Welcome To The Kingdom!

Introduction: Story “Wanting More”

Two friends met each other on the street one day. One looked forlorn, almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, “What has the world done to you, my old friend?” The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you: three weeks ago, my uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars.”

“That’s a lot of money.”

“But you see, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand dollars, free and clear.”

“Sounds to me that you’ve been very blessed.”

“You don’t understand!” he interrupted. “Last week my great-aunt passed away. I inherited almost a quarter of a million from her.”

Now the man’s friend was really confused. “Then, why do you look so glum?”

“This week—nothing!”

I find this story comical because we can at times come to a place where we expect to get certain blessings that God never promised us, and when they do not come, it is easy to get bitter.

As we start our new series, “The Kingdom”, there is one main point I want us all to recognize tonight;

“In the Kingdom of God, People Are Blessed.”

Matthew 5:1–12 CSB

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Prayer)

What is the Kingdom of God?

In a broad sense, the Kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe.

“More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God.”

“Being a Christian is more than saying you are a Christian.”

Why would someone want to be a part of the Kingdom of God? Because people in the Kingdom of God are blessed.

What is a Blessing?

A blessing is a gift from God, which shows how much He cares about you. (KEEP THIS IN MIND AS WE CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE SERMON)

In the 11 verses we read earlier, Jesus Himself mentioned the word blessed 9 times! I said something years ago that when Jesus is teaching, we are to be listening. If He in His Word is mentioning different blessings on 9 different occasions in such a small amount of time, we should be listening. Why does Jesus say this often in this short amount of time, because in the Kingdom of God, people are blessed.”

Verse 3:

Matthew 5:3 (CSB)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

“Poor in spirit” = distressed/begging

(Emotional Roller Coaster Life)

“Those who are poor in spirit are blessed to receive the riches of the Kingdom of God.”

Riches of the Kingdom of God = Love, Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness.

Verse 4:

Matthew 5:4 (CSB)

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Mourn = Grief or Sorrow

Comforted = To give emotional strength

“Those who mourn are blessed by the comfort of God.”

“Jesus Christ is the true comforter.”

Verse 5

Matthew 5:5 (CSB)

Blessed are the humble,

for they will inherit the earth.

humility = not to be arrogant or prideful

prideful/arrogant = Arrogance or delusions of greatness on account of one’s achievements, status or possessions.

“Those who live a life of pride have no need for the Lord and will not be with the Lord. Those who are humble are blessed to live in the new earth and in the kingdom.”

Verse 6

Matthew 5:6 (CSB)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Desire means to hunger after.

(Story of being hungry)

“Those who desire the righteousness of Christ are blessed by having their souls satisfied.”

Verse 7

Matthew 5:7 (CSB)

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

“Those who are merciful are blessed by being shown mercy.”

Verse 8

Matthew 5:8 (CSB)

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Pure heart DOESN’T MEAN PERFECTION.

“A pure heart is someone who has a clear consciences and seeks to have a cleansed heart.”

“Those who have pure hearts are blessed to see the truth of who Jesus Christ is.”

Verse 9

Matthew 5:9 (CSB)

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

“Those who seek peace are blessed as God’s children who help others obtain peace.”

Verses 10-12

Matthew 5:10–12 (CSB)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Roe Vs. Wade decision and dealing with hate)

In the Kingdom of God, People Are Blessed

Gifts from the Lord Jesus Christ:

Riches of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Emotional and Spiritual Strength.

Eternal communion with the Lord Jesus Christ.

We give thanks to the Lord for these gifts by using them to glorify Him by helping others know about Him and His Kingdom.