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A ttitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings

A ttitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings. What is this series about? An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors identified in the New Testament as “blessed” A look at Christian conduct and characteristics that will enrich our lives with lasting joy

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A ttitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings

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  1. Attitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings

  2. What is this series about? • An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors identified in the New Testament as “blessed” • A look at Christian conduct and characteristics that will enrich our lives with lasting joy • A look at the condition of those who lack these qualities

  3. Why study this? • To understand God’s explanation of happiness and how we can reach it • To understand how the world’s definition of happiness does not truly satisfy • Solomon found futility in the accumulation of worldly wisdom and knowledge, in the pursuit of pleasure, the collection of wealth and possessions, in labor, in the oppression of enemies; concluded: fear God & obey Him

  4. Outline • Definitions of terms • Today’s blessing is on the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3) • The blessing they receive • The cursed life

  5. Definition of terms • Blessed (Greek: makarios) • Webster: “of or enjoying happiness; bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune” • Vine’s Expository Dictionary: happy, the state of happiness • New Bible Dictionary: “used in Pagan Greek literature to describe the state of happiness and well-being such as the gods enjoy” • Beatitude (Latin: beatitudo, from beatus) • Webster: “a state of utmost bliss” • The blessings of the beatitudes are moral joy and spiritual gain, not just material prosperity.

  6. Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3) • “poor in spirit” = humble in the heart, contrite • Admits a dependency upon God, rather than arrogance in one’s own self-sufficiency • Humble before God • Isa. 57:15 – God prefers the company of such… • Matt. 23:12 – God exalts such as these… • Jms. 4:6 – God gives to grace to such as these… • Humble before other people • Rom. 12:16 – do not think yourself better than others • Phil. 2:3 – regard others as greater than self • 1 Pet. 5:5-6 – humility toward others and God

  7. The blessing they receive (Matthew 5:3) • “theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (the church) • Who is greatest in the kingdom? (Matt. 18:1-4) • Humble people put others first, and serve them. God rewards such behavior (Matt. 25:34-40) • They enjoy the righteousness, peace, and joy of the kingdom (Rom. 14:17) • “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life” (Prov. 22:4) • Humble people are happy people, for they trust in God’s grace to bring them safely to heaven, rather than trusting in themselves or other created beings

  8. The cursed life • The opposite of poor in spirit: haughty, arrogant • They seek to gain advantage for self (Jude 1:16) • “boastful pride of life” (1 John 2:16) • “take pride in appearance and not in heart” (2 Cor. 5:12) • “jealousy and selfish ambition” (Jms. 3:14-16) • Cursed: too proud to admit their need for God • They cannot enter the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10) • They will never find true happiness, only a constant pursuit from one temporary, unfulfilling pleasure to the next temporary, unfulfilling pleasure • Cursed are the haughty in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of hell (Ps. 101:5; Prov. 21:4)

  9. Summary • The one who is lowly in spirit finds happiness! • The one who is lowly in spirit is heir to God’s kingdom • The one who lacks humility finds no lasting joy and cannot enter the kingdom • The blessed life begins with an humble attitude • Blessed are the poor in spirit, • for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

  10. Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34) • That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4) • Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9) • Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12) • Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32) • Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37) • Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12) • Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27) • Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16) • Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21) • Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10) • Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9) • Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey • 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36

  11. Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly

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