Blessed: Experiencing fully your God-breathed intention.
Matthew 5:1–10 (NIV) 1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 He began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.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 children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:6 (NIV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Hunger+Thirst Psalm 42:1-2(NIV) As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
For Righteousness
Matthew 6:33 (NIV) Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
2 Kinds of Righteousness 1. Personal Righteousness
Justification: Imputed righteousness.
Romans 5:17 (NIV) For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2. Practical Righteousness
Sanctification: Imparted Righteousness
Hebrews 10:14 (NKJV) For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
“Imparted righteousness is the evidence of imputed righteousness.”
1 John 3:10 (NIV) This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
Philippians 2:12 (NIV) ...Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
“Only God can work righteousness.” Matthew 5:20 (NIV) For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“We don’t get righteousness by pursuing righteousness but by pursuing Jesus.”
Jeremiah 33:16 (NIV) 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’
Yahweh/Jehovah Tsidkenu: The Lord IS our Righteousness.
Nurturing Spiritual Hunger and Thirst Psalm 63:1-8(NLT)1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. 7 Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.
1. Savor the moments Psalms 63:2(NLT) “I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.”
“Moments create cravings.”
2. Remain at HIS table
“We stifle spiritual cravings by indulging in carnal desires.”
3. Cherish his presence Psalms 63:3(NLT) Your unfailing love is better than life itself.
“If we will obsess over Jesus, we won’t have room to obsess over anything else.”
Blessed: Experiencing fully your God-breathed intention.
Matthew 5:1–10 (NIV) 1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 He began to teach them. He said, 3 “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 children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:4(NIV) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Grief: Suffering that is associated with loss. You lost something valuable to you.
In Grief Remember... 1. Grieving is not a disfunction
Isaiah 53:3 (NLT) He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. Isaiah 53:4 (NLT) Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
2. There are healthy and unhealthy ways of grieving.
3. Everyone grieves differently
4. Sit, don’t quit
5. Emotions are not the enemy
6. People are still imperfect
7. Scars are storytellers “Scars are testimonies declaring life hurts, but God heals.”
8. Not all pain will not be removed, but all pain will be redeemed.
Psalm 56:8 (NLT) You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
Psalm 126:5 (NIV) Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Finding Comfort: Blessed are those who mourn.
Isaiah 61:1–3 (NIV) 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion. to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
1. Our Jesus Psalm 34:18 (NIV) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
John 11:35 (NIV) Jesus wept. John 11:38–39 (NIV) 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb...
2. His words
3. His Comforter “We don’t just get comfort. We get The Comforter.” John 14:16–17 (NIV) 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
4. His church 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (NIV) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
_____ Psalm 147:3 (NIV) He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
1 Peter 5:7(NIV) Cast your cares on him because he cares for you. Philippians 4:7 (NIV) The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Romans 15:13 (NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:2–5 (NIV) 3 We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Matthew 5:5 (NIV) Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,
Matthew 5:2–11 (NIV) 2 And he began to teach them. He said: 3 “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 children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:3 (NIV) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Hebrew: bārûḵ
“Yahweh is the one who has brought it about.”
“God did it”
Greek: makarios
Happy, blissful, literally, to be enlarged, The good life.
Aramaic: Toowayhon
How good is life. Enriched, happy, delighted, blissful, content.
“Congratulations”
Blessed:Experiencing fully your God-breathed intention.
“Poor In Spirit” “Congratulations if you desperately need God, for the Kingdom is yours.”
Ephesians 1:3 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Mark 10 1. Rich Young Ruler/ Poor Young Slave Mark 10:21–22 (NIV) 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
2. Baritmaus Mark 10:46–52 (NIV) 46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Staying dependent on Jesus 1. Recognize your need
“We can’t follow the lead unless we listen to his voice. “
Revelation 3:17–18 (NIV) 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
“You still need Jesus”
2. Direct your ambitions Matthew 6:33(NIV) Seek first the Kingdom.
3. Let go of what you have. “Everything is a small price to pay to follow Jesus.”
Mark 10:31 (ESV) Many who are first will be last, and the last first.
