The Blessed Struggle
The Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted
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· 50 viewsThe Beatitudes are normally viewed as a blessing to those that follow the ways of God. Very few times are the viewed at the battle cry of the disciples of Christ. As Jesus pulls the early disciples to the side he describes for them the struggle that is about to befall them for thier witness of the kingdom. They needed to count the cost and be fully purswaded that the kingodm was worth the struggle.
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Introduction: Defining the Pain
What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ. There are so many different types of Churches teaching so many different things. I know it’s hard to wade through the noice and find the truth.
Jesus, how ever, was very clear on the attributes of a disciple, a Jesus follower.
Jesus was building a kingdom of disciples that would change the world. He knew the time was short. He had just three and a half years to train devoted men that would change the world.
Their commitment level had to be to the point of death if the mission was going to survive.
So Jesus starts revealing that He is the Messiah! That the Kingdom of God has come down to them! It’s time to repent. It’s time to change the world.
It’s easy to be a part of the crowd and behold the wonder of who Christ is and what he can do for people. It’s another thing to be a disciple of Christ with the and take on the mission of following Christ.
Jesus kicked off his ministry through community engagement. He brought healing to the sick. He took care of the needs of the sick and hurting.
Matthew 4:
So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
It’s easy to be a part of the crowd beholding the wonder of who Christ. It’s another thing to be a disciple of Christ and take on the ministry of reconciliation.
There was an immediate distinction between the crowds and the disciples of Christ.
There was an immediate distinction between the crowds and the disciples of Christ.
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
For the next 3 chapters we have the first recorded sermon of Christ to his disciples. He begins this sermon with a very sober topic of what it means to follow Christ and build the kingdom of God.
It would be more than most could handle. It would require more than most were willing to give. It would be a fight that would bring much struggle and pain in their lives. Their reward would come after death.
Jesus knew full well that when the persecution comes the crowd will scatter just as fast as they came.
Many have looked at the Beatitudes as list of blessings for certain attitudes one might have. But this is not the case at all.
Beatitudes comes from the Latin word “beatus” Which was a blessing reserved only for deity and those that had passed on. The closed we would come to this phrase would be when we say “Rest in peace.”
Jesus is describing a divine blessing that would come to those that take on this task of building the kingdom of heaven.
There are 9 characteristics that will be needed to endure the hardship and the pain of the ministry. Those that are up to the task, though it cost them their lives they will receive a divine blessing that can not be taken from them, but one that is given by God himself.
Bible Lesson: Defining the Passage.
Obtaining the Divine Blessing (Beatitudes)
Obtaining the Divine Blessing (Beatitudes)
Matthew
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This battle for the kingdom will require humility.
This battle for the kingdom will require humility.
A willingness to care more about others than you care about yourself.
You experience the divine blessing of the strength of the kingdom of heaven.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
The battle will cause suffering, sadness, and loss.
The battle will cause suffering, sadness, and loss.
There will be times of morning and grief.
Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
You will experience the divine blessing of comforting by the Comforter.
Matthew 5:
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
The battle will require Meekness: self-control.
The battle will require Meekness: self-control.
Meekness is like a horse that has been broken. All the power is there but it is under control and ready to be used.
You will experience the divine blessing of ruling the Earth with Christ.
Matthew
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
The battle will require a spiritual motivation greater than any physical motivation.
The battle will require a spiritual motivation greater than any physical motivation.
Hunger and Thirsting after righteousness is a sign of prayer and fasting.
You will have the divine blessing of being satisfied with the presence of God.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
The battle will require mercy to your enemies.
The battle will require mercy to your enemies.
Showing mercy is one of the greatest attributes of God’s love.
Loving your enemies is a sure sign of the presence of God.
You will have the divine blessing of experiencing the mercy of God.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
The battle will require an unwavering Kingdom focus.
The battle will require an unwavering Kingdom focus.
A mind focused on things above.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Those that seek out righteousness, purifying themselves even as Christ is pure.
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
You will have the divine blessing of being in the presence of God.
Matt
Your dreams will come true of being in the pre
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
The battle must be gospel centered.
The battle must be gospel centered.
A peacemaker are those that share the gospel message with others.
Rom
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
You will have the divine blessing of the title of the sons of God. (which is the title of Christ).
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt
Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
The battle will be over Righteousness.
The battle will be over Righteousness.
Living righteously before God and Man will bring persecution in your life.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John
You will have the divine blessing of kingdom authority here on Earth.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
The battle requires a resilience as people falsely accuse you.
The battle requires a resilience as people falsely accuse you.
Rejoice and be glad in the truth. Let God defend the commands he has given you.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35
You will have the divine blessing of joining the line of prophets that fought before you. God rewards his prophets.
The Characteristics of the Soldier.
The Characteristics of the Soldier.
Be Salty
Be Salty
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
Matt
You are supposed to stand out, be different, and shake it up.
You are the spice of life in a bland world.
Be Light
Be Light
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Here is what a salty person looks like:
Here is what a salty person looks like:
Our light of the gospel is seen through our good works.
The definition of Humility is to esteem others greater than yourself.
We are “Community Engagers” doing good works so that people will glorify God in heaven.
We are “Community Engagers” doing good works so that people will glorify God in heaven.
Job’s for life
Minister to the schools by running the concession stands
Faithbridge Foster Care.
Alternative Baseball
Caya’s summer lunch program
We shine the light of heaven into the darkness when we show love to this world.
Here is what a salty person looks like:
Here is what a salty person looks like:
Humble
Willing to suffer loss
Meek
Spiritually Motivated
Merciful
Kingdom focused
Gospel Centered
Righteous
Resilient
Which one of these traits do you feel you excel at the most?
Which one of these traits do you feel you excel at the most?
Which one of these traits do you feel you need to work on the most?
Which one of these traits do you feel you need to work on the most?
What is one thing you can do this week to improve your salt and light in this world?
What is one thing you can do this week to improve your salt and light in this world?
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Our light of the gospel is seen through our good works.
The definition of Humility is to esteem others greater than yourself.
We are “Community Engagers” doing good works so that people will glorify God in heaven.
We are “Community Engagers” doing good works so that people will glorify God in heaven.
We shine the light of heaven into the darkness when we show love to this world.