SPEAKER_01: Over the summer, I preached through the book of Psalms.
SPEAKER_01: And even on the few Sundays I was on vacation, um, Logan and Ashton, thank you guys so much for uh filling in, and y'all y'all also preach through the book of Psalms.
SPEAKER_01: I want to start something new this morning and look at in the New Testament at one of the greatest sermons, and which is the Sermon on the Mount.
SPEAKER_01: Weeks and weeks ago, I began to sort of jot my thoughts down and seek the Lord and pray, and I love what he teaches in the Sermon on the Mount, and we'll look in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter number five.
SPEAKER_01: And I titled it this way one day as I was studying and jotting some notes down.
SPEAKER_01: I just wrote down the word different.
SPEAKER_01: Different.
SPEAKER_01: Following Jesus in a world that isn't.
SPEAKER_01: Different.
SPEAKER_01: We as followers of Christ are to be different.
SPEAKER_01: And I want to follow him in a world that is not like him.
SPEAKER_01: And Jesus does some very good teaching in this sermon and shows you and I some things that I believe will help us in our life as we seek him and follow him day to day.
SPEAKER_01: And I'll read the verses here in a moment, but I want to begin just by simply asking you this question.
SPEAKER_01: What does it really mean to be blessed?
SPEAKER_01: What does it mean to be blessed?
SPEAKER_01: Because everybody would answer that question differently.
SPEAKER_01: If I passed out a pen and a piece of paper and said, Man, you tell me what it means to be blessed.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed is the person who, and then you fill the blank in.
SPEAKER_01: You just tell me what it means to be blessed.
SPEAKER_01: Oh, we would have all kinds of different things written down.
SPEAKER_01: How would you finish the sentence?
SPEAKER_01: I believe some in the house today may simply write, man, I'm blessed if I have a healthy family.
SPEAKER_01: Some may say, you know what, I'm blessed if I have a successful career.
SPEAKER_01: I would say that for me to be blessed, I want my children to do better than I did.
SPEAKER_01: That's a blessing.
SPEAKER_01: Some people may say, I want a nice house.
SPEAKER_01: That's how I know that I'm being blessed.
SPEAKER_01: Others may say, I want good health.
SPEAKER_01: I don't want to have any health problems.
SPEAKER_01: I need, if I had good health, I know that I have been blessed.
SPEAKER_01: Some may even say that they could have enough funds to retire comfortably.
SPEAKER_01: That might be a way that somebody answers the question: what does it mean to be blessed?
SPEAKER_01: Now, none of those are bad answers.
SPEAKER_01: They're all something that we as humans think about as we plan.
SPEAKER_01: But all those are great and they could be a gift from God.
SPEAKER_01: And I've met people who have had every one of those listed out and still seem to be miserable in life.
SPEAKER_01: And I asked the question, why is that?
SPEAKER_01: How could we say that, but this person has that and doesn't feel blessed, but I don't want it and think that I would be blessed.
SPEAKER_01: It simply comes down to if we don't have peace or joy or no purpose or no day-to-day relationship with God, then I may, no matter what I have, will never feel truly blessed.
SPEAKER_01: On the same page, I've also met people on the other end of the pendulum as it swings that had none of those things.
SPEAKER_01: They didn't have health.
SPEAKER_01: They didn't have nice possessions.
SPEAKER_01: They didn't feel like their kids were doing what they should have done.
SPEAKER_01: And something different about them, as I would sit there, I've stood as I've ministered to people at hospital rooms where the diagnosis was not good.
SPEAKER_01: It didn't look well, and they would smile and be full of joy and said, Preacher, it's going to be okay no matter what.
SPEAKER_01: I have sat there with families in a modest home and said, and they had contentment and joy of the Lord deep within them.
SPEAKER_01: And so I get as humans, we all have different opinions of what it means to be blessed.
SPEAKER_01: But I'm telling you, having joy and peace and the relationship with Jesus is what absolutely changes everything.
SPEAKER_01: I have walked in seasons of life where a loved one went to know the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: And although there was an absence there, there was a void, but yet they knew without a shadow of a doubt they would see them again, and there was an overwhelming joy that came across them.
SPEAKER_01: And so I totally get when we say, what does it mean to be blessed?
SPEAKER_01: You may jot a few things down, and I've seen people that had those not be joyful and happy, and I've seen people that didn't have anything be joyful.
SPEAKER_01: So the question is, who is really blessed?
SPEAKER_01: What is blessed?
SPEAKER_01: What does it mean to be blessed?
SPEAKER_01: I asked you that.
SPEAKER_01: Who's really best?
SPEAKER_01: Blessed?
SPEAKER_01: Because I think there's a vast difference between blessings and being blessed.
SPEAKER_01: It's two different sort of things, and I want to articulate those, and I want to sort of paint a comparison before I read the verses.
SPEAKER_01: Because you and I look around this world, and we live in a world where everything that everybody has that seems to be on social media, so we know what everybody has, we know what they bought and what what furniture they have.
SPEAKER_01: Why?
SPEAKER_01: Because they post it all the time.
SPEAKER_01: I like the people that post stuff that's saying they're out of town.
SPEAKER_01: I'm thinking, are you wanting to get robbed or or what?
SPEAKER_01: You know?
SPEAKER_01: But don't do that, okay?
SPEAKER_01: Um let me make a comparison.
SPEAKER_01: We often, as people, look at what they possess.
SPEAKER_01: What do they own?
SPEAKER_01: What do they have?
SPEAKER_01: Jesus looks at the person's heart.
SPEAKER_01: We look outwardly, Jesus looks inwardly.
SPEAKER_01: Um Jesus measures the outside.
SPEAKER_01: I mean, the world measures the outside, Jesus measures the inside.
SPEAKER_01: Why is it that way?
SPEAKER_01: The world measures what you own.
SPEAKER_01: Listen, this secret I'll give you.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus measures your blessings by who you'll become.
SPEAKER_01: The world measures your blessings by what you own.
SPEAKER_01: But Jesus measures your blessings on who you will become.
SPEAKER_01: And that's what the Sermon on the Mount begins to teach me as it begins with these beatitudes.
SPEAKER_01: That's why he preached what he preached.
SPEAKER_01: Let me give it to you.
SPEAKER_01: I'll read the first 12 verses and then we'll dig in.
SPEAKER_01: And my study Bible says this is the beatitudes.
SPEAKER_01: What does that mean?
SPEAKER_01: The definition of a beatitude is supreme blessings, exalted happiness, divine joy is what it ultimately means.
SPEAKER_01: Start with me in verse number one.
SPEAKER_01: And seeing the multitudes, he, talking about Jesus, went up on a mountain.
SPEAKER_01: And when he was seated, his disciples came to him.
SPEAKER_01: Then he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, This is Jesus' words here, verse number three.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
SPEAKER_01: Verse 11 Blessed are you, makes it personal there, when they reveal and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my name's sake.
SPEAKER_01: Rejoice and be excitingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
SPEAKER_01: And I started with asking you, what does it mean to be blessed?
SPEAKER_01: Now, oftentimes you may lay out what you would think what a blessing is, and some people may even describe being blessed as being happy.
SPEAKER_01: And what's interesting about chapter number five in the Sermon on the Mount here is that the word blessed is used nine times.
SPEAKER_01: And what's so very interesting to me is that although I read this in English, I understand that the Bible wasn't written in English like you and I understand, so it was translated.
SPEAKER_01: And when they wrote this in the Greek, it had a far deeper understanding and meaning of the word blessed.
SPEAKER_01: And here's what ultimately it means.
SPEAKER_01: It doesn't just simply mean happy.
SPEAKER_01: Because if it only meant happy, that means when things around me aren't good, then my happiness goes away.
SPEAKER_01: See, happiness depends on what's happening.
SPEAKER_01: That's how I like to word it.
SPEAKER_01: If I get everything I want, I'm happy.
SPEAKER_01: If dinner's on time and ready, I'm talking it's I'm happy.
SPEAKER_01: If my steak is cooked just right, I'm happy.
SPEAKER_01: If I if my salad's perfect and I got the right ranch dressing, I'm happy.
SPEAKER_01: If my kids obey, I'm happy.
SPEAKER_01: Come on now.
SPEAKER_01: If if everything works according to what my current mood wants, I'm happy.
SPEAKER_01: So happiness depends on what is happening.
SPEAKER_01: If everything is going well, I'm happy.
SPEAKER_01: If my life falls apart, I'm unhappy.
SPEAKER_01: You see the difference.
SPEAKER_01: Happiness depends on what is happening.
SPEAKER_01: I love an old quote by Adrian Rogers, a great preacher of the faith.
SPEAKER_01: I'll put it on the screen for you.
SPEAKER_01: He said this: happy depends on happenings.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed depends on God.
SPEAKER_01: So what does it mean?
SPEAKER_01: What is he talking about in the Sermon on the Mount, chapter 5?
SPEAKER_01: He uses the word blessed nine times.
SPEAKER_01: What does it actually mean when he says blessed?
SPEAKER_01: It's somebody that enjoys the favor of God.
SPEAKER_01: Being blessed enjoys when God grants your way.
SPEAKER_01: He's saying, man, somebody who is spiritually flourishing would arguably be best by God.
SPEAKER_01: And I want to continue on my spiritual journey.
SPEAKER_01: I want God to help, allow me to understand and to and to help and to encourage and to disciple.
SPEAKER_01: He's saying happiness is not what's happening.
SPEAKER_01: Listen, he's saying blessed.
SPEAKER_01: It is spiritual flourishing.
SPEAKER_01: It is somebody that loves the favor of God.
SPEAKER_01: It is somebody who has joy and contentment, no matter what's going on around them, because they know that their joy and contentment comes from their personal relationship with a living God named Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: So when he says blessed, don't just think happiness that I'm happy for the moment.
SPEAKER_01: It is an eternal joy that nothing that happens will ever take it away from you.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed, he uses it nine times.
SPEAKER_01: It's the complete opposite of how the world would describe blessed.
SPEAKER_01: So let's see what Jesus says about it.
SPEAKER_01: I got three things that have come to the surface in these 12 verses, and we'll look together right here at verse 3 and 4, right at the very beginning, and here it is.
SPEAKER_01: We're talking about different values, right?
SPEAKER_01: Being different.
SPEAKER_01: Here's the first thing that I'll show you, verses three.
SPEAKER_01: I'll reread verses three.
SPEAKER_01: But different values begin with humility.
SPEAKER_01: Now, humility is something that he speaks about all through scripture, but if I'm supposed to be different, it what why is that the case?
SPEAKER_01: He starts off verses three and four.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are those who mourn, who grieve, who cry, for they shall be comforted.
SPEAKER_01: So I want to understand what Jesus meant because I understand what I know poor is, and I understand what I know mourning is, but what did it mean?
SPEAKER_01: What did he mean when he said it the way he said it?
SPEAKER_01: See, I love how Jesus starts this sermon off.
SPEAKER_01: He sits them down.
SPEAKER_01: Now, what has taken place that got them to this point?
SPEAKER_01: In Matthew chapter number four, Jesus is in the wilderness, and he is uh fasting for 40 days and 40 nights.
SPEAKER_01: He taught us what fasting was, meaning, if I need to get a hold of God and have and have a connection like none other, I need to get away and fast for a little bit.
SPEAKER_01: So what does Jesus do?
SPEAKER_01: He goes into the wilderness and doesn't eat for 40 days.
SPEAKER_01: And what did the devil do?
SPEAKER_01: Shows up three times.
SPEAKER_01: Now listen, this is Jesus, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus, who stepped out of heaven and who was born on earth, now is going to pray to the Father in heaven, steps out and fasts, and says that he's gonna go and conversate with the Father and pray.
SPEAKER_01: And what does the devil do?
SPEAKER_01: Rears up his hand and starts uh trying to get him to fall and to fail.
SPEAKER_01: Now, I don't know about you, but when I start getting hungry, I might start doing some things I shouldn't be doing.
SPEAKER_01: Well, nothing's gonna stop me between me and a steak or a hamburger.
SPEAKER_01: Anybody hungry right now?
SPEAKER_01: Yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_01: I'll try to get you out of here before lunch is done.
SPEAKER_01: Listen to me.
SPEAKER_01: He's saying Jesus was hungry and he's praying, he's seeking the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: And what happened?
SPEAKER_01: The devil shows up and tempts him three different times.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus leaves the wilderness and begins his ministry work there in Galilee.
SPEAKER_01: And then you can read in Matthew chapter number four, he goes and begins to talk to some men and these fishermen who were putting their net up, said, Hey, how about you leave your net there and become, I'll make you fishers of men.
SPEAKER_01: Why don't you come follow me?
SPEAKER_01: And all this is beginning to happen.
SPEAKER_01: And these men say, Sure, we'll we're out of here.
SPEAKER_01: I'll go and follow you and now seek men and lead them to you.
SPEAKER_01: And all these events are are piling up.
SPEAKER_01: And he begins to heal some folks right there at the tail end of chapter number four.
SPEAKER_01: And then he realizes it's time to teach them something, and he gets on top of the mountain and he sits them down and he says, I want to teach you why it's important for us to be different than the world.
SPEAKER_01: And now it's something for you and I to get a hold of.
SPEAKER_01: We live in a world that's rotten to the core.
SPEAKER_01: We live in a world that shows the opposite of what scripture is, and Jesus clarified it and fixed it.
SPEAKER_01: And right here, he's teaching the disciples something that you and I need to get a hold of as well.
SPEAKER_01: Different values begin with humility.
SPEAKER_01: Why did he begin with humility?
SPEAKER_01: Why did he begin?
SPEAKER_01: Why does Jesus start the Sermon on the Mount with humility and lowliness?
SPEAKER_01: Because everything in the Christian life begins right there.
SPEAKER_01: And without Jesus humbling himself and going up to the cross and dying for you and I, there would be no salvation.
SPEAKER_01: If it wasn't for Christ doing what he did, there would be no salvation.
SPEAKER_01: If it wasn't for me at eight years old realizing that I couldn't save myself, but he could save me, I wouldn't be saved.
SPEAKER_01: All the five people that we got to witness getting baptized this morning, all of them at some point in their life were humbled enough to realize they couldn't save themselves, but everything that Jesus did on the cross could save them.
SPEAKER_01: So the Christian life begins with humility.
SPEAKER_01: It begins with an element of, I've got to forgive others because he forgave me.
SPEAKER_01: It begins with spiritual growth, and that happens day by day.
SPEAKER_01: But none of those things will ever happen until I surrender my life unto him.
SPEAKER_01: So the first step in the kingdom of God is not climbing higher, it's actually bowing lower.
SPEAKER_01: And that's what Jesus begins to teach us in chapter 5, verses 3 and verse number 4.
SPEAKER_01: He's showing us how to humble ourselves.
SPEAKER_01: First number three, when he talks about blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.
SPEAKER_01: What does he mean by poor?
SPEAKER_01: For one, I've got to recognize that I need God.
SPEAKER_01: If I ever get to a place in my life where I think I can do it all by myself, I've done messed up.
SPEAKER_01: I need a savior every day of my life.
SPEAKER_01: And see, what I think, when I read this word poor, Jesus is not talking about financially poor.
SPEAKER_01: He's not talking about how much or how little you have in your bank account or under your mattress.
SPEAKER_01: Some of y'all probably still keep it in your, maybe your freezer.
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
SPEAKER_01: Y'all still hide it in a few places.
SPEAKER_01: He ain't talking about that.
SPEAKER_01: What's he talking about?
SPEAKER_01: The phrase in verse number three, poor in spirit, describes somebody who understands that they are spiritually bankrupt without God.
SPEAKER_01: Meaning, I can't do it without him.
SPEAKER_01: If there's ever any ounce of me that thinks I can do something without Christ, it is not good.
SPEAKER_01: That's why he's talking about poor in spirit.
SPEAKER_01: Somebody has to recognize that I'm spiritually bankrupt apart from Christ.
SPEAKER_01: The word poor paints the picture of this: somebody that has absolutely nothing to offer God.
SPEAKER_01: In reality, there's nothing I can do to earn salvation or even earn his favor.
SPEAKER_01: He said, I just want to give myself in.
SPEAKER_01: You know what he wants?
SPEAKER_01: He wants us to surrender our life and say, I'm here.
SPEAKER_01: Use me as you will.
SPEAKER_01: Do whatever it is in your life.
SPEAKER_01: That's what he wants with all of us, not just me, but for you as well.
SPEAKER_01: And that's why he's talking about poor in spirit.
SPEAKER_01: Someone who recognizes that I can't save myself.
SPEAKER_01: I can't earn God's favor.
SPEAKER_01: I can't, I can't work my way to heaven.
SPEAKER_01: I desperately need his grace.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus isn't necessarily talking about low self-esteem.
SPEAKER_01: He's describing an honest self-awareness of a holy God, meaning I'm aware that he's holy and I need him every day.
SPEAKER_01: You know what the world teaches us?
SPEAKER_01: Believe in yourself.
SPEAKER_01: You know what Jesus teaches us?
SPEAKER_01: You need to recognize that you need me.
SPEAKER_01: That's what he said in the scriptures.
SPEAKER_01: Look at verse 4.
SPEAKER_01: He starts talking about poor in spirit, verse 3.
SPEAKER_01: Verse 4, blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
SPEAKER_01: What does he mean?
SPEAKER_01: He says, he's essentially showing us grief what breaks God's heart.
SPEAKER_01: You need you what breaks God's heart should break your heart, is what he's essentially saying.
SPEAKER_01: He immediately follows poverty of spirit with mourning, with crying, with grieving.
SPEAKER_01: I don't think that's accidental.
SPEAKER_01: When God, I think when I recognize who God is, I realize who I am, puts it into perspective.
SPEAKER_01: And I begin to grieve over my own sin.
SPEAKER_01: And in the true context of what Jesus is trying to articulate to the disciples and to us, he's not talking about somebody that is broken because they got caught.
SPEAKER_01: He's saying, I want, I'm talking to somebody who is broken over sin in our lives.
SPEAKER_01: And what's vastly important is for me to recognize that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
SPEAKER_01: And I recognize that you and I live in a generation where people sort of categorize sin and say, well, that's not as bad as this one, and this one isn't as bad as that one.
SPEAKER_01: But the truth of the matter is, if sin is sin in God's eyes.
SPEAKER_01: And no matter how you categorize it, it's still sin in God's eyes.
SPEAKER_01: And what I often want, and I seek the Lord, say, God, I want my sin to break my heart.
SPEAKER_01: I don't got time to worry about yours.
SPEAKER_01: I got to worry about mine.
SPEAKER_01: God, I want what breaks your heart to break my heart.
SPEAKER_01: And that's what he's speaking about in this verse specifically, because he says in verse number four, he's talking about mourning.
SPEAKER_01: He says, For those that cry and are broken over sin, those who I will comfort.
SPEAKER_01: Sin itself should break our heart.
SPEAKER_01: Many people are sorry that they get caught, but that's not what he's speaking about.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus is talking about sorry because we have grieved the heart of a holy God.
SPEAKER_01: The exact moment, if I want to articulate that and give you a perfect picture of that happening in Scripture, several weeks ago, I preached in one of the Psalms weeks, I preached in Psalms 51.
SPEAKER_01: And David had messed up.
SPEAKER_01: And for years he ran from God.
SPEAKER_01: And as he ran from God, I'm telling you, it was time after time he could have got right, but he didn't.
SPEAKER_01: And then he used, God used Nathan to code him and he told him a story.
SPEAKER_01: And David recognized the story was him.
SPEAKER_01: And in that moment, what did David do?
SPEAKER_01: You want to see some biblical, some picture of this happening in the Bible?
SPEAKER_01: It's right here.
SPEAKER_01: And David didn't say, Oh, I'm sorry, Nathan.
SPEAKER_01: Oh, I'm sorry, this, or I'm sorry that what did he do?
SPEAKER_01: Psalms 51, verse number four, David cries out with a loud voice and says, Against you and you alone have I sinned.
SPEAKER_01: In that very moment, you and I got to see a glimpse and a picture of what true mourning biblically is speaking about right here is it broke the heart of God, therefore it broke David's heart, and he went after the Lord and said, Against you and you alone have I sinned.
SPEAKER_01: And what I understand from this text is that he's saying, I can give comfort to that.
SPEAKER_01: And I need the comfort of the Lord, but it takes a part on me.
SPEAKER_01: I love how Paul wrote it in 2 Corinthians chapter number 7 and verse number 10.
SPEAKER_01: He says, For godly sorrow produces repentance.
SPEAKER_01: He's letting us know that there is two different kinds of sorrow in life.
SPEAKER_01: I can be sorry that I got caught, or I could be having godly sorrow, and it should produce repentance.
SPEAKER_01: That is exactly what he's speaking about right here.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus says the person is blessed.
SPEAKER_01: Why?
SPEAKER_01: Because they'll be comforted.
SPEAKER_01: And in life, I need comfort.
SPEAKER_01: Life is hard.
SPEAKER_01: It's not easy.
SPEAKER_01: I'm not going to get comforted by ignoring my sin.
SPEAKER_01: No, I'm not going to get comforted by acting like it didn't happen.
SPEAKER_01: I'm going to get comforted owning it and recognize how it breaks God's heart.
SPEAKER_01: Let me paint a picture to you so I can give you a comparison.
SPEAKER_01: The world says this: be confident in yourself.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus says, be poor in spirit.
SPEAKER_01: The world says, never admit when you're wrong.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus says, mourn over your sin.
SPEAKER_01: The world says promote yourself.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus says, humble yourself.
SPEAKER_01: That's why following Jesus makes us different than the world.
SPEAKER_01: Let me give you this, and I'll move on to the next few verses.
SPEAKER_01: The doorway into God's kingdom is always marked by humility.
SPEAKER_01: I'm not going to humble myself.
SPEAKER_01: I'm not going to reach his throne room.
SPEAKER_01: There's no way.
SPEAKER_01: With me in verse number five.
SPEAKER_01: First thing we saw this morning is different value begins with humility.
SPEAKER_01: Now different values produce a different life.
SPEAKER_01: Notice the character changing here in verses five, six, seven, and eight.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are the meek, verse five, for they shall inherit the earth.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
SPEAKER_01: And blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
SPEAKER_01: People should see the difference in my life when I got saved.
SPEAKER_01: There should be different fruit produced in my life.
SPEAKER_01: Describe the character that God develops in individual believers.
SPEAKER_01: He starts with humility because that's where it all begins, but then he now changes to characteristics that are created within each individual believer.
SPEAKER_01: Notice what happens.
SPEAKER_01: In verse 5, a different life is marked by surrender, meaning every day I've got to surrender.
SPEAKER_01: If I I got to say that, A, I told you all that.
SPEAKER_01: If I would have surrendered then and never surrendered again, I wouldn't be where I am today.
SPEAKER_01: Every day I have to wake up and surrender my life unto the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: Does that mean I get saved every day?
SPEAKER_01: No.
SPEAKER_01: I believe once saved, always said that's it.
SPEAKER_01: I can show you that in scripture.
SPEAKER_01: But every day I have to wake up.
SPEAKER_01: Paul even says that in his new, in some of the letters that he wrote, because he knew that the devil was real and was attacking, and he said, Man, you've got to surrender yourself each and every day unto me.
SPEAKER_01: And every day I want to wake up and say, God, I need you.
SPEAKER_01: I need you.
SPEAKER_01: Look how he words it in verse 5.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are the meek.
SPEAKER_01: What does it mean, meek?
SPEAKER_01: See, the world shows you and I that meek is weak.
SPEAKER_01: The world shows you and I that being meek is not only weakness, but it's almost like being a pushover.
SPEAKER_01: Or you're like a rug, everybody just walks on you.
SPEAKER_01: Being meek is nothing to be proud of.
SPEAKER_01: But Jesus actually paints that picture way different and shows you and I what meekness is.
SPEAKER_01: Actually, Jesus said a few chapters later that he is meek and lowly.
SPEAKER_01: He described himself, Jesus, the creator of all things, is saying, I am meek.
SPEAKER_01: So what is a great picture of being meek?
SPEAKER_01: I love using a horse.
SPEAKER_01: I don't know if you've ever been around horses before.
SPEAKER_01: I've ridden horses, I've seen them.
SPEAKER_01: A couple months ago, we went for Holland's birthday to ride horses, and you get to see how power, powerful, and large that they are and strong.
SPEAKER_01: If you see a horse in the wild, they say, man, they're reckless, they could cause all kinds of havoc.
SPEAKER_01: And then they go to a trainer and they get broke, and now they are able to be ridden?
SPEAKER_01: Did they lose their strength?
SPEAKER_01: No.
SPEAKER_01: No, their power is just under control.
SPEAKER_01: And that's exactly what Jesus is speaking about when he says in verse number five about blessed are the meek.
SPEAKER_01: That is power under control.
SPEAKER_01: I have to learn to control my power.
SPEAKER_01: What kind of power do I got?
SPEAKER_01: I can say things that hurt somebody's feelings.
SPEAKER_01: I can be a certain way, and I have to be careful.
SPEAKER_01: Why?
SPEAKER_01: Because I'm a pastor?
SPEAKER_01: No, but because I'm a follower of Christ.
SPEAKER_01: Things happen in this world that cause you and I want to react.
SPEAKER_01: Anybody ever get on your nerves at the store or anything?
SPEAKER_01: Oh, it's just me, okay?
SPEAKER_01: They ain't quick enough, right?
SPEAKER_01: You go to the dentist's office, I'm like, I had a nine o'clock appointment, bro.
SPEAKER_01: I got stuff to do.
SPEAKER_01: 9:30.
SPEAKER_01: They ain't called my name yet.
SPEAKER_01: What'll I want to do?
SPEAKER_01: I want to go in there and cause some havoc, but I can't.
SPEAKER_01: I'm a follower of Christ.
SPEAKER_01: Yesterday at the grocery store, don't go to Kroger's on Saturday.
SPEAKER_01: I'm just gonna be honest with you.
SPEAKER_01: Buy your groceries beforehand.
SPEAKER_01: Everybody in Pauldon County was there, I'll be honest with you.
SPEAKER_01: And I'm trying, Megan, me and her were together.
SPEAKER_01: She's like, just go to a self-checkout.
SPEAKER_01: I hate self-checkout.
SPEAKER_01: Self-checkout took longer than not self-checkout.
SPEAKER_01: You understand what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_01: Why?
SPEAKER_01: That thing's a piece of junk.
SPEAKER_01: Junk.
SPEAKER_01: It kept telling me, put the item in the bag.
SPEAKER_01: And I'm like, it's in there.
SPEAKER_01: It's in there.
SPEAKER_01: Then two, we had seven items.
SPEAKER_01: It took like 45 minutes, okay?
SPEAKER_01: I about stole them.
SPEAKER_01: No, I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_01: I didn't.
SPEAKER_01: I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_01: But look, I'm telling you, I'm like, ma'am, ma'am, come on.
SPEAKER_01: Can I see that little barcode?
SPEAKER_01: Okay, scan it.
SPEAKER_01: The second time, I'm like, ma'am, can you just leave me the barcode?
SPEAKER_01: I'll bring it back on my way out.
SPEAKER_01: I'm scanning it for you, okay?
SPEAKER_01: She don't even look, all right?
SPEAKER_01: I could have got hot, but I didn't.
SPEAKER_01: I laughed.
SPEAKER_01: I told the lady it was Megan's fault.
SPEAKER_01: She's not doing it right.
SPEAKER_01: She laughed about it, tried to make light of the situation.
SPEAKER_01: But how you and I act is very important.
SPEAKER_01: I could have had the power in my mind and words.
SPEAKER_01: I could have said something that would have not been well and right and pointed people to Christ.
SPEAKER_01: You and I have to be meek.
SPEAKER_01: I have to learn how to use the power that we have.
SPEAKER_01: Meek people don't have to prove themselves.
SPEAKER_01: They just have to trust the Lord through every process.
SPEAKER_01: All right, let's dig in a little deeper in verse six.
SPEAKER_01: Verse six, a different life has different appetites.
SPEAKER_01: I like verse six, those that are hungry and thirsty for righteousness.
SPEAKER_01: I don't want to make you hungry, so I don't want to talk about steak and potatoes or anything like that.
SPEAKER_01: Especially being at 1155, your stomach's gonna begin to growl if I talk too much about barbecue or something of that nature.
SPEAKER_01: So I don't want to do that.
SPEAKER_01: Different values produce different life.
SPEAKER_01: Look what he shows us here.
SPEAKER_01: A different life has a different appetite.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
SPEAKER_01: He's saying that you're a follower of Christ now.
SPEAKER_01: What you hunger for and thirst for should be different than it was before you knew Jesus as your savior, is essentially what he's saying.
SPEAKER_01: I can understand thirsty.
SPEAKER_01: I can understand hungry.
SPEAKER_01: Listen to me.
SPEAKER_01: There's times in my life where I felt like I could eat anything.
SPEAKER_01: I'm so starving.
SPEAKER_01: And nothing's gonna stop me from getting to the store and going home and cooking whatever it is I want.
SPEAKER_01: He's essentially saying, when you're truly hungry, nothing else matters but you to satisfy that hunger.
SPEAKER_01: And when he says, Jesus says, as he's preaching to the to the disciples, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
SPEAKER_01: He's saying, your, your, your, your, your pursuit for things should change the second you have got saved.
SPEAKER_01: That's how followers pursue righteousness.
SPEAKER_01: Not occasionally, not here and there, not every other day, not just on Sundays, but every day.
SPEAKER_01: So the question I might have for you is, what are you hungry for?
SPEAKER_01: And don't tell me steak and potatoes.
SPEAKER_01: I mean spiritually.
SPEAKER_01: What are you hungry for in your spiritual journey?
SPEAKER_01: Maybe you want the Lord to reveal some truth to you.
SPEAKER_01: Maybe you want to know that, man, it's God directing this path and not your emotions.
SPEAKER_01: Maybe you want to know that when God speaks, you actually hear him.
SPEAKER_01: There's times in my life I'll have somebody preacher.
SPEAKER_01: How do I know that it's God speaking and not my opinion on the inside?
SPEAKER_01: I'm telling you, God speaks through his word.
SPEAKER_01: Maybe that's some clarity.
SPEAKER_01: What are you hungry for?
SPEAKER_01: Maybe we should thirst and hunger for him and him alone.
SPEAKER_01: Because what you crave, I think, ultimately reveals what controls your heart.
SPEAKER_01: What are we craving for?
SPEAKER_01: That will actually control our hearts.
SPEAKER_01: Some people crave success, approval, items, possessions, money.
SPEAKER_01: But I'm telling you, that ain't gonna bring happiness.
SPEAKER_01: Joy and contentment come from a relationship with him and him alone.
SPEAKER_01: He hungers for righteousness.
SPEAKER_01: Look at verse 7 through 9.
SPEAKER_01: He shows us that a different life treats people differently.
SPEAKER_01: A different life treats people differently.
SPEAKER_01: Verse 7 says, blessed are the merciful.
SPEAKER_01: Verse 9 says, blessed are those that are pure in heart.
SPEAKER_01: And verse 10 says, or excuse me, verse 9 says, blessed are the peacemakers.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus is describing what happens in our relationships.
SPEAKER_01: The merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers.
SPEAKER_01: These, these, all, all these qualities that he just laid out in these three verses affect everybody around me and around you.
SPEAKER_01: Somebody who is merciful is forgiving.
SPEAKER_01: They're ultimately, they're going to be forgiving in whatever happens.
SPEAKER_01: People who are pure in heart live with integrity, and you and I need to live with integrity in this world.
SPEAKER_01: The world that we live in today is worse than it's ever been.
SPEAKER_01: And if believers would stand up and live with integrity, meaning that I do the right thing, whether nobody's watching or not, that is the thing that this world needs, is the believers to stand up for truth.
SPEAKER_01: And he's showing that in the text.
SPEAKER_01: Peacemakers.
SPEAKER_01: Oh, I love it because it brings a healing instead of division.
SPEAKER_01: You know, the world that we live in wants to divide things.
SPEAKER_01: That's why I had to fill out paperwork for this or that.
SPEAKER_01: They say, put this category, that category.
SPEAKER_01: I just put none, none, none, none.
SPEAKER_01: I don't want to tell them.
SPEAKER_01: Why?
SPEAKER_01: Because the world we live in wants to conquer and divide us.
SPEAKER_01: But I think if we realize the scripture wants to unite us because we are stronger together than we'll ever be separated, that'll change perspective in some things.
SPEAKER_01: The world has created enough conflict.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus calls his followers to bring peace.
SPEAKER_01: Never by compromising the truth, but always love and action.
SPEAKER_01: I start thinking over the last week, what if we had a camera watching everything we did?
SPEAKER_01: Now, some of you might say, we do, preacher, you heard about them flock cameras, okay?
SPEAKER_01: I don't know about them.
SPEAKER_01: All right, but I'm telling you, what if we had something watching us, which we do, Jesus?
SPEAKER_01: Watching everything we do, everything we think, everything we say, everything that we hear, what would it say about us?
SPEAKER_01: Now, listen, I got more to worry about with myself than anything else.
SPEAKER_01: This is an individual question.
SPEAKER_01: If somebody watched my life, what would they see?
SPEAKER_01: What qualities would they see?
SPEAKER_01: What would they see?
SPEAKER_01: Would they see me being humble?
SPEAKER_01: Would they see me showing mercy?
SPEAKER_01: Would they see me having integrity?
SPEAKER_01: Would they see me hungering for God?
SPEAKER_01: Would they see me having a desire to live peaceably?
SPEAKER_01: I don't mean perfection, but I'm talking about growth day by day, because I think that's what Jesus is describing right here.
SPEAKER_01: Not becoming more religious, nah.
SPEAKER_01: Come having a better relationship with Jesus.
SPEAKER_01: This is a relationship, not a religion.
SPEAKER_01: Listen, the world tells us that success is measured by what you and I accomplish, but Jesus says it actually is measured by what you and I produce, what he produces through us.
SPEAKER_01: Let me show you the last couple verses and then we'll then we'll move on.
SPEAKER_01: Look what he says in verse 10.
SPEAKER_01: I'll show you my third and final thought.
SPEAKER_01: Different values will bring different responses.
SPEAKER_01: Notice verse 10, he says, Blessed are those who are persecuted.
SPEAKER_01: Now that don't sound too good, to be honest with you, but I believe it because Jesus said it.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sakes, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
SPEAKER_01: And notice in verse 11 and 12, he sort of changes tune here.
SPEAKER_01: In verse 11, he goes from blessed are those to now makes it individual here.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are you, verse 11.
SPEAKER_01: When they reveal and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my name's sake.
SPEAKER_01: Verse 12, rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: For so they persecute the prophets who were before you.
SPEAKER_01: Now, if I get to these last three verses that we've looked at, if you've counted, the word blessed was used nine times.
SPEAKER_01: Nine times he used the word blessed.
SPEAKER_01: But I think the last element, the last section that we're looking at, verses 10, 11, and 12, may be the hardest to fully grasp.
SPEAKER_01: Because he's talking about if God is blessing your life, the world says if God's blessing your life, your life's gonna be easier.
SPEAKER_01: And that's what the world will teach, tell, man, listen, it ain't God shouldn't do that.
SPEAKER_01: You follow him, you go to church, you do this.
SPEAKER_01: Why would this happen to you?
SPEAKER_01: Jesus is giving us a warning right here that you and I are going to play offense and defense at the same time.
SPEAKER_01: The world says, man, you know the Lord, it should be great.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus says, no, there's gonna be some challenges that come.
SPEAKER_01: He wants you and I to be prepared for them.
SPEAKER_01: Sometimes following Jesus is harder and makes things harder.
SPEAKER_01: And he shows us that in verse 10 and then again in verse 11 and 12.
SPEAKER_01: Look at verse 10.
SPEAKER_01: Living like Jesus will set you apart.
SPEAKER_01: And notice what he doesn't say in verse number 10.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sakes.
SPEAKER_01: He doesn't say, blessed are those who suffer because of bad choices that they made.
SPEAKER_01: He doesn't say that.
SPEAKER_01: He doesn't say, blessed are those who are difficult to get along with.
SPEAKER_01: He doesn't say that either.
SPEAKER_01: What does he say?
SPEAKER_01: He says, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
SPEAKER_01: And then he follows up and says some of the greatest thoughts in the very command in this sermon, and he says, rejoice and be exceedingly glad.
SPEAKER_01: He says very clearly that you and I should live like Jesus in no matter what comes our way.
SPEAKER_01: In other words, he's saying, if you're living for Jesus, if you live with a different set of values, if you have different priorities than the world has, if your life reflects Christ, the world only applauds people that fit in.
SPEAKER_01: But Jesus blesses those who faithfully stand out.
SPEAKER_01: Some of us got to take a stand.
SPEAKER_01: That doesn't mean be having a conflict at everybody.
SPEAKER_01: No, it just means taking a stand, standing up for what's true.
SPEAKER_01: Paul warned young Timothy about this when he says to him in 2 Timothy 3, yes, and all who desire to live a godly life shall expect persecution.
SPEAKER_01: You and I can stand for Christ at work, at school, in our job site, in the store.
SPEAKER_01: Doesn't mean that we'll be applauded.
SPEAKER_01: No, the world applauds us for fitting in and just following suit.
SPEAKER_01: But Jesus blesses us for standing up for the truth.
SPEAKER_01: Paul told young Timothy, you will face persecution.
SPEAKER_01: Not you might, you will.
SPEAKER_01: He wanted him to expect it.
SPEAKER_01: You and I should expect it.
SPEAKER_01: Now let's finish with verse 11 and 12.
SPEAKER_01: The greatest, I think, command in this section of Scripture, he shows them, man, you have got to rejoice and be exceedingly glad.
SPEAKER_01: Notice how personal Jesus makes it in these last two verses.
SPEAKER_01: No more blessed are those.
SPEAKER_01: He says, blessed are you.
SPEAKER_01: It's almost as if Jesus is standing on top of the mountain and looking at the disciples right in their face.
SPEAKER_01: I'm sure in that mere moment the disciple probably thought it was just him and Christ on that side of the mountain hill.
SPEAKER_01: No different than you can read the Bible and say, man, Jesus is right here talking to me.
SPEAKER_01: Yes, there was a crowd, there was a several, but it was just so personal, it was just him and the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: How personal is it when he's beginning to lay this out?
SPEAKER_01: Blessed are you.
SPEAKER_01: It's almost like he's looking right in your eyes.
SPEAKER_01: Because he knows every one of them will experience what he's about to say.
SPEAKER_01: People may insult you, people may misunderstand you, they may even criticize you.
SPEAKER_01: That's what he's saying.
SPEAKER_01: But he gives us a command, verse 12, rejoice and be exceedingly glad.
SPEAKER_01: Why?
SPEAKER_01: Why do I got to be pumped up and excited if somebody mistreats me for being a Christian?
SPEAKER_01: Think about it, look how Jesus did it.
SPEAKER_01: He says, Great is your reward in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: He takes their focus from earth, rejoice and be glad, and shifts their eyes to eternity.
SPEAKER_01: He's saying, Great is your reward in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: The world shows you and I that possessions, that's how blessed we are.
SPEAKER_01: But Jesus says, No, your reward's in heaven, not down here on earth.
SPEAKER_01: How many times have I looked around?
SPEAKER_01: I'm ready for my reward, Lord.
SPEAKER_01: Where's it going to show up?
SPEAKER_01: I'm ready for it, God.
SPEAKER_01: Where's it at?
SPEAKER_01: Jesus painted this picture so clearly and then took their eyes from looking around them to now looking up unto heaven.
SPEAKER_01: Our reward isn't determined by people's opinion.
SPEAKER_01: Our reward is determined by God's approval.
SPEAKER_01: And that's the difference of it all.
SPEAKER_01: Students, when you go back to school this week, I know we've got some middle and high schoolers in here.
SPEAKER_01: When school starts, it may not be easy to stand for Christ.
SPEAKER_01: Your reward's in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: Teachers, you may go back to the classroom this week and face some moments where your convictions are tested.
SPEAKER_01: Let me remind you, according to verse number 12, your reward's in heaven, not here on earth.
SPEAKER_01: Parents, listen, we've got some decisions sometimes to make for our kids.
SPEAKER_01: Sometimes not so easy ones, because it may make them not get to go hang out with this one or that one.
SPEAKER_01: Parents, listen to me.
SPEAKER_01: You'll have to make these decisions that sometimes aren't very popular.
SPEAKER_01: Your reward's in heaven, not here on earth.
SPEAKER_01: Employees, you gotta go to work tomorrow.
SPEAKER_01: Somebody tries to get you to compromise your faith.
SPEAKER_01: Your reward isn't here on earth, it's in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: I want you to be reminded following Jesus has always been different.
SPEAKER_01: Always, from the time that he started his earthly ministry until this moment.
SPEAKER_01: The goal isn't to be accepted by the culture.
SPEAKER_01: The goal is to be faithful to Christ.
SPEAKER_01: The culture of this world changes.
SPEAKER_01: It looks different today than it did 50 years ago and 50 years before that.
SPEAKER_01: But you know who's the same yesterday, today, and forever?
SPEAKER_01: Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: The goal is to be faithful to him, not to fit in with certain cultures.
SPEAKER_01: The beatitudes began with humility.
SPEAKER_01: Then as you read these verses, they they they move to transformation and they end in these last couple verses with persistence, continuing, you know, why is that?
SPEAKER_01: Because I believe that Jesus wasn't describing a mere moment of somebody's life.
SPEAKER_01: He was absolutely describing a lifetime of living for Him.
SPEAKER_01: A disciple, a follower of Christ, who knows that they need Jesus, who knows that they can be transformed by Him, who remains faithful to God no matter what, even when life is difficult, that's what He's speaking about here.
SPEAKER_01: Let me give you this thought, and I'm gonna close this out.
SPEAKER_01: Following Jesus may cost you the world's approval, but it gains you God's reward.
SPEAKER_00: In life, what do you want?
SPEAKER_00: I want to end with a question that I started with.
SPEAKER_00: What does it really mean to be blessed?
SPEAKER_01: If I had to ask our question for the culture, people are gonna point out some things.
SPEAKER_01: Culturally, what does it mean to be blessed?
SPEAKER_01: Oh, money, success, comfort, popularity, possessions, an easy life.
SPEAKER_01: But after listening to Jesus in these sermons, the Sermon on the Mount, I'd have to answer that question a little bit differently because Jesus never once says, Blessed are the wealthy, blessed are the famous, blessed are the powerful, or blessed whose life is easy.
SPEAKER_01: Instead, what did Jesus say?
SPEAKER_01: He said, Blessed is a person that has a heart that is humble.
SPEAKER_01: Blessed is a person that has a life that is surrendered.
SPEAKER_01: And blessed is a person that has faith and remains faithful no matter what.
SPEAKER_01: That's what he says.
SPEAKER_01: That's the blessed life.
SPEAKER_01: Not because everything around me is perfect, but because everything inside of you is being transformed by Jesus.
SPEAKER_01: Look at this quote that I found.
SPEAKER_01: I want to give it to you, and I'll end with this before I pray.
SPEAKER_01: The world measures blessings by what you have.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus measures blessings by who you are becoming.
SPEAKER_01: There's a difference.
SPEAKER_01: Your reward's in heaven, not here on earth.
SPEAKER_01: You gotta remember that because one day the house is gonna be gone.
SPEAKER_01: One day your career is gonna end.
SPEAKER_01: One day there'll be no more money because it's all gonna be spent.
SPEAKER_01: One day the applause will fall.
SPEAKER_01: But the character of Christ that has formed in you, that'll last forever.
SPEAKER_01: Would you pray with me, God?
SPEAKER_01: I come to you.
SPEAKER_01: Praising you for your word.
SPEAKER_01: How empowerful your word is and impactful it is in lives.
SPEAKER_01: Your word is so rich and true and powerful.