The Good Life- Oct 5th: The Kingdom of Heaven

Matt 4:23-24 NIV 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Matt 5:1-2 NIV Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said:

The Kingdom of Heaven-

Counterintuitive teaching= helps us understand the kingdom of heaven. It is not the way of the world. It is revolutionary.

Matt 5:3-12 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 children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus is a teacher and every teacher has to answer these 3 questions:

What is real?

Who’s got it made? Who’s well off? Who’s experiencing the Good life??

Who’s a truly good person?

Phil 3:19-21 NLT 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

2 Cor 4:18 NIV So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

You’re an unceasing spiritual being with a destiny in God’s kingdom.

Heb 12:28 NIV Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe

Matth 6:33-34 NIV 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So who’s truly a good person- how can I be one?

Romans 3:22 NIV This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

Romans 14:17 NIV For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

First 3 Beatitudes: God’s heavenly kingdom is coming to those that is least expected?

-Blessed are the Poor in Spirit.

-Blessed are those who Mourn: To those mourning & greiving Jesus announces a time of rejoicing is coming.

-Meek: Humble, unimportant. Those who are looked down on. Word picture: a wild animal that has been domesticated.

The next 3 describe the character of those who will be most at home in God’s Kingdom.

-Hunger and thirst for righteousness.

-Merciful:

The more merciful you are, the more mercy that will be extended to you.

Luke 6:36

-Pure in heart:

The last 3 talk about the difficult life ahead for those that follow Jesus and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Peacemakers:

Persecuted twice