MOVING FORWARD - pastor mike landry

We were made by God. We were created with His purposes in mind. There were NO mistakes made. God never makes a mistake. And when you are living out His purpose, you’ll know it. There’s no greater joy than knowing you are living the life you were created for.

In fact, when we are living out the life we were created for, it always produces within us a satisfaction about life that cannot simply be described or measured by productivity or accomplishment. This deeply rooted resonance within us comes from the presence of God resulting from a redeemed relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That’s MAKARIOS.

MAKARIOS is the first word used before each of the 9 beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12) and is not merely an adjective used to describe positive feelings associated with a life in God – even though it’s usually translated “Happy” or “Blessed”. It is a word that describes one who has entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and is also acutely aware of His presence and current activity. It is a word that cannot be defined without God's presence associated with or characterizing it.

So, what can we do to experience MAKARIOS? I've been learning a lot about this in my personal study of the beatitudes. Here’s a brief outline. Hope they help you move forward with God and taste MAKARIOS.

1. Know your limitations.
“MAKARIOS are the poor in spirit.”
Admitting you are bankrupt spiritually is the starting point.

2. Confess your sin and need for change.
“MAKARIOS are those who mourn”
Grieving over how sin affects our relationship with God is necessary.

3. Yield to Lordship of Jesus Christ.
“MAKARIOS are the gentle”
God wants us to surrender our will, our resources, our life to His leadership.

4. Focus your ambition on righteousness.
“MAKARIOS are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”
We must pursue Him over all other options.

5. Choose to value people.
“MAKARIOS are the merciful”
We need to become GIVERS and stop living like TAKERS.

6. Live transparently.
“MAKARIOS are the pure in heart”
A clear conscience is so critical to our ability to notice God's presence.

7. Tell others how to connect with Jesus Christ.
“MAKARIOS are the peacemakers”
The greatest act of peacemaking is helping another to have peace with God.

8. Don’t give up when opposed for doing what is right.
“MAKARIOS are those who are persecuted for righteousness”
Be willing to die for a life worth living.

9. Expect to be criticized because of your association with Jesus Christ.
“MAKARIOS are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me”
Don't be shocked when people reject you because of your association with Jesus.

If you want to hear more, listen to my two messages on MAKARIOS on May 31st and June 7th. You can find them online at http://www.sarasotabaptist.com/resources/archived-sermons.html?view=studieslist.