Matthew 5:1-3 KJV
v1 - And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
v2 - And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
v3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Life Point:
Everybody is looking for significance and satisfaction.

Life Point:
Jesus was different in Who He was. Jesus was different in what He did. Jesus was different in what He taught. We should be different in how we live.

Life Point:
You will never be filled with God until you are empty without Him. You will never be blessed by God until you admit you are bankrupt without Him.

3 Bankruptcy Barometers:
1. We are morally bankrupt without God.

10 Moral Milestones:
1. Jesus is not talking about poor in finances but poor in spirit.
2. Jesus is not against you having money, He is against it having you!
3. Rich people can be just as Godly as poor people. Poor people can be just as greedy as rich people.
4. We owed a debt we could not pay. He paid a debt He did not owe (Matt. 18:23-35)
5. No matter how good you think you are or how good others say you are … you realize without Him you are morally bankrupt (Mark 10:18, Rom. 7:18, Rom. 3:10-20)
6. There is nothing good in you or about you unless God lives in you!
7. You’ll never bargain with God when you realize you have nothing to offer.
8. You can’t say enough! You can’t pay enough! You can’t pray enough!
9. You will never have any of God until you first admit your need for all of God, to be right with God!

Math Equation:

Abilities Earnings Morality Wealth

Ableness + Education x Manners Wisdom = 0

Astuteness Energy Money Work

10 Moral Milestones:
1. Jesus is not talking about poor in finances but poor in spirit.
2. Jesus is not against you having money, He is against it having you!
3. Rich people can be just as Godly as poor people. Poor people can be just as greedy as rich people.
4. We owed a debt we could not pay. He paid a debt He did not owe (Matt. 18:23-35)
5. No matter how good you think you are or how good others say you are … you realize without Him you are morally bankrupt (Mark 10:18, Rom. 7:18, Rom. 3:10-20)
6. There is nothing good in you or about you unless God lives in you!
7. You’ll never bargain with God when you realize you have nothing to offer.
8. You can’t say enough! You can’t pay enough! You can’t pray enough!
9. You will never have any of God until you first admit your need for all of God, to be right with God!
10. How do you know you have truly declared spiritual bankruptcy? When you realize there is not one person on the face of this earth more in need of the grace of God than you!

3 Bankruptcy Barometers:
1. We are morally bankrupt without God.
2. We are personally bowed down before God.

4 Bow Barometers:
1. You can be broke but not broken
2. Prisoner or Pope.
Give money to the church or steal money from the bank.
Seated on death row or never got a speeding ticket.
Jim Frease or Anne Frease.
…we all need to humbly recognize our need for God.
3. You will never fully appreciate your righteousness until you understand your former wretchedness (II Cor. 5:21)
4. He has all that we don’t have … He IS all that we are not. He doesn’t have to give us anything, but desires to give us everything!

3 Bankruptcy Barometers:
1. We are morally bankrupt without God.
2. We are personally bowed down before God.
3. We are eternally blessed by God.

5 Blessed Barometers:
1. In Heaven the way to become the child of a king is to first admit you are a beggar
2. A humble profession brings a Heavenly possession
3. On earth when you declare bankruptcy, they take everything you own. In Heaven when you declare bankruptcy, God gives you everything He has!
4. I want to be a saint … admit you’re a sinner. I want to be a prince … admit you’re a pauper. I want to be a king … admit you’re a criminal.
5. This is the foundation of all the other beatitudes. This is the foundation to your significance and satisfaction … to become a believer you must admit you’re a beggar!

Matthew 5:4-5
*v4 - Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.


7 Good Mourning Guarantees

1. There is a time to mourn (Eccl. 3:4)
2. There is a way to mourn (1 Thes. 4:14-18, Ps. 126.6)
   
   
   I Thes. 4:13-18 KJV

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Ps. 126:6 NKJV

He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

1. There is a time to mourn (Eccl. 3:4)
2. There is a way to mourn (1 Thes. 4:14-18, Ps. 126.6)
3. Bad politicians can cause us to mourn (Prov. 29:2 KJV)
4. A country out of control can cause you to mourn (Hosea 4:1-3)
5. Jesus came to comfort (Is 61:1-2)
6. The Holy Spirit was sent to comfort (John 14:16,26; John 16:7)
7. Now you are sent to comfort (II Cor. 1:3-4)

v5 - Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.*

3 Meekness Milestones:
1. Run after meekness (I Tim. 6:11, Titus 3:1-2)

I Timothy 6:11 KJV
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Titus 3:1-2 KJV
v1 - Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
v2 - To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

3 Meekness Milestones:
1. Run after meekness (I Tim. 6:11, Titus 3:1-2)
2. Receive the Word with meekness (James 1:21)

James 1:21 KJV
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

3 Meekness Milestones:
1. Run after meekness (I Tim. 6:11, Titus 3:1-2)
2. Receive the Word with meekness (James 1:21)
3. Restore with meekness (Gal. 6:1-2)

Galatians 6:1-2 KJV
v1 - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
v2 - Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

2 Meekness Mandates:
1. The meek will have provision and peace (Ps. 37:11)
2. The meek will have guidance (Ps. 25:9)

10 Meekness Matters:
1. Meekness is not weakness
2. Leaders are learners
3. Don’t be a know it all, be a learn it all
4. The more I know, the more I know I need to know
5. The man who needed counsel the least … talked about it the most (Prov. 20:18)
6. Get the counsel you need to hear not the counsel you want to hear (Prov. 12:15)
7. We tend to run to permission not correction (John 3:19-21)
8. Counsel provides angles and prevents blind spots (Prov. 11:14)
9. The most valuable relationships you have are the ones that will tell you the truth (Prov. 27:5-6)
10. Isogesis vs. Exogesis

Life Point:
Man is at his most creative when we want to justify our sin.

Life Point:
Never attribute human attributes to God to recreate Him in your image.

Matthew 5:6-10
v6 - Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
v7 - Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
v8 - Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

9 Principles Pertaining to Persecution:
1. Persecution is designed to steal the Word (Mk 4:17)
2. Persecution is designed to make you think God doesn’t love you (Rom. 8:35)
3. Persecution is designed to affect your identity (Luke 6:22-23)
4. In persecution remember you are in good company (I Pet. 5:8)
• Jesus (Matt. 12:24)
• Paul (Acts 24:5)
• Joseph (Gen. 39:7-20)
5. In persecution remember people will always fight what they don’t understand (Matt. 27:22)
6. In persecution never beg anyone to believe in you (I Pet. 2:23)

LIFE POINT:
Integrity can’t be proven … it must be observed

LIFE POINT:
Jesus never strived to appear truthful … He simply WAS the Truth!

9 Principles Pertaining to Persecution:
1. Persecution is designed to steal the Word (Mk 4:17)
2. Persecution is designed to make you think God doesn’t love you (Rom. 8:35)
3. Persecution is designed to affect your identity (Luke 6:22-23)
4. In persecution remember you are in good company (I Pet. 5:8)
• Jesus (Matt. 12:24)
• Paul (Acts 24:5)
• Joseph (Gen. 39:7-20)
5. In persecution remember people will always fight what they don’t understand (Matt. 27:22)
6. In persecution never beg anyone to believe in you (I Pet. 2:23)
7.In persecution, never allow what critics say about you change what you believe about yourself

LIFE POINT:
If people don’t like you, they must not know you!

9 Principles Pertaining to Persecution:
1. Persecution is designed to steal the Word (Mk 4:17)
2. Persecution is designed to make you think God doesn’t love you (Rom. 8:35)
3. Persecution is designed to affect your identity (Luke 6:22-23)
4. In persecution remember you are in good company (I Pet. 5:8)
• Jesus (Matt. 12:24)
• Paul (Acts 24:5)
• Joseph (Gen. 39:7-20)
5. In persecution remember people will always fight what they don’t understand (Matt. 27:22)
6. In persecution never beg anyone to believe in you (I Pet. 2:23)
7.In persecution, never allow what critics say about you change what you believe about yourself
8. Always overcome persecution with joy for yourself and love for others (Matt. 5:10-12, 44)
9. In persecution, remember you are more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37)

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