Weekend Words

 From Beside the Still Waters...

A Powerful Sermon - Part 1 

Read: Matthew 5:1-6, Ephesians 4:22-32

"And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying..." Matthew 5:2

The Sermon on the Mount is perhaps the most powerful sermon ever preached.  An all-powerful God/man was proclaiming the all-powerful truth.  Sermons of normal men are powerful if preached under the direction of the Holy spirit.  Herein lies their only power.  Preachers must maintain complete spirit-consciousness and little or no self-consciousness.  Only then can they express Christ's will to their fellow men.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit," Jesus said.  With these words He taught the spirit of selflessness that He Himself exemplified.  We are poor in spirit when we feel utterly destitute before God.  We have no confidence in the flesh, are empty of self, and are broken on the Rock, Christ Jesus.  Then we are blessed, and the kingdom of Heaven is ours.

"Blessed are they that mourn."  This mourning refers to sorrow for our sins.  In Jesus' first preaching He said, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).  We respond and are blessed with forgiveness, comfort, and peace.

Blessed are the meek."  To be meek is to be simple in our spirit.  It means being quiet, modest, humble, and gentle.  Meekness does not merely say, "God knows, and He will have the final word."  It also shows by action, "I am satisfied to let God work things out to His glory."

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness."  How can we be blessed (happy) when we are hungry or thirsty?  When our hunger is for righteousness, the answer is already on the way.  God always answers this cry immediately.  The hungry and thirsty shall not only obtain righteousness but shall be filled and running over with it.

John Baer - Sexsmith, AB

Jesus is preaching.  Are we listening?

A Powerful Sermon - Part 2

Read: Matthew 5:7-12, Philippians 2:1-11

"Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven." - Matthew 5:12

The Sermon on the Mount is not only a powerful sermon; it is a powerful way to live.

"Blessed are the merciful."  Mercy towards others brings spiritual dividends to ourselves.  "For he shall have judgement without mercy, that has shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgement" (James 2:13).  Quick judgement without mercy is ungodly.  The Lord Himself is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy" (Psalm 103:8)

:Blessed are the pure in heart."  Christ's children are pure and sincere in everything.  Their pure hearts find perfect peace in freedom from guilt.  They are cathedrals where no images or stained glass windows are found, but where Christ dwells.  Here are no hiding places, for all is "naked and open" before the eyes of our God (Hebrews 4:13).  Are we trying to hide anything?

"Blessed are the peacemakers."  The world cries, "Peace, peace" where there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14).  But peacemakers pursue the troubled, as 1 Peter 3:11 gives instruction: "Seek peace, and ensue it."  (To ensue is to pursue.)  Early in any growing conflict we must seek to settle what threatens to develop into war and division.  Before angry words pass our lips, let's think of Jesus.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake."  We need to speak up for Christ regardless of the world's hatred for Him and us.  Happy are the suffering ones who speak of Christ, forgive as Christ did, and show love to the haters of truth even when reviled for Christ's sake.  These have cause for abounding joy and even for literal bounding as Jesus said in Luke 6:23: "Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven."

John Baer - Sexsmith, AB

Jesus is preaching.  Are we obeying?