Matt 5:1-6
The Sermon on the Mount which spans over three chapters has one theme in common that is “The Kingdom of God” or “Kingdom of Heaven”.
Our Lord is teaching / preaching to the Jews in HIS time and now to us.
Basically Lord Jesus Christ treats everyone who puts his/her faith in HIM is HIS Kingdom citizens.
Lord Jesus Kingdom principle are mostly focusing on the inside makeup of a person.
So these are kingdom principles based on character but not externals.
These principles will be always contrary to the principles of this world.
What is blessedness in our thinking?
If we have the continuous God’s approval on our life we have the true blessedness.
The true measure of ‘blessed’ is how God thinks about us and approves us.
I. SPOTLIGHT ON WHAT WE ARE (3-5)
This verse doesn’t speak of having a ‘poor’ spirit but poor in spirit.
When we go before God Almighty, we will have nothing but correct estimate of ourselves whether it is low or high.
What I feel that the Lord is simply saying that to grieve within us for the havoc the sin causes in our lives.
So we should not rationalizing or compromising with sin at any time but calling it what it is and admit it before God.
So we mourn and weep because of the horror and the devastation sin brings to each and every one of us.
Constantly repenting and seeking forgiveness brings us closer to God.
So the word ‘mourn’ is to simply despise sin and grieve over it.
Lord’s response and promise is to comfort us and forgive our sin.
We are continuing with Kingdom principles in order to be part of HIS kingdom here and later.
They always contradict with world system.
The Greek word for meekness is to be gentle, humble, considerate, and courteous.
Here the word ‘meek’ comes with a different emphasis – ‘power under control’.
Power works both ways – power to protect – power to destroy
The one who considers dead to self and approach God in self-humility and with a broken and contrite spirit.
II. SPOTLIGHT ON WHAT WE DESIRE (6)
Seeking the will of God always conflicts with our world’s culture and values around us.
The righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ is His goodness and His holiness which has been credited, imputed, imparted to our account and into our life.
Everyone needs this righteousness to enter into HIS kingdom – that is a prerequisite.
This type of righteousness is based on entirely upon Lord Jesus and HIS free gift of salvation which we receive by faith and by HIS grace.
Through this righteousness we are justified by HIS atoning sacrifice.
The Lord Jesus is not referring to this righteousness in verse six but the righteousness that leads to the moral behavior we exhibit in response to the justification by the LORD.
Our social behavior in life is entirely depends upon the righteousness imputed upon us.
What we know as faith without works is absolutely dead.
It is the moral righteousness we put into practice all the days of our life.
This is an unending desire within us to thirst and hunger and to obey faithfully reflect in our the moral righteousness.
When we see the beatitudes we observe they are like beads in a chain.
All the beatitudes are inter-linked and flow as a sequence.
First one brings the awareness of sin in a person- an intellectual understanding.
Second one brings the grief in our heart for that sin.
Third one brings a response - considers dead to self – approach God in self-humility and with a broken spirit.
Fourth one compels us to show our obedient spirit through our words and deeds.
All good people have moral righteousness but have no reasonable base for their deeds as they basically strive to find peace or to please God or to go to heaven.
This is called human effort when human is trying to reach for heaven.
Such people’s entry into kingdom of heaven is restricted for lack of the salvation gift.
Remember that basic requirement to enter into the Kingdom God is salvation through Lord Jesus Christ by faith and entirely by God’s grace.

Matthew 7:24-27              
Tomorrow we celebrate the President’s Day.
We remember the founding fathers of our country for their faith and trust upon God of the Bible – wrote a unique document called “The Declaration of Faith” based on Holy Bible.
Today what USA stands for is just by the grace of God.
This particular parable of our Lord Jesus Christ is found at the end of HIS long discourse what we know as Sermon on the Mount.
Anywhere in the world, any building we see requires not good foundation but strong foundation.
Every human being is like a building – needs strong spiritual foundation for life.
This parable helps us to know what kind of spiritual foundation a Christian should have.
Because the foundation is what holds everything up - what holds everything together?
I. THE HEARERS AND THE DOERS (24)
Hearing we do when we read the instructions in the Word of God.
HIS instructions have implications not only for this life but the life-after.
Lord Jesus was saying that just hearing is not enough but we need to put into practice.
Like listening to coach before the game – that will have great impact on the performance of the players.
II. THE WISE BUILDS ON ‘THE ROCK’ (25)
On Oct. 17, 1989 a massive earthquake struck the San Francisco area – all buildings on solid foundation withstood the impact – others collapsed.
The two pillars of Golden Gate Bridge rest on two rocks and could withstand the impact.
Whereas the Bay Bridge was built on the land fill and did collapse.
Extra efforts are necessary to lay a foundation on the rock and it is hard.
Drilling deep is like listening intently - this is hard but profitable.
In spiritual realm rock represents Christ – HE is the solid Rock.
The believer in the Lord has a special mandate on him/her – to obey and follow the instructions of the LORD.
Life storms hit every one irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
The difference is the outcome - one survives and the other collapses.
Strangely life storms are different – they are different in everyone’s life and come at different times.
 As someone expresses beautifully: 
“Problems drench us like a driving rain
Stress surrounds us like rushing flood waters
Pressures pound us like a hurricane wind”
It is the storms of life that reveal the strength of our foundation.
III. THE FALSE FOUNDATION EXPOSED (26-27)
What distinguishes the builders is the foundation they choose to build on.
The Lord Jesus clearly gives the hearer two choices – to hear HIM and do – hear HIM but not to do as told.
One thing is true that everyone follows somebody’s instructions in life.
We have to follow instructions to live in this life – the teacher, the employer – the government. 
So also in the spiritual life we too have two choices – Christ’s or the world.
Our spiritual building should be built on the ROCK, Lord Jesus Christ.
It is not enough to just read HIS word or listen to HIS word.
We have to put into practice the truths of life and assimilate them in our life's journey.
Such believers in the Lord are unshakable in times of life’s storms.
Others who take light of Lord’s instructions will have no strong foundation to withstand the impact and intensity of storms in life.
So what distinguishes a believer in the Lord is his/her foundation based on HIS Word and instructions.
What is yours my friend?
Are you building your spiritual house on the ROCK or shallow grounds of the world?

Psalm 46:1-11
Scholars of the opinion that Psalm 46, 47 & 48 were written by King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-19; 2Chron 32; and Isa 36-37).
Israel was at the point of absolute defeat and destruction at the hands of Assyrian army.
But they were saved by divine intervention.
In this Psalm Hezekiah was celebrating God’s victory over Assyrian army.
Main emphasis of the Psalm is to describe the powerful presence of LORD GOD with HIS people Israel.
If we observe carefully, we see the psalmist used plural personal nouns: ‘our’; ‘we’; ‘us’.
So the psalm is basically written for worshiping God by the church.
But every individual can adopt this psalm for personal meditation.
BE STILL AND KNOW GOD AS OUR REFUGE (1-3)
First verse speaks of God as our refuge and strength and HE is ever-present help.
God is described in Hebrew as ‘ELOHIM’ the plural of ‘EL’
A unique expression for God found only in Torah, the LAW.
The masculine plural ending does not mean gods but only the God of Israel
Always used with singular verb forms and associated with Godhead - A Trinitarian concept of God
Such God, Elohim is our refuge who is present in 3 personalities – only HE can become our refuge and present help (now the Holy Spirit).
Verses two and three affirm the same concept
Nothing matters because HE controls and sustains HIS creation.
Elohim, our God is strong and stable and stands with HIS people.
So we are encouraged by the presence of all powerful ELOHIM who is always Tri-union God of the Bible
BE STILL AND KNOW GOD AS OUR FORTRESS (4-7)
To understand these verses we need to go back to the history of Jerusalem city.
Jerusalem is the city of God and a holy city where ELOHIM's (God) divine presence was felt in the Temple from time to time.
But the holy city or the holy Temple was never a guarantee for victory against the enemies.
Hezekiah had planned ahead of time to provide water supply to Jerusalem city.
In Kidron valley the spring of Gihon was located below the steep eastern hill of Ophel.
Hezekiah dug a tunnel close to the temple and brought the spring water inside the city walls.
The people had cool spring water even in times of terrible circumstances.
Glimpses of Living Water in the Scripture
In the OT God the Father – ELOHIM was a Fountain of Living Waters
Prophet Jeremiah in 2:13 describes God as Fountain of living waters.
In the NT John 4:13-14 describes our Lord Jesus Christ (ELOHIM) was the spring of living waters.
In John 7:38, Holy Spirit (ELOHIM) is describes as River of living waters.
BE STILL AND KNOW GOD AS GOD OF JACOB (8-11)
We need to focus on little bit of Jacob’s life story
Jacob tried to play God most of his life and got into trouble every time.
That was before God called him ‘Israel’.
Hezekiah was reminding the people through this psalm to take off their hands and let God work through the situations.
The important question is “How can God be exalted or glorified on earth”?
This is possible only through HIS people – Israel then and believers now.
God gets the glory through us and HE will be exalted through our lives-actions-words.
There are basically two reasons we go through crisis and devastating periods in our lives.
a).To strengthen our faith in Lord Jesus Christ
b).To praise and glorified God. 
When God does not get the praise or glory due to HIS name from  our success, our achievements they have no worth and value because they are just filthy rags.
Like Jacob, if we play God taking matters into our hands we are sure to end up in troubles. 
Don’t try to take matters into our own hands and play God or help God.
This Psalm encourages us to relax and give the control to God to guide us through. 
Our God, Elohim, is with us to walk us through any given situation by HIS written word and HIS ever-present help the HOLY SPIRIT.
Allow God to be God and trust HIM and be still and know HIM.

Luke 10:38-42
Lord Jesus loved the two sisters and their brother Lazarus because they are HIS disciples.
Martha probably owned the house in Bethany – just a short distance from Jerusalem.
Lord Jesus had a family and emotional relationships and visited them multiple times.
The Lord and His disciples are on the way to Jerusalem – probably travelling from Jericho.
Lord Jesus feels free to stay with them and dine with them.
These are very special people for the Lord –HE raised Lazarus from the dead.
A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE SISTERS (39-40)
Marry is the picture of devotion – her concern to the spiritual.
Martha is the picture of distracted person – her concern to the worldly.
We see a devoted Marry
Like a true disciple Martha sits at the feet of Lord Jesus and listening to His teaching.  
She listens to HIM attentively as HIS words meant so much to her.
Her posture sitting at the feet of the Lord reflects submission and humility.
We see a distracted Martha
An opposite picture we see - a woman who is so concerned with mundane things of life.
Her main anxiety is to provide food on the table for the guests.
She is definitely a hospitable woman – willing to stretch and work hard.
Mary is at peace listening to but Martha is distracted and anxious.
Martha’s mind is occupied with the business of the hour – so she is anxious and troubled.
Martha was agitated in her mind looking at Mary doing nothing but listening to the Lord.
She was not at all at peace and disturbed and distracted in her mind.
We see Martha is certainly a stressed out lady at this point in time. 
She even questions the Lord “don’t You care?”
As a matter of fact Lord Jesus does care the little things and the big things of our life.
Here the Lord is more concerned about Martha's distraction with her mixed up priorities.
B. A BALANCED APPROACH TO DISCIPLESHIP (41-42)
We see a loving reminder from the Lord
Lord Jesus loved her equally – did not admonition her – reminded her the importance of the spiritual food.
Lord takes the opportunity to teach them and us a lesson.
Not to worry or upset over many things in life that we feel challenging.
Lord was lovingly telling Martha that she needs to change her approach to life.
Lord was saying that spiritual things are more important than physical needs. 
The Lord was reminding Martha that she is missing her spiritual food.
Choosing the best is vital
Lord Jesus reminds not only Martha but each and every one to choose the best that matters.
Lord says there should not be any conflict with our physical needs and the spiritual.
We have to understand that many things in life are not bad things.
The Lord is reminding us to re-evaluate our priorities in life - to mature in HIS Word- to draw close to HIM – to have an ongoing fellowship with fellow believers.
To become what the Lord Jesus wants us to be in life.
With humility we have to submit to HIS Lordship and His control of our life.
A shallow faith walk can rob us the most important thing in life – the best in Christ.
Are we too busy – pre-occupied - satisfying our physical needs and worldly desires – are we losing the very essence of Christian walk?
Like Martha are we telling Lord Jesus to wait till we can finish our work in hand.
We have to recognize that little Marthas are in side each of us – concerned with day to day needs – always have mixed up priorities - leaving no room for the Lord.
Lord wants us to be the chief guest of our life and desires to have loving relationship with HIM always.
HE wishes to enjoy our life along with HIM but not making HIM an unwelcome guest.
The simple event recorded for us is to remind us of our status with Lord Jesus Christ.
Is HE the most welcomed guest in our hearts and homes? or
Is HE the most unwelcome guest in our lives?
Each one here can look into their hearts and answer these questions truthfully.