11/27/11 THE BEATITUDES
11/27/11 THE BEATITUDES
Luke 6:20-26 Sunday, November 27, 2011
Key Verse: 6:20 Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
“Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
Dear Lord heavenly Father, thank you for helping me to be a shepherd for people who are wandering in this world due to their sins. Help me to be a good shepherd and a good disciple raiser for the young people of this generation. Please revive in my soul and passion and a desire to save souls and raise disciples. Please plant a desire in all of my family members to take hold of Christ and serve Jesus with eagerness and thanksgiving in their hearts for the Gospel. Thank you for Hyde Park UBF. May you bless their beautiful fellowship and may the Kingdom of God grow through them until U of C becomes the University of Christ. Please grant me one word of God through this passage. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
1. Blessings (20-23).
Verses 20-23, “Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”
The disciples followed Jesus through thick and thin. There were so many sick and troubled people. The disciples possibly felt woeful. But Jesus called them blessed people. They had little money or influence, but they were rich for they had the kingdom of God. It is Jesus and his kingdom that make people really happy and content. Serving Christ may cause us to weep over others and experience persecution, sometimes severe, but it is the blessed life. It is life with Jesus our blessed Savior. It is a life rewarded by Jesus.
Life in Christ is indeed a most blessed life. We feel poor in spirit, that is wanting, but then we come to Jesus and are filled with the glorious and vast kingdom of God. We may weep for others falled condition. We may weep for our own sins that we get stuck in. I have wept because of despair and fatalism and conflicts with those close to me. But Jesus always comes through and turns my tears into laughter. This sometimes comes after a long spiritual struggle that is like peeling an onion, lots of tears and lots of layers. But laughter does come.
I am a most blessed person. I don’t have much disposable income or influence in my life. It was last month that I had lunch with a spiritual leader outside my UBF church, or the first time in my 25 years of being in Jesus. I can not seem to convince anyone to be a follower of Jesus. People like me and casually listen to me, but do they decide to follow Jesus through me? Only God knows. My life is half over. But by the grace of God, I can follow Jesus and have the joy of heaven in my heart. I can share the joy of living with Jesus in his glorious kingdom in my heart.
2. Woes (24-26).
Verses 24-26 read, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”
People may feel happy when they have lots of money, gourmet foods, recognition, and a fun party life. We work hard to enjoy life. As Christians, we also want the comfort, security, and enjoyment of this life. But souls are empty only pursuing this lifestyle and deep down people are truly sad. We must be touched and healed by Jesus and know what true blessings are.
When I was young, (Before 22) I thought I know how to live the most blessed life. I partied. I spent my money on pleasure seeking. I felt I was rich and well fed. I enjoyed people thinking that I was a fun guy. But actually I was suffering. Eventually I knew that I was I was a “junk’ man with no future. I knew that I was fruitless and the things that I held dear were only leaving me empty and meaningless, lonely and very fruitless. Soon I was crying tears of emptiness. Jesus was drawing me to himself and it worked. At 22 years old I came to Christ. He satisfied my soul with this his living water. Once I was self sufficient…an object of Judgment and a recipient of woe. But now, by the grace of God, I could be a recipient of God’s abundant blessings. Praise the Lord!
Prayer: Lord, you bless my life in every way. Make me a blessing.
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