AIN'T GOD GOOD
NELSON PRICE
PSALM 86:1-5
9/13/98
JESUS CHRIST whispered words of encouragement in the ears of
His disciples and the world overheard Him. On the Mount of
Beatitudes in His Sermon on the Mount He spoke of happiness.
For clarity of understanding He spoke of seven facets of a
relationship He guarantees will result in a fulfilling and gratifying
life. Seven times He said "blessed" are you. In the language of the
day the word translated "blessed" was MAKARIOS. It can be
translated "blessed, congratulations, or happy." MAKARIOS had
long been used by the Greeks to speak of the blissful and blessed
state of their gods. Christ now says in reality you can have true
happiness like the Greeks only imagined their gods to have.
The word spoke of a state of being not dependent upon externals.
The ancient name of the Island of Cyprus was Makarios. The island
was thought to contain everything necessary for a good life. The
climate was mild. Soil was fertile and growing conditions ideal.
Fresh water was plentiful. In effect, the island was self-contained.
This is a picture of what the word really means. In using it Jesus
was saying "I can put within you everything necessary to a joyous
and productive life. This joy is within and not contingent upon
externals."
This provision He offers every follower. Why then do so few seem
to be enjoying it? It is because we have inverted the standard. We
have grown to believe happiness is dependent upon externals --
things. Having done so we have failed to develop the internal
attributes resulting from applying God's Word.
Recently my dear brother in Christ, Jerry Clower, went to be with
our beloved Lord. Jerry had lived in preparation for that moment.
When he confronted Christ he wasn't meeting a stranger.
One of his recordings was made here at Roswell Street Baptist
Church. He gave it the title of an expression he often used: "Ain't
God Good!" That "ain't" ...
NELSON PRICE
PSALM 86:1-5
9/13/98
JESUS CHRIST whispered words of encouragement in the ears of
His disciples and the world overheard Him. On the Mount of
Beatitudes in His Sermon on the Mount He spoke of happiness.
For clarity of understanding He spoke of seven facets of a
relationship He guarantees will result in a fulfilling and gratifying
life. Seven times He said "blessed" are you. In the language of the
day the word translated "blessed" was MAKARIOS. It can be
translated "blessed, congratulations, or happy." MAKARIOS had
long been used by the Greeks to speak of the blissful and blessed
state of their gods. Christ now says in reality you can have true
happiness like the Greeks only imagined their gods to have.
The word spoke of a state of being not dependent upon externals.
The ancient name of the Island of Cyprus was Makarios. The island
was thought to contain everything necessary for a good life. The
climate was mild. Soil was fertile and growing conditions ideal.
Fresh water was plentiful. In effect, the island was self-contained.
This is a picture of what the word really means. In using it Jesus
was saying "I can put within you everything necessary to a joyous
and productive life. This joy is within and not contingent upon
externals."
This provision He offers every follower. Why then do so few seem
to be enjoying it? It is because we have inverted the standard. We
have grown to believe happiness is dependent upon externals --
things. Having done so we have failed to develop the internal
attributes resulting from applying God's Word.
Recently my dear brother in Christ, Jerry Clower, went to be with
our beloved Lord. Jerry had lived in preparation for that moment.
When he confronted Christ he wasn't meeting a stranger.
One of his recordings was made here at Roswell Street Baptist
Church. He gave it the title of an expression he often used: "Ain't
God Good!" That "ain't" ...
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