Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
This sermon explores the principles of the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on understanding and applying the Beatitudes and discerning false prophets in our lives.
Welcome, beloved congregation. It is always a joy to gather together in the house of our Lord, to share in the warmth of fellowship and the nourishment of His Word. As we come together today, let us cast aside the cares and concerns of the world outside, and instead focus our hearts and minds on the message God has for us today.
We find ourselves today in the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, that profound discourse delivered by our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5 through 7.
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And 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 satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive 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 others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'"
These beautiful, challenging words form the backbone of our time together today. We will consider the Beatitudes, the nature of the Kingdom, and the warning against false prophets.
In the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon, "The sermon on the mount is not a code of laws, but a statement of principles." It is these principles that we will seek to understand and apply in our lives today.
Let us pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you with humble hearts, eager to hear from you. We ask that you would open our eyes to the truths in your Word, that we might understand and apply them in our lives. Help us to be not just hearers of the Word, but doers also. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
The Beatitudes, those blessings pronounced by our Lord Jesus Christ, are a profound and powerful part of His Sermon on the Mount. They are not just a list of blessings, but a roadmap to the Kingdom of Heaven. Each Beatitude is a statement of principle, a guide to living a life that is pleasing to God and beneficial to those around us.
The first Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," is a call to humility. To be poor in spirit is to recognize our own spiritual poverty, our need for God. It is to understand that without God, we are nothing. This is not a call to physical poverty, but to spiritual humility. It is a recognition that we are not self-sufficient, but are utterly dependent on God for everything. This humility is the gateway to the Kingdom of Heaven, for it is only when we recognize our need for God that we can truly seek Him.
The second Beatitude, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted," is a promise of comfort in times of sorrow. This is not just a promise for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, but for all who are mourning over the brokenness of the world, over their own sin, over the pain and suffering that is so prevalent in our world. The comfort that Jesus promises is not just a temporary relief from sorrow, but a deep, abiding comfort that comes from knowing that God is with us, that He cares for us, and that He will ultimately wipe away every tear from our eyes.
The third Beatitude, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," is a call to gentleness and humility. The meek are those who are humble, who do not seek their own way, but are willing to submit to the will of God. They are not weak, but strong in their reliance on God. The promise that they shall inherit the earth is a reminder that the true riches of this world are not material wealth, but the blessings that come from a life lived in obedience to God.
The fourth Beatitude, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied," is a call to seek after righteousness. This is not a hunger and thirst for self-righteousness, for the kind of righteousness that is based on our own efforts and achievements. Rather, it is a hunger and thirst for the righteousness that comes from God, the righteousness that is based on faith in Jesus Christ. The promise that they shall be satisfied is a reminder that only God can truly satisfy our deepest longings and desires.
The Beatitudes are not just a list of blessings, but a roadmap to the Kingdom of Heaven. They are a call to live a life that is pleasing to God, a life that is marked by humility, mourning, meekness, and a hunger and thirst for righteousness. They are a reminder that the true blessings of life are not found in material wealth or worldly success, but in a relationship with God. They are a call to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, with the promise that all these things will be added to us.
As we continue to absorb the richness of Christ's teachings, we find ourselves drawn to the nature of the Kingdom ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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