Matthew 5:3-11
Blessed Life
Series: The Beatitudes Jan 29th 2006

You all know this saying:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…
Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Pursuit of happiness
• For most…it is a pursuit without obtaining
• The Bible says…such pursuits are vain, empty
• Solomon records, tells true Eccl 2 

Our culture is one which pursues without obtaining
• State of men in this earth – pursuit w/o obtaining

Jesus must have arrested people’s attention when as He began His ministry, proclaiming His purpose
• When He said…”Blessed are…”
• Interesting term – somewhat uncommon
• Some have translated “O how happy”, some fortunate. But it is so much more

The Word blessed – Gk Makarios
• In that culture, used for the pleasure that poets attributed to gods – above, not effected by life
• Came to be – divine satisfaction

This morning, come to end of study on Beatitudes
• Want to remind, tie up in a bow
• Jesus is describing, declaring His work
o Have eight statements
o Flow, inner connected
• More – just tell you, really is the blessed life

Can I say it so simply – God’s way is best
• Nothing higher, nothing better than God’s way
• John 10:10 – life and that more abundantly

God’s way is also, constantly under attack
• Satan’s strategy from the beginning
• Cast doubt…cause us to feel slighted, robbed

O that we would believe, really believe God’s way is best
• True because Scripture says so – enough
• True as study other lives
o Rich, famous, druggie, drunk, prostitute
• True, hopefully, even in our own experience

Jesus is telling us – this is the blessed life, blessed course

I. Blessed vs Cursed life
a. Want you to view as choice on path of life
b. Some of aim, to expose, to show that we would know, right from wrong, truth from lie
c. Use graphics this morning, hope help
1. The Blessed life is poor in Spirit
i) Because brings into kingdom
b. The cursed life – pretends to be ok….trusts in self
c. Because keeps from God, from kingdom
2. The blessed life is morning – conviction of sin
i) Joy of the Lord comes with
ii) Because brings comfort – healing,
b. The cursed life – is hard, unbending…unrepentant
i) Because there is no comfort
3. The blessed life is meek– surrendered to God, His ways
i) Because inherits, keeps – has all
b. The cursed life is self willed…my way, my will
i) Because loses all things
4. The blessed life hungers and thirsts for righteousness – power from without, rightness from without
i) Because shall be filled…have it
b. The cursed life trusts only on self, leans only on self – makes flesh its strength
i) Because it shall be empty…does not work
5. The blessed life is merciful – kind, fruit of Spirit
i) Because obtains mercy, knows mercy
b. The cursed life is hard, calloused, angry, vengeful, bitter
i) Because it knows no mercy
6. The blessed life is pure in heart – single in its inner part, totally for the Lord
i) Because shall see, know God…best, highest
b. The cursed life is divided in heart
i) Because will not know, walk with or see God
7. The blessed life is the life of a peacemaker – brining others to peace with God
i) Because called sons of God – like God
b. The cursed life brings conflict between God and man – helps keep that distance
i) Because nothing like God…embarrassment to family, son of satan
8. The blessed life is the persecuted life – for righteousness, for Jesus
i) Because – really Christians, really of the kingdom
b. The cursed life is the comfort seeking life…always the easy road
i) Because – going down stream….towards hell


Conclusion

Today, with utter simplicity, I want to call you to the life of Christ, the life Jesus has for you…the blessed life, the abundant life!