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Blessed Behaviour of Believers

  

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

 

Intro: The first three Beattitudes reveal the heart exercises of those who have been awakened by the Spirit of God. These next three depict the practical expressions urged upon Christians in their daily lives.

 

1.  Blessed hope. (Tit. 2:13)

2.  Blessed endurer. (Jas. 1:12)

3.  Blessed reader. (Rev. 1:3)

         

Illustration: Unpunctuated words can be meaningless, even mispunctuated words (? ! : ,) Life is that way, if unpunctuated with blessings and service it becomes dull and unmeaningful. It takes blessed punctuations to make it rich and relevant.

 

I.        Blessed Are Consecrated (Mt. 5:6)

A.  Scriptural facts to ponder.

1.  Righteousness: saved person considered. (Mt. 5:6) Approval

a.  Imputed righteousness: Act of God. (Ro. 4:5-7) Positional

b.  Imparted righteousness: Actions of godly. (II Pet. 1:4) Practical

2.  Rightfulness: seek personal consecration. (Mt: 5:6) Appetite

a.  Hunger: spiritual nurture.

b.  Thirst: spiritual moisture. (Ps. 42:1-2)

B.  Satisfaction found by pursuing.

1.  Spiritually blessed: faithful

2.  Spiritually dressed: filled (Ps. 84:11)

 

II.      Blessed Are The Compassionate (Mt. 5:7)

A.  Saints who show mercy. (Ro. 12:8, Eph. 2:4) “The only ones you should try to get even with are those who have helped you.”

1.  Disposition toward those in need. (I Jn. 3:17; Gal.6:10)

2.  Distribution toward those in need. Abe Lincoln – “To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.”

a.  Kindness in giving time: relieving the afflicted

b.  Kindness in giving provisions: alleviating the adversed.

B.  Saints will receive mercy. (Mt. 5:7; Gal. 6:7; Pr. 14:21)

1.  Our Lord will repay us. (Pr. 19:17) Inward benefit (Pr. 14:21)

2.  Others will restore it. (Lk. 6:38) Outward benefit (Ps. 18:25)

John Ruskin: “When we fail to praise someone that deserves praise, two things happen. We run the chance of driving him from the right road for want of encouragement and we deprive ourselves of the happiest privilege of being rewarder to him who deserves reward.” 

 

III.      Blessed Are The Cleansed (Mt. 5:8)

A.     Condition of the heart. (Heb. 10:22; Tit. 3:5) Renewing

1.      Thought processes clean. (Pr. 4:23; Phil. 4:8) Thinking (Heb. 13:9)

2.      Throne place considered. (Mk. 12:30-31) Testimony (I Tim. 5:22)

a.       Stay clean. (I Jn. 1:9) Without defilement

b.       Stay clear. (Jas. 1:27) Without hypocrisy. (I Cor. 5:6-8)

B.     Confrontation with the Holy. (Mt. 5:8)

1.      Purity of habits motivated by pure heart.

2.      Pure hearted persons will see Holy Providence.

 

Illustration: Times of great calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace and the brightest thunderbolt comes from the darkest storm.