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Series A – All Saints’ Day – Sunday, November 2, 2014 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough

Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough:

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:27	The holy Gospel According to
0:30	Saint Matthew chapter 5 verses 1 through
0:32	12
0:33	now when he Jesus saw the crowds he went
0:36	up on a Mountainside and sat down his
0:39	disciples came to him and he began to
0:41	teach them saying blessed are the poor
0:43	in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of
0:46	heaven
0:47	blessed are those who mourn for they
0:49	will be comforted
0:51	blessed are the meek for they will
0:53	inherit the earth
0:54	blessed are those who hunger and thirst
0:56	for righteousness for they will be
0:58	filled blessed are the merciful for they
1:01	will be shown Mercy blessed are the pure
1:04	in heart for they will see God blessed
1:07	are the peacemakers for they will be
1:08	called sons of God
1:10	and blessed are those who are persecuted
1:12	because of righteousness for theirs is
1:15	the kingdom of heaven and blessed are
1:17	you when people insult you persecute you
1:21	falsely say all kinds of things and evil
1:23	against you because of me rejoice and be
1:26	glad because great is your reward in
1:28	heaven for in the same way they
1:31	persecuted the prophets who were before
1:33	you
1:34	in the name of Jesus
1:38	so you’ll notice there’s a turn here as
1:40	we approach the end of the church here
1:42	and Christians and historically have a
1:45	different way of keeping time and so as
1:47	we get close to the end of the church
1:48	here New Year’s Day by the way for us
1:50	Christians is the first Sunday of Advent
1:52	so that’s when the new church here
1:54	begins so as the old church here starts
1:57	to wind down and wear out we start to
2:00	get into the season where we consider
2:02	the dead departed in Christ and the soon
2:05	appearing of our great God and Savior
2:07	Jesus Christ and glory to judge the
2:09	living and the dead so once a year we
2:11	get to spend about three four weeks
2:13	talking about the end of the world so
2:16	it’s a fun topic but let’s turn back to
2:19	our text and we’ll kind of Let the
2:21	Season unfold here
2:24	how many of you
2:26	have
2:28	had this fascination with the magazines
2:30	at the Walmart checkout line
2:33	I mean it tells us something about
2:36	society and worse it tells me something
2:38	terrible about myself magazine racks at
2:41	the checkout lines they actually play a
2:42	vital role in teaching and reinforcing
2:45	the values of this world if you think
2:47	about it
2:48	notice that the magazines that are
2:50	featured there have carefully
2:51	choreographed and photoshopped
2:54	advertisements and photo layouts and
2:56	articles which all feature celebrities
3:00	and gorgeous supermodels carefully there
3:04	to demonstrate to us how this world
3:06	defines what it means to be blessed
3:10	the world has its own Beatitudes if you
3:12	would blessed are the Beautiful
3:14	blessed are the ambitious blessed are
3:17	the wealthy
3:19	blessed are the powerful
3:22	those who have these blessings will
3:24	further be blessed with all that this
3:27	world has to offer well things like Fame
3:29	the most expensive cars the most
3:33	impressive houses they will Feast on the
3:36	best foods prepared by the greatest
3:38	chefs and the food will be paired with
3:40	the greatest wines and enjoyed with
3:43	others who are equally beautiful wealthy
3:46	ambitious and powerful and they will all
3:50	be dressed in the most amazing designer
3:53	clothes and decked with gold and
3:56	diamonds and swiss watches and designer
3:59	shoes and they all hop on their private
4:01	jets to vacation at the most expensive
4:03	and exotic locations
4:06	this is what it means to be blessed
4:08	according to the world
4:09	and what do we do
4:11	we buy those magazines and we imagine
4:14	ourselves
4:16	as the people in those magazines and
4:19	dream about what it would be like to be
4:21	so blessed
4:23	is there anybody here who’s not guilty
4:25	of doing this
4:27	yet this is exactly what scripture
4:29	commands us not to do to covet
4:32	when we do such a thing we covet the
4:35	worst part is that we’re coveting the
4:37	world’s values
4:38	or coveting the blessings of this world
4:40	and the economy of the world is
4:43	diametrically opposed to God’s economy
4:45	so Jesus In Our Gospel text this morning
4:47	reveals what it truly means to be
4:49	blessed and it has nothing whatsoever to
4:52	do with beauty ambition wealth or power
4:54	in fact those who are truly blessed we
4:58	Define by Jesus’s words they’re despised
5:01	and they’re insulted by the world and
5:03	those who’ve bought the world’s lies
5:05	regarding what it means to truly be
5:07	blessed and so with that let us return
5:09	to this morning’s gospel text and let’s
5:12	take a closer look at it
5:15	so Jesus saw the crowds he went up on a
5:18	Mountainside and he sat down
5:20	ah mountainsides lots of thing important
5:23	things happen on mountains in Scripture
5:25	it was on the mountain that well Moses
5:28	received the ten commandments so here
5:30	Jesus as one with authority on a
5:33	Mountainside sits down to teach and this
5:35	is how they taught back then rabbis
5:36	didn’t stand up behind pulpits and
5:38	things like that they sat down and when
5:40	the rabbi was teaching everybody
5:43	listened so he sat down and his
5:46	disciples came to him and he began to
5:47	teach them notice this isn’t for the big
5:49	masses this is for his disciples so he
5:52	says to his disciples get this
5:55	blessed
5:57	are the poor in spirit
6:01	for theirs is the kingdom of heaven now
6:03	if you’re not sure what Jesus is talking
6:05	about here the the wrong way to read the
6:08	Beatitudes is to say well the Beatitudes
6:10	tell me that if I do these particular
6:12	things I will be blessed
6:15	Jesus says blessed are not blessed will
6:20	be blessed are
6:22	so blessed are the poor in spirit what
6:25	does this mean well I think a good cross
6:27	reference here would be Isaiah chapter
6:30	66 let me read this verses one and two
6:33	thus says Yahweh Heaven is my Throne the
6:37	Earth is my footstool
6:39	what is the house that you would build
6:41	for me and what is the place of my rest
6:43	all these things my hand has made and so
6:46	all these things came to be declares the
6:48	Lord but this is the one to whom I will
6:52	look
6:53	this is the Lord speaking who is the one
6:54	he’s going to look to he who is humble
6:57	or the Hebrew here actually can be
6:59	translated the one who is poor
7:01	and contrite in spirit and trembles
7:05	at my word
7:08	this is the exact opposite of ambition
7:10	especially spiritual ambition spiritual
7:11	ambition says if I do this and I’m good
7:15	then God owes me that
7:18	Jesus says blessed are the poor in
7:20	spirit a good way to translate that
7:22	would be blessed are the spiritually
7:23	bankrupt
7:26	you think you have something to offer
7:27	God really
7:30	Jesus says blessed are those who have
7:31	nothing
7:33	nothing
7:34	the one who comes before God
7:36	empty-handed and says Lord I’ve blown it
7:39	I’ve got nothing to offer you I’m
7:42	bankrupt I’m penniless
7:44	Jesus doesn’t say to that person away
7:46	from me
7:48	he says blessed are you
7:50	blessed
7:52	whereas the psalmist said blessed is the
7:55	one whose transgression Is Forgiven
7:57	whose sin is covered blessed is the man
8:00	against whom Yahweh counts no iniquity
8:04	in whose Spirit there is no deceit
8:07	we are truly blessed those of us who are
8:10	spiritual beggars because God forgives
8:13	us covers our sins and will not count
8:16	our transgressions against us
8:19	blessed are those who mourn for they
8:21	will be comforted
8:22	now I got to be careful here this is
8:24	kind of a tough one just because of how
8:26	recently my best friend died
8:28	it’s very tempting for me to read this
8:30	passage and say the type of mourning
8:31	that’s discussed here is somehow
8:33	exclusive to this idea that I mourn
8:35	because I’ve lost a friend or a loved
8:37	one although that is in some sense is
8:40	what’s being discussed here it’s a
8:41	little bit more than that
8:43	let me read to you some cross references
8:45	from the Psalms that I think will help
8:47	us understand what this morning that
8:49	Jesus is talking about here it’s not
8:51	just generic morning Psalms chapter six
8:54	let me read verses 1 through 10. oh Lord
8:59	rebuke me not in your anger nor
9:02	discipline me in your Wrath
9:04	be gracious to Me O Lord for I am
9:07	languishing Heal Me O Lord from my bones
9:10	are troubled my soul is greatly troubled
9:14	But You O Lord how long
9:18	turn O Lord and deliver my life and save
9:21	me for the sake of your steadfast love
9:24	for in death there is no remembrance of
9:26	you and she’ll who will give you praise
9:29	I am weary with my groaning every night
9:31	I flood my bed with tears I drench my
9:34	couch with weeping my eye wastes away
9:37	because of grief it grows weak because
9:40	of all of my foes
9:42	depart from me all you workers of evil
9:44	for the Lord has heard the sound of my
9:46	weeping the Lord has heard my plea the
9:49	Lord accepts my prayer and all my
9:51	enemies shall be ashamed and greatly
9:53	troubled they shall turn back and be put
9:55	to shame in a moment
9:59	what is this morning that Jesus says is
10:02	so blessed
10:04	those who mourn they will be comforted
10:07	do you mourn over your sin
10:11	do you mourn that you do not come up to
10:14	the standard that God has revealed for
10:16	you
10:20	do you have Idols that you worship
10:22	rather than the true God
10:25	do you honor those in authority over you
10:29	or do you slander and lie
10:31	and resist Authority
10:34	do you covet what other people have
10:38	are you sexually immoral
10:40	and don’t think it just that just has to
10:42	do with physical acts all that stuff
10:44	begins in the heart
10:46	right
10:49	do you mourn your sin
10:52	this is what Jesus is referring to the
10:54	one who’s poor in spirit spiritually
10:56	bankrupt mourning over his sin in this
11:00	shortcoming
11:01	who knows that he has nothing
11:03	and turns to the Lord
11:06	for forgiveness for mercy
11:10	blessed are the meek Jesus says
11:13	they will inherit the earth
11:15	the meek
11:17	when was the last time you heard of the
11:19	meek Gathering an army together to take
11:21	over the world
11:23	this seems counter-intuitive the make do
11:26	not do such things
11:27	you know there’s the meekest Army in the
11:29	whole world and they’re about ready to
11:30	conquer everybody
11:32	this is not how the world operates but
11:34	Jesus says the meek are the ones who
11:37	will inherit the earth
11:39	Psalm 25 verses 1-9 To You O Lord I lift
11:43	up my soul
11:44	oh my Lord in you I trust let me not be
11:48	put to shame let not my enemies exalt
11:50	over me indeed none who wait for you
11:52	shall be put to shame they shall be
11:54	ashamed who are wantingly treacherous
11:56	what a Meek prayer
11:58	so rather than going and attacking his
12:01	enemies and triumphing over them this
12:04	Meek psalmist says oh Lord you conquer
12:06	them
12:07	I trust in you make me to know your ways
12:10	O Lord teach me your paths Lead Me In
12:13	Your Truth and teach me for you are the
12:15	god of my salvation and for you I wait
12:17	all the day long remember your mercy our
12:21	Lord and your steadfast love for they
12:22	have been of old remember not the sins
12:25	of my youth or my transgression
12:27	according to your steadfast love
12:28	remember me for the sake of your
12:30	goodness O Lord remember me good and
12:33	upright is the Lord therefore he
12:35	instructs sinners in the way he leads
12:37	the humble in what is right and teaches
12:39	the humble his way
12:42	or Psalm 147 praise the Lord for it is
12:45	good to sing praises to our God for it
12:48	is pleasant and a song of Praises of
12:50	Praise is fitting the Lord builds up
12:52	Jerusalem he gathers the outcasts of
12:54	Israel he heals the Brokenhearted he
12:57	binds up their wounds he determines the
12:59	number of the Stars he gives to all of
13:01	them their names great is our Lord and
13:04	abundant in power his understanding is
13:06	beyond measure the Lord lifts up the
13:09	humble
13:10	and he casts the wicked to the ground
13:15	he lifts up the humble
13:17	the one who exalts himself Jesus said
13:20	will be humbled
13:22	the one who humbles himself God will
13:24	exalt
13:26	blessed are those who hunger and thirst
13:28	for righteousness
13:31	for they will be filled they will be
13:33	satisfied
13:35	now as you can tell by my
13:37	great physique I don’t suffer from
13:39	Hunger
13:42	I don’t even think I understand what it
13:44	is
13:46	but you travel outside of this country
13:48	and you see the distended bellies of
13:50	those poor people living in third world
13:52	Nations
13:53	and you begin to realize something’s
13:55	terribly wrong in this world
13:57	and I’m participating in it
14:01	when was the last time you went
14:03	two days without a meal
14:05	a week
14:08	I don’t think I’ve ever
14:10	not even by accident
14:14	And yet when you’re hungry and you’re
14:17	thirsty
14:19	the experience is overwhelming
14:23	it’s overwhelming
14:26	As the deer pants for the flowing
14:28	streams so my soul
14:30	Longs For You O God
14:34	hunger and thirst point us to the
14:36	hungering and thirsting of righteousness
14:38	that Christ here is discussing
14:43	my soul thirsts for God the psalmist
14:46	says in Psalm 42 for the Living God
14:49	When shall I come and appear before God
14:52	my tears have been my food day and night
14:55	while they say to me all the day long
14:56	where is your god
14:58	these things I remember as I pour out my
15:01	soul how I would go to the throng and
15:03	lead them in procession to the house of
15:05	God with glad shouts and songs of praise
15:08	a multitude keeping a festival
15:10	why are you cast down O my soul and why
15:12	are you in turmoil within me hope in God
15:16	for I shall again praise him my
15:19	salvation
15:20	and my God
15:24	wow
15:28	do I really truly hunger and thirst for
15:32	the Lord in his righteousness in that
15:34	way
15:38	and yet Jesus says blessed are those who
15:40	hunger and thirst for righteousness
15:43	you see the one who is spiritually poor
15:45	and bankrupt the one who Mourns his sins
15:48	the one who humbly says Lord I Have
15:50	Nothing forgive me
15:52	that’s the one who also can and does
15:55	hunger and thirst for righteousness for
15:57	God
15:59	and then Jesus goes on to say
16:02	blessed are the merciful they will be
16:04	shown Mercy we pray in the Lord’s Prayer
16:06	forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
16:08	those who trespass against us
16:11	always constantly reminded as Jesus said
16:13	as I have loved you
16:16	love one another
16:18	and how has Christ loved us Christ has
16:20	loved us by bleeding and dying for our
16:23	sins Christ has loved us by taking our
16:26	sin upon himself and rather than judging
16:29	us and sending us all to hell as we all
16:30	deserve he bleeds and dies and
16:33	propitiates the wrath of God and gives
16:35	us salvation as a free gift not anything
16:37	that we have to earn as a wage and so
16:40	now as we live out here
16:43	in this temporary world
16:45	still Sinner and Saint at the same time
16:48	knowing that we’re going to fall short
16:51	ourselves
16:52	and others are going to fall short in
16:54	how they treat us
16:55	and rather than seeking Vengeance and
16:58	making sure that person pays for what
17:00	they’ve done to us
17:02	Jesus says blessed are the merciful
17:06	blessed are the merciful
17:09	why because they first have been shown
17:11	Mercy by God and they can’t help but be
17:13	merciful to others
17:15	and blessed are the pure in heart for
17:17	they will see God now this is a tricky
17:19	one a little bit tricky because if when
17:22	you look inside and you look at that
17:25	heart of yours does it look all that
17:27	pure
17:28	mine doesn’t
17:30	if you’re honest with yourself you’ll
17:32	realize yours isn’t too so we need
17:34	something objective here how can I have
17:36	a pure heart well let’s look outside of
17:39	ourselves and see if God promises us
17:41	such a thing and oddly enough he does
17:43	and kind of the most unexpected place
17:46	I’m going to give you two passages
17:47	Romans Chapter 2 verses 28-29 now we all
17:51	know about circumcision right
17:53	well did you know that the Old Testament
17:55	circumcision is actually a type and
17:57	Shadow but the reality points us to
17:59	baptism
18:00	here’s what it says Romans chapter 2.
18:02	for no one is a Jew who is merely one
18:04	outwardly nor is circumcision outward
18:07	and physical
18:08	some would beg to differ but a Jew is
18:11	one inwardly and circumcision is a
18:13	matter of the heart
18:15	by the spirit not by the letter his
18:18	praise is not from man but from God
18:21	so here Paul is talking about a
18:24	circumcision that is a circumcision of
18:25	the heart not done by humans but done by
18:28	the spirit and not according to the
18:30	letter of the law well what is this
18:31	circumcision of the heart
18:33	you know because Jesus says blessed are
18:35	those who are pure in heart I’m
18:37	interested in this now so what is this
18:39	circumcision well Colossians chapter 2
18:41	tells us Colossians chapter 2 8-14 Paul
18:45	writes see to it that no one takes you
18:47	captive through Hollow and deceptive
18:49	philosophy which depends on human
18:51	tradition and the basic principles of
18:53	this world instead rather than on Christ
18:55	for in Christ all the fullness of the
18:58	deity lives in bodily form and you have
19:00	been given fullness in Christ who is the
19:02	head over every power and authority
19:05	here’s the important part in him you
19:08	were also circumcised yes even you
19:12	ladies have been circumcised I know it
19:14	seems kind of awkward but keep in mind
19:15	Old Testament circumcision points us to
19:17	the reality the reality is something
19:19	else and what’s this reality if we’re
19:21	all circumcised here’s what it says we
19:23	were circumcised in the putting off of
19:25	the sinful nature not with a
19:28	circumcision done by the hands of men
19:30	but with the circumcision done by Christ
19:33	Christ
19:35	ah are you in Christ
19:38	Christ has circumcised you yes men and
19:41	women where having been buried with him
19:45	in baptism and raised with him through
19:48	your faith in the power of God who
19:50	raised him from the dead
19:53	all of you who’ve made this trip over to
19:55	this font were in another font
19:57	and you’ve had the water poured over you
20:00	and you’ve heard these words I baptize
20:02	you in the name of the father and the
20:04	son and the holy spirit scripture says
20:08	on that day your heart was circumcised
20:12	your heart was circumcised not with the
20:15	hands of men the pastors just there kind
20:18	of filling in for Jesus right but Jesus
20:21	is doing the work and he circumcised our
20:23	hearts so having been buried with Christ
20:25	in baptism and raised with him through
20:27	your faith and the power of God who
20:29	raised him from the dead see when you
20:31	were dead in your sins and the
20:33	uncircumcision of your sinful nature God
20:36	Made You Alive with Christ
20:39	wow and he forgave us all of our sins
20:42	having canceled the written code with
20:44	his regulations that was against us that
20:46	stood opposed to us he took it away
20:49	nailing it to the cross
20:53	so I’m here to tell you
20:56	Jesus says
20:58	you have a pure heart
21:01	because he has done a surgery on your
21:03	heart in the waters of your baptism
21:06	he has circumcised your heart he has
21:08	made you clean he has washed away your
21:11	sins
21:12	trust and believe what Jesus says his
21:15	verdict can’t be overthrown because he’s
21:17	the guy on the last day who puts the
21:19	gavel down and makes the Judgment right
21:21	so who’s going to overturn the verdict
21:23	of Jesus he has declared that you have a
21:26	clean heart and he says this because
21:28	he’s done this in the waters of your
21:30	baptism
21:31	blessed are the peacemakers they will be
21:33	called sons of God what does this mean
21:35	well second Corinthians chapter 5 tells
21:38	us starting at verse 16. so from now on
21:40	WE regard no one from a worldly point of
21:42	view how how appropriate
21:45	so then if we don’t if we don’t view
21:47	people from a worldly point of view
21:49	blessed are the powerful the Beautiful
21:51	the wealthy the ambitious how do we
21:54	regard everybody well though we once
21:56	regarded Christ in this way we do so no
21:58	longer therefore if anyone is in Christ
22:01	he is a new creation
22:03	the old is gone the new has come and all
22:06	of this is from God not from you it’s
22:08	from him and listen to this God is the
22:12	one who reconciled us to himself through
22:15	Christ and gave us the ministry of
22:18	reconciliation you want to be a
22:20	peacemaker you preach this gospel the
22:22	ministry of reconciliation announcing to
22:24	the world that God was in Christ
22:26	reconciling the world to himself not
22:29	counting men’s sins against them and he
22:32	is commanded
22:33	and committed us the message of
22:35	reconciliation we are therefore Christ’s
22:37	ambassadors as though God were making
22:40	his appeal through us so we implore you
22:42	on behalf of Christ be reconciled have
22:44	peace with God God made him Jesus to be
22:47	sin who knew no sin so that we might be
22:50	the righteousness of God this is what it
22:53	means to be a peacemaker to proclaim the
22:55	gospel of peace to your neighbors and
22:58	your loved ones
23:00	but when you do that you’re going to
23:03	find yourself in trouble
23:05	because Jesus also says this
23:08	blessed are those who are persecuted
23:11	because of righteousness for theirs is
23:14	the Kingdom of Heaven you notice that
23:16	the economy of Heaven the economy of the
23:19	kingdom of Jesus is completely backwards
23:21	and upside down compared to the economy
23:23	of the world what the world thinks is
23:26	important Jesus says is damnable what
23:29	the world despises Jesus says it’s
23:31	blessed
23:32	they are opposed to each other so when
23:34	you preach the gospel and you tell
23:37	Sinners that they’ve got nothing but
23:39	Christ has done it all for them they
23:41	will seethe with anger towards you
23:44	blessed are you Jesus says when people
23:47	insult you
23:48	persecute you and falsely say all kinds
23:53	of evil against you because of me
23:56	and when that happens Jesus doesn’t say
23:58	go and crawl into bed and roll up into
24:01	the fetal position and go into a
24:04	depression right he doesn’t say to do
24:06	that when this happens to you Jesus says
24:09	Rejoice rejoice and be glad because
24:12	great is your reward in heaven
24:15	for in the same way they persecuted the
24:18	prophets who were before you
24:21	now these are not the world’s values and
24:24	the world which is filled with men and
24:26	women who despise God they’ll despise
24:28	you in the same way they despise Jesus
24:31	but
24:32	the world is passing away
24:35	even now the birth pains that signal its
24:38	certain demise and the return of Jesus
24:40	those birth pains are getting stronger
24:43	by the day
24:45	doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see
24:47	this
24:48	let’s watch the news
24:50	so on that great and glorious day when
24:53	Jesus returns to judge both the living
24:55	and the dead
24:56	the world will not be deciding our
24:59	Eternal fate
25:00	thank God
25:02	because I’m sure if the world were in
25:03	charge they’d set something up like a
25:05	panel on American Idol right and Simon
25:08	Cowell will be the one determining
25:09	whether or not you’re going to make it
25:11	to the next round
25:12	that’s awful because I’ve got no skills
25:15	whatsoever right
25:18	but see it’s not the world who’s going
25:20	to be judging it’s Christ
25:24	so the world who today says that the
25:27	Beautiful the wealthy and the strong and
25:31	the ambitious that the world says those
25:33	are the ones who are blessed they’re
25:34	going to be dismayed to learn that the
25:37	King of Kings says of us
25:40	who’ve been crushed by God’s law and
25:43	made to see that we are bankrupt and
25:44	poor Sinners who mourn and lament our
25:47	sin but who have received mercy and
25:49	forgiveness and peace with God all is a
25:52	gift and have been clothed with Christ’s
25:54	righteousness and whose Hearts have been
25:56	made pure in the waters of our baptisms
25:58	the world will learn that we
26:00	rather than being cursed were all along
26:03	those
26:04	who are truly blessed for you see on
26:07	that day when the dead are raised and
26:09	every knee will bow and tongue confess
26:11	that Jesus Christ is Lord of the glory
26:13	of God the father on that day
26:16	Christ will humble those
26:18	who’ve exalted themselves
26:20	and he will cast them into the Lake of
26:22	Fire
26:24	but to the poor spiritual Beggars whom
26:26	the world despised insulted persecuted
26:29	and said all kinds of evil against the
26:32	King of Kings will say to them come you
26:35	who are blessed by my father
26:38	inherit the Kingdom prepared for you
26:41	from the foundation of the world
26:45	in the name of Jesus Amen
26:47	[Music]

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Aaron.Overly-Graham <Aaron.Overly-Graham@carle.com>

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• Graham, Aaron Curtis

Thu 2/16/2023 4:43 PM

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:27	The holy Gospel According to
0:30	Saint Matthew chapter 5 verses 1 through
0:32	12
0:33	now when he Jesus saw the crowds he went
0:36	up on a Mountainside and sat down his
0:39	disciples came to him and he began to
0:41	teach them saying blessed are the poor
0:43	in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of
0:46	heaven
0:47	blessed are those who mourn for they
0:49	will be comforted
0:51	blessed are the meek for they will
0:53	inherit the earth
0:54	blessed are those who hunger and thirst
0:56	for righteousness for they will be
0:58	filled blessed are the merciful for they
1:01	will be shown Mercy blessed are the pure
1:04	in heart for they will see God blessed
1:07	are the peacemakers for they will be
1:08	called sons of God
1:10	and blessed are those who are persecuted
1:12	because of righteousness for theirs is
1:15	the kingdom of heaven and blessed are
1:17	you when people insult you persecute you
1:21	falsely say all kinds of things and evil
1:23	against you because of me rejoice and be
1:26	glad because great is your reward in
1:28	heaven for in the same way they
1:31	persecuted the prophets who were before
1:33	you
1:34	in the name of Jesus
1:38	so you’ll notice there’s a turn here as
1:40	we approach the end of the church here
1:42	and Christians and historically have a
1:45	different way of keeping time and so as
1:47	we get close to the end of the church
1:48	here New Year’s Day by the way for us
1:50	Christians is the first Sunday of Advent
1:52	so that’s when the new church here
1:54	begins so as the old church here starts
1:57	to wind down and wear out we start to
2:00	get into the season where we consider
2:02	the dead departed in Christ and the soon
2:05	appearing of our great God and Savior
2:07	Jesus Christ and glory to judge the
2:09	living and the dead so once a year we
2:11	get to spend about three four weeks
2:13	talking about the end of the world so
2:16	it’s a fun topic but let’s turn back to
2:19	our text and we’ll kind of Let the
2:21	Season unfold here
2:24	how many of you
2:26	have
2:28	had this fascination with the magazines
2:30	at the Walmart checkout line
2:33	I mean it tells us something about
2:36	society and worse it tells me something
2:38	terrible about myself magazine racks at
2:41	the checkout lines they actually play a
2:42	vital role in teaching and reinforcing
2:45	the values of this world if you think
2:47	about it
2:48	notice that the magazines that are
2:50	featured there have carefully
2:51	choreographed and photoshopped
2:54	advertisements and photo layouts and
2:56	articles which all feature celebrities
3:00	and gorgeous supermodels carefully there
3:04	to demonstrate to us how this world
3:06	defines what it means to be blessed
3:10	the world has its own Beatitudes if you
3:12	would blessed are the Beautiful
3:14	blessed are the ambitious blessed are
3:17	the wealthy
3:19	blessed are the powerful
3:22	those who have these blessings will
3:24	further be blessed with all that this
3:27	world has to offer well things like Fame
3:29	the most expensive cars the most
3:33	impressive houses they will Feast on the
3:36	best foods prepared by the greatest
3:38	chefs and the food will be paired with
3:40	the greatest wines and enjoyed with
3:43	others who are equally beautiful wealthy
3:46	ambitious and powerful and they will all
3:50	be dressed in the most amazing designer
3:53	clothes and decked with gold and
3:56	diamonds and swiss watches and designer
3:59	shoes and they all hop on their private
4:01	jets to vacation at the most expensive
4:03	and exotic locations
4:06	this is what it means to be blessed
4:08	according to the world
4:09	and what do we do
4:11	we buy those magazines and we imagine
4:14	ourselves
4:16	as the people in those magazines and
4:19	dream about what it would be like to be
4:21	so blessed
4:23	is there anybody here who’s not guilty
4:25	of doing this
4:27	yet this is exactly what scripture
4:29	commands us not to do to covet
4:32	when we do such a thing we covet the
4:35	worst part is that we’re coveting the
4:37	world’s values
4:38	or coveting the blessings of this world
4:40	and the economy of the world is
4:43	diametrically opposed to God’s economy
4:45	so Jesus In Our Gospel text this morning
4:47	reveals what it truly means to be
4:49	blessed and it has nothing whatsoever to
4:52	do with beauty ambition wealth or power
4:54	in fact those who are truly blessed we
4:58	Define by Jesus’s words they’re despised
5:01	and they’re insulted by the world and
5:03	those who’ve bought the world’s lies
5:05	regarding what it means to truly be
5:07	blessed and so with that let us return
5:09	to this morning’s gospel text and let’s
5:12	take a closer look at it
5:15	so Jesus saw the crowds he went up on a
5:18	Mountainside and he sat down
5:20	ah mountainsides lots of thing important
5:23	things happen on mountains in Scripture
5:25	it was on the mountain that well Moses
5:28	received the ten commandments so here
5:30	Jesus as one with authority on a
5:33	Mountainside sits down to teach and this
5:35	is how they taught back then rabbis
5:36	didn’t stand up behind pulpits and
5:38	things like that they sat down and when
5:40	the rabbi was teaching everybody
5:43	listened so he sat down and his
5:46	disciples came to him and he began to
5:47	teach them notice this isn’t for the big
5:49	masses this is for his disciples so he
5:52	says to his disciples get this
5:55	blessed
5:57	are the poor in spirit
6:01	for theirs is the kingdom of heaven now
6:03	if you’re not sure what Jesus is talking
6:05	about here the the wrong way to read the
6:08	Beatitudes is to say well the Beatitudes
6:10	tell me that if I do these particular
6:12	things I will be blessed
6:15	Jesus says blessed are not blessed will
6:20	be blessed are
6:22	so blessed are the poor in spirit what
6:25	does this mean well I think a good cross
6:27	reference here would be Isaiah chapter
6:30	66 let me read this verses one and two
6:33	thus says Yahweh Heaven is my Throne the
6:37	Earth is my footstool
6:39	what is the house that you would build
6:41	for me and what is the place of my rest
6:43	all these things my hand has made and so
6:46	all these things came to be declares the
6:48	Lord but this is the one to whom I will
6:52	look
6:53	this is the Lord speaking who is the one
6:54	he’s going to look to he who is humble
6:57	or the Hebrew here actually can be
6:59	translated the one who is poor
7:01	and contrite in spirit and trembles
7:05	at my word
7:08	this is the exact opposite of ambition
7:10	especially spiritual ambition spiritual
7:11	ambition says if I do this and I’m good
7:15	then God owes me that
7:18	Jesus says blessed are the poor in
7:20	spirit a good way to translate that
7:22	would be blessed are the spiritually
7:23	bankrupt
7:26	you think you have something to offer
7:27	God really
7:30	Jesus says blessed are those who have
7:31	nothing
7:33	nothing
7:34	the one who comes before God
7:36	empty-handed and says Lord I’ve blown it
7:39	I’ve got nothing to offer you I’m
7:42	bankrupt I’m penniless
7:44	Jesus doesn’t say to that person away
7:46	from me
7:48	he says blessed are you
7:50	blessed
7:52	whereas the psalmist said blessed is the
7:55	one whose transgression Is Forgiven
7:57	whose sin is covered blessed is the man
8:00	against whom Yahweh counts no iniquity
8:04	in whose Spirit there is no deceit
8:07	we are truly blessed those of us who are
8:10	spiritual beggars because God forgives
8:13	us covers our sins and will not count
8:16	our transgressions against us
8:19	blessed are those who mourn for they
8:21	will be comforted
8:22	now I got to be careful here this is
8:24	kind of a tough one just because of how
8:26	recently my best friend died
8:28	it’s very tempting for me to read this
8:30	passage and say the type of mourning
8:31	that’s discussed here is somehow
8:33	exclusive to this idea that I mourn
8:35	because I’ve lost a friend or a loved
8:37	one although that is in some sense is
8:40	what’s being discussed here it’s a
8:41	little bit more than that
8:43	let me read to you some cross references
8:45	from the Psalms that I think will help
8:47	us understand what this morning that
8:49	Jesus is talking about here it’s not
8:51	just generic morning Psalms chapter six
8:54	let me read verses 1 through 10. oh Lord
8:59	rebuke me not in your anger nor
9:02	discipline me in your Wrath
9:04	be gracious to Me O Lord for I am
9:07	languishing Heal Me O Lord from my bones
9:10	are troubled my soul is greatly troubled
9:14	But You O Lord how long
9:18	turn O Lord and deliver my life and save
9:21	me for the sake of your steadfast love
9:24	for in death there is no remembrance of
9:26	you and she’ll who will give you praise
9:29	I am weary with my groaning every night
9:31	I flood my bed with tears I drench my
9:34	couch with weeping my eye wastes away
9:37	because of grief it grows weak because
9:40	of all of my foes
9:42	depart from me all you workers of evil
9:44	for the Lord has heard the sound of my
9:46	weeping the Lord has heard my plea the
9:49	Lord accepts my prayer and all my
9:51	enemies shall be ashamed and greatly
9:53	troubled they shall turn back and be put
9:55	to shame in a moment
9:59	what is this morning that Jesus says is
10:02	so blessed
10:04	those who mourn they will be comforted
10:07	do you mourn over your sin
10:11	do you mourn that you do not come up to
10:14	the standard that God has revealed for
10:16	you
10:20	do you have Idols that you worship
10:22	rather than the true God
10:25	do you honor those in authority over you
10:29	or do you slander and lie
10:31	and resist Authority
10:34	do you covet what other people have
10:38	are you sexually immoral
10:40	and don’t think it just that just has to
10:42	do with physical acts all that stuff
10:44	begins in the heart
10:46	right
10:49	do you mourn your sin
10:52	this is what Jesus is referring to the
10:54	one who’s poor in spirit spiritually
10:56	bankrupt mourning over his sin in this
11:00	shortcoming
11:01	who knows that he has nothing
11:03	and turns to the Lord
11:06	for forgiveness for mercy
11:10	blessed are the meek Jesus says
11:13	they will inherit the earth
11:15	the meek
11:17	when was the last time you heard of the
11:19	meek Gathering an army together to take
11:21	over the world
11:23	this seems counter-intuitive the make do
11:26	not do such things
11:27	you know there’s the meekest Army in the
11:29	whole world and they’re about ready to
11:30	conquer everybody
11:32	this is not how the world operates but
11:34	Jesus says the meek are the ones who
11:37	will inherit the earth
11:39	Psalm 25 verses 1-9 To You O Lord I lift
11:43	up my soul
11:44	oh my Lord in you I trust let me not be
11:48	put to shame let not my enemies exalt
11:50	over me indeed none who wait for you
11:52	shall be put to shame they shall be
11:54	ashamed who are wantingly treacherous
11:56	what a Meek prayer
11:58	so rather than going and attacking his
12:01	enemies and triumphing over them this
12:04	Meek psalmist says oh Lord you conquer
12:06	them
12:07	I trust in you make me to know your ways
12:10	O Lord teach me your paths Lead Me In
12:13	Your Truth and teach me for you are the
12:15	god of my salvation and for you I wait
12:17	all the day long remember your mercy our
12:21	Lord and your steadfast love for they
12:22	have been of old remember not the sins
12:25	of my youth or my transgression
12:27	according to your steadfast love
12:28	remember me for the sake of your
12:30	goodness O Lord remember me good and
12:33	upright is the Lord therefore he
12:35	instructs sinners in the way he leads
12:37	the humble in what is right and teaches
12:39	the humble his way
12:42	or Psalm 147 praise the Lord for it is
12:45	good to sing praises to our God for it
12:48	is pleasant and a song of Praises of
12:50	Praise is fitting the Lord builds up
12:52	Jerusalem he gathers the outcasts of
12:54	Israel he heals the Brokenhearted he
12:57	binds up their wounds he determines the
12:59	number of the Stars he gives to all of
13:01	them their names great is our Lord and
13:04	abundant in power his understanding is
13:06	beyond measure the Lord lifts up the
13:09	humble
13:10	and he casts the wicked to the ground
13:15	he lifts up the humble
13:17	the one who exalts himself Jesus said
13:20	will be humbled
13:22	the one who humbles himself God will
13:24	exalt
13:26	blessed are those who hunger and thirst
13:28	for righteousness
13:31	for they will be filled they will be
13:33	satisfied
13:35	now as you can tell by my
13:37	great physique I don’t suffer from
13:39	Hunger
13:42	I don’t even think I understand what it
13:44	is
13:46	but you travel outside of this country
13:48	and you see the distended bellies of
13:50	those poor people living in third world
13:52	Nations
13:53	and you begin to realize something’s
13:55	terribly wrong in this world
13:57	and I’m participating in it
14:01	when was the last time you went
14:03	two days without a meal
14:05	a week
14:08	I don’t think I’ve ever
14:10	not even by accident
14:14	And yet when you’re hungry and you’re
14:17	thirsty
14:19	the experience is overwhelming
14:23	it’s overwhelming
14:26	As the deer pants for the flowing
14:28	streams so my soul
14:30	Longs For You O God
14:34	hunger and thirst point us to the
14:36	hungering and thirsting of righteousness
14:38	that Christ here is discussing
14:43	my soul thirsts for God the psalmist
14:46	says in Psalm 42 for the Living God
14:49	When shall I come and appear before God
14:52	my tears have been my food day and night
14:55	while they say to me all the day long
14:56	where is your god
14:58	these things I remember as I pour out my
15:01	soul how I would go to the throng and
15:03	lead them in procession to the house of
15:05	God with glad shouts and songs of praise
15:08	a multitude keeping a festival
15:10	why are you cast down O my soul and why
15:12	are you in turmoil within me hope in God
15:16	for I shall again praise him my
15:19	salvation
15:20	and my God
15:24	wow
15:28	do I really truly hunger and thirst for
15:32	the Lord in his righteousness in that
15:34	way
15:38	and yet Jesus says blessed are those who
15:40	hunger and thirst for righteousness
15:43	you see the one who is spiritually poor
15:45	and bankrupt the one who Mourns his sins
15:48	the one who humbly says Lord I Have
15:50	Nothing forgive me
15:52	that’s the one who also can and does
15:55	hunger and thirst for righteousness for
15:57	God
15:59	and then Jesus goes on to say
16:02	blessed are the merciful they will be
16:04	shown Mercy we pray in the Lord’s Prayer
16:06	forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
16:08	those who trespass against us
16:11	always constantly reminded as Jesus said
16:13	as I have loved you
16:16	love one another
16:18	and how has Christ loved us Christ has
16:20	loved us by bleeding and dying for our
16:23	sins Christ has loved us by taking our
16:26	sin upon himself and rather than judging
16:29	us and sending us all to hell as we all
16:30	deserve he bleeds and dies and
16:33	propitiates the wrath of God and gives
16:35	us salvation as a free gift not anything
16:37	that we have to earn as a wage and so
16:40	now as we live out here
16:43	in this temporary world
16:45	still Sinner and Saint at the same time
16:48	knowing that we’re going to fall short
16:51	ourselves
16:52	and others are going to fall short in
16:54	how they treat us
16:55	and rather than seeking Vengeance and
16:58	making sure that person pays for what
17:00	they’ve done to us
17:02	Jesus says blessed are the merciful
17:06	blessed are the merciful
17:09	why because they first have been shown
17:11	Mercy by God and they can’t help but be
17:13	merciful to others
17:15	and blessed are the pure in heart for
17:17	they will see God now this is a tricky
17:19	one a little bit tricky because if when
17:22	you look inside and you look at that
17:25	heart of yours does it look all that
17:27	pure
17:28	mine doesn’t
17:30	if you’re honest with yourself you’ll
17:32	realize yours isn’t too so we need
17:34	something objective here how can I have
17:36	a pure heart well let’s look outside of
17:39	ourselves and see if God promises us
17:41	such a thing and oddly enough he does
17:43	and kind of the most unexpected place
17:46	I’m going to give you two passages
17:47	Romans Chapter 2 verses 28-29 now we all
17:51	know about circumcision right
17:53	well did you know that the Old Testament
17:55	circumcision is actually a type and
17:57	Shadow but the reality points us to
17:59	baptism
18:00	here’s what it says Romans chapter 2.
18:02	for no one is a Jew who is merely one
18:04	outwardly nor is circumcision outward
18:07	and physical
18:08	some would beg to differ but a Jew is
18:11	one inwardly and circumcision is a
18:13	matter of the heart
18:15	by the spirit not by the letter his
18:18	praise is not from man but from God
18:21	so here Paul is talking about a
18:24	circumcision that is a circumcision of
18:25	the heart not done by humans but done by
18:28	the spirit and not according to the
18:30	letter of the law well what is this
18:31	circumcision of the heart
18:33	you know because Jesus says blessed are
18:35	those who are pure in heart I’m
18:37	interested in this now so what is this
18:39	circumcision well Colossians chapter 2
18:41	tells us Colossians chapter 2 8-14 Paul
18:45	writes see to it that no one takes you
18:47	captive through Hollow and deceptive
18:49	philosophy which depends on human
18:51	tradition and the basic principles of
18:53	this world instead rather than on Christ
18:55	for in Christ all the fullness of the
18:58	deity lives in bodily form and you have
19:00	been given fullness in Christ who is the
19:02	head over every power and authority
19:05	here’s the important part in him you
19:08	were also circumcised yes even you
19:12	ladies have been circumcised I know it
19:14	seems kind of awkward but keep in mind
19:15	Old Testament circumcision points us to
19:17	the reality the reality is something
19:19	else and what’s this reality if we’re
19:21	all circumcised here’s what it says we
19:23	were circumcised in the putting off of
19:25	the sinful nature not with a
19:28	circumcision done by the hands of men
19:30	but with the circumcision done by Christ
19:33	Christ
19:35	ah are you in Christ
19:38	Christ has circumcised you yes men and
19:41	women where having been buried with him
19:45	in baptism and raised with him through
19:48	your faith in the power of God who
19:50	raised him from the dead
19:53	all of you who’ve made this trip over to
19:55	this font were in another font
19:57	and you’ve had the water poured over you
20:00	and you’ve heard these words I baptize
20:02	you in the name of the father and the
20:04	son and the holy spirit scripture says
20:08	on that day your heart was circumcised
20:12	your heart was circumcised not with the
20:15	hands of men the pastors just there kind
20:18	of filling in for Jesus right but Jesus
20:21	is doing the work and he circumcised our
20:23	hearts so having been buried with Christ
20:25	in baptism and raised with him through
20:27	your faith and the power of God who
20:29	raised him from the dead see when you
20:31	were dead in your sins and the
20:33	uncircumcision of your sinful nature God
20:36	Made You Alive with Christ
20:39	wow and he forgave us all of our sins
20:42	having canceled the written code with
20:44	his regulations that was against us that
20:46	stood opposed to us he took it away
20:49	nailing it to the cross
20:53	so I’m here to tell you
20:56	Jesus says
20:58	you have a pure heart
21:01	because he has done a surgery on your
21:03	heart in the waters of your baptism
21:06	he has circumcised your heart he has
21:08	made you clean he has washed away your
21:11	sins
21:12	trust and believe what Jesus says his
21:15	verdict can’t be overthrown because he’s
21:17	the guy on the last day who puts the
21:19	gavel down and makes the Judgment right
21:21	so who’s going to overturn the verdict
21:23	of Jesus he has declared that you have a
21:26	clean heart and he says this because
21:28	he’s done this in the waters of your
21:30	baptism
21:31	blessed are the peacemakers they will be
21:33	called sons of God what does this mean
21:35	well second Corinthians chapter 5 tells
21:38	us starting at verse 16. so from now on
21:40	WE regard no one from a worldly point of
21:42	view how how appropriate
21:45	so then if we don’t if we don’t view
21:47	people from a worldly point of view
21:49	blessed are the powerful the Beautiful
21:51	the wealthy the ambitious how do we
21:54	regard everybody well though we once
21:56	regarded Christ in this way we do so no
21:58	longer therefore if anyone is in Christ
22:01	he is a new creation
22:03	the old is gone the new has come and all
22:06	of this is from God not from you it’s
22:08	from him and listen to this God is the
22:12	one who reconciled us to himself through
22:15	Christ and gave us the ministry of
22:18	reconciliation you want to be a
22:20	peacemaker you preach this gospel the
22:22	ministry of reconciliation announcing to
22:24	the world that God was in Christ
22:26	reconciling the world to himself not
22:29	counting men’s sins against them and he
22:32	is commanded
22:33	and committed us the message of
22:35	reconciliation we are therefore Christ’s
22:37	ambassadors as though God were making
22:40	his appeal through us so we implore you
22:42	on behalf of Christ be reconciled have
22:44	peace with God God made him Jesus to be
22:47	sin who knew no sin so that we might be
22:50	the righteousness of God this is what it
22:53	means to be a peacemaker to proclaim the
22:55	gospel of peace to your neighbors and
22:58	your loved ones
23:00	but when you do that you’re going to
23:03	find yourself in trouble
23:05	because Jesus also says this
23:08	blessed are those who are persecuted
23:11	because of righteousness for theirs is
23:14	the Kingdom of Heaven you notice that
23:16	the economy of Heaven the economy of the
23:19	kingdom of Jesus is completely backwards
23:21	and upside down compared to the economy
23:23	of the world what the world thinks is
23:26	important Jesus says is damnable what
23:29	the world despises Jesus says it’s
23:31	blessed
23:32	they are opposed to each other so when
23:34	you preach the gospel and you tell
23:37	Sinners that they’ve got nothing but
23:39	Christ has done it all for them they
23:41	will seethe with anger towards you
23:44	blessed are you Jesus says when people
23:47	insult you
23:48	persecute you and falsely say all kinds
23:53	of evil against you because of me
23:56	and when that happens Jesus doesn’t say
23:58	go and crawl into bed and roll up into
24:01:00	the fetal position and go into a
24:04:00	depression right he doesn’t say to do
24:06:00	that when this happens to you Jesus says
24:09:00	Rejoice rejoice and be glad because
24:12:00	great is your reward in heaven
24:15:00	for in the same way they persecuted the
24:18:00	prophets who were before you
24:21:00	now these are not the world’s values and
24:24:00	the world which is filled with men and
24:26:00	women who despise God they’ll despise
24:28:00	you in the same way they despise Jesus
24:31:00	but
24:32:00	the world is passing away
24:35:00	even now the birth pains that signal its
24:38:00	certain demise and the return of Jesus
24:40:00	those birth pains are getting stronger
24:43:00	by the day
24:45:00	doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see
24:47:00	this
24:48:00	let’s watch the news
24:50:00	so on that great and glorious day when
24:53:00	Jesus returns to judge both the living
24:55:00	and the dead
24:56:00	the world will not be deciding our
24:59:00	Eternal fate
25:00:00	thank God
25:02:00	because I’m sure if the world were in
25:03:00	charge they’d set something up like a
25:05:00	panel on American Idol right and Simon
25:08:00	Cowell will be the one determining
25:09:00	whether or not you’re going to make it
25:11:00	to the next round
25:12:00	that’s awful because I’ve got no skills
25:15:00	whatsoever right
25:18:00	but see it’s not the world who’s going
25:20:00	to be judging it’s Christ
25:24:00	so the world who today says that the
25:27:00	Beautiful the wealthy and the strong and
25:31:00	the ambitious that the world says those
25:33:00	are the ones who are blessed they’re
25:34:00	going to be dismayed to learn that the
25:37:00	King of Kings says of us
25:40:00	who’ve been crushed by God’s law and
25:43:00	made to see that we are bankrupt and
25:44:00	poor Sinners who mourn and lament our
25:47:00	sin but who have received mercy and
25:49:00	forgiveness and peace with God all is a
25:52:00	gift and have been clothed with Christ’s
25:54:00	righteousness and whose Hearts have been
25:56:00	made pure in the waters of our baptisms
25:58:00	the world will learn that we
26:00:00	rather than being cursed were all along
26:03:00	those
26:04:00	who are truly blessed for you see on
26:07:00	that day when the dead are raised and
26:09:00	every knee will bow and tongue confess
26:11:00	that Jesus Christ is Lord of the glory
26:13:00	of God the father on that day
26:16:00	Christ will humble those
26:18:00	who’ve exalted themselves
26:20:00	and he will cast them into the Lake of
26:22:00	Fire
26:24:00	but to the poor spiritual Beggars whom
26:26:00	the world despised insulted persecuted
26:29:00	and said all kinds of evil against the
26:32:00	King of Kings will say to them come you
26:35:00	who are blessed by my father
26:38:00	inherit the Kingdom prepared for you
26:41:00	from the foundation of the world
26:45:00	in the name of Jesus Amen
26:47:00	[Music]

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