Untrustworthy

Topics: Jesus, beatitudes

I. World is an untrustworthy gauge

* Blessed are those who set their mind on the things above!

When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down . . . He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying (Mt. 5:1, 2; see Mt. 9:36-38).
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:15-17).

* Blessed are those who are transformed internally by God!

His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them (Mt 5:1, 2).
"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother?s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ?Let me take the speck out of your eye,? and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5).

* Blessed are those who walk humbly by the power of the Holy Spirit!

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!? I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:9-14).

Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins August 8^th, 2021