Blessed are they which are persecuted (Sermon on the Mount Series) Episode 10 - Sunday, 12th January 2025.

Sermon on the Mount Series Episode 10 [Matthew 5:10 (KJV) - "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."]

1. Blessed are they which are persecuted. 
Matthew 5:10-11  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

2. For righteousness' sake.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

3. Rejoice and be exceeding glad.
Matthew 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

4. Great is your reward in Heaven.
Matthew 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

5. So persecuted they the prophets.
Matthew 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

 Off with the Old and On with the New. 

1. Put off the Old Man and Put on the New. 
Ephesians 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2. Be Honest 
Ephesians 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 

3. Be Angry but don’t sin.
Ephesians 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil. 

4. Be a giver not a taker.
Ephesians 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.  

5. Attack the problem not the person. 
Ephesians 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 

6. Act don’t react.
Ephesians 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Navigating Offenses

Forgiveness
Matthew 18:21-22

The Names of Jesus (Sunday, 22nd December 2024)

1. The promised Christ.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  

Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

2. God with us
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

3. Eternal God. 
John 8:58-59 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. 

4. The humble and lowly God. 
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Keep in Step with the Spirit (Sunday, 29th December 2024)

1. Walk in the Spirit. 
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 

2. There is a war in your members.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

3. Yielding to the flesh produces bitter fruit.
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

4. Yielding to the Spirit produces sweet, life giving fruit.
Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

5. There is evidence of walking in the Spirit; not seeking self.
Galatians 5:25-26 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 

What are you dreaming of this Christmas? (Sunday, 15th December 2024)

1. First of all Simeon expected that the "consolation of Israel" would take place.  Luke 2:25-35 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

2. Simeon expected that, because of Jesus's birth, God and His ways would be revealed to "outsiders."
Luke 2:31-32 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel

3. When Simeon predicted that Jesus was destined to cause the falling and rising of many, he was expecting that Jesus would upset the status quo. 
Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 

4. His expectation was that Jesus would be a lightning rod of decision. 
Luke  2:34 …and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Blessed are the Peace Makers (Sermon on the Mount Series) Episode 9 - Sunday, 8th December 2024.

Sermon on the Mount Series Episode 9 [Matthew 5:9 (KJV) - "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."]

1. MAKE PEACE WITH GOD 
 “Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

2. BE AT PEACE WITH YOURSELF 

(Philippians 4:5-10) “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

 3. LIVE IN PEACE WITH OTHERS 
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God

4. PROCLAIM PEACE TO THE WORLD. 
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Blessed are the Pure in Heart (Sermon on the Mount Series) Episode 8 - Sunday, 1st December 2024.

Sermon on the Mount Series Episode 8 [Matthew 5:8 (KJV) - "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."]

Blessed are the Merciful (Sermon on the Mount Series) Episode 7 - Sunday, 24th November 2024.

Sermon on the Mount Series Episode 7 [Matthew 5:7 (KJV) - "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."]

1. What does mercy mean? 
Grace: God gives me blessings I don’t deserve! 
Mercy means God giving me the opposite of what I deserve. 

A. God showed mercy to Adam and Eve. He covered their sin with a sacrifice and clothed them.

B. God allowed Jacob to see Joseph before he died though he didn’t deserve it. 

Gen 45:27-28 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: 28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. 

C. God showed Mercy on David after he murdered Uriah, scorned the God who had given Him everything and gave the heathen reason to Blaspheme. 

2 Samuel 12:13-14 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

Psalm 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

D. God is a God of mercy. 

1 Chronicles 21:13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

Psalm 86:15-17 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. 16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. 17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me. 

Psalm 136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 36 verses with that refrain!

Lamentations 3:21-24 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 2. Be a giver of mercy. 
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 
Give others blessings they don’t deserve. 

3. As you give mercy you will receive mercy.
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.