TRANSFORMATION #1: WISDOM FOR BUILDING AN UNSHAKEABLE LIFE
OPENING TEXT:
“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.” (Matt. 7:24-27, NKJV).
• Jesus talks about, “hearing these sayings of mine and doing them.”
• What words? The Sermon on the Mount.
• Jesus said: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:17).
• If you want to experience a transformed life, we must build it on Jesus’ teaching!
• Over the next couple of months, we are going to study the Sermon on the Mount.
THE BIG IDEA:
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us wisdom for building an unshakeable life.
BACKGROUND TO THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him--from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.” (Matt. 4:23-25, NKJV).
• The background to the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus preaching, teaching, and healing people. Great crowds followed Him because of His goodness!
• “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17).
• The foundation of our belief in a transformed life is confidence in the goodness of God.
• “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matt. 7:11).
• In other words, if earthly parents want their kids happy, doesn’t it make sense that our perfect, good, loving Heavenly Father would want His children happy, too?
THE TRANSFORMED LIFE – THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, “Blessed…” (Matt. 5:1-2).
BLESSED: Defined: happy, supremely blessed; to be envied, and spiritually prosperous – with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation.
• This first part of the Sermon on the Mount deals with heart attitudes for happiness.
“3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Those who recognize their spiritual poverty, cast aside pride, and receive God’s grace.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
• Mourn = mourning over sin, and receiving the comfort of knowing our sins are forgiven.
5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
• Meek = “gentleness of spirit; supreme self-control; submitted, like a ‘broken’ horse”
6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
• One of the reasons we don’t experience the blessed life is because we are so full of worldly things that we don’t hunger and thirst after God’s kingdom.
7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
• We are told to forgive others as God forgave us.
• The principle of the Kingdom of God that says, “You will receive what you give.”
• If we give mercy, we’ll receive mercy. If we give forgiveness, we’ll receive forgiveness.
8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
• We are told to be innocent of evil. This doesn’t mean we don’t ever sin, but when we do sin, we must be quick to repent and receive God’s forgiveness.
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
• We are called to pursue peace with all men.
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12).
• All Christians who live right will be persecuted!
CLOSING TEXT: BE SALT AND LIGHT:
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:13-16).
• God has called us to be salt and light in our community.
• This happens as we become more like Jesus – pure in heart, peacemakers, etc!
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
