“The Forgotten Beatitude”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos

Pulpit Series Volume 21, Issue 10   July 31, 2011

“And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” Luke 7:23
 
Offended (verb): cause to feel upset, annoyed or resentful

“Blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over me.” Matthew 11:6

Stumbling (verb): trip or momentarily lose one's balance; almost fall.

Jesus spoke this comment to the disciples of John the Baptist who came to see if He really was the Messiah. Jesus told them to report of all that they saw - blind eyes opened, deaf ears unplugged, lame walking - and then concluded with this forgotten beatitude.

I believe Jesus was sending John a message because like so many today John was in trouble. He was in the dungeon facing death.

Peter certainly saw his share of trouble. Perhaps that is why he wrote: “Brethren, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you, as though some strange thing has happened to you.” I Peter 4:12

In other words your situation is not unique. In fact Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The trouble with trouble is that it never seems to come singularly, usually it is twofold. There is depression and there is doubt.

Dungeons bring depression and depression brings doubt.

Are you in a dungeon? Perhaps not behind visible lock and key, but a dungeon or prison just the same.

• Is your trouble financial?
• Maybe your blood pressure is up and your bank account down.
• Maybe you are physically ill but you keep going and everyone thinks because you are walking you are well!
• Maybe you have lost a loved one and a shroud of melancholy hangs heavy on your soul.
• Perhaps you dread to see night come and search for rest as men seek for hidden treasure. (fear of the unknown)

Dungeons bring depression and from depression it is easy to move into doubt, even doubt about Jesus.

We need to hear the words of the “Forgotten Beatitude”.

FYI - It is nothing new to be offended in Jesus.

1.   He is either a sanctuary or a stumbling stone - Isaiah 8:14
2.   He was an offense to His own nation and still is - Romans 9:33
3.   He offended the Pharisees - Matthew 15:12
4.   He offended the people of His home town - Matthew 13:54-58
5.   He offended superficial disciples - John 6
6.   His cross is an offense - I Corinthians 1:23
7.   Even true disciples may be offended in Him - Matthew 26:31-35

Even true believers have been heard to say, “It is vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have kept His laws and walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts.” Malachi 3:20

Don't look so pious, we’ve all done it! We have at times of trouble murmured…..

• that we prayed and do not receive
• that we gave our tithe and now we are in financial trouble
• that we prayed for healing and ended up in the hospital.

All these grumbling means that we have not learned the “Forgotten Beatitude”.

Anybody can believe during the good times. It is easy to have faith on the dry side of the Red Sea.

Please hear my heart - there is a deeper experience and a higher state which not many reach.

A state in which, no matter what happens, we are never offended in the Lord, a state in which, whether it makes sense to us or not, we still believe.

Romans 8:28 “All things work together for good…”

Habakkuk started his book pouting and ended it praising. And blessed is the man who can say: “Though I don't get what I want: though I may sow much and reap little; though others get the plums and I get the sack, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.”

When Thomas asked for visible evidence of the risen Lord, he was asking for a smaller blessing than he already had, the privilege of believing without seeing, for “blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed”.

God wants us to trust Him, no matter what He does.

We need a heavenly carelessness that leaves it all with Jesus and doesn't become upset when He does things contrary to what we expected.

The little boy who doesn't understand why God put so many vitamins in spinach and didn't put them all in ice cream is already beginning to see things just don't work out as we'd like.

Last week we warned that we’d be surprised how much we don’t know. There is much that is baffling, but if you can't understand it, by grace stand under it!

Jesus has not failed! He is running on schedule.

• Blind eyes are opening to the Light of the world.
• Deaf ears are hearing His voice.
• Lame souls are taking up their beds and walking.

Christ is carrying on as intended. He has never missed an appointment. He may seem slow but He is never late.

Trust Jesus with all your heart, guard against being offended, upset, annoyed or resentful.

Stand on God’s Word, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:35-39

“Great peace have they who love your law: and nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165