MATTHEW 5:6
"RIGHTEOUSNESS AND BLESSEDNESS"
Intro: Trouble with world today - war- sickness-crime. Not any single
manifestation of sin, but sin itself. The church's answers to the world's
ills lie in this verse. Ours is not the task of reforming society-
converting world from sin.
I. THIS BEATITUDE IN RELATION TO OTHERS.
A. Others have revealed my need.
1. I need to be poor in spirit- mourn- meek.
2. I need deliverance from my super ego.
a. Self-concern - Self-reliance.
b. Self-interest.
B. This verse offers hope.
1. I have despaired of victory because of continual
failure.
2. Applied every home remedy; self improvement course;
and do-it- yourself gadget on the market.
C. Being made conscious of my illness now brought to cure.
II. THIS BEATITUDE ANSWERS THE GREATEST DESIRE OF MAN.
A. "Happy are they."
1. Everybody wants to be happy.
a. Great motive behind actions and ambitions.
b. Everything designed for happiness.
c. Great tragedy though whole world seeks never
seems to be able to find.
2. We are not to hunger and thirst after blessedness
(happiness).
a. This is what most people are doing.
b. Happiness should never be sought directly.
c. Church people quilty of this.
1. Always seeking a blessing Chase all
over.
2. Chief aim is to receive blessing.
3. Not to hunger and thirst after
experience.
d. If you put happiness before righteousness you
are doomed to misery.
3. The fundamental error.
a. Treat symptoms rather than cause.
1. Man suffering pain desires relief from
pain.
2. I want relief from pain I will go to
the theater, drink, drugs.
b. What is causing the pain?
III. WHAT DOES "RIGHTEOUSNESS" MEAN?
A. Neg. Not morality between nations (violating treaties).
1. Some men who stand and decry nations for breaking
treaties yet disloyal to own wives break sacred vows.
B. Free from sin in every manifestation. I desire to be free from
sin because sin separates me from God.
1. A desire to be right with God.
a. All trouble in world today because men not
right with God.
2. A desire to be free from the power of sin.
a. See world under power of Satan desire freedom.
3. Desire to be free from very desire for sin.
C. To desire to be completely holy.
1. Want to exemplify beatitudes.
2. Manifest the fruit of the spirit.
3. Long to be the new man in Christ Jesus pure as He is
pure righteous as He.
IV. BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH DO "HUNGER AND THIRST."
A. Means we recognize own inability.
B. To desire supremely not at rest or satisfied.
1. "As the heart panteth after the water brooks. "
2. To be conscious of desperate need of help.
V. "HAPPY" WHY? "THEY SHALL BE FILLED."
A. This is gospel of grace.
B. Gift of God.
1. You could never fill yourself with righteousness.
C. Past - Present - Future.
1. A day when Christ came in and changed.
2. Present stage of growth.
3. Some day stand in His presence.
"Now unto Him who is able to keep."
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