Ever wish Jesus were here to plainly tell us what to do?

Good News Jesus taught it – Matthew wrote in down Four Key Teachings, Mt 5:1-12, Helpless Sinner, :3-4 Saved and Changed, :5-9 Suffering is Probable, :10-11 Rejoice and be exceeding glad, :12

Imagine…being in the crowd – hearing His voice (Year 2.5)

3 " Blessed (Happy, Fortunate, Lucky) are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3 (NASB) Helpless Sinner Every person – (rich or poor) – pattern of Adam Gen 1:27, Gen 3:1-15, Rom 5:12 Infected with “Sin” - terminal  separation from God “Poor in Spirit”  those who recognize….. true condition Poor: worthless, powerless, little value Spirit: life, soul, way of thinking

(:27-28), 29 And Levi gave a big reception for Jesus in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. 30 The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?" 31 And Jesus answered and said to them, " It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous (proud) but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:29-32 (NASB) Poor in Spirit …. realize they are hopeless sinners and in desperate need of Jesus  Blessed!

“I don’t need You, Jesus. I can make it just fine without You!” “The Poor in Spirit recognize they need a Savior” Attitude of Most People Attitude of Most People

3 " Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3 (NASB) The poor in spirit, realize…. Something is desperately wrong in their life They are helpless and powerless to fix it Not part of God’s family. The poor in spirit, realize…. Something is desperately wrong in their life They are helpless and powerless to fix it Not part of God’s family.

3 " Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3 (NASB) View yourself? In need of a Savior Or Okay without Jesus

4 "Blessed are those who mourn (grieve, lament), for they shall be comforted. Matt 5:4 Παρακαλέω: (Verb- Future / passive) Called to one’s side for encouragement. How? Παράκλητος (noun) Jn 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:7

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

When we weep to be in God’s family ….. God Adopts us / Saves us! Salvation = Comfort because….. The Holy Spirit abides in us We know that everything will be ok …now and forever

Self-righteous - Don’t need Jesus

9 And Jesus told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' Luke 18:9-12 (NASB) 9 And Jesus told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' Luke 18:9-12 (NASB)

13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:12-14 (NASB) Justified: Perfect, passive, participle. Vindicated, made right before God, declared righteous, put right with God, released, set free (from hopelessness) 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:12-14 (NASB) Justified: Perfect, passive, participle. Vindicated, made right before God, declared righteous, put right with God, released, set free (from hopelessness)

4 "Blessed are those who mourn because…. They will be comforted. (Justified and set free – from helplessness) The Process: Hopelessness  Weeping  Adoption  Comfort! How do you see Yourself? Self-righteous, or Poor in Spirit

5 "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Matt 5:5 (NASB) Jesus was gentle Isa 42:3

28 " Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy- laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 (NASB) Jesus is gentle. When the Spirit of God lives in us, we become gentle 28 " Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy- laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 (NASB) Jesus is gentle. When the Spirit of God lives in us, we become gentle

Jesus changes us

6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matt 5:6 (NASB) Deepest desire? More like Jesus Wants and desires change! Friends change!

7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matt 5:7 (NASB)

8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matt 5:8 (NASB)

9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matt 5:9 (NASB)

10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:10 (NASB) Because we have been changed into His image, We are willing to do some heavy lifting! We are willing to suffer!

11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Matt 5:11 (NASB)

Question: If God is Good and if God is Sovereign, and… If I am His child and following Him, then… Why do I have to suffer persecution and insults and maybe even die for my faith? a

Answer 18 " If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. John 15:18-19 (NASB)

20 Remember the word that I said to you, ' A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. John 15:20 (NASB)

21 But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. John 15:21 (NASB) Christian Persecution is growing, but….. Good News!

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matt 5:12 (KJV) 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor 2:9 (KJV)

What have we learned today? Four Key Teachings, Mt 5:1-12, Helpless Sinner, :3-4 Saved and Changed, :5-9 Suffering is Probable, :10-11 Rejoice and be exceeding glad, :12

10 Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Neh 8:10 (NASB) 10 Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Neh 8:10 (NASB)

Action Items Grieve if you are not in God’s family Ask God to adopt you – He will One Immediate change  gentleness Hunger and thirst to be like Jesus Be willing to suffer for your faith Smile – God is with you / Heaven is your home