The Good Life is For You
The Good Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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What is the good life?
What is the good life?
“Good” is such a subjective term in our culture today; what does that even mean?
Here’s the problem: “The good life” as described by our world often has an self-centered focus, the arrow is pointing towards the individual. And the individual benefits when the external environment is changed.
Here’s what we’re going to see tonight, when we are changed internally it doesn’t matter if our external environment (circumstances) change. Rather, we can experience the good life here and now.
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“Blessed”
“Blessed”
The word he uses is Makarious
The word he uses is Makarious
(Ma-car-e-os), Blessed, happy, fortunate
its use coveys a sense of being in a congratulatory state. This
was a term the Greeks used to describe the gods on Mount Olympus. Another way
to translate this word would be happy. But happy is something we feel, and how
this is used by Jesus doesn’t mean feeling happy, it is more about being in a
happy state or a happy condition.
Example: My relationship with Victoria, there are plenty of times where we have to make a stressful decision or troubleshoot something and it’s not this romantic experience, but I am happy to do life with her.
Makarious is less about what we feel internally and more about a reality that is evident.
This Greek word, Makarious maps to the Hebrew word, asre (asher or ashray).
This Greek word, Makarious maps to the Hebrew word, asre (asher or ashray).
Let me show you one example from Psalm 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Imagine if you had a fruit tree whose leaves never withered
here in Minnesota. That would be a good tree. It would stand out. It would be
an enviable tree. If you could walk up to it in mid-February and pluck fruit
from the tree you might even say that tree is blessed. Or the person who had
that tree in their yard was blessed.
The word “beatitude” comes from the latin word meaning “blessed”
The word “beatitude” comes from the latin word meaning “blessed”
What does it mean to be blessed? What do people mean when they say, “bless you”?
What does it mean to be blessed? What do people mean when they say, “bless you”?
may you be found happy or fortunate.
Again Makarious means to be happy, blessed, fortunate.
The difference is God wants to give us a eternal blessing that isn’t conditional. It’s not dependent on the situation
The world offers conditional blessing.
To be blessed means to experience the good life. Blessed = Good Life
To be blessed means to experience the good life. Blessed = Good Life
Over the course of this series, we will be unpacking the good life and I just want to provide you 3 unhelpful ideas and 2 helpful ideas:
3 Unhelpful:
Idea 1: This is only about Heaven.
Idea 2: This is only about political subversion.
Idea 3: This is only for Super Christians.
#2 They read this as a message of protest and an advocacy for certain political solutions.
But that was not the point of Jesus’ message. Yes, His sermon will cause each of us to reconsider how we are living our lives, but Jesus isn’t advocating for
political solutions. Nor is Jesus calling for us to embrace a life of poverty, which is another way of misunderstanding and misreading this sermon.
2 Helpful
Idea 1: The Good Life is for us, now!
Idea 2: The Good Life happens through our relationship with God.
If that is true, then,
How do we experience the Good Life, according to Jesus?
How do we experience the Good Life, according to Jesus?
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Define Poor in Spirit - spiritually bankrupt
Explain Kingdom of heaven - how we enter into relationship with Jesus
Helpful Idea 2: The Good Life happens through our relationship with God.
Helpful Idea 2: The Good Life happens through our relationship with God.
Are these ideas new to you? How can you incorporate them into your life?
Are these ideas new to you? How can you incorporate them into your life?
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Why do you think Jesus begins the Beatitudes with “Blessed are the poor in spirit”?
Why do you think Jesus begins the Beatitudes with “Blessed are the poor in spirit”?
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Do you see your need for Jesus?
Do you see your need for Jesus?
Not just yesterday’s need for Jesus but today’s need for Jesus.
Not just yesterday’s need for Jesus but today’s need for Jesus.
Action:
Action:
Humble yourself
Ask Him to reveal you your sin
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?
Show me my offense and my sin.
The purpose of poverty of spirit is emptying…
The purpose of poverty of spirit is emptying…
The purpose of poverty of spirit is emptying… that we may be filled!
The purpose of poverty of spirit is emptying… that we may be filled!
May it not create in you shame but HUNGER FOR JESUS
May it not create in you shame but HUNGER FOR JESUS
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Action
Action
Humble yourself
Ask Him to reveal you your sin
Draw near to God
