09/27/2026
THE ESSENCE OF TODAY’S MESSAGE
[FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT]
Matthew 5:3-6, 10-12, 43-48
““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 gentle, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Without humility you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven; without meekness you cannot inherit the earth. In between these two realities lies the reality of mourning (sorrow, tribulation, brokenness, suffering, persecution) which gives us the opportunity to develop and display both the inward attitude of humility and the outward working of meekness. When we enter the kingdom, we enter kingdom warfare. We will have to face resistance and opposition. There will be mourning, but…
Be comforted - Christ is with us, teaching us, leading us, and using it all for redemptive purposes. Be comforted - there is more to the story and He is writing it. Be comforted - you are being conformed into His image; an eternal weight of glory is being produced in you. Be comforted - many will see your faith and good works and will glorify the Father in the day of visitation. Be comforted - those that embody this kind of Christlikeness (humility, brokenness, meekness) are trained and are trustworthy to receive kingdom authority now and to reign on the earth with Jesus when He comes in the future. Be comforted - in the end there is ultimate victory and great reward - we will be satisfied in Christ.
When we seek and desire to fulfill the will of God (righteousness), we are fulfilled. Let’s lift our eyes to the mount of God and climb with Jesus. We will prove (to the world) that we are sons of the Father who are being perfected in His lovingkindness as Holy Spirit empowers us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. Persevering through persecution was the path of Jesus and the prophets, and we are treading that same ground as we follow their example. Blessed are you if you receive, understand, and obey these truths.
