THE BLESSED LIFE #2 – VIVA LA VIDA
TODAY’S DATE: Sept. 28 – it was 18 years ago in a farmhouse in Lacombe, Alberta, where I first encounter God in a life-transforming way, and my life has never been the same since!
ILLUSTRATION: Look to the Classifieds:
Let me quickly share with you some intriguing classified ads that have appeared in newspapers:
• Illiterate? Write today for free help.
• Dinner special – Turkey $2.35; Chicken or Beef $2.25; Children $2.00
• Tired of cleaning yourself? Let me do it.
• Auto Repair. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once, you’ll never go anywhere again.
• And finally, one of my favourites: Stock up and save. Limit one.
That sums up pretty well what I want to talk about today. When is a great deal not a great deal?
SONG LYRICS: Viva La Vida by Coldplay:
• You can learn a lot about our society by the music that is most popular today, as music is often a reflection of the feelings and attitudes of a generation.
• Viva La Vida by Coldplay has been the #1 song on the Billboard Charts for 17 weeks.
I used to rule the world, Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone, Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice, Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
Listened as the crowd would sing, "Now the old king is dead, long live the king"
One minute I held the key, Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand, Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
• Here is the life of a person who had it all – power, authority, influence, success.
• But it all turned out to be nothing, empty and meaningless.
• See the Biblical symbolism: “My castles stand upon pillars of sand.” Matt. 7:26:
• Jesus said, “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing, Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield, My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain, I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word, But that was when I ruled the world
• The song’s title is: Viva la Vida = “Live the life!” - Live the BLESSED Life!
THE BIG IDEA:
God’s desire is that we would experience the blessed life – where we would be happy, supremely blessed; and spiritually prosperous – with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 gives us the keys to living the blessed life.
• Jesus said: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:17).
ILLUSTRATION:
There were these two guys who were watching this movie, and as the movie went on, it got towards the end of the story, and the one guy said to his friend, “Watch this. I bet he’s going to jump off of that train and kill himself.” His friend said, “No way, no way!” So he said, “I bet you he will!” He said, “No way, he’s not going to do that.” “Yeah, yeah, I bet you five bucks, five bucks!” “Okay, you on brother!” So all of a sudden, the guy jumps off the train and kills himself! “No way!” The guy said. And the first guy said, “I told you! You owe me five bucks!” “Aw man, here’s my five bucks!” The first guy said, “I’ve gotta be honest with you, my conscience is bothering me. I saw this movie already, and I knew what was going to happen.” And the second guy said, “I saw it too, but I never thought he’d do it twice!”
• Just because you have knowledge doesn’t mean you use it well!
BACKGROUND TO THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him--from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.” (Matt. 4:23-25).
• Over the next couple of months, we are going to study the Sermon on the Mount.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying…” (Matt. 5:1-2).
• Notice that Jesus’ teaching was in response to ‘seeing the people’.
THE BEATTITUDES – THE BLESSED LIFE:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• To be poor in spirit means we acknowledge our need for God.
ILLUSTRATION:
A young woman went to her pastor and said, “Pastor, I’m struggling with a sin, and I want your help. I come to church on Sunday and I can’t help thinking I’m the prettiest girl in the congregation. I know I shouldn’t think that, but I can’t help it. Please help me.” The pastor replied, “Mary, don’t worry about it. In your case it’s not a sin. It’s just a horrible mistake.”
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
• To mourn over our sins, confess them and repent
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
• Meek = gentle, bearing the fruit of the Spirit
6 Blessed are those who hunger & thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled / satisfied.
• We need to hunger after God alone! (Psalm 63)
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
• We will receive what we give!
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
• If we want to see God, we must be pure.
ILLUSTRATION:
• When we are not pure in heart, we won’t be able to experience the blessed life.
• EXAMPLE: Last night, our girls had a bath, and when they got out, the drain was clogged. It was a Barbie dress. Once I pulled the dress out, the water flowed.
• ANOTHER EXAMPLE: The pool filter. Stops the ‘blessings’ from flowing.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
• We need to pursue peace with all men.
Now what are the things that lead to a blessed life?
• Being poor in spirit, mourning over sin, being meek, hungering and thirsting after God, being pure in heart, being merciful, being peacemakers.
What kind of things can block up – or hinder – the flow of God’s blessings into our lives?
• Opposite of those seven things: Being proud, apathetic about sin, apathetic about seeking God, having unconfessed sin, not being merciful, or aggressively fighting others.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Note – the blessed life doesn’t mean that we won’t experience hard times.
• We will go through tribulation, and we will be persecuted!
11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• Even though persecution and trials and storms will come in life, we can still have joy and peace – and experience the BLESSED LIFE!
THE FRUIT OF LIVING THE BLESSED LIFE:
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:13-16).
• God wants us to experience the blessed life so that others can be blessed, too!
• Remember, we are blessed to be a blessing. “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38).
• Real life-joy and satisfaction comes when we live our lives to serve and bless others.
• Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
