mrtonyfrench

An examination of the beatitudes found in Matthew 5:6-7

Verse 6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Great blessings will flow to those who earnestly desire and seek after God’s righteousness. The righteousness that we are to seek after can be found in God’s Word, in prayer, in the church, and through living a daily of life of discipleship. Growth is sometimes slow and there will be setbacks. Nevertheless, the true kingdom citizen will want to know what God has commanded us to do and how to live.

We live in a day where folks seem to be running from righteousness and sprinting toward evil.  Evil is good and good is evil in our time. God’s people, however are to search for and seek after God’s right way of living.

Seek to learn more about Christ and to obey the Word of God. The blessings of adoption await those who seek after Him.

Verse 7

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

One powerful attribute of kingdom living is the ability of showing mercy. The merciful are promised mercy in return.

This being the case, the opposite must be true as well. Those who will not show mercy will not be shown mercy. Those who deliver condemnation will receive condemnation in turn.

So, what about you? Will you choose mercy or judgement? Will you choose compassion or condemnation? God bless you!

Tony French

I love the church! God has given me the privilege of serving churches my entire adult life. I am thankful for the church local and the church universal. With that in mind, let us be reminded of a few vital aspects of the church today.

The church is the body of Christ. Christ is the head of the body. We need one another and we should fulfill our role in the body. I am thankful for the body of Christ.

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Colossians 1:18

The church is God’s witness to the world. It is through the church that we learn and grow to be Christ’s ambassadors to the world. We are His witnesses and He has sent us into the world to make disciples. I am thankful for the witness of the church.

To me, the very least of all saints , this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.     

Ephesians 3:8-10

The church is a powerful presenter of God’s glory. God’s glory is revealed in many different places throughout the scope of the universe. And it is display powerfully in the church as God’s people meet, worship, pray, and serve together. I am thankful for the glory of God as it is revealed in the church.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.                                                                                                                                       

Ephesians 3:21-22

Dear Christian, are you a faithful part of your local church? Are you fulfilling your role in the body of Christ? Do you give God glory through the church?

Tony French

An examination of the beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-5

Verse 3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The “poor in spirit” are those who realize their spiritual ineptness apart from Christ. The “poor in spirit” understand their absolute dependence on Christ’s sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sin. They comprehend their need of a savior and their need of salvation.

The reward for the “poor in spirit” is the “kingdom of heaven.” As Believers trust Christ and are converted, they enter into the kingdom as citizens. This kingdom is now a spiritual reality. Yet, it portends a day when the kingdom will be literal and visible. (Ch. 6:10)

Verse 4

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

Mourning is a part of life on this planet. Due to the effects of sin on our world, death, disease, and pain are ever with us. And because these realities are ever-present, we mourn.

While mourning is common from these causes perhaps there is another variety of mourning we need to see in this verse. We should also mourn for the effects of sin on our spiritual lives. We ought to mourn over the rebellion we have wrought and call to God for mercy.

Let us mourn over sin and turn to Christ for salvation.  May we confess our sins so that we grow in our faith day by day.

Those who mourn are comforted. The proud receive no comfort at all. Find your comfort today through the forgiving power of Christ.

Verse 5

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Meekness is not weakness. Meekness (or gentle in spirit) is defined as power under control. True gentleness requires an extraordinary spiritual power that flows to us from the Spirit of God. It requires power, strength, and self-control.

It takes no power or strength at all to be ruled by our desires, our appetites, and our temper. Anyone can do that.  True meekness absorbs the insults without responding and is contrary to our revenge-filled culture.

Jesus is our ultimate example of meekness. (Isaiah 53) Following His teaching and His example will lead us to a great inheritance that cannot be taken away.

Tony French

For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.  Isaiah 33:22

Isaiah 33:22 wonderfully summarizes the way God relates to His people. The original context refers to the nation of Israel. But, one can easily see these thoughts enumerated throughout the Scriptures. Because of that, we believe that they apply to us today.

Let us examine the implications of these statements for our lives. The LORD is great and greatly to be praised (Psalm 96:4). It is important to understand how we should view Him.

**The LORD is our judge. Since the God will judge us, we are accountable to Him. What we believe, what we say, and what we will do will come under the judgement of the LORD. May we remember this as we live for Christ each day.

**The LORD is our lawgiver. Therefore, we should learn and study His Word. We will be judged by the standard of God’s Word. God help us to study the Bible, learn it, and seek to obey it throughout our lives.

**The LORD is our king. Our highest allegiance belongs to Christ and Christ alone. He is to be above every relationship and every person in our lives. Let us serve our LORD the King the rest of our lives.

**The LORD is our savior. We would be lost forever without Jesus. He has saved us by His blood (Hebrews 10:18-20). We should serve Him and worship Him forever.

What a mighty God we serve!

Tony French

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

Matthew 5:1-2

This week, let us think about the first section of the Sermon on the Mount, which is called the beatitudes. These are short sayings of Jesus that describe life in the Kingdom of God. These sayings teach us to respond to the ups and downs of life as a Christ-follower.

The key word in these verses is blessed or, as some translate it, “happy.” How can we be blessed despite our circumstances? I’m glad you asked! Jesus reveals truth in these verses that is counter-cultural and meant for us in our time. With our Bibles open to this Scripture, let’s take an abbreviated survey through these verses.

Jesus is our authority. He is our authority as Christians. And He is the authority to which everyone will give account.

Notice throughout Matthew 5-7 how often Jesus appeals to His own authority in delivering His message.  One four separate occasions Jesus grounds His teaching in His own authority in chapter 5 alone.  (Ch. 5:21, 27, 33, 43)

It is important to note the following statement. Jesus did not come to correct the law or create new law. He came to fulfill and reestablish the one true law. The religious establishment of His day had overshadowed the true word of God with their traditions and man-made teachings. Jesus, by His own authority, came to set the record straight.

We give thanks for Christ’s teaching and His authority. Let us follow Christ’s Words and live under His reign all the days of our lives!

Tony French

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  John 3:16

We will look at the most famous verse in the Bible today. This is verse is also the most memorized verse in all of Scripture. Let us not lose the wonder and majesty of this teaching even though we are very familiar with it. Let us examine it in this post and be reminded of God’s love and goodness to us.

“For God……………………………..

God took the initiative in our salvation. Our relationship with Christ is not incidental or accidental. God made the first move.

“so loved the world…………………

God’s love compelled Him to send Christ for us. He loved us enough to take action on our behalf. He could have simply allowed us to suffer the natural consequences of our sin. But, His love would not allow Him to do that!

“that He gave His only begotten Son….

God sent Jesus into the world for us. The term “only begotten” implies uniqueness and singularity. God sent His one and only Son because He was the only One who could be our sacrifice for sin. Christ was the only acceptable sacrifice and substitute that could pay our sin debt.

“that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life………

Whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. There are no restrictions on the “whoever.” God loves the people of world and calls them to repent.

You may be asking “what do I have to believe?”

**First, believe that Jesus is who said He is. He is the Son of God who came into this world. He is the Savior and He is the only Savior.

**Also, believe that Jesus did what He said He did. He lived in the world perfectly for our righteousness. He died as our substitute and sacrifice on the cross for our forgiveness. And He rose again on the third day for our justification.

**Finally, believe that Jesus will do what He said He will do. The Bible declares that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. (Romans 10:13) Jesus taught us “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37)

Trust in Him today. Ask Christ to forgive you and save you. He loves you. And He desires your presence in Heaven!

Tony French

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

Here are a few thoughts about the power of God to encourage us this week.

God’s power is unchallenged. Earthly rulers may yield power to a degree. However, God’s power is unlike anything in the whole of the universe. The Almighty’s power is unchallenged, unrivaled and undefeated.

God’s power is unfailing. The power of the Lord never fails or falters. All of Yahweh’s promises are kept and fulfilled through His unfailing power.

God’s power is unending. Worldly empires rise and then they fall. No power lasts forever on this planet. Yet, the power of the Lord knows no end. Long after this world has passed God’s power will remain.

Hallelujah! What a mighty God we serve!

Tony French

30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 31 “And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 “Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 “But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, 34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 “On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 37 And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”     

Luke 10:30-37

Jesus often taught using parables. Parables were stories from the natural realm that Christ used to demonstrate great spiritual truth. The Good Samaritan is one Jesus’ most famous parables.

It is important to remember that parables were not historical accounts and were used to amplify the truth that Jesus taught. Therefore, we must be careful not to over analyze or analogize them as we seek to understand the message Jesus intended. With that in mind, let us look at three simple lessons from this teaching and apply them to our lives. Jesus gives us a blueprint for how we are to interact with folks in our daily lives. Let’s not miss His message.

**First, God uses unlikely people. Jesus made the Samaritan the hero of His story and that is significant. The Samaritans were descendants of the northern kingdom of Israel who had intermarried with the nations that bordered their land centuries before. They were hated by God-fearing Jews and were considered to be half-breeds. The Jews called them dogs to demonstrate their disgust with these compromising peoples.

It is the Samaritan who stopped to aid the victim. While the priest and the Levite ignored the need, the Samaritan went to the need. Let’s be careful not to discount people. You never know who God made use for His glory. Even unlikely people find their way into His story.

**We ought to see the need around us. The priest and the Levite observed the need, yet, they didn’t really “see” the man and offer to help. This may seem simple but it isn’t always the case. We can become so busy and self-focused that we miss opportunities to comfort others. And the reason we miss them is because we don’t see them.

Let’s make it point to ask God to reveal the need around us. We can’t meet every need. We can meet some if we will keep our eyes open and listen for the Holy Spirit’s prompting.

**Service is costly but worth it. The Samaritan was willing to help physically. He bound up His wounds and took Him to the inn so He could recover. But, he also was inclined to pay a price to help this man by leaving provision for the future.

Service is costly. It is costly to us just as was for Jesus. Serving others is worth it. When we serve others we are following in Christ’s footsteps. Service is not easy but it is rewarding and Christ-like. Don’t the let the price of service keep you from meeting needs. You’ll be glad you did.    

Tony French

² And He said to me: “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city,³ who say, “The time is not near to build houses; this city is the caldron, and we are the meat.’⁴ Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!” ⁵ Then the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said to me, “Speak! “Thus says the LORD: “Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind.⁶ You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the slain.”⁷ Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Your slain whom you have laid in its midst, they are the meat, and this city is the caldron; but I shall bring you out of the midst of it.⁸ You have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you,” says the Lord GOD.⁹ “And I will bring you out of its midst, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and execute judgments on you.¹⁰ You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 11:2-10

The Old Testament prophets prominently trumpeted the theme of God’s judgement to the nations. Ezekiel is no different in this respect as his prophecy foretells the judgement and exile of Judah. A familiar pattern emerges in these prophecies and is apparent in the Bible passage for this week. An examination of this sequence is in order.

First, God reveals the sin of His people (or that nation receiving the judgement). The Lord lays out His case against them in no uncertain terms. The Almighty reveals what sin is in the New Testament age as well in passages such as Romans 3, Hebrews 2:2, 1 John 3:4, and James 4:17. People may not believe the Lord, but, they can’t say they weren’t warned.

Also, God confronts sin in His people. He sent prophets who preached and warned the people. The Lord gave messages to Ezekiel and others and commanded them to write them down. Yahweh safeguarded these message of judgement and preserved them so that future generations could be cautioned about going astray. Our Lord not only reveals sin, He confronts people and calls them to repent. God lovingly comes against sin so that people will repent and turn to Christ for salvation.

Finally, God judges sin when nations fail to turn away from their transgressions. God is patient and kind. He gives people space to repent and return to the Lord. If they to do not turn, however, the judgment will inevitably fall and will be swift and fierce.

As Christians, let us be glad that Christ was judged in our place. Our Savior absorbed the wrath of the Father upon the cross and paid the price for our redemption and the penalty for our sins. All who believe in Jesus and are saved and spared from the wrath of God forever.

If you are an unbeliever, will you believe in Christ and trust in His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of your sin? Be saved today and be spared the judgement of God. An eternity with Jesus awaits all who will believe on His name!

Tony French

Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.  Isaiah 40:31

Waiting is exhausting. Waiting on God is one of the most difficult experiences we will ever endure as a Believer. We know that God is able, but, He doesn’t seem to move on our time-table.

Why does God require us to wait? Why do the answers take so long to arrive? While we can never fully answer those questions, we can know that there are some good reasons that God acts as He does. Let us examine three reasons in the remainder of this article.

**God requires us to wait to increase our trust in Him. If everything arrived from God immediately our faith would stagnate and never grow. Waiting forces us to rely on God all the more.

God used a time of waiting to grow Joshua’s faith. Joshua waited forty years for God’s ultimate plan in His life to unfold. Joshua’s trust in God grew and allowed him to effectively lead God’s people through the Canaanite conquest. 

**God asks us to wait so He can prepare us for the future. Joseph is a good example of this principle. God was preparing Joseph for leadership each step of the way. First in slavery and latter in prison his skills and acumen were being honed and refined. Joseph learned to serve and this lesson prepared him for the time that he would lead the nation of Egypt.

God is preparing you today for something greater tomorrow. God is using your waiting as a time of preparation. Learn from it and grow as a result.

**God uses our times of waiting to remind us that He is in control. Though we have free will, we do not have ultimate dominion over our circumstances. And God reveals that fact to us in the time of waiting.

Perhaps you are in a season of waiting. It’s not an easy place to be. My counsel to you may seem trite. Nevertheless, here it is–trust God, learn from your present circumstances, and give thanks for God’s ultimate sovereignty. When God reveals His path and His glory, it will be worth the wait!

Tony French