BLESSED #8 – PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

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MESSAGENOTES

BLESSED #8 – PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

MARCH 6/7, 2021

MATTHEW 5:1-3 (ESV)

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 

Seeing the Beatitudes in four PHASES!   

Phase #1: EMPTYING (Beatitudes 1–3)
Grace transforming you away from a life of sin.

MATTHEW 5:3-5 (ESV) 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”   

Phase #2: LONGING (Beatitude 4)
Grace transforming you to desire holiness.

MATTHEW 5:6 (ESV) 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” 

Phase #3: FILLING (Beatitudes 5–7) 
Grace transforming you into the image of Jesus Christ.

MATTHEW 5:7-9 (ESV) 

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Phase #4: OVERFLOWING (Beatitude 8) 
Grace transforming you to powerfully represent Jesus Christ.

MATTHEW 5:10-11 (ESV) 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

A life that is OVERFLOWING vs. a life that is FLOODED. 

JOHN 7:37-39 (ESV)   

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”  39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

2 CORINTHIANS 2:14-17 (ESV)   

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY STEP 12  
Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs.   

GALATIANS 6:1 (ESV)   

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 

CELEBRATE RECOVERY BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE 8  
Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and my words.   

MATTHEW 5:10 (ESV)   

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”