Encourages understanding and living out the Beatitudes, demonstrating faith through actions and standing firm in adversity.
Good morning, dear friends.
We gather here today, hearts full of hope.
We come with an eagerness to understand.
To understand the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Words that have guided us.
Words that have comforted us.
Words that have challenged us.
Today, we turn to the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 1-12.
Let us listen to the words of our Savior:
'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 are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'
In the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, we find the Beatitudes.
These are not just beautiful sayings or lofty ideals.
They are a call to action.
They are a blueprint for Christian living.
They are a challenge to each one of us to live out our faith in a tangible way.
A blessing for the poor in spirit: This is not about financial poverty.
It's about recognizing our spiritual need.
It's about understanding that without God, we are nothing.
It's about humbling ourselves before Him and acknowledging our dependence on Him.
This is the starting point of our faith.
It's where belief begins.
More than acknowledging our need for God: It's also about trusting in His promises.
The Beatitudes are full of promises.
The poor in spirit are promised the kingdom of heaven, those who mourn are promised comfort, etc.
These are not empty promises.
They are the promises of God.
And belief is about trusting in these promises.
Transformation: The Beatitudes are not just about who we are.
They are also about who we are becoming.
They are about the transformation that takes place in us when we truly believe.
The poor in spirit become rich in faith.
Those who mourn become comforted.
The meek inherit the earth.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are filled.
The merciful obtain mercy.
The pure in heart see God.
The peacemakers become sons of God.
Those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake inherit the kingdom of heaven.
This is the transformative power of belief.
Action: The Beatitudes are not just about who we are and who we are becoming.
They are also about what we do.
The poor in spirit trust in God.
Those who mourn comfort others.
The meek serve.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness pursue justice.
The merciful show mercy.
The pure in heart seek God.
The peacemakers make peace.
Those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake stand firm in their faith.
This is the active nature of belief.
As we continue to reflect on the Beatitudes, we find ourselves drawn to the fruits of obedience that manifest in our lives when we heed these teachings ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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