Main Point: The Kingdom of God is an upside-down kingdom, ruled by a humble king who suffered and was nailed to a cross…wanna follow Him?
In the upside Kingdom of God, weakness brings power…servant-hearted leadership is the way of Jesus.
Matthew 5: 1- 12 (NIV)
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 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.
10Blessed 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.
A few introductory comments:
- The Beatitudes are a paradox
- The Beatitudes are supernatural
- Each beatitude has a blessing, a cause, and a consequence
- The beatitudes are meant to ALL BE IN ONE PERSON
Dallas Willard states: The beatitudes are explanations and illustrations, drawn from the immediate setting, of the present availability of the kingdom through personal relationship to Jesus. They single out cases that provide proof that, in him, the rule of God from the heavens truly is available in life circumstances that are beyond all human hope”
Poor in Spirit
Let’s look at the first beatitude: Matthew 5:3- “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
Humility is the way to obtain the Kingdom of God.
Proverbs 16:18-19 (NIV)
18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
Proverbs 16:20 (NIV)
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”
Mark 10: 23-27 (ESV)
23 “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Misappropriated affection is the root of all evil.
- Money is one of the most powerful ‘misappropriated affection’ in the world, along with Sexuality, Education, Political Power etc.
- Money changes people because they turn all their attention toward money
What captures your attention will always capture your affection.
Conclusion: Following the way of Jesus is not an ‘obvious way’ or a ‘logical way’ or an ‘easy way.’ The way of Jesus is the ‘way of the cross.’ There is suffering along the way, there is paradoxical thinking along the way, there is sacrifice along the way…but the anointing, the blessing, the favour, the breakthrough, the healing, the salvation, the deliverance along the way makes it worth it. The upside-down Kingdom we have been invited into is powerful in weakness and rich in poverty.
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