you will get your focus back on what really matters. 27:15 Sometimes, God will shake your stuff because He is really not after you 27:19 but He is after somebody in your house. 27:21 So sometimes, He has to shake your stuff to get their attention. You all hear what I am saying? 27:26 But you have got to endure. You have got to keep standing. You have got to keep fighting. 27:33 This is not a time to be weak. This is not a time to be running with panny-wanny folk. 27:39 You have got to be around folk who can take a licking and keep on ticking. 27:42 You have got to be around somebody who has been through something and say, "I made it." 27:50 Thank you very much for tuning in to this week's Breath of Life broadcast. 27:54 We hope and pray that you've been blessed by Dr. Byrd's inspirational message. 27:59 If you would like to hear this sermon in its entirety, 28:01 please feel free to visit us at www.breathoflife.tv. 28:07 Or, call us at (256) 929-6460. 28:21 When I was eight years old, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. 28:26 When I was fifthteen, I had my first surgery. When I think about the time that I lost 28:37 during my adolescent years, I just can't seem to put it togther. Even now I'm doing 28:47 treatment for my disease. Everyone experiences loss. It's not of matter of if but when. 29:00 www.breathoflife.tv 29:10 [END] |
Revised 2020-08-20