THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WELCOME NEWS TO CERTAIN PEOPLE. MATT 5:3-5

INTRODUCTION

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IS MADE UP OF THREE PARTS

Introduction Matt 5:1-2

Main Body 5:3-7:1-23

Conclusion Matt 7:24-29

Over the next three weeks we will be looking the initial teaching of Jesus, what we call the Beatitudes.

THE BEATITUDES ARE MADE UP OF THREE GROUPINGS OF 3.

WHO THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WELCOME NEWS TO 5:3-5

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE WE ARE TURNED INTO THROUGH THE REIGN OF GOD – 5:6-8

WHAT PEOPLE LIVING UNDER THE REIGN OF GOD CAN EXPECT IN THIS WORLD 5:9-12

TODAY WE WILL ONLY BE LOOKING AT THE FIRST GROUPING OF THREE – WHO THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WELCOME NEWS TO.

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KEEP IN MIND THE ORIGINAL AUDIENCE

The people Jesus is addressing are under severe Roman occupation / they are in bondage in their own land.

This dire situation has led to

Deep poverty

A depressed society

Many willing to do anything for freedom

Terrorism / Abandon Jewish culture and take on Roman culture and religion.

Some chose radical religious legalism to “Make themselves worthy of God and the Messiah.”

Lastly you had those who had fully given up all hope and were basically the living dead – doing anything needed to just survive.

Death and bondage was all around them.

This is not a Hallmark card, this is slavery, poverty, depression, and all the chaos, pain, suffering, and corrupt living that comes from those circumstances.

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Matthew 5:1–5 NET

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them by saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

A NEW MOSES GOING UP THE MOUNTAIN TO DELIVER THE LAW OF GOD FOR HIS KINGDOM.

BUT FIRST JESUS TELLS THE DISCIPLES AND THE CROWDS, THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO WILL RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WITH OPEN ARMS.

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BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BELONGS TO THEM.

Let’s break this down!

Jesus is not describing the ideal person who deserves the Kingdom of heaven.

Jesus is describing the kind of people who are desperate for the Kingdom of Heaven.

BLESSED -

MAKARIOS – PERTAINING TO BEING HAPPY, IMPLICATION OF ENJOYING LIFE AND A FAVORABLE LIFE, A FORTUNATE LIFE. Fortunate or happy because of circumstances.

I.E. Man that dude is living the good life.

So, it could read,

The favorable life belongs to the Poor in spirit for the Kingdom of Heaven / reign of God belongs to them.

HOW ABOUT POOR - Well it means poor, poverty.

Spirit - Life force, breath, wind, that which animates and gives life.

JESUS IS TALKING TO A PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DEEP POVERTY AND HAVE NO WAY OUT.

POVERTY AND DESPERATION TO THE POINT THAT EVEN THEIR SPIRIT - LIFE GIVING FORCE IS WRECKED.

WHAT MAKES THESE PEOPLE BLESSED?

They are in such desperate need, they can only depend on God.

They are no longer able to depend on themselves and are fully open to God.

Their position makes them favorable to receive the true blessing - The Reign of God in the person of Jesus.

THE STARK DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE IN A FAVORABLE POSITION AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT.

Luke 18:9–14 NET

Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

When the heavenly host look down on me on Feb 18th 1994 -

Drug house / broken / crying out / lost / desperate / poor financially and in spirit.

Heavens were thinking - Now, Steven has the good life.

Pride, financial security, left me thinking I needed nothing, only a savior from hell.

On feb 14th 1994, I knew I needed a savior, deliverer, healer, King, someone who could rescue me from the pit of despair.

I did not need a get out of hell card, I needed the full reign of God, the Kingdom of God, the people of God, the Body of Christ and Jesus to be my King and to lead me.

So many in America and the wealthy Western hemisphere are so physically wealthy that they cannot see the deep depravity of their lives.

Absolute poverty of Spirit is often medicated with financial prosperity.

Revelation 3:14–19 NET

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth! Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing,” but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see! All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent!

If you find yourself broken is spirit, crushed in your spirit and a sense of helplessness and dread has come over you.

If you feel as though you have no power within you to escape the black hole of life

Weather from physical poverty or life circumstances, you are right now in a most favorable position.

Today the King stands and knocks, the deliverer is here to save, heal, bring back joy, and all you must do is give up on fixing life yourself and place your entire self in His hands.

—————————————————————————— THE MESSAGE TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE AT YOUR END AND SEE NO HOPE, NO HELP, ONLY A LIFE OF ABSOLUTE POVERTY OF SPIRIT IS THIS.

Isaiah 61:1 NET

The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners,

Matthew 5:3 NET

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Revelation 3:20 NET

Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me.

TODAY, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN HAS BEEN OPENED TO YOU. WILL YOU REACH OUT, CRY OUT, AND RECEIVE THE REIGN OF GOD IN JESUS.