“Blessed”
The Beatitudes
FCC – September 30, 2007
Text: Matthew 5: 1-2
Introduction: Today we are beginning a brand new sermon series based on the Beatitudes found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5. We are also going to begin introducing some concepts from Celebrate Recovery, which is a nation-wide Christ-centered recovery program. Each Monday at 6 pm folks are gathering at the church to pray and plan and we are prayerfully considering launching this important ministry in November. It is the providence of God that I would sit down in January, pray and plan for this year’s sermons feeling led to preach on the Beatitudes in October and November…at the same time God is prompting some in our church to start CR.
Starting next week we will hear Celebrate Recovery testimonies and learn 8 basic principles of Celebrate Recovery as we look at the Beatitudes. Let’s read the Beatitudes together this morning. As we read notice one word that is repeated over and over again. The word is “blessed.” Let’s read together:
Matthew 5:3-10 (NIV)
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
[5] Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
[6] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
[7] Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
[8] Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
[9] Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
[10] Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Bible begins and ends with the idea that those who follow God are blessed. Let’s do a quick survey of God’s Word:
Genesis 1:22 (NIV) God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."
Genesis 9:1 (NIV) Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.
Genesis 14:19 (NIV) and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
Deut. 33:29 (NIV) Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places."
Psalm 1:1 (NIV) Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
Psalm 32:1-2 (NIV) Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
Rev. 14:13 (NIV) Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
Rev. 22:7 (NIV) "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."
The Message puts the first two verse of Matthew 5 this way: Matthew 5:1-2 (Msg)
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said…
Wow. That’s what I want to be…one of Jesus’ climbing companions. I want to lead us up the mountain where Jesus first taught these powerful Kingdom word. So this morning, let’s begin by looking at what this word, “Blessed” means for us. For followers of Jesus, blessed means:
1. We are fully satisfied. Some translations use the word happy for blessed. That’s not a bad word except that in our day, happiness is so tied to our circumstances and our moods. The root word for happiness is ‘hap’ which we get our word happenstance. Jesus is talking about something much deeper than our moods or feelings. Happiness is not the best word to use here.
Life Application Notes: “Each beatitude tells how to be blessed. “Blessed” means more than happiness. It implies the fortunate or enviable state of those who are in God’s kingdom. The Beatitudes don’t promise laughter, pleasure, or earthly prosperity. To Jesus, “blessed” means the experience of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. To find hope and joy, the deepest form of happiness, follow Jesus no matter what the cost.”
If you look up the word “Blessed” in a Greek dictionary, you will find the word, “makarios,” which means ‘fully satisfied’ and refers to the joy that comes from salvation. We usually think of being blessed as getting more and more, when Jesus simply meant that in Him, we will be blessed or fully satisfied.
Zodhiates – “possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God. It indicates the new state for the believer in Christ…makarios differs from the word ‘happy’ in that the person is happy who has good luck (from the root hap meaning luck as a favorable circumstance). To be blessed is equivalent to having God’s Kingdom within one’s heart.” To have God’s Kingdom in our heart! Wow. That is a blessing!
For followers of Jesus, ‘blessed’ means that we are fully satisfied. Secondly, as followers of Jesus…
2. We are to be congratulated. If you look up the word “blessed” in Vines Expository Dictionary you will find a strange word: “Gratulation.” This word denotes a declaration of blessedness…almost demanding an exclamation point at the end of each Beatitude. Jesus is saying congratulations to those who climb the spiritual mountain with Him…
In Matthew 4: 17, Jesus announced the coming of the Kingdom of God: Matthew 4:17 (NIV) From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." What was His first recorded sermon: The Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes are attitudes for the Kingdom of God.
Life Appl. Notes: With Jesus’ announcement that the kingdom was near (Matthew 4:17), people were naturally asking, “How do I qualify to be in God’s kingdom?” Jesus said that God’s kingdom is organized differently from worldly kingdoms. In the kingdom of heaven, wealth and power and authority are unimportant. Kingdom people seek different blessings and benefits, and they have different attitudes. Are your attitudes a carbon copy of the world’s selfishness, pride, and lust for power, or do they reflect the humility and self-sacrifice of Jesus, your King?
In his longest recorded sermon, Jesus began by describing the traits he was looking for in his followers. He called those who lived out those traits blessed because God had something special in store for them. Each beatitude is an almost direct contradiction of society’s typical way of life. The best example of each trait is found in Jesus himself. If our goal is to become like him, the Beatitudes will challenge the way we live each day. Jesus is saying congratulations to those who exhibiting these Kingdom attitudes.
Are you poor in spirit? Congratulations! Yours is the kingdom of heaven!
Do you mourn? Congratulations! You will be comforted!
Are you meek? Congratulations! You will inherit the earth!
Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Congratulations! You will be filled! Are you merciful? Congratulations! You will be shown mercy!
Are you pure in heart? Congratulations! You will see God!
Are you a peacemaker? Congratulations! You will be called son/daugher of God.
Are you persecuted because of righteousness? Contratulations! Yours is the kingdom of heaven.
For the followers of Jesus, to be blessed is to be fully satisfied, to be congratulated, and finally it brings us to the realization that…
3. We have to choose. In the Old Testament God explain clear His people’s options. They could choose blessings which led to life, or they could choose curses which led to death.
Deut. 30:19-20 (NIV) This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The difference between living God’s Kingdom principles found in the Beatitudes and in the world is the difference between life and death…between blessings and curses.
Conclusion: As followers of Jesus: We are fully satisfied. We are to be congratulated.
We must make a choice.
Today’s big idea is simply this: I am fully satisfied and receive congratulations from God Himself when I choose to follow Jesus.
The Blessing - John Waller Publishing (ASCAP).
Verse 1 - Let it be said of us while we walked among the living
Let it be said of us by the ones we leave behind
Let it be said of us that we lived to be a blessing for life
Verse 2 - And let it be said of us that we gave to reach the dying
Let it be said of us by the fruit we leave behind
Let it be said of us that our legacy is blessing for life
Chorus - This day, You set life, You set death right before us
This day, every blessing and curse is a choice now
And we will choose to be a blessing for life
Verse 3 - Let it be said of us that our hearts belong to Jesus
Let it be said of us that we spoke the words of life
Let is be said of us that our heritage is blessing for life
Bridge -’Cause blessings and curses are choices
Will we build up, tear down? The moment of truth is now
Tag - For your kingdom, for our children, For the sake of every nation
For your kingdom, for our children For the sake of every nation We will choose to be a blessing for life
What about you? Are you a climbing companion of Jesus? Have you chosen His path to the Kingdom? Could He say to you: “Congratulations! Come into my Kingdom?” Have you chosen to follow Jesus? Today can be the day when you are truly blessed.
