Young Adults' Group

The Beatitudes As A Grid

by Pastor Mark
April 05, 2018

The challenge to be a man of God

It has been an exciting pastoral conference for us here in Myanmar as we learn about becoming the man of God that He is seeking…in order to do His work. But how did the disciples become the men of God that the Lord wanted them to be? One aspect that Pastor taught was “character”. One of the first things that the Lord Jesus taught His disciples was character through the teaching of the Beatitudes. (Matt 5:1–11) The Beatitudes were meant to help them grow. It was also a grid for them to check their character.

The Beatitude as a grid for our character

1. Proactive

The Beatitudes were meant to be cultivated as a proactive approach to facing problems. Before we face the problems of life and ministry, we should already be equipped to face them…to have the character to face them. Problems should not be dealt with reactively. Let us develop our character so that we are proactive people of God.

2. Preventive work

Through the Beatitudes, we also learn to do preventive work in our life. Through cultivating the Beatitudes, they prevent us from falling into pride and making foolish mistakes. Pride can cause us to make wrong choices. Let us learn to be poor in spirit…to humbly learn.

3. Power

When we develop our character well, there is such power. There is power in our character. If we learn to be humble and to pure in heart, we would have the power to see…to see God and His kingdom. Let us be empowered through the cultivating our character.

4. Plan

It has always been part of God’s plan for His disciples to cultivate character. When we develop character, we fit into God’s plan. We learn to do things according to the Lord’s ways…not our own ways. Let us seek to fulfil the plans of God.

5. Proof

The Beatitudes are also meant to be our proof. They prove that we are born again and that we are true disciples of our Lord. Our faith in Christ would be proven through the changes that comes with the cultivation of the Beatitudes. Let us be challenged to prove our faith.

6. Prolonged ministry

Through these Beatitudes, we also develop the kind of character that would help us cope with a prolonged ministry. We would be able to maintain our ministry consistently and not be tired as we learn to be fruitful in all things.

7. Personal

Let us be challenged to make these Beatitudes real and personal to our life and ministry. They were never meant only to be theoretical. Let us cultivate them personally.

8. Practice

Let us be challenged to practise these Beatitudes as we live for the Lord and serve Him. Let us be challenged to make these Beatitudes as a grid for our life…to check ourselves carefully. Let us be challenged to make these Beatitudes a real part of our character.

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