A Blessed Spirit, A Surpassing Heart <Matt 5>
1. Spirit Truly Loved by God
(1) Spirit of Child of God
- god gave you a spirit to enable you to response to his calling
- loving our father and our brethren in christ is our nature
- 8 beatitudes: poor in spirit —> kingdom; mourn —> comforted; meek —> inherit; hunger & thirst for righteousness —> filled; merciful —> shown mercy; pure in heart —> see God; peacemaker —> COG; persecuted for righteousness —> kingdom
- spiritual brokenness / poverty
- we depreciate the preciousness of god when we want other things (double-minded) on top of only jesus
- we cannot achieve anything through our own will, but only when we rely on the Holy Spirit living in us
- do we have the heart of needing god? —> greatest proof that we are truly loved by God
(2) Promise —> Salt & Light of the World [Christlike Character]
- when our hearts change, we start to see people around us change, that leads to all nations (blessings to them)
- when we confirmed this, we do not take lightly of the conditions that god gave us (nothing coincidental but all for the kingdom)
- nothing is too small that god cannot use, when we look down on our own conditions, we are looking down on god
(3) 2 different spirits waging war (flesh vs holy spirit)
- when we struggle after hearing the word, we are blessed (because flesh is definitely against the truths of god)
- the struggle will persist as long as we live in our flesh
- we have struggles because we have truths in us
- to confirm that god loves me and wants to sanctify me
- no war: serenity in my sins
2. Willing to Pursue Perfection in Christ <Matt 5:20> heart
(1) Good works —> Human will, flesh —> Heart
(2) How can we fulfil law? —> loved spirit —> regenerated heart of COG (willingness to submit to God)
(3) Not only fulfil law —> Surpass the law (transformed heart)
- do’s & don’ts —> heart of loving
- love that surpasses the law
- not just abiding, hate sins & struggle
- satisfied with god’s provision
- righteous in our words even
- not an eye for an eye —> but see the need of man
- not bearing hatred —> love & intercede
3. Live in the Assurance of a COG
(1) Constantly exercise this spirt —> blessed spiritual nature
(2) Not weaknesses & accusations —> follow [prays] (emmanuel = god is with me)
(3) Multiply fruits —> root in truth