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February 22nd, 2015

2/22/2015

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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.

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    Author

    Pastor John Sesham
    Abundant Grace Community Church, Hayward.

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