Sermon on the Mountainside I am Blessed

Sermon on the Mountainside

I am Blessed

Someone once said “I am blessed”

Think about what Jesus said

You are blessed if you are   

Poor in spirit, if you mourn, and are meek

If you are hungry and thirsty for righteousness

If you have mercy, are a peacemaker

And are persecuted

Let’s be honest this is not what we think about when we think about being blessed

  These are the attitudes of the blessed

These are the seeds of blessing

Seeds do not look like the plant it turns into

But the mature plant that is fruitful always reproduces the original seed

And the cycle repeats itself

 How about you?

 Can you say you are blessed after reading Jesus’ message about the Blessed? 

I am Blessed

We attend a wonderful

church when we are in Florida.

The church started a few years ago with

70 people and in a short time is over 700.

When we went to Florida in 2020,

 we got to see their new sanctuary.

 It is always exciting to meet the people

as there is so much energy there.

The joy and smiles from the parking lot

to the sanctuary makes you feel so good.

Before the music starts, the energy of

the people young and old makes you

feel welcome and glad you are there.

This energy flows into the worship

and the ministry of the Word of God.

It is no wonder they are growing so fast.

One of the young men who has been

with the church from the beginning

grabs our attention as we are looking

around at the new construction.

He asked, “How we were doing?”

And we responded, “How are you doing?”

This young man who I have never seen him

without an infectious smile said, “I am blessed”.

 

These words are so common among Christians.

I have used these words to describe my life, as well.

I had been studying the “Beatitudes”,

also called “The Sermon on the Mount”

for a while now.

I thought to myself…

 “Is this wonderful young man blessed?”

Does he even know what he is saying

or do any of us know what we

are saying when we say, “I am blessed”?

When I think about my wife,

Sandy, I think I am blessed.

When I think about my children and

grandchildren, parents and the rest of

my family, I think I am blessed.

When I think of my house,

 I think I am blessed.

Thinking of my church in Ohio and

my church in Florida, I feel blessed.

And to spend February and March in the

Florida sun instead of the cold cloudy Ohio…

 You know I have to recognize, “I AM BLESSED”.

But wait a minute…

 Is it the things we have that make us blessed?

Think about what Jesus said.

You are blessed if you are…

   

Poor in spirit, if you mourn, and are meek

If you are hungry and thirsty for righteousness

If you have mercy, are a peacemaker

And are persecuted

Let’s be honest…

 This is not what we think about

when we think about being blessed.

  These are the attitudes of the blessed.

These are the seeds of blessing.

Seeds do not look like the plant it turns into, but

the mature plant that is fruitful always reproduces

the original seed and the cycle repeats itself.

  Let’s look at the blessed life in phase two.

What does this attitude produce?

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven

they will be comforted

 they will inherit the earth

they will be filled

they will be shown mercy

they will see God

they will be called sons of God

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

I did not read about my new car,

our new house, or any other

possessions that bring me joy.

Each one of these “Blessings” to our

blessed attitude is a fulfillment of Salvation.

It is like a sandwich…

 Notice the bread on each end,

 verses 3 and 10…

 “For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”

Between the bread is God’s eternal promises.

I can tell you the young man at church

who said, “I am blessed”, is blessed.

His attitude of joy and energy

is not based on what he owns.

His attitude is based on the sermon

Jesus spoke on the mountainside.

How about you?

 Can you say you are blessed after

reading Jesus’ message about the Blessed?

   

Scripture Reading

Matthew 5:3-10 NIV

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.