Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• We are going to begin looking at the Beatitudes
  • We have finished look at Jesus’ last message – His final discourse (John 14-16)
• The first recorded message of Jesus in terms of real content
  • One year of ministry – His year of inauguration
  • Second year of ministry – His year of popularity
  • Third year of ministry – His year of persecution (before His crucifixion)
• This the longest recorded sermon of Jesus Christ – Chapters 5 to 7
  • Going to look at the Beatitudes
  • The first part of the sermon
    • A wonderful way to start a sermon
• Jesus talks about blessing and favour
  • 4 things they are
  • 3 things they do
  • 1 thing that is done to them
  • 8 qualities/characteristics of the person who belongs to God
  • To them – real blessing
• We should be experiencing this blessing now – it is a foretaste of glory
  • Sunday is not just any old day – a day we remember His resurrection
• Sermon on the mount
  • Jesus sitting
  • The disciples on the inner ring
  • The crowd on the outer ring and around
• Wonderful truths are spoken by Jesus
  • Promises for those who live according to the Scriptures
  • We are not some of the things written of – but Christ knows our motivations
• The message of the Sermon on the Mount
  • Not part of a political manifesto
  • Not a social agenda
    • Non-Christians can never meet these 8 qualities/characteristics by themselves
    • Only if they are born again in Christ
  1. To show how blessed the Christian is and to show the requirements of the Christian
  2. To bring the non-Christians to conviction
• Looking at v3-5 this morning
  • Looking at the first 3 pronoucements
  • But we must not forget His blessings

The Poor in Spirit

• Not a special blessing on the ‘poor’
  • Not about external poverty but the inner life
    • Pure in heart
    • Merciful
    • Kind
    • Peacemakers
• It seems to be paradoxical
  • "Blessed" is more than "happy", than "oh, how happy", the "tremendous blessing of God"
  • God loves a broken and contrite spirit
    • When we call out to God – God begins to work in us
    • When we sin and do not have a contrite spirit – examples
      • They have not seen themselves in the light of a Holy God
      • They are living for self
• Jesus’ teaching is counter-cultural
  • Not to say that you are ‘hopeless and helpless’
  • But to speak about your strengths, to win favour, to sell yourself – to put the best version of yourself forward
• The impoverished in spirit know how they truly are before God
  • God draws near
  • They cry out to God under conviction of sin
  • Example of the parable of the tax collector vs the pharisee
  • Example of Peter, Isaiah
  • Isaiah 57:15
  • Example of David
• Do you recognise your sin?
  • This is a sign that God is working in your heart
  • The blessing of God rests upon
  • The kingdom of heaven belongs to you
    • Wearing a crown of righteousness, robes of white linen, having God, seeing Him, living forever in His presence
  • Example of the Shunamite woman
    • If you believe in the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection – yours are the blessings

Those who Mourn and the Meek

• Mourning – misery, sadness, lack, difficulty, pain
  • Not necessarily
    • "Sorrowing but always rejoicing"
    • We are not to go around miserable
    • We know the comfort of sins forgiveness
    • We know we need to repent daily
• Do you know anything of a broken spirit?
  • Not feeling bad or found out
  • The conviction of and before a Holy God
  • Poverty of spirit should lead to mourning (for your sin)
  • It should then lead to meekness
• Meekness
  • Not someone who is a pushover
  • Example of Jesus – who was gentle but stood up to the authorities and the pharisees
  • Submitting to the word of God
  • It is tested/shown when we go through persecution and criticism
    • Example of Moses
    • How do we respond?
  • Those who want the world are the strong, the forceful, the vengeful
    • They will have nothing
    • The meek will inherit the earth
• Heaven and earth
  • Do not believe the Schofield bible
  • The Sermon on the Mount is for all people – not just the Jews
  • Tremendous promises – no more death, pain, suffering or sin, other examples
  • Those who will inherit this – the meek, those who mourn, the poor in spirit

Closing Remarks

• Does your life in some measure match these qualities and characteristics spoken of by Jesus?
  • All 8 qualities/characteristics should be part of every Christian
• Are you blessed?
  • Are you a child of God?
  • If not, you need to be born again
  • If you are – God will work these qualities in you