THE CHANGED MIND OF THE BLESSED MAN (THE BLESSED MAN SERIES PART 3)

MATTHEW 5:1-12

Pastor Rick Jackson

There are those who wish to whisk the Beatitudes away to the millennium as unattainable for the present age or any past age. This is impossible to do contextually, grammatically, or even from a historical setting. Christ delivered this to his disciples and He obviously expected them to get some benefit at that time. The Holy Spirit directed Matthew to write it down so He obviously intended for people to receive a benefit from it. It really is not that hard to understand. Someone has rightly pointed out that the Beatitudes are the Attitudes to Be!

An adaptation of Warren Wiersbe's excellent outline will give us our four major points to look the Beatitudes.

I. THE CHANGED MIND IS SEEN IN OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD OURSELVES (v. 3) Here we see the conviction of Humility

1. I am a lost sinner

2. I can do nothing to save myself

3. I can only rely on the mercy & grace of God

You will never be truly happy [blessed] until you come to the place where you realize these truths. The Lord Jesus Himself showed us a man who had sought this world's goods only to come to the conclusion this verse teaches in Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. The publican went home saved, his self-righteous pew partner did not!

II. THE CHANGED MIND IS SEEN IN OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD OUR SINS (v. 4-6)

1. A sorrow that leads to repentance [v. 4, 2 Cor. 7:10]

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

2. A submission to the Master's Plan [v. 5, Acts 9:6]

Exemplified by Paul's submission to Jesus Christ when he said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"

3. A Satisfaction found only in Christ's gift of Righteousness [v. 6, Rm. 9:30-32]

III. THE CHANGED MIND IS SEEN IN OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LORD (v. 7-9)

1. Show forth His Mercy [v. 7, Mt. 18:27-32]

2. Secure in His Grace [v. 8, Acts 15:9]

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

3. Sharing His Love [v. 9, Eph. 2:8-22]

IV. THE CHANGED MIND IS SEEN IN OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE WORLD (v. 10-12)

1. Expect to be Opposed [v. 10]

2. Expect to be Spoken Against [v. 11]

3. Expect to be Rewarded [v. 12]