True Blessedness (How to Build Your Life on the Rock, part 1)
How to Build Your Life on the Rock: Sermon on the Mount Series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
Series - How to Build Your Life on the Rock (A Series on the Sermon on the Mount)
Series Text - Matthew 7.24-27
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”
Part 1 - True Blessedness
Part 1 text - Matthew 5.1-12
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
2 And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
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 gentle, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive 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 have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Background
Background
The Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount
is the name given to the sermon that Jesus delivered in Matthew 5-7, also recorded in Luke 6.20-49
this sermon was delivered from a mountain - Matthew 5.1-2
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
2 And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
Jesus ends the sermon with a parable - Matthew 7.24-27
The Series Text (Matthew 7.24-27)
The Series Text (Matthew 7.24-27)
the parable speaks of building a house on the right foundation
the person who builds his house on the rock is a wise man
the person who builds his house on the sand is a foolish man
the “house” stands for the “life” that we live as humans
we build wisely - on the rock - when we hear and act on the words of Jesus
we build foolishly when we choose to act by our own judgment and ideas
the “words of Jesus” is the very sermon He delivered here.
This sermon is - these words are - the foundation of a solid, stable, and overcoming Christian life.
ignore these words and you will be living on sinking sand
LISTEN AND OBEY THESE WORDS AND YOU WILL BE LIVING AN UNSINKABLE LIFE - LIFE THAT CAN WITHSTAND THE HARDEST TRIALS AND PROBLEMS OF LIFE!
Main Idea
Main Idea
(there are 2 greek words translated blessed in English - makarios and eulogeo)
eulogeo - means to bless with divine favor, invoking kind disposition and positive actions
eulogia is based on the favor of the person giving the blessing
ex. Mary was blessed - Luke 1.42
42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
makarismos - means happy, fortunate,
makarismos is a result of the person’s action or behavior
ex. Revelation 1.3
3 Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Main Points
Main Points
What this “blessedness” is
Why is this blessedness ascribed to man (God’s point of view)
How is the man actually blessed (man’s point of view)
What is this “blessedness”
What is this “blessedness”
Jesus began His sermon with the pronouncement of a list of blessings
He used the grk. word MAKARISMOS, meaning happy, fortunate
Jesus is pointing to something in the believer’s life that results in blessedness
This “blessedness” is two-fold
This “blessedness” is two-fold
First - blessed is a positive judgment of God on the individual
First - blessed is a positive judgment of God on the individual
God approves him
Max Lucado - “Blessedness indicates the smile of God” Over your life.
When God blesses you, it is because God approves you. - He is pleased with your life!
it is like, “Well done, good and faithful servant…”
Second - blessed is a positive feeling of the individual who knows that God “approves of him”
Second - blessed is a positive feeling of the individual who knows that God “approves of him”
“Happy is the man…”
to the true believer -
GOD’S APPROVAL MEANS MORE THAN ANYTHING IN LIFE!
GOD’S APPROVAL IS MORE THAN IMPORTANT THAN THE APPROVAL OF FRIENDS, LOVED ONES, ETC.!
IF YOU WANT A LIFE THAT BUILT ON THE ROCK -
GAIN THE APPROVAL OF GOD
IF GOD IS FOR YOU, WHO CAN BE AGAINST YOU!
How is this blessedness ascribed to man
How is this blessedness ascribed to man
What are the things that God approves, and which makes us blessed?
Jesus pointed to certain charaters -
Jesus pointed to certain charaters -
being poor in spirit - Matt 5.3
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
mourning - Matt 5.4
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
being gentle (meek) - Matt 5.5
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.
hunger and thirst for righteousness - Matt 5.6
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
God blesses the person who is “poor in spirit”
God blesses the person who is “poor in spirit”
poverty of spirit means you recognize your spiritual bankruptcy without Christ!
poverty of spirit means you are aware of and you admit your sinfulness before God
king David - Psalm 51.1-5
1 Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness; According to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my guilt And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my wrongdoings, And my sin is constantly before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in guilt, And in sin my mother conceived me.
wash me…cleanse…
I acknowledge my wrongdoings…
my sin is contantly before me - he is fully aware that what he has done is evil and he is ashamed of it
poverty of spirit means you recognize your daily need to be guided and corrected by the word of God lest you fall into sin -
God blesses the person who is “mourning”
God blesses the person who is “mourning”
mourning over the effects of sin in his own life as well as in the world
God was sorry at man’s fall and corruption because of sin!
God wants to see people who cry out against sin and its consequences
God blesses the meek/gentle
God blesses the meek/gentle
to be “meek” means to choose not to trust in your ability or strength
the meek person puts His trust in God! - Psalm 37.1-9
1 Do not get upset because of evildoers, Do not be envious of wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass, And decay like the green plants.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good; Live in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring out your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be eliminated, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
God blesses the person who is hungry and thirsty for righteousness
God blesses the person who is hungry and thirsty for righteousness
it means to desire God’s righteousness as if it water and food!
it means to take God’s righteousness as life for your soul!
Jesus pointed to specific attitudes -
Jesus pointed to specific attitudes -
being merciful - Matt 5.7
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
being pure in heart - Matthew 5.8
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
being a peacemaker - Matt 5.9
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
God blesses the merciful
God blesses the merciful
to be merciful is to have compassion on the people and to act on their needs
God blesses the pure in heart
God blesses the pure in heart
to be pure in heart means to be free of guilt, especially towards another person.
16 In view of this I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always.
1 Now looking intently at the Council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day.”
God blesses the peacemaker
God blesses the peacemaker
a peacemaker is one who does everything in his power to broker peace.
Jesus the ultimate peace Broker - Colossians 1.19-20
19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Jesus pointed to particular sacrifice - Matt 5.10-12
Jesus pointed to particular sacrifice - Matt 5.10-12
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
God blesses those who put their lives on the line for the sake of righteousness and for Christ.
God blesses those who put their lives on the line for the sake of righteousness and for Christ.
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you.
15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;
16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
True believers find joy their persecutions and afflictions - Acts 5:41-42
41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus as the Christ.
TRUE BLESSEDNESS IS NOT MEASURED IN MATERIAL THINGS!
TRUE BLESSEDNESS IS MEASURED IN GODLY CHARACTER, GODLY BEHAVIORS, AND SACRIFICIAL SERVICE TO GOD!
TRUE BLESSEDNESS MEANS GOD APPROVES OF YOUR LIFE!
How is a man actually blessed
How is a man actually blessed
When God approves - He gives rewards!
Happiness becomes the result of God’s approval.
Happiness becomes our response to God’s rewards.
What are some of God’s rewards to the “approved” person
What are some of God’s rewards to the “approved” person
theirs is the kingdom of heaven
those who acknwoledged their need for God and His favor are the people of the kingdom of God!
they shall be comforted
those who are mourn the effects of sin in this world will find comfort in -
the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives
the sinless world in the age to come
they will inherit the earth
those who put their trust in God and His ways will be given authority in the kingdom of God
Ex. David - he put his trust in God, and God gave him victory and authority!
41 Then the Philistine came and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he was contemptuous of him; for he was only a youth, and reddish, with a handsome appearance. 43 So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine also said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild animals.” 45 But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a saber, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you and remove your head from you. Then I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that this entire assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will hand you over to us!”
they will be satisfied
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be taught the righteousness of God and will be clothed with it!
Ex. David - Psalm 119:97-100
97 How I love Your Law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than those who are old,
Because I have complied with Your precepts.
they will receive mercy
those who ministered mercy to people in need will also receive mercy in their time of need
they will see God
those who lived pure will see God when they stand in the presence of God someday
Job - Job 19:25-27
25 “Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last, He will take His stand on the earth.
26 “Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I will see God,
27 Whom I, on my part, shall behold for myself,
And whom my eyes will see, and not another.
My heart faints within me!
they will be called sons of God
those who gave their lives so that others may find peace with God will called sons of God
sons of God in glory are rulers
but sons of God on earth are servants
theirs is the kingdom of heaven
those who were persecuted for Christ and the righteousness of God will be the heirs of the kingdom of God!
Note - this blessing is the first and last in the beautitudes, because ALL THIS BLESSEDNESS IS FOUND ONLY IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
TRUE HAPPINESS IS FOUND NOT IN MATERIAL GAINS!
TRUE HAPPINESS IS FOUND IN THE APPROVAL OF GOD, WITH THE REWARDS THAT ARE ETERNAL AND ENDURING!
Conclusion
Conclusion
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE A LIFE OF VICTORY - UNSINKABLE, INDESTRUCTIBLE -
BUILD YOUR CHARACTERS BY THE WORD OF GOD
TRANSFORM YOUR BEHAVIORS THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD
BE WILLING TO LIVE FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST
WHEN YOU DO THIS -
YOU WILL NEVER BE UNHAPPY AGAIN!
YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER FEEL EMPTY AND MEANINGLESS AGAIN!
TRUE BLESSEDNESS IS TO BE APPROVED OF GOD!
TRUE BLESSEDNESS IS TO BE HAPPY BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE APPROVED OF GOD!
Song - I Am Blessed
