The Blessed Life
Kingdom Culture • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsThe world chases happiness based on happenstance, but Jesus offers a blessing based on identity.
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If you scroll through social media on any given Sunday, you’ll see the word "blessed" everywhere. It’s attached to the new car, the promotion, the vacation, or the clean bill of health. In our culture we have been conditioned to believe that "blessing" is external, material, and comfortable.
But what happens when life doesn't look like a highlight reel? If blessing is tied to our comfort, then the moment we face trouble in our lives, we assume God has left the building.
True, lasting blessing isn't found in our outward circumstances or performance, but in an upside-down identity in Christ that prioritizes who we are in Him over what we do for the world.
True, lasting blessing isn't found in our outward circumstances or performance, but in an upside-down identity in Christ that prioritizes who we are in Him over what we do for the world.
Jesus climbs a mountain, sits down, and introduces a completely different culture. He doesn't look at their bank accounts or their political status. He looks at their hearts and flips the world's pyramid upside down.
The Distinction:
Worldly Happiness vs. Divine Blessing
Worldly Happiness vs. Divine Blessing
Worldly Happiness: Tied to happenstance or luck. It is external, volatile, and dependent on things going right. If you have wealth, health, and a good reputation, you are "happy."
Worldly Happiness: Tied to happenstance or luck. It is external, volatile, and dependent on things going right. If you have wealth, health, and a good reputation, you are "happy."
"Blessed" = Makarios
"Blessed" = Makarios
Makarios = A deep, untouchable, supernatural joy. It is an inward satisfaction that is completely independent of outward circumstances. It is being right with God and possessing His favor, even when the world thinks you are losing.
Makarios = A deep, untouchable, supernatural joy. It is an inward satisfaction that is completely independent of outward circumstances. It is being right with God and possessing His favor, even when the world thinks you are losing.
The Dynamic:
Identity Before Behavior
Identity Before Behavior
Being vs. Doing
Being vs. Doing
Jesus challenges us to change our identity not simply adjust our behaviors
The Beatitudes are a Portrait, not a To-Do List
The Beatitudes are a Portrait, not a To-Do List
The Declaration:
The Upside-Down Kingdom
The Upside-Down Kingdom
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
To a crowd looking for a military Messiah to overthrow Rome and make them physically rich, this sounded crazy. The world says, "Blessed are the aggressive, the self-made, the loudest in the room."
Jesus says, "Blessed are those who realize they are spiritually bankrupt without Me."
Jesus says, "Blessed are those who realize they are spiritually bankrupt without Me."
To be "poor in spirit" is to come to God with empty hands, admitting, "Lord, if You don't breathe on this, it's just dust."
To be "poor in spirit" is to come to God with empty hands, admitting, "Lord, if You don't breathe on this, it's just dust."
We must unlearn the culture of the world so we can live out the culture of the Kingdom.
We must unlearn the culture of the world so we can live out the culture of the Kingdom.
Stop trying to perform for God, and start resting in your identity in God.
Stop trying to perform for God, and start resting in your identity in God.
