notes on:
Series: Rock the House!
High Impact Ingredients!
Matthew 5:1-16
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Matthew 7:24-27
After 2223 words of instruction Jesus offered his listeners two options: rock or sand.
The bottom line: it would be wise to listen and follow the words of Jesus, and to do otherwise would be foolish.
Here is my the thought: change the heart of the individuals and you change the dynamics of the family.
“God changes our hearts he will strengthen our homes.”
The “Be Happy Attitudes”
The first four of these attitudes or ingredients are focused on our inner life, matters of the heart and soul.
1. Poor in spirit-recognize the lack of ability to please God so they constantly depend on Him.
2. Those who mourn-know the needs in their own life and offer them to the One who alone can provide.
3. The meek-embraces their position before God.
4. Hunger and thirst for righteousness-their appetite is for personal righteousness.
5. The merciful-share with others the mercy they have received from God.
6. The pure in heart-those who are clean from sin by God’s grace and seek him with their whole heart.
"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully."
Psalm 24:3-4
7. The peacemakers-Jesus is their peace and they show others how to have this same peace.
8. The persecuted for righteousness-living for Jesus is their passion even if it brings persecution.
The “Be Happy Applications”
Beatitude Apps-salt and light
Salt-Create in others a thirst for God!
Salt has some incredible practical applications:
1. Its color white represents purity.
2. It provides flavor.
3. It provides healing properties to a wound.
4. It can be used to preserve foods.
5. It produces thirst...we should create in others a thirst for God.
Light-Make Jesus known to others!
Live a life for Christ that is obvious.
“So that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
