Sunday October 23, 2022
INTRODUCTION: I want you to notice something really important and worth mentioning from your Bible. You have the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The very last word of the last sentence of the last Book of the Old Testament is “CURSE.”
The very first word of the of the first sentence of the first recorded sermon Jesus teaches in the first Book of the New Testament is “BLESSED!”
This first recorded sermon that Jesus taught was called the “Sermon on the Mount.” And it’s found in Matthew 5,6 & 7.
THIS IS AMAZING FRIENDS!
Matthew 4:23- “Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.”
Matthew 9:35- “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.”
This is a summary of Jesus earthly ministry!
Jesus made it his ministry to teach the way of the Kingdom of God and then demonstrate the purpose and power of the Kingdom of God!
Just a thought! I wonder if we started preaching and teaching the way of the Kingdom of God we’d see a demonstration of the purpose and power of the Kingdom?
THIS IS AWESOME!
Sandwiched between Matthew 4:23 and Matthew 9:35 is Jesus teaching the way of the Kingdom in Matthew 5,6&7 and Jesus demonstrating the power of the Kingdom in Matthew 8,9 as he healed the sick with many miracles.
I LOVE THE WORD OF GOD!
BEFORE I START AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT I WANT TO FIRST READ THE END.
Matthew 7:24-29- “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
I may not know what storm you’re going through right now, what is blowing and beating on your house, but I can tell you how to make it through the storm and still be standing strong on the other side.
I may not know what future storms are ahead of you. Ahead of us all in our country and around the world, but I can tell how you can be standing strong on the other side of the storm.
SO JESUS BEGINS HIS TEACHING WITH THE BEATITUDES!
beatitude- a state of utmost bliss. Supreme blessedness.
synonyms for beatitude- bliss, ecstasy, felicity, peace, happiness, serenity.
antonyms for beatitude- agitation, misery, sorrow, trouble, unhappiness, upset!
Matthew 5:1-10- “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
blessed- Happy! A fortunate, blissful, state based not on worldly circumstances but on divine conditions. Divine favor conveyed to a person!
No wonder they were astonished at Jesus teaching! It was totally opposite of what religion had taught them and what the world teaches us today!
Jesus is telling them that they’ll never truly be happy until their only source for happiness is God!
The Beatitudes are signs of a life that is lived in close proximity with God!
What the Beatitudes tell us is that it’s only through a real relationship with a HAPPY God that you can truly be happy and blessed!
The reason we can be happy and blessed is because we know a blessed and happy God!
I HAVE ONE POINT TODAY
- In the Kingdom of God the Blessed Life doesn’t come from your external circumstances but your internal attitude!
The 8 Beatitudes portray the ideal heart condition of a Kingdom Citizen! A condition that brings abundant spiritual blessing!
THE INNER ATTITUDE OF THE HEART!
IT’S AN ATTITUDE THAT COMES FROM BEING! AN ATTITUDE YOU HAVE BECAUSE YOU ARE, NOT BECAUSE YOU DO!!!
It’s not about DOING, it’s about BEING!
You do because you ARE! You aren’t because you do!
You don’t become because you do! You do because of whose you’ve become!
YOU DO BECAUSE YOU BE!
Religion says, “You do and then you be.”
Jesus says, “You can’t do it without me.”
THERE WERE FOUR MAIN SECTS IN JUDISM DURING JESUS TIME. ALL OF THEM HAD THEIR OWN WAY OF TO BE HAPPY.
These 4 “sects” are in society today. Even the church.
- Essenes (uh-seenz) They believed happiness came from GOING OUT. Getting away from society. Complete separation from the world. Living in a commune.
b. Zealots For them happiness comes from GOING AGAINST. Going against the
government. They believed in power. If we can only overthrow the government
we’ll be happy then. Happiness comes from power. And if I can be in power then I
can be happy. We’re not happy because we’re not in power.
c. Sadducees Happiness comes from GOING AHEAD. Go ahead and do whatever
you want to do. They didn’t believe in the afterlife. They didn’t believe in the
resurrection from the dead. Once you die it’s over so live it up, grab all you can for
yourselves.
d. Pharisees They believed that happiness came from GOING BACK. They were the
traditionalists. They were the church that “we’ve never done it that way before and
we’re not either.” They didn’t want to change, they wanted everything like it was.
Their tradition became their Bible. There are churches like that today. There
happiness comes from keeping the law. In other words their happiness comes from
performance. AND THERY CRITICIZE OTHERS THAT DON’T MATCH UP TO
OBEYING THEIR MAN MADE TRADITIONS.
Now Jesus comes along and says “it’s not about going out, it’s not about going against, it’s not about going ahead, it’s not about going back, it’s about GOING UP!
IT’S ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY HEAVENLY FATHER, YOUR FATHER!
CONCLUSION: To the follower of Jesus Christ the beatitudes are words of celebration! To those on the fringes, the crowd, it’s an invitation to be part of the Kingdom that has a King who rules and reigns.
For all of us the beatitudes are words of transformation by the power and mercy of God!
WHAT ARE THEY TO YOU?
Remember Matthew 7 where Jesus talked hearing his teaching and applying his teaching is like building your house on the solid foundation? The storms come but your house stands.
That’s doing what He teaches us. But where did He start the Sermon on the Mount?
WITH BEING! “BE THIS ATTITUDE!” What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?