The Beatitudes (Part 1)

Order of Service

Welcome

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Psalm Reading

Psalm 50:3–6 ESV

Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah

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Reading

Matthew 5:1–12 ESV

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And 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 satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive 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 others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Sermon

Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 -7)

unconverted - to see their failure to obey God and the need to turn to Jesus for refuge

converted - to see that in the strength of the Lord and by His Grace we may be able to obey them “out of gratitude”

Theme:- Gospel of the Kingdom

Citizens of the Kingdom

Righteousness of the Kingdom

Love God above all

Secret Devotion to and unlimited trust in God is required

Phrarasees taught outward deeds to attract the attention of people to win their admiration

Unlimited Trust in God is incompatible with mammon worship & worry

Based on the assurance upon seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteouseness

all things necessary will be graciously bestowed

wisdom and all needs are obtained by prayer

Matthew 5:1 ESV

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Crowds

Went up on the mountain

He sat down

His disciples came to him

Luke 6, same sermon different occasion

Matthew 5:2 ESV

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Jesus commences his sermon

Citizens of the Kingdom

Human evalutions of righteousness had become based on how rich, happy, and well fed people were

Jesus presents Righteousness as a reversal of human evaluations

What a shock to hear!

Three parts

Blessed

being right with God & receiving his approval

brings about transcendent happiness

True Joy in the present

Joy not based on present experience

“Your reward in heaven is great”

character or condition

Reason for blessedness

Not an earthly realm

spiritual empire in which the One and only True God is acknowledged and worshiped as Sovereign

Born again

Inward expression has an outward impact

Also brings persecution

Matthew 5:3 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

World: “Blessed are the rich”

Man’s inherant desire for happiness

significance, self-esteem, satisfaction and security has happiness as the ultimate goal

Seek it in:

Marriage / Divorce

Borth of a Child / Abortion

wealth / poverty

Fast Lane / Releaxed

Eat / Diet

Malcolm Muggeridge (before conversion): “Happiness is like a young deer, fleet and beautiful. Hunt him, and he becomes a poor frantic quarry; after the kill, a piece of stinking flesh”

and “he who pursues happiness will never reach it.”

Happiness - “hap” is circumstancial / Subjective

Religion cannot fulfil the need

“God never made the soul so small that the whole world will satisfy it”

Blessed - is objective

their inner spiritual condition in the sight of God

union between us and God

Blessed:

Only God can give

That God longs for his people to enjoy

Assurance of His favour

Blessedness is independant of circumstances

Blessedness is continuous

Blessedness is related to a persons spirirtual condition (Assurance of God’s favour)

Jesus rebukes a woman for misusing “blessed”

Luke 11:27–28 ESV

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Return...

Matthew 5:3 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Poor in Spirit

Those who have become convinced of their spiritual poverty

Realisation that self worship is empty

Example Jesus provides

Luke 18:11–13 ESV

The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

John Blanchard:

The Beatitudes for Today How Poor is Poor?

God’s promise of salvation is not to the wealthy, the talented or the educated, nor to the respectable or religious, but to those who acknowledge that they are utterly without spiritual merit or ability

Return...

Matthew 5:3 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Poor in Spirit is abandonment of self righteousness

Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

It is the divine rule in the lives of those who have a living relationship with Christ.

Lukewarm

Revelation 3:16–17 ESV

So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Kingdom of Heaven commences when you are “Born Again”

The Beatitudes for Today Ashes to Riches

Christians are not children of earth trying to get to heaven, they are children of heaven making their way home, where they will enter into the sinless, deathless, endless, glorious fulness of all that their heavenly Father has in store for them, a kingdom prepared ‘since the creation of the world’ (Matthew 25:34).

Conclusion

Poor in Spirit is essential for being Born Again

Hymn -

Closing Prayer

Doxology