The Beatitudes
Those Who Are Merciful
August 7, 2022 • Pastor Denny Curran
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” - Matthew 5:7 (NIV) 2 Ways You Can Be Merciful - 1.) Remind ourselves how merciful God is to us. “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” - Mathew 6:12 (NIV) “But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved.” - Ephesians 2:4-5 (GNT) 2.) Remember, we will all face God one day. “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.” - 2 Timothy 4:3 (NLT) “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” - Matthew 6:14 - 15 (NIV) Let’s stand before God having loved too much than having judged too harshly. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” - Micah 6:8 (NIV) “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” - 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 (NIV)
Those Who Hunger & Thirst
July 31, 2022 • Pastor Denny Curran
“The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.” - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (MSG) …“fear God and do what He says. That’s it!”.. “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” - Proverbs 21:21 (NIV) A. What keeps you from living hungry for God 1.) We fill up on the wrong things. “He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” - Hebrews 11:25 (NIV) “The Lord says, “All you who are thirsty, come and http://drink.those of you who do not have money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend your money on something that is not real food? Why work for something that doesn’t really satisfy you? Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good; your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies.” - Isaiah 55:1-2 (NCV) 2.) We’ve never experienced the goodness of God. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” - Psalm 34:8 (NIV) We say everyone do something, not someone do everything. “You may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” - Ephesians 3:18 - 19 (NIV) B. How to Pursue Righteousness. How can I experience this? Pursue. Righteousness = right standing with God “The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself—that it begins and ends with faith. As the Scripture says, “But those who are right with God will live by faith.” - Romans 1:17 (NCV) "For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,” - Romans 3:25 (NLT) A.) Pursue - Go after with passion! “And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” - Romans 5:9-11 (NLT) Being right is through a relationship with God. 2. Right living on earth "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done." -1 Kings 11:1-6 (NIV) “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” - Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) “But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.” - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (MSG) FEAR GOD. Do what He says. That’s it! "In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death." -Proverbs 12:28 (NKJV) “I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.” - John 4:26 (MSG)
Those Who Hunger & Thirst
July 24, 2022 • Pastor Denny Curran
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." -Matthew 5:6 (NIV) “Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied.” - Matthew 5:6 (TLB) “Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.” - Matthew 5:6 (NLV) “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” - Proverbs 21:21 (NIV) Join us next week to hear two things that will keep you from God.
Those Who Are Meek
July 17, 2022 • Pastor Denny Curran
"Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." - Matthew 5:1-5 "9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. 22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed. 29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. 34 Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it." -PS 37:9, 11, 22, 29, 34 "Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;" -Ps 37:1 "3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil." - Ps 37:3,4,5,7,8 "8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." - 2 Cor 1:8-11 "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." -James 1:21 1. We need meekness to receive God’s word. "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted." - Gal 6:1 2. We need meekness to forgive & restore others "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," - 1 Peter 3:15 3. We need meekness to reach people with the gospel
Those Who Mourn
July 10, 2022 • Pastor Denny Curran
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” - Matthew 5:1 - 4 (NIV) Jesus wept over Lazarus - “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.” - John 11:38 (NIV) Jesus wept over Jerusalem - “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” - Hebrews 5:7 (NIV) The Bible never teaches us to deny our pain ---> “I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.” - Psalm 119:28 (NLT) “I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears.” - Psalm 6:6 (NLT) “I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me” - Psalm 69:3 (NLT) 1.) It is a happiness that comes from sacrifice. “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” - Luke 6:21 (NIV) “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” - Psalm 30:5 (NIV) 2.) It is a happiness we get when we are sorry for our sin! “I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.” - Psalm 38:18 (NIV) “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” - Psalm 34:17 - 18 (NIV) “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” -Joel 2:12 (NIV) - If we are growing in Christ, we become sensitive to our sin. 3.) Happiness is discovered when we suffer the losses of life. - Sorrow can be the source of some of the greatest discoveries in life. + It is in sorrow where we discover how solid or superficial our faith is. + It is in sorrow that we learn some of the most important lessons in life; you can’t love without suffering. + Mourning is the deeper side of loving. We mourn those we love. “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 18 (NIV) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Miracles
July 3, 2022 • Pastor Denny Curran
All around us, there is a need for prayer and miracles. As a church, we believe for the miraculous. 1.) Take a step of faith. "For with God nothing will be impossible.” -Luke 1:37 (NKJV) 2.) Find a verse to hold onto. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," - Ephesians 3:10 (NKJV) 3.) Surround yourself with people who will pray and speak positively to you in times of trial. Luke 5:18-25 (NIV)
Poor in Spirit
June 26, 2022 • Pastor Denny Curran
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9 - 14 (NIV) 1.) Those who are poor in spirit recognize they are out of step with the world. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” - 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV) 2.) Those who are poor in spirit realize they are empty without God. “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” - Revelation 3:17 (NIV) 3.) Those who are poor in spirit are compassionate.