Blessed ( Galatians 5 v 16 - 18 )

Blessed are those who morn,for  they shall, be comforted,' ( Matthew 5 v 4 ) We have considered mourning for others now there is mourning or weeping for our sins,Although I am accepted by God through Christ and His righteousness, ( 1 Corinthians 1 v 30 ),we are still in this body of flesh,that means we still have a sinful nature ( Romans 7 v 25 ). , Paul the apostle writes, 'I know that nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature ( Romans 7 v 18 ), I often find myself saying, why do such thoughts come into my mind ?,  it causes me great sadness,and I cry unto God, and He comforts me by reminding me, that it is He who justifies,and even though self and satan may condemn, Christ has died, and that no one can lay any charge to Gods elect.( Romans 8 v 13 ).He also reminds me,that one day in heaven I will be where sin will bother me no more.

Blessed ( Matthew 19 v 41 )

'Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted',It is John Stott who says that these words could almost be translated,'Happy are the unhappy'.We often would apply these words to those who have been bereaved,but in actual fact it is do with our attitude to sin.A neighbour told me how when in a local supermarket on her own, a man came and whispered unpleasant things to her,she was so afraid she immediately left the supermarket and went home. As I hear things like that it makes me so sad,and it causes to mourn, make no mistake, we live in a fallen world. Instead of judging we should be weeping and praying,and witnessing ,that people would repent and seek forgiveness, and trust Jesus as their Saviour. J.S writes'The truth is that there are such things as Christian tears, and too few of us ever weep them'.

Blessed ( Matthew 5 v 3 / 10 )

'For theirs is the kingdom of heaven,'  ( Matthew 5 v 3 / 10 ) This phrase is mentioned twice,and reminds us of a future inheritance . In  Philippians 3 v 20,we are told that our citizenship is in heaven,now that reminds us of our final destination ,that is, those who have trusted Jesus. It is Thomas Watson who writes,''All Christs subjects are kings, ....so the saints after death have their crown-royal.'Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life' (Revelation 2 v 10 )Unlike earthly kingdoms the kingdom of heaven is not temporal but eternal,we shall reign with Christ for ever and ever .(Revelation 22 v 5 ) ,it is a kingdom that shall never be shaken, or destroyed .It is a kingdom of grace, for no one can merit it,unlike the honours list,in which people are awarded titles because of their service,all who enter this kingdom,receive entrance into to it  by the grace of God alone.We have so much to look forward to,as Thomas Watson wrote'',Be comforted with thoughts of a kingdom'.

Blessed ( Matthew 5 v 3 - 11)

Let us consider the blessed from  Matthew 5 v 3 - 11   ,so let us consider the first one ,'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'.Many people interpret blessed as simple happy.I think John Stotts explanation is the one that is the most satisfying,'' It is seriously misleading to render the Greek word used  for blessed as happy. For happiness is a subjective state, whereas Jesus is making an objective judgement about these people. He is declaring not what they may feel like, ( 'happy'), but what God thinks of them and what on that account they are 'blessed'. In other words all that follows in being blessed, makes all the difference in their lives.

Blessed. ( Matthew 5 v 3 - 11 )

'Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven' Now note the words ,'poor in spirit'  this has nothing to do with being poor materially.It is referring to our spiritual bankruptcy. Pride is a sin,because it refuses to acknowledge our desperate sinful condition,it blinds us,to the fact that our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked.  (Jeremiah  17 v 19 )No one will come into the blessing of salvation, that blessed state until the cry out ,'God be merciful to me a sinner' (Luke 18 v 13 ).It is when you do acknowledge your sinfulness and trust Jesus, can you gain entrance in the kingdom of heaven'.Dr. Martyn Lloyd- Jones ,writes ,''If one feels anything in the presence of God save an utter poverty of spirit,it ultimately means that you have never faced Him.That is the meaning of this Beatitude.''

Soul prosperity ( 1 Thessalonians 5 v 23 - 24 )

An old saint prayed, Lord,may I never think I prosper unless my soul prospers, or that I am rich unless rich toward Thee''. When one considers those whom the Bible calls blessed ,the poor in spirit,those who mourn,the meek, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,the merciful,the pure in heart,the peacemakers,those who are persecute for righteousness sake.  ( Matthew 5 v  3 ff ) What a difference from the worlds standards,when we manifest those qualities, our souls will prosper, and we shall be  blessed.

Jesus loves the little children. ( Matthew 19 v 14 )

There is a lovely lady in Zambia called Annie Sheba ,she heads up a ministry  to children,which is called, 'Renewed Hope Children's Village',there many children find a place of love,peace,joy,dignity,   security,and hope for a bright tomorrow.Most of the children have suffered to some degree ,the loss of one or both parents,sickness,hunger,abuse,neglect.  These children are prayed for,and they hear about Jesus,so for them the future is bright,a favourite song the children sing is a song with the following words,'Yahweh, you have brought me from afar that I can't comprehend ; I was left for dead, despised,rejected, insulted and abused; but you have raised me up, bathed ,cleansed,and clothed me,  Hallelujah'.