The Spiritual Hope

“The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Gen 2:8-9)

After we believe in the Lord Jesus our heart is like the garden of Eden. There are many good things to nourish our soul, like love, peace, joy, kindness, etc, and pleasant things to satisfy our imagination, like the vision of heaven, angel, etc, growing in our heart. The Lord Jesus also is in the midst of our heart, and the self is there.

“Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. The name of the first is Pishon; it is  the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.” (Gen 2:10-14)

The Holy Spirit as the river of life always flows to water our heart. From our heart flows four rivers of living water that makes our heart expand to reach out to the four corners of the earth : the north, the south, the east and the west. One river flowing out of our heart will bring us to discover the treasures of divine wisdom and knowledge.

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen 2:15-17)

We need to tend and keep our heart because our life springs from it. We may freely enjoy the good things which God has put in our heart, but we must always guard our heart with all diligence so that there is no self-seeking in it.

“The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.” (Gen 2:8)

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” (Gen 2:15) 

The garden of Eden was both the place of rest and the place of work for man. He lived and worked together with God in that garden. Likewise, the presence of God in our heart makes it the place of rest for us and the power of God in our heart makes it the place of work for us.

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:8-9)

The heart is the place where God always wants to meet us for communion. He longs to have fellowship with us in the coolness of His presence. The heart is the place where we hear the sound of God and where He speaks to us.

“Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” (Gen 2:19)

The heart is the place where God works together with us. He forms every creative idea and innovative thought out of our heart and gives us freedom to call it by any name we come up with.

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Gen 3:1)

There was the cunning serpent in the garden of Eden. Likewise, there is the presence of the devil in our heart. As the serpent talked to Eve questioning God’s commandment, the devil will talk to the emotion in our heart questioning God’s commandment.

Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:4-5)

The serpent tried to make Eve believe that the reason God commanded her not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is not so that she would not die, but so that she would not be like God, knowing good and evil. The serpent tried to make her doubt about God’s intention. Likewise, the devil always tries to make us believe in the wrong reason for God’s commandment, so that we will doubt about His intention.

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Gen 3:6)

When Eve just believed in God’s commandment not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, she stayed away from the tree and did not look at it for too long. However, when she had doubt about God’s intention concerning the commandment, she began to keep looking at the tree. She saw that the tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes and desirable to make one wise. Then, she took of its fruit and ate. When we just believe in God’s commandment not to do something, we will just obey and will not question about His intention. However, when we begin to have doubt about God’s intention with His commandment not to do something, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and the pride of life will draw us away and entice us.

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin.” (Jms 1:14-15)

The serpent tempted Eve to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As long as she stayed away from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and did not look at it too long the serpent could do anything to make her sin. Likewise the devil always tempts us to satisfy our own desires. As long as we forget ourselves and do not look at the things of the world too long the devil cannot do anything to make us sin against God. Therefore, we must keep our heart with all diligence (Prov 4:23).

Scripture :  Proverbs 14:14

The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied from above.

Asking in Faith

There are many things in our lives that we cannot get on our own. We need God to give them to us. The Lord Jesus told us that the Father in heaven would give good things to those who ask Him (Mat 7:11). So, He encouraged us to ask, and we would receive, that our joy may be full when we receive the thing that we ask (Jhn 16:24). Many times we do not have because we do not ask (Jms 4:2). Therefore, if we need anything that we cannot get on our own, then we should ask of God. But, we should ask in faith, with no doubting, for if we doubt, we shall not receive anything from God (Jms 1:6).

Our Own Faith and Other People’s Faith

Faith is the key to receiving from God. Therefore, faith must be present whenever we expect God to give us something that we ask. There are two ways of how this can happen :    

1) through our own faith.

In a normal situation, if we expect to receive something from God for ourselves, we are the one who must have faith. We cannot rely on other people to have faith for us. For example, the woman with the issue of blood was made well because of her own faith in the Lord Jesus (Mat 9:22).

2) through other people’s faith.

In a situation in which it is impossible for us to have faith ourselves, then we can rely on other people to have faith on our behalf. For example, the paralytic who was brought to the Lord Jesus through the roof was healed, not because of his own faith, but the faith of those who carried him (Mrk 2:5). This way of faith is especially applicable to those who are under the authority of others. For example, the daughter of a certain woman of Canaan who could not possibly have faith herself was healed from demon-possession because of her mother’s faith (Mat 15:28). The servant of a centurion was lying at home paralyzed and dreadfully tormented. He could not possibly have faith himself, but was healed by the Lord Jesus because of his master’s faith (Mat 7:13).

The Process of Faith

We must have faith if we expect to receive from the Lord. But, how does faith works and how do we know whether we have had the faith in our heart or not? First of all, we must remember that we cannot produce faith ourselves because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the (spoken) word of God (Rom 10:17). If God does speak to us, then what He says will consistently comes up in our mind in the form of thoughts. Then, these thoughts will become pictures as we meditate on them day and night. Now, we see in our mind the evidence of things not yet seen in the natural and we believe them. Then, as the pictures becomes clearer, we begin to feel as if the thing that we hope for were happening to us (Heb 11:1). Before we know it, we begin to speak out what we see and feel (2 Cor 4:13; Mrk 11:23), and then act accordingly (Jms 2:22). This faith process is supernatural, yet it flows naturally without much forced effort.   

God’s Compassion

We know that as the just we are supposed to live by faith (Rom 1:17), to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). However, in reality, we often find ourselves weak, having little faith or no faith at all, especially after we fall into sin, experience great failure or are deeply wounded. It is good if we have people around us who can uphold us with their faith. But, suppose we do not have them. Can we still expect that we will receive from the Lord if we ask Him? The answer is yes because He also answers our prayers based on His compassion. The Lord God is gracious, compassionate and abounding in mercy (Psa 86:15;103:8). He is still willing to help us and give us what we ask even though we do not have faith for that. The Lord Jesus often healed the sick people, not because they had faith to be healed, but because He was moved with compassion for them (Mat 14:14). When He went out of the city of Jericho on one occasion, two blind men continued crying out to Him to have mercy on them. The Lord Jesus had compassion for them and touched their eyes and they received their sight (Mat 20:29-34). 

Asking for God’s Compassion

When we ask for God’s compassion, we actually acknowledge that we have no right to receive what we ask. We realize that there is no guarantee that we will receive when we ask God this way. We cannot be confident. Nevertheless, we can still have hope that He will give what we ask based on His abundant mercy. But, we really have to humble ourselves and be persistent when we ask this way (Luk 18:1-7). Most of the time, God will grant our wish. King Hezekiah who was about to die was given additional 15 years of his life when he pleaded with God in tears, asking for His mercy and compassion (2 Kings 20:1-6). The only case in which God may not give what we ask is when our weak condition is caused by our own sin. God did not grant David’s wish to save his child from death even though he pleaded with Him for seven days, fasting and lying on the ground because the child’s illness was the result of his sin (2 Sam 12:15-16).      

Scripture :  John 3:8

” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Born of the Spirit – The Greatest Change

The Lord Jesus describes the new birth or being born of the Holy Spirit as the wind that blows where it wishes. We hear the sound of the wind, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. The new birth produces the greatest change or transformation of our lives; we become a new creation in Christ. Old things pass away and all things become new (2 Cor 5:17). However, this radical change is possible because the wind of the Spirit blows in our lives.   

The Change Questions

Now, we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have been born of the Spirit. We have become a new man or a new creation in Christ. After we are born again, what is next in God’s plan for us? He wants to change us more. From the very beginning, His whole plan is to change us into the image of Jesus Christ, His Son (Rom 8:29). Here, we need to ask a few questions. Who actually changes us, ourselves or God? Are we able to change ourselves? Can we change ourselves whenever we want to? How does the real change take place in our lives?  

Real and Lasting Change

As with the new birth, the real change in our lives takes place when the Holy Spirit is actively involved. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot change ourselves, no matter how hard we try. Our will power is just not strong enough to produce real and lasting change in ourselves. Many times, we think we have changed ourselves only to find out later that the change is temporary and not real. Immediately, we go back to the previous state; to our old nature, our old habits and old ways.

Wind of Change

Real and lasting change is not something that we can produce anytime. We wish we could change ourselves whenever we want to. But in reality, we just cannot simply do that. There are certain conditions which is required before real and lasting change is possible in ourselves. These conditions are produced by the wind of the Holy Spirit.

1. Painful Wind of Change.

There are some things in our lives that we just do not want to change. Some habits or some ways that we like so much that we never even think of changing them. What we do not realize is some of these habits and ways are not good, and even detrimental for our well-being. God loves us and cares for us so much that He will not let us continue in the habits and ways that He knows will eventually destroy us. Therefore, He will cause the wind of the Spirit to blow forcefully to stop us. This will bring us to a painful realization of our stubbornness. As we finally come to terms with the fact that this painful situation is the result of our own habits and ways, we realize that we must change lest worse things happen to us. “Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, as do stripes the inner depths of the heart.” (Prv 20:30) The result is the breaking of our own stubborn will. Simon Peter was the clearest example of how he was changed from being very impulsive to being meek after his denial of Jesus.    

2. Gentle Wind of Change.

There are things in our lives that we want to change, but we do not know how to do it. We want to love God more, we want to know the will of God, we want to overcome our sinful habit, we want to control our anger, we want to have a better marriage or to become a better parent, etc. We know what we want to change in our lives, but our problem is we do not know how.

Real and lasting change only happens in the presence of God and by the word of God. As we behold the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of God (2 Cor 3:18). All Scripture, the word of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,  for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). As we receive with meekness the implanted word that it renews our mind (Rom 12:2), and be doers of the word, our lives will be changed (Jms 1:22). This change is a gradual change into His likeness and it happens as we respond to the gentle wind of the Spirit that blows everyday prompting us to come into His presence and to get into His word and apply it in our daily lives. The result is the enlightening of our mind with spiritual understanding.  

3. Supernatural Wind of Change.

There are things in our life that we want to change and we do have some understanding of how to do it, but we  find ourselves helpless to make the change. In this kind of situation, what we need is a supernatural change and it can only be produced by the love of God. No amount of determination or knowledge can replace it. When the wind of the Spirit blows and His love rain is poured out in our heart (Rom 5:5) and we feel so loved, we become so surrendered that it is easy for God to change us. The love of God in Christ compels us that we do not live for ourselves anymore, but for Him who died for us (2 Cor 5:14-15). The result is the overflowing of our emotion with His love. We do not really change ourselves, but we are changed by God, supernaturally and instantly. Paul the apostle is the prime example of how the love of God completely changed him from being a persecutor of the church to the most prominent builder of the church.

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you—The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month.” (Joel 2:23)

In farming there is a time or a season for sowing seeds and there is also a time or a season for reaping the harvest. There is rain in the sowing season called the former rain and there is rain in the reaping season called the latter rain. The former rain prepares the ground, so that the seeds will immediately sprout and take root. The latter rain speeds up the ripening process of the fruit so that it will immediately be ready for harvest. What Joel the prophet wrote above is actually a prophecy about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit related to the church. The former rain is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the sowing of the church as the kingdom of heaven seed on the earth while the latter rain is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the ripening the church as the kingdom of heaven fruit ready for harvest.

“The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.” (Joel 2:24)

When Joel the prophet gave the above prophecy to the children of Israel, God had already given them the former rain for the sowing season. So, he assured them that God would also give the latter rain for the harvest season. What would be the result that latter rain? There would be a great harvest. The threshing floors would be full of wheat, and the vats would overflow with new wine and oil. Both the threshing floors and the vats are the pictures of the churches. Wheat is the picture of the revelation of the word of God and new wine and oil are the picture of the new manifestation and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when the Holy Spirit is poured out as the latter rain, the churches will be full of the revelation of God’s word and overflow with the new manifestation and anointing of God’s Spirit.

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.” (Joel 2:25)

For many years it seemed there was no harvest in the land of Israel. The crops that had been cultivated were eaten by the army of locusts. It is a picture of the church that have not been able to be harvested for so long because the seeds of the kingdom of heaven that were sown or grown have always been stolen, killed and destroyed by the enemy, the devil. For about two thousand years the church has not been able to reach spiritual maturity. The church has not been able to become the ripe fruit of the kingdom of heaven. When the Holy Spirit is poured out as the latter rain, the church will finally be ripe for harvest. God will restore to the church the years that have been taken or robbed by the devil.

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.” (Joel 2:26-27)

When the Holy Spirit is poured put as the latter rain, there will great harvest in the church. The church will be so full of the revelation of God’s word, and overflow with the new manifestation and anointing of God’s Spirit. God’s people will enjoy abundant blessings and be satisfied. They shall praise the name of the Lord, who has dealt wondrously with them. They shall know that the Lord is in their midst and there is no other God but He. God’s people shall never be put to shame anymore. 

“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29)

Joel the prophet himself immediately interpreted his prophecy about the former rain and the latter rain. It was about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all men. When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon about one hundred and twenty disciples of Jesus on the day of Pentecost that put the church as the seed of the kingdom of heaven on the earth, Simon Peter explained that it was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel the prophet above. He said, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:16-18)

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on the day on Pentecost about two thousand years ago that put the church as the kingdom of heaven seed on the earth was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel the prophet. That outpouring of the Holy Spirit was the former rain. So, it means there will be another outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the fulfillment of the same prophecy, but this outpouring of the Holy Spirit will be the latter rain that will make the church fully mature as the kingdom of heaven. The church will be like the ripe fruit ready for harvest. Unlike the former rain that first came down only in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost then it spread to other places, the latter rain will first come down at about the same time in many places of the earth then it will spread to the whole world.

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you—The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month.” (Joel 2:23)

When Joel the prophet said that God would cause the rain to come down for the children of Israel, he did not just say the latter rain, but both the former rain and the latter rain. Why? It was because the crops that had been cultivated from the former rain were eaten by the army of locusts. So, to have the fruit ripe for the harvest, the former rain must come down again and  the new seeds must be sown. Therefore, for the harvest God will give both the former rain and the latter rain. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the latter rain is actually both the former rain and the latter rain.

“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;” (Joel 2:28)

According to the prophecy of Joel the prophet, God will pour the Holy Spirit on all men. What does it mean? It means the Holy Spirit will not only come down on the church but also on the world. The Holy Spirit that comes down on the church will make the church grow into maturity and ready to be harvested as the ripe fruit of the kingdom of heaven. The Holy Spirit that comes down on the world will make the people in the world ready to be sown as the new seeds of the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, the latter rain of the Holy Spirit is the latter rain as well as the former rain.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18)

When the Holy Spirit is poured out, there will be manifestations, such as prophecy, vision and dream. The sons and daughters, the young men and the old men who will experience these manifestations are not only the people in the church but the people in the world as well. The prophecies, visions and dreams that the people in the world receive are primarily to show them the way to enter the kingdom of heaven, whereas the prophecies, visions and dreams that the people in the church receive are primarily to show them the way to be mature in the kingdom of heaven.

“I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:19-21)

When there is a heavy rain, there will be darkness, lightning and thunder in the sky. The lightning from the sky can cause death and fire when it strikes the earth. Likewise, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the latter rain will be accompanied by wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath. And, fear will come upon the people in the world. These signs and wonders, combined with the manifestations of the Holy Spirit (prophecies, visions and dreams), will make many people seek God, call on the name of the Lord Jesus and be saved.

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.” (Revelation 14:14-16)

The latter rain will make the church ripe and ready to be harvested from the earth. Then, a white cloud will come upon the earth and Jesus Christ sitting on it. Wearing a golden crown and holding a sharp sickle, He will thrust in His sickle on the earth and the church will be reaped. What does it mean the church will be reaped? The church will be taken out of the world like the harvest is taken out of the field. The church will be raptured.

“Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” (1 Kings 18:41)

The church can grow from the seed to the ripe fruit of the kingdom of heaven speedily when there is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But, when there is no outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the growth of the church as the kingdom of heaven slows down and even stops. The devil as the thief then will come to the church to steal, to kill and to destroy. It has been so long there is no outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the church just like it had been so long there was no rain for the land of Israel in the time of Elijah the prophet. The devil has been stealing, killing and destroying freely in the church. But, now it is time to be glad and rejoice in the Lord, for there is the sound of abundance of rain. The latter rain is coming very soon!

Scriptures : Matthew 5:1-12

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:

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “

Blessed are the poor in spirit

The word “poor” comes from a Greek word that means “to make oneself little, to crouch.” The poor in spirit know they are sinful and feel their great need of God’s help. Isaiah 66:2 says the person who is poor in spirit is “humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at God’s word. “Such people know they will never have the spiritual qualities they need unless God has mercy on them. They seek refuge in God alone. This is the opposite of complacency and self-focused effort.

Blessed are those who mourn

The gospel is Good News only for those who know they have no answer to their own sinfulness. People who are unaware of their shortcomings do not mourn their sins. Those who know they are spiritually poor grieve over their sin and the emptiness of their lives. The blessed comfort of the Holy Spirit is reserved for those who are dissatisfied with their sinful, selfish lives. “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. The Holy Spirit reveals Christ’s presence to us until loneliness is gone; we are comforted.

Blessed are the meek

Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is the opposite of a proud, rebellious, independent spirit. Jesus humbly submitted to and obeyed his Father. Like their savior, meek people give up their own way and seek God’s way. Meekness is never natural. It is a quality God works into His children, often through trials and failure. They recognize that Christ reigns over the earth and all things, they are always satisfied. Regardless of circumstances, they know that God loves them and always has their welfare in mind.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness

The spiritually poor mourn their sin and meekly obey God and His revealed will. A right relationship with God is his gift to the spiritually poor. Such person will consciously hunger to be like Christ in righteousness. To all who hunger in this way, Jesus promises full satisfaction. How blessed to be hungry and thirsty and to come in to an abundant meal.

Blessed are the merciful

When you are hunger for righteousness, how can you not also hunger for right relationships with others? To have mercy is to show compassion for the sinner because of sin’s misery. Mercy is not simply a warm feeling. The merciful person moves out in compassion, in forgiveness, in prayer and in love with practical help for those in need. Because no one deserves mercy, mercy does not harden its heart against the “undeserving.” Christians mercy flows from the mercy we have received from God in Christ, so it can never be indifferent toward sin.

Blessed are the pure in heart

“Pure in heart” means heart devotion to Jesus as well as moral purity. A pure heart has one motive and one purpose; to love God, to trust Him and to serve Him in love to others. Jesus is to be desired above all desires. The pure heart is also a heart God has cleansed. God will fulfill this promise completely only when we see Christ. “When he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Blessed are the peacemakers

God’s Son is the ultimate peacemaker. Apart from Jesus, there is no true peace. He came to reconcile us first to God and then to one another. The world is sinful and self-promoting, and refuses to be reconciled to God. But there is no reason for broken relationships within the church. God’s children have peace with God and access together to God’s presence. To the extent we have peace with God, we have agreement one with the other, for the Holy Spirit within each of us speaks the same language.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness

Persecution! Why should people who are poor in spirit, who mourn over sin, who are meek, merciful and pure in heart be persecuted? Jesus later said to His disciples, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. “In this world, Jesus’ followers will never get away from persecution and trials. Jesus did not say to stoically resign yourself to persecution. He said, “Rejoice!” Just as Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. As we suffer or are persecuted, we have the joy of sharing Jesus’ suffering with Him. We experience His presence and approval. Christians who suffer for Jesus reap fruit in others’ lives, persecution always serves His purposes.