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Good morning. If you have your Bible, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join me
in Jeremiah 29. This is a two-parter, and Matthew chapter 4. So jump to the Old Testament,
get you Jeremiah 29. Jump to the New Testament, get you Matthew chapter 4. If you don't have a
Bible, we have some of these black Bibles. They're at the back at this table, right back here to my
left. We would love for you, if you want to go grab one right now, you absolutely can if you want to
grab one in the service. Please come back and get one. This is our gift to you. If you don't get
anything else today, what we want you to have is a copy of God's Word, to know the truth of who God
is straight from His Word. And so please go back there and get one of those copies. That's whether
you're a guest, you're a tender, you're a member, wherever you find yourself, we want to be able
to gift that to you. If you're a first-time guest, we do want to thank you for being here and for
worshiping with us. There's a QR code in the back of the chair in front of you. If you can scan that,
and then that will help you, that'll help us get connected with you, and you can fill out that
information. And then also at the end of the service, my wife and I will be back at that black
table. If you wouldn't mind stopping by there just for a few minutes so that we could learn your name
and thank you personally for being here. Well, a couple dynamics in our service today, that's a little
bit different than our normal week-to-week. At the end of the service, so after the message, we'll have
a song, and then at the very end of the service, we will partake in the Lord's Supper together. And so
we've got these cups that are right here. If you miss that coming in, they're at the very back. So
the question is, can you partake in the Lord's Supper with us? If you are a follower of Jesus
Christ, if you profess faith in Him as your Lord and Savior, we want to invite you to partake in that
with us. We'll walk through some of that at the end of the service together, but you do not have to be
a member of our church or even a member of our denomination in order to participate in that with us.
And so we want to invite every follower of Jesus Christ to do this. And then the last part is after
the Lord's Supper, kind of hang around. We got just one more thing that we're going to do. School is
starting for so many of our students, teachers, educators, district workers, homeschool parents,
homeschool kids. And so at the very end of the service, we're going to ask that all of those people,
college students, if we got any college professors here, trade school students, wherever you may find
yourself, to come down front. And we want to spend some time praying over you because here's what I
personally believe, and I think this is what we see, is that the mission field that we can go into with
the greatest level of impact is in the education system. And so to see students boldly live for
Christ in their mission field where God has placed them, public, private, homeschool, to see teachers and
educators and district workers and homeschool parents be able to influence not just the mind,
but the heart. And so we want to take some time at the very end in order to do that.
And then I guess lastly, all right, lastly, lastly, here's where I'm at, all right.
We've got seniors in the Bradbury house, and if you just see me kind of wandering around Lexington,
I'm just not okay. I'm not okay. They had their senior pictures on Friday. Erin had to work,
and so I thought that she couldn't go, and I didn't know that I needed to go. And Emma said,
you're going with us tomorrow morning, right? And I said, well, sure. And I just did not want to.
I was not ready for that photographer to see a 46-year-old man ugly cry in front of him. Like,
it was just that. So that night, Erin got home from school, and she was like, hey, I'm going to go in
the morning for the kids' pictures. And I'm like, fantastic, you do that. So I'm going to be starting
a support group for all of us. If your kids are graduating, we'll meet on Thursday nights at 930.
We'll just come up here and cry and hold each other together and remind ourselves that it will be
okay. All right. So let me go ahead and start off with our first verse that we're going to look at
this morning. Jeremiah 29 11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare
and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Let's go to the Lord in prayer.
God, we thank you so much for this opportunity for us to gather together, Lord, to study your word.
God, I pray that as we meet here, may the truth of your word be the sweetness that's on our lips.
May it be what penetrates our heart.
Lord, in the power of your Holy Spirit, may it stir us to take a step of faith.
Whether it be a step of faith in obedience, a step of faith in profession of faith for the very first
time. God, we thank you for who you are. We thank you for how you're working. Lord, we thank you for
how you're moving. In this, in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Well, Jeremiah 29 11. Very,
very, very well-known, very, very popular verse. Let me read it to you one more time.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil,
to give you a future and a hope. I will be willing to bet that if you go to any Christian store,
Christian literature store, Christian decorative store, well, whatever it is, that if you walk in
and search through the t-shirts, search through the artwork, search through the bumper stickers,
what you will find guaranteed is Jeremiah 29 11. For many of you, you may not have known when I gave
this Jeremiah 29, it's what we're going to be. But the moment that I began to say those words,
it began to resonate within you, whether that you've heard that, that you recognize that,
that you identify with that. It's a John 3 16 level verse that is just known amongst the world for I
have plans for you. The personal aspect of that declares the Lord. Most of the time, instead of plans
for welfare, the word that is put in there is the word prosper. Plans for prosper, plans for prosperity.
And when we see this, we cling to that verse as a verse of hope, as a verse of potential, a verse
of prosperity. I don't know if you have a life verse, but if you do, this is a definitely a very
common life verse. I think in our house, we have it on a coffee mug. When Grayson was born, someone at the
church that we were at gave us some artwork that they had painted, a painting for Emma that was pink and
had crowns and jewels on it. And for Grayson, it had a football. And Grayson's verse was this verse.
And we hung it over his crib. And as we walked into his room, it was the reminder of who God is
in what God desired to do. But this series that we're in in the last week is not the most
understood books of the Bible or verses of the Bible. It's the most misunderstood
verses of the Bible. So the question comes for us as we think about this particular passage,
when we see in the commonality of how so many of us frequently like to use this verse,
the question becomes, is it okay to do so? Is it okay to claim this as my personal life verse? I
know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, not for evil.
Is it okay to claim this verse over our children? Is it okay to claim this verse over our family? Is it
okay to claim this verse over our business? Is it okay to claim this verse over our church?
Is it okay to do so? And I'll give you the answer that most of us, myself included, oftentimes don't like.
Well, it depends. It depends. It depends. It depends on how you define prosperity.
That's how you define prosperity. You see, in the times of Jeremiah, it was a dark time of despair.
God's people were marked by corruption, by idol worship, by disobedience, from kings, spiritual leaders,
all the way down to the common people themselves. And I'm going to skip over a lot of what is happening,
a lot of what is going on, but God has had enough.
Warning after warning after warning, which is what we see commonly
as God communicates through His prophets to His people.
Warning after warning after warning.
And so Jeremiah, as God calls him and raises him up
to be a prophet to the people of God,
is to bring a message.
And the message that He is to bring is a message of wrath.
It's a message of judgment.
God's people, time and time again,
corruption,
wandering from God,
idol worship,
partaking in the activities
that mark those who were not God's people,
instead of being set apart for who they are
as God's people.
And so God gives them a prophecy
that God's people would be conquered
by their enemies
and taken into exile for 70 years.
And the reality of this judgment that comes
is it devastates the people.
Many of the people will not live past the exile.
I mean, imagine being 20 years old
and hearing that you're going to be in exile,
that you're going to be conquered,
that you're going to be enslaved for 70 years.
It's a death sentence.
You'll be enslaved.
You'll be taken from their home.
And it's not just those who are corrupt,
but it's those who've been faithful to God as well.
But God gives His people hope.
Let's look at Jeremiah 29 back to verse 10.
He says,
For thus says the Lord,
when the 70 years are completed for Babylon,
I will visit you,
and I will fulfill to you my promise
and bring you back to this place.
For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord.
Plans for welfare, not for evil.
To give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon me
and come and pray to me
and I will hear you.
You will seek me and find me.
And when you seek me with all your heart,
I will be found by you, declares the Lord.
And I will restore your fortunes
and gather you from all the nations
and all the places where I have driven you,
declares the Lord.
And I will bring you back to the place
from which I sent you into exile.
So Jeremiah 29, 11,
of what we see
is a promise for God's people
of a future promise
of the faithfulness of God.
So is it okay to use this life verse
for you, for your child?
Well, again, I think it comes back to
how do you define prosperity
and who do you seek it from?
That's what we find over and over and over again.
Jeremiah 29, 11 is not a promise
that you won't face death,
enslavement, despair, suffering.
It's God saying,
no, you will,
and I sent you there.
But it's a promise
that God delivers
that as they walk through
both the corrupt
and the faithful,
but as they walk
through this season
that God is faithful.
So now,
let's fast forward
600 years to Matthew 4.
we see a similar
set of circumstances.
God's people
are once again
oppressed
and suffering.
God's people
are under Roman rule.
Their spiritual leaders
are corrupt.
Everything is falling apart
around them
of what they sense
and what they feel.
And then Jesus shows up.
And Matthew 4,
starting in verse 23,
says,
and he went through
all Galilee
teaching in their synagogues
and proclaiming
the gospel of the kingdom
and healing every disease
and every affliction
among them.
So his fame spread
through all Syria
and they brought him
all the sick,
those afflicted
with various diseases
and pains,
those oppressed
by demons,
those having seizures
and paralytics,
and he healed them.
And great crowds
followed him
from Galilee
and the Decapolis
and from Jerusalem
and Judea
and from beyond
the Jordan.
and seeing
the crowds,
chapter 5,
verse 1,
and seeing the crowds,
he went up
on the mountain
and when he sat down,
his disciples
came to him.
When we look at
the context
of Jeremiah 29,
9-11
and we see a people
who have wandered
from God
and God says,
what I'm going to create
in you
is a desperation.
And then we fast forward
600 years
and we see a people
who are wandering,
who are far
from God,
who are
struggling,
who are sick,
and there's a man
that shows up
and he works
and he moves
and he heals
and he teaches
like it's never
been taught before
to them
and they're drawn
to him.
They're drawn
to the words
and this morning
what I want to talk
to you about
is a desperation
for Jesus.
Claim
Jeremiah 29-11
if it comes out
of a heart
of desperation
for Jesus.
You see,
what I want us
to get to
this morning
as we look
at this,
as Jesus
prepares
amongst this crowd
to teach
the first public
sermon
that we see
in Scripture
is a desperation
for Jesus
and the question
that I have
for us today
that could have
happened
during the time
of Christ,
is there a desperation
for Jesus
or is there
a desperation
for the benefits
of Jesus?
You see,
because here's
what we see
throughout the course
of his ministry.
Oh, he's healing?
He's casting out demons?
He's causing
the blind to see
and the lame
to walk?
Oh, I want that,
Jesus.
Jesus then says,
oh, but in order
to be one of my followers
you've got to hate
your father and mother.
You've got to take up
your cross
to follow me.
You've got to leave
all that you have
behind and pursue
after me.
Well, I don't want
you that bad, Jesus.
So the question
we come to
as we hang
that picture
over
the crib
and the nursery
as we sip out
of that coffee cup
as we wear the t-shirt
as we put on
the bumper sticker,
the question
that we have
is are we desperate
for the benefit
of Jesus
or are we just
desperate
for Jesus?
The sermon
that Jesus
then begives
the sermon
on the mount
begins with
the Beatitudes
and this sermon
is a wonderful
collection of truths
designed by Jesus
to prepare
his followers
for the kingdom
which involved
a lifestyle
radically different
from that of the world.
Jesus is going
to teach them
what it means
to be blessed,
what it means
to be happy,
what it means
to be content
but in order
to do that
he has to
redefine that
in the lives
of his followers
in their hearts
for the truth
of God's word
to penetrate
down to who
they very are
to their core
and blessed
in his mind
prosperity for Christ
prosperity for his followers
will not be
a temporary
feeling
but instead
will be an internal
settling
of joy
in their heart
it will be
beyond their
circumstances
beyond their
afflictions
beyond their
exile
beyond their
reality
it's penetrating
to the core
and these truths
that Jesus gives
they can stand
on their own
we're going to look
at all eight of them
as quickly as I possibly
can this morning
thanks for the laugh
I said as quickly
as I possibly can
alright so here we go
verse 2
and he opened his mouth
and taught them
saying
blessed are the poor
in spirit
for theirs
is the kingdom
of heaven
now imagine this
you've got the beaten
you've got the oppressed
you've got the struggling
you've got those
that are gathered around
a movement
is going to begin
and we begin
with
blessed are the poor
what's Jesus
talking about
what does it look like
to live in this
reality
to cling to
to hope for
the blessing
the prosperity
that God has for us
blessed are the poor
in spirit
for theirs
is the kingdom
in heaven
well with that
and with you and I
as we see these
as they link together
into a chain
and building on one
for the other
this is what Jesus
begins with
he says blessed
are the spiritual
those who are
spiritual bankruptcy
to be poor
in spirit
is to recognize
that you
and I
are spiritually
bankrupt
before God
but what in the world
does that mean
that means that you
and I
and who we are
in and of ourselves
we know
that we
that you and I
of ourselves
have nothing
of worth
to offer
God
that because
of your sin
because of my sin
that we are
completely
spiritually
destitute
Jesus
that we're
blessed
when we
understand
that you
and I
that we
can't
save
ourselves
from our
situation
and we
definitely
can't save
ourselves
for eternity
and that
our only
hope
is
Jesus
is
Jesus
and we
understand
our
sinfulness
so that we
can understand
that we
need
a Savior
when we
understand
our
sinfulness
it's
in that
moment
that we
know
that we
need
a Savior
blessed are
the poor
in spirit
blessed are
the poor
in spirit
for theirs
is the
kingdom
of heaven
Jesus
speaking of the
kingdom of heaven
talks about
salvation
salvation not only
for eternity
but salvation
for today
so imagine
these
followers
they're sitting
around Jesus
and they're
at poor
in spirit
kingdom
like we're
good right
like we've
got that
covered
we can
take
we can
run
with this
poor
kingdom
that's
ours
but Jesus
continues
look at
verse 4
blessed are
those who
mourn
for they
shall
be
comforted
blessed
are those
who
mourn
for they
shall be
comforted
you know
normally
when we're
mourning
our mourning
doesn't happen
because we're
surrounded by a lot
of great things
that are happening
but Jesus
says blessed
are those
who
mourn
for they
shall be
comforted
so what in
the world
is Jesus
talking about
so he
continues to
build
the chain
it's not
just knowing
that you
are a sinner
but it's
beginning to
understand
that you
grieve sin
that you
grieve sin
blessed
are those
who grieve
their own
sin
grieving
is not
fun
but grieving
is good
and grieving
is necessary
grieving
deals with
the heart
you grieve
when someone
that you
love
has died
and you
grieve
not because
you knew
them
but you
grieve
because you
love them
I remember
when my
grandmother
passed away
in 2020
I remember
knowing that
her death
was coming
I remember
going and
spending time
with her
on her
last night
here
me and
Aaron
and Emma
and Grayson
we drove
down there
we sat
by her
bed
we made
the drive
back home
the next
morning
my dad
calls me
your grandmother
has passed
I remember
taking that
and allowing
that to be
information
in my
mind
because I
had to
perform her
funeral service
had to speak
at her funeral
service
officiate
that's the word
I'm looking
for
and I
remember
the morning
of the
service
everything
had been
written
all the
verses
had been
there
all the
poems
that she
had
written
blended
into
what I
was
going
to talk
about
what I
was
going
to do
all the
logistics
of the
music
and everything
was worked
out
I remember
sitting there
in my
office
not having
cried
a tear
since I
heard
and Aaron
walked in
and she's
like
are you
good
and I
said
yeah
I just
need to
I just
need a
minute
as I
finish
this
up
and she
said
okay
and she
walked
out
of the
office
and I
grieved
and I
grieved
because in
that moment
I was moving
from being
pastor to
the grandson
and I
grieved
her loss
and I
grieved
her because
I loved
her
Jesus
here though
is speaking
of a
different
kind
of grieving
Jesus
is not
speaking of
mourning
over
the
loss
of
someone
Jesus
is speaking
of the
mourning
or grieving
over
one's
sin
but you
and I
we're not
just
irritated
we're not
just
annoyed
but you
and I
grieve
over
our
sin
not
because
we need
to
punish
ourselves
not
because
we need
to make
ourselves
feel bad
but because
when we
grieve
the sin
that is
in our
heart
we
agree
with
God
the Bible
tells us
that God
grieves
our sin
and so
when we
grieve
our sin
we agree
with God
and then
here comes
the promise
of the
comfort
of the
Holy
Spirit
to affirm
in us
as we
grieve
that we
are loved
that we
are forgiven
that we
are accepted
that we're
clean
the
third link
in the
chain
that we
see
in
verse
five
blessed
are the
meek
for they
shall
inherit
the earth
the chain
of the
prosperity
of what
it means
to be
blessed
in
God
is
humility
before
God
and
humility
before
others
meekness
and humility
is having
the right
or the
power
I read
this this
week
meekness
or humility
is the
right
or the
power
to do
something
but
refraining
from the
benefit
of someone
else
we see
this not
as a
limitation
or a
weakness
but
instead
restrained
power
for the
benefit
of others
this is
what we
mean
when we
see
this
word
in
scripture
and
it's
the
description
of
Jesus
it's
the
picture
of
who
he
is
at
his
very
core
in
his
humanity
and his
divinity
in
Philippians
2
5
through
8
let
each
of
you
look
not
only
to
his
own
interest
but
also
to
the
interest
of
others
having
this
mind
amongst
yourselves
which
is
yours
in
Christ
Jesus
who
though
he
was
in
the
form
of
God
did
not
count
equality
with
God
a
thing
to
be
grasped
but
emptied
himself
by
taking
the
form
of
a
servant
being
born
in
the
likeness
of
men
and
being
found
in
human
form
he
humbled
himself
by
becoming
obedient
to the
point
of
death
even
death
on
the
cross
Jesus
had the
right
Jesus
had the
power
Jesus
had the
ability
to do
whatever he
wanted
Jesus
is God
but for
our
sake
he
submitted
himself
to
death
even
to
death
on the
cross
humility
before
God
but
humility
before
others
surrender
before
him
but
laying
down
and
surrendering
before
one
another
as
well
I
can
I
could
I
know
but
you
probably
shouldn't
are we
willing
to
serve
are we
willing
to
love
are we
willing
to
bite
the
tongue
are we
willing
to
forgive
are we
willing
to do
all
the
things
that
surrender
ourselves
as
servants
so
that
we
can
have
the
opportunity
the
hope
to
share
the
gospel
with
those
around
us
humility
before
God
humility
before
others
verse
six
another
link
in the
chain
the
fourth
link
of the
prosperity
life
the
blessed
life
that
he
promises
blessed
are
those
who
hunger
and
thirst
for
righteousness
for
they
shall
be
satisfied
blessed
are
those
who
hunger
and
thirst
for
righteousness
for
they
shall
be
satisfied
those
who
seek
those
who
seek
God
I
love
this
picture
that's
painted
because
I
feel
like
it's
a
picture
that
we
all
can
understand
especially
like
living
in
South
Carolina
in
July
and
August
right
blessed
are
those
who
hunger
and
thirst
for
righteousness
now
I
have
a
theory
I've
been
blessed
in
the
years
I've
been
with
I've
been
without
but
I
can't
ever
tell
you
a
point
in
time
and
you
can
like
look
at
me
and
tell
that
I've
truly
been
hungry
right
like
I've
been
ready
to
eat
but
I
haven't
struggled
with
hunger
anybody
there
with
me
all
right
but
thirst
I
get
thirst
I
know
the
best
picture
that I
could
ever
tell
you
about
what
it
meant
to
thirst
one
of
the
very
first
mission
trips
I
went
on
was
in
July
we
went
to
Mexico
central
it's
hot
to
a
whole
nother
level
and
we
get
there
and
we're
pouring
a
basketball
court
concrete
basketball
court
we
got
two
wheelbarrows
four
shovels
and
thirty
college
students
and
so
we
get
out
there
and
we're
mixing
and
we're
mixing
and
we're
mixing
and
they
told
us
not
to
worry
about
bringing
water
from
the
hotel
because
there'd
be
water
there
well
we
got
there
and
there
is
no
water
8 a.m
no
water
9 a.m
no
water
10 a.m
no
water
11 a.m
no
water
noon
no
water
1
2
3
o'clock
3
o'clock
now
in
fairness
I
had
hydrated
well
on
coca-cola
that
morning
because
the
coca-cola
and the
glass
bottles
in
Mexico
just
taste
better
than
everywhere
else
right
and
man
like
I
could
feel
it
in
my
core
it
was
every
part
like
I
could
feel
the
desperation
within
me
and
when
the
water
showed
up
it
was
the
pursuit
for
it
was
the
desperation
for
it
honestly
like
it
kept
feeling
like
I'm
gonna
die
I'm
gonna
die
and
then
there's
my
salvation
the
water
showed
up
when
we
begin
to
fall
into
the
desperation
of
desperately
seeking
for
God
to
hunger
and
thirst
for
him
we
will
no
longer
hunger
and
thirst
for
the
things
of
the
world
it's
no
longer
the
money
the
fame
the
fortune
the
self
the
flesh
that
we
desire
we
pursue
but
we're
called
to
hunger
and
thirst
for
him
but
so
many
of
us
so
many
of
us
if
we
move
from
the
things
of
the
world
and
again
we're
looking
in this
desperation
for
Jesus
the
desperation
for
God
we
often
times
think
that
we're
supposed
to
hunger
and
thirst
for
the
things
of
God
but
what
we
see
in
scripture
is
that
we're
to
hunger
and
thirst
for
God
these
verses
will be
on the
screen
Psalm
63
1
oh
God
you
are
my
God
earnestly
I
seek
you
my
soul
thirst
for
you
my
flesh
faints
for
you
as
in
a
dry
and
weary
land
where
there
is
no
water
you
see
we
don't
simply
hunger
and
thirst
for
the
things
of
God
but
we
hunger
and
thirst
for
the
thing
of
God
for
God
himself
because
in
him
and
in
him
only
will
we
find
satisfaction
we
won't
find
satisfaction
in
the
rules
we
won't
find
satisfaction
in
the
blessings
that
we
perceive
but
we
find
our
satisfaction
in
him
in
him
alone
because
when
we
are
satisfied
with
God
it's
because
we
are
filled
with
God
and
it's
only
when
we're
filled
with
God
that
we're
even
then
capable
of
beginning
to
do
the
things
of
God
so
hunger
and
thirst
not
for
righteous
acts
but
for
the
righteousness
of
God
verse
seven
blessed
are the
merciful
for
they
shall
receive
mercy
continue
on
in
the
link
of
the
chain
those
who
have
experienced
the
relationship
those
who
have
experienced
the
satisfaction
those
who
hunger
and
thirst
for
him
what
we
begin
to
see
is
those
that
offer
forgiveness
and
compassion
to
be
merciful
is
not
to
feel
bad
for
someone
to
be
merciful
is
not
to
simply
throw
tokens
of
encouragement
at
people
to
be
merciful
is
to show
both
forgiveness
and
compassion
and
we're
blessed
when we
do
this
because
we're
relaying
what
God
has
shown
and
what
God
has
given
us
that
we
in
our
trespasses
and sins
desperately
needed
the mercy
of God
and
it's
what
he
gave
us
in
his
compassion
in
his
love
he sent
his
son
and
through
the
work
of
the
cross
he
offers
us
forgiveness
for
just
as
you
were
at
one
time
disobedient
to
God
Romans
1130
says
but
now
have
received
mercy
not
getting
what we
deserve
but
given
what
he
gives
and
so
as
those
who
've
received
we're
then
called
to
be
those
who
then
give
of
the
same
can
you
and I
forgive
someone's
sins
no
we
can't
forgive
their
sins
for
salvation
you're
not
Jesus
I'm
not
Jesus
but
can
we
forgive
them
when
they've
sinned
against
us
absolutely
can
we
forgive
them
when
they
ask
we
sure
can
we
forgive
them
when
they
haven't
and
the
power
of
the
Holy
Spirit
we
can
but
you
and
I
as
we
received
mercy
shall
be
those
who
give
mercy
because
we've
received
it
this
is
the
dynamic
that
Jesus
talks
about
like
when
we've
been
blessed
with
the
forgiveness
of
God
when
you
and
I
have
truly
been
forgiven
when
we
understand
our
depravity
when
we
understand
our
sin
that
the
Holy
Spirit
within
us
works
in
such
a
way
that
not
saying
that
we
do
this
perfectly
not
saying
that
we
do
this
completely
but
that
there
is
the
desire
there's
the
longing
there's
the
battle
that
rages
within
us
between
our
flesh
and
dependence
on
the
Holy
Spirit
to
forgive
others
and
then
Jesus
says
as
you
forgive
others
so
will
my
father
in
heaven
forgive
you
see
it's
the
true
display
of
who
we
but
we're
not
people
who
seek
to
get
mine
and
retribution
but
we're
those
who
forgive
and
who
show
compassion
because
that's
what
was
shown
to
us
verse
8
he says
blessed are
the pure
in heart
for
they
shall
see
God
blessed
are
the pure
in heart
for
they
shall
see
God
the link
of the
chain
continues
and
the
blameless
heart
pure
in heart
the phrase
that's used
there
let's look
at these
two words
pure
in heart
pure
means
clean
blameless
unstained
from
guilt
this
word
carries
with it
a
process
a
process
of
purifying
a
process
purifying
by
fire
or
a
process
of
purifying
by
pruning
Jesus
says
here's
what's
happening
in you
that
you
were
saved
your
account
your
record
is
there
but
now
I'm
working
in
you
I'm
working
through
you
to
make
you
something
that
you
were
not
before
to
work
out
that
old
and
to
work
in
the
new
to
work
out
the
dead
and
to
bring
forth
the
alive
and
the
source
that
this
is
happening
is
not
from
the
outside
in
but
from
the
inside
out
the
heart
this
word
for
heart
can
mean
physical
heart
but
most
likely
when
we
see
this
in
scripture
when
you
see
the
word
heart
what
the
writer
is
talking
about
what
Jesus
is
speaking
to
is
the
spiritual
center
of
your
life
it's
where
your
thoughts
your
desires
your
purposes
your
motives
your
will
and
your
character
comes
from
and so
what
Jesus
says
here
is
blessed
are
those
for
the
pure
in
heart
for
they
shall
see
God
it's
this
patient
work
that
God
is
doing
in
you
and I
as
followers
of
Jesus
Christ
to
not
just
simply
change
our
actions
but
change
our
very
identity
of
who
we
are
as
our
name
is
written
in
the
Lamb's
book
of
life
the
stamp
that
is
put
there
amongst
us
of
who
we
are
in
Christ
that
begins
to
come
through
us
because
it
is
truly
who
we
are
because
we've
been
reborn
and
we've
been
made
new
and
this
change
is
only
possible
through
Christ
you see
you and
I can
change
what
we
do
but
only
Jesus
Christ
can
change
who
you
are
we
hear
this
desperation
from
the
psalmist
in
Psalm
51
10
create
in
me
a
clean
heart
oh
God
and
renew
a
right
spirit
within
me
within
me
I'm
not
saying
stop
doing
what
you're
doing
but
I'm
saying
as we
determine
the
different
acts
that we
need
to
do
maybe
it
opens
up
our
heart
who
we
truly
are
and
that
our
desperation
for
him
is
to
work
and
move
here
as well
verse 9
blessed
are the
peacemakers
for they
shall be
called
sons
of
God
blessed
are the
peacemakers
for they
shall be
called
sons
of
God
as we
continue
to see
the link
in the
chain
what we
find
here
is
great
commission
workers
those
who
were
called
to
carry
on
the
mission
that
we
begin
with
at
the
beginning
of
Jesus'
earthly
ministry
and the
ministry
that he
reminds us
of
before
his
ascension
the
great
commission
work
that's
here
this
word
peacemakers
is only
used
one
other
time
in
all
of
the
New
Testament
and
it's
used
in
different
form
it's
found
in
Colossians
120
and it
says
and through
him
to
reconcile
to
himself
all
things
whether
on
earth
or
in
heaven
making
peace
being
a
peacemaker
by
the
blood
of
his
cross
and so
this
verse
as we
connect
this
with
who
we
are
and
what
he's
called
us
to
this
verse
is
telling
us
how
God
has
provided
peace
not
through
treaties
of
man
not
through
discussion
of
logic
not
through
the
evolution
of
intellect
it's
not
where
peace
is
going
to
be
found
it's
not
where
peace
is
going
to
be
settled
do
you
know
why
pagan
countries
begin
to
continue
to
fight
pagan
countries
because
it's
the
pagan
people
in
amongst
them
it's
the
conflict
and
it's
the
war
and
the
only
peace
the
only
peace
that's
going
to
last
the
only
peace
that's
going
to
be
found
is
the
peace
of
God
and
so
the
desperation
that
you
and
I
are
called
to
be
the
peacemakers
so
what
does
that
mean
what
does
that
mean
that
you
and
I
go
and
carry
the
name
of
the
prince
of
peace
and
every
struggle
and
every
battle
and
everything
is
found
in
our
desperation
of
making
him
our
savior
and
making
him
known
he
is
the
solution
Jesus
Christ
and
then
lastly
I'm
not too
far
over
you're
good
with
me
verse
10
through
12
blessed
are
those
who
are
persecuted
for
righteousness
sake
for
theirs
is
the
kingdom
of
heaven
blessed
are
you
when
others
revile
you
and
persecute
you
and
utter
all
kinds
of
evils
against
you
falsely
on my
account
rejoice
and be
glad
for
your
reward
is
great
in
heaven
for
so
they
persecuted
the
prophets
who
were
before
you
faithful
followers
remember
jesus
he was
an
attraction
he
drew
crowds
he
drew
crowds
of
critics
he
drew
crowds
of those
who
were
skeptical
he
drew
crowds
of
those
who
were
amazed
he
drew
crowds
of
those
who
were
curious
but
oftentimes
the
crowds
the
farther
he
walked
got
smaller
and
smaller
and
smaller
most
theologians
believe
that the
historical
setting
of the
Sermon
on the
Mount
happened
sometime
something
like
this
that
jesus
had
performed
all
of
the
miracles
that
we
read
about
at
the
end
of
chapter
four
and
so
he
went
to
the
top
of
the
mountain
now
is
that
easy
to
get
to
no
if
someone
ever
says
hey
will
you
come
walk
with
me
let's
go
take
a
walk
together
and
you're
like
cool
are we
going to
walk
on
the
lake
and
all
that
and
you're
like
no
we're
going to
walk
to the
top
of the
mountain
like
you've got to figure out if you're capable for that that's not the easy path
so he goes to the top and it says that his disciples
those followers
that they came and gathered
but that word began to spread and that as jesus taught them
that there would be crowds beyond them
those who were still kind of curious
those who still had an agenda
and then as that jesus looks
and says blessed
are those
who are persecuted
blessed are you
when others revile you
and persecute you
and utter evil against you
rejoice
and be glad
for your
reward
will be great
in heaven
spoken to a people
of a future promise
that would not happen then
but what happened for many
as jesus shared these words
after some being imprisoned
after some being exiled
after some being tortured
after some having lost everything that they owned
jesus says
there
is
a future
promise
for you
a blessing
beyond
blessing
a prosperity
beyond
prosperity
for your
reward
lord is great
in heaven
come
and follow
me
as we prepare
to take
the lord's supper
this morning
here's the promise
of what we see
the promise of jeremiah 29
the promise of matthew 4
that the path
and the road
that we find
ourselves on
it's not always easy
it's difficult
it's challenging
but church
in
christ
it's
worth it
it's worth it
when you take a sip out of that coffee cup
when you put that shirt on
when you hang
that picture
over your baby
boy's crib
it's not the promise
of an easy life
but it's the promise
of a blessed life
found in him
in him alone
the question
i have to you
this morning
is this
are you desperate
for jesus
are you desperate
for jesus
would you pray with me
god we know
the truth of your word
and sometimes the truth of your word
and the reality of our life
doesn't seem to
line up
we see the struggle
we see the difficulty
we see the battle
god i pray that we'd see the promise
the truth
the blessed life
is found in the
submission to christ's life
and rule in our life
god i pray for us
that we would not
come to you
and long for you
and desire for you
solely because of the things
that you can give us
but god
because when we come to you
what we get is
we get you
we get the fullness of you
lord
we get all of you
we get a relationship
with you
lord
we're known
by you
lord
and we
know you
god as we prepare
to take
the lord's supper
this morning
the means
by which we come
to salvation
the means
in which we come
by faith
that jesus christ
came and lived
lived a perfect life
sinless
spotless
and died on the cross
not for anyone
who deserved it
but for sinners
dead in their trespasses
and sins
all of us lost
all of us deserving wrath
all of us deserving hell
but he humbled himself
taking on the form
of the servant
even to the point
of death
and death on the cross
and god if there's anyone here
who does not know christ
as their lord and savior
would i pray that today
where this is they will be
where they will begin
that they are a sinner
and that jesus died for them
and that because of his death
what we're offered
is forgiveness
praise god the story
doesn't end on the cross
but it continues to the tomb
and as christ rose
from the grave
we too have the promise
of new life in him
new life today
to be sons and daughters
of the living god
new life
new life with purpose
new life with hope
new life of what it means
to be blessed
that we do not find
our blessing
in our circumstance
but we find our blessing
in our savior
and blessing for eternity
god penetrate
god penetrate to the depths
of our heart
by the power
of your holy spirit
god if there is sin
that is there
lord as we prepare
to take the lord's
supper
lord i pray that we
would profess it to you
that we would confess
it to you
that we would repent
of our sins
or if there is anyone
in our heart
that we have held
anger toward
wrath
resentment toward
god that today
in the power
and the leading
of your spirit
that we would desire
and seek to forgive them
as you have forgiven us
god may we
seek
to surrender
and obey you
it is in jesus name
we pray
amen
that's it for this
week's message
be sure to check back
next week for a new episode
and in the meantime
you can visit us online
at willowridgechurch.org
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and youtube
thanks again for listening
Thank you.