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The Sermon on the Mount

 

Matthew 3

-Jesus is relevant! He’s not far away; he’s very close.

-Jesus taught a 3-step plan

THEORY

-Jesus gave new information for a radical change in our lives

-Heaven includes air around us, above us, the Earth we stand on, and WAY BEYOND!

*The kingdom of heaven is near and available*

DEMONSTRATION

Matthew 4:23-25 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering sever pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

-Jesus demonstrated truthfulness of theory by giving healing, integrity and wholeness

-not just in bodies but in spirits and relationships

** "pure in heart" = where the central part of the heart is aimed at Jesus

Who is the Kingdom of God For?

-for those right now, not just when death comes

Matthew 5:1-11 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

-the crowd gathers, and Jesus is talking to the people he’s healed

-the belief then was that the Kingdom of God was only available to a small elite crowd

-then Jesus comes and heals EVERYBODY!

-he says – "blessed are…. For…" – he’s demonstrating: they used to be broken and lame, but

now whole!

** "blessed" = overflowing; more than you need of a good thing – can’t help but share because there is so much!

**Jesus is saying – Those of you who have no spiritual credentials at all… you have

opportunity to be overflowing with the Kingdom of God! You’ve seen it in these people who I’ve healed, not YOU believe, and you can have it too!

-"blessed are…" – don’t worry about your problems, because the Kingdom of God can be

Yours!

APPLICATION

So you’re overflowing – Now what?

SHARE!

Matthew 5:13: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by man."

-Jesus didn’t say you "WILL" be the salt, or "WHEN" you become ready to be salt, but He says

"YOU ARE NOW"

-where were the disciples at this time? In the center of the crowd – where salt needs to be

-Jesus is also saying, There’s no sense being salt if you’re not going to be salt!

-if you can believe, you are good effective salt!

Matthew 5:14: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

-Jesus didn’t say you "WILL" be the light, or "WHEN" you become ready to be light, but He

says "YOU ARE NOW"

-let your light shine and be effective!