Blessed Peace

Blessed Peace

(Matthew 5:1-12)

Yearly Theme:  “Peace is…”

Series Title:  “Difficult Peace”

August 22^nd, 2021

Something to think about:

As we continue our series today entitled, Difficult Peace, we come to Jesus’ famous sermon in the Gospel of Matthew.  The very first word Jesus begins with is the word for “Blessed.”  In a series of “Blessed” statements, Jesus defines what it truly means to be blessed.  If you’ve grown up in the church, you may know this list as the “Beatitudes.”

Let’s read the beatitudes today and find out how to truly be blessed:

Matthew 5:1-12 (NLT),

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, ² and he began to teach them.

³ “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

⁴ God blesses those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

⁵ God blesses those who are humble,

for they will inherit the whole earth.

⁶ God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,

for they will be satisfied.

⁷ God blesses those who are merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

⁸ God blesses those whose hearts are pure,

for they will see God.

⁹ God blesses those who work for peace,

for they will be called the children of God.

¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

¹¹ “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. ¹² Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. ^[1]

To be truly “blessed” as Jesus indicates is to be completely surrendered to GOD in all things and in all ways.  When a person is truly surrendered to GOD in these ways, what the world sees as a lowly existence, is truly an elevated blissfulness that nothing in the world can supply.  And here’s the point…

Key Point:  “Those who seem the most oppressed have been given great opportunity for peace and blessing from God.”

But how is this possible?  This seems counterintuitive. 

I contend that it’s not until a person realizes the temporary nature of the things of life, and even life itself, that they are able to see beyond what the world deems as success and fulfillment.  Blessedness doesn’t come through things that are fleeting and temporary, but rather through things that are forever, eternal.  And those things that are eternal are given life and purpose and existence through the only all-powerful, eternal Giver of life, and we know Him as Yahweh, or GOD.

This whole list that Jesus gives is the key to living as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven rather than a citizen of the temporary kingdoms of this world.  So, what does this blessedness look like in the Christian life?  Let’s consider a few things this morning with regard to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:

• Peace only comes when a person  their deepest needs, and discovers  can truly supply those needs.

Matthew 5:3-6, (NLT),

³ “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

⁴ God blesses those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

⁵ God blesses those who are humble,

for they will inherit the whole earth.

⁶ God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,

for they will be satisfied.

• Peace only comes from   for Christ in mercy, humility, purity of heart, and peacemaking.

Matthew 5:7-9 (NLT),

⁷ God blesses those who are merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

⁸ God blesses those whose hearts are pure,

for they will see God.

⁹ God blesses those who work for peace,

for they will be called the children of God.

• Peace only comes through  for Christ in ways that run counter to the world’s  .

Matthew 5:10-12 (NLT),

¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

¹¹ “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. ¹² Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Something to take home:

To truly be blessed is to have the veil pulled from your eyes and truly see that the way to peace, purpose and fulfillment in life is only through Christ.  He is the only way to freedom and forgiveness, true love and eternal life. 

Living for yourself makes GOD’s ways look upside down, but living for Christ puts all things in proper perspective.  We currently live in an upside-down world, but it’s only those with the mind of Christ who are able to see that.  When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, we are able to truly get our bearings and understand that we are only truly blessed when we realize our need for Him.

Key Point:  “Those who seem the most oppressed have been given great opportunity for peace and blessing from God.”

^[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 5:1–12). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.