(A) The Beatitudes: How to Life a Life God will Bless - Matthew 5:1-12 

1. "The effect of this tightly controlled structure is to produce an easily memorable unit of teaching, a pocket guide to life in the kingdom of heaven." The Gospel of Matthew by France
2. "The Beatitudes all begin with “Blessed are …” They are called “beatitudes” from Latin beatus, “blessed, happy”. More than a temporary or circumstantial feeling of happiness, this is a state of well-being in relationship to God that belongs to those who respond to Jesus’ ministry. These short statements summarize the essence of the Sermon on the Mount."  The ESV Study Bible: 
3. "The first portion of the Sermon on the Mount is known as the Beatitudes, which means “The Blessings” but can also be understood as giving the believer his “be – attitudes” – the attitudes he should “be.” In the Beatitudes, Jesus sets forth both the nature and the aspirations of citizens of His kingdom. They have and are learning these character traits."  David Guzik Bible Commentary:
4.  "They do not show a man how to be saved, but describe the characteristics manifested by one who is born again". Wycliffe Bible Commentary
5. Jesus starts off his sermon with the 8 beatitudes (verses 3-10) which are his pocket guide to life. This pocket guide is SO important that Jesus made them very easy to memorize.
6. Each day we have a choice: To attempt to live our lives without God's blessing and help or to work hard with God's strength to follow these instructions on how to live a life that God can actually bless. 
7. We need to grow in all 8 of the beatitudes to be able to live the balanced Christian life.

(B) Depend on God for Everything- Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.  CSB

1. "The poor in spirit are those who recognize they are in need of God’s help." The ESV Study Bible

2. Poor in Spirit means "to acknowledge spiritual bankruptcy. To confesses one's unworthiness before God and utter dependence on him. ... All must begin by confessing that by themselves they can achieve nothing." The Expositor's Bible Commentary  

3. "The opposite of self-sufficiency".  The MacArthur Bible Commentary

4. "The call to be poor in spirit is placed first for a reason, because it puts the following commands into perspective. They cannot be fulfilled by one’s own strength, but only by a beggar’s reliance on God’s power. No one mourns until they are poor in spirit; no one is meek (humble) towards others until he has a humble view of himself. If you don’t sense your own need and poverty, you will never hunger and thirst after righteousness; and if you have too high a view of yourself, you will find it difficult to be merciful to others."  Guzik

(C) For Salvation

1. Luke 18:9-14  Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: [10] "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not like other people-cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like that tax collector! [12] I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.' [13] "But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.' [14] I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."  NLT
   1. Why was the tax collector justified (made right with God) and not the Pharisee? 
   2. Have you ever told God what the tax collector told him?  
2. Romans 10:9  If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  NLT
3. Concise Gospel Presentation - peacewithgod.net 

(D) For Everything Else

1. All and All - Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on [rely on, lean on] your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.  NLT
   1. In v 6 what does God promise?
   2. In v5-6 what are his three requirements?
   3. What does it mean to trust in the Lord with ALL instead of just part of your heart?
2. Everything We Need - Matthew 6:33  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. NLT 
   1. God wants to give us everything we need. We just need to do our part.

3. ***2 Corinthians 1.9,10,12 we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, ... (10) We have placed our confidence in him, ... (12) We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. NLT

4. Philippians 4:6-7  Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  CSB
   1. Instead of worrying what are we commanded to do?
   2. Is this how one depends on God?
5. God's Part and Our Part - 1 Corinthians 15:10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me-and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.  NLT
   
   1. Paul knew what God's part was and what his part is.

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs: 

1. "This refers to the people who acknowledge God as their King and who may, therefore, confidently look forward to the fulfilment of his purpose in their lives". New Bible Commentary
2.  
3. --How to Memorize Matthew 5:3--

---Rough Notes---

we do 3:17 by depending on God — Colossians 3:17 CSB And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

      Psalm 1:2 and Psalm 112:1 CSB Hallelujah! Happy is the person who fears the LORD, taking great delight in his commands.

Poor in spirit means deep poverty of spirit. That I desperately need God’s help for both Salvation and to live fruitfully in his Kingdom. Depending on God includes doing Matthew 6:11, 13 “Give us today our daily bread. … [13] And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Father, help me to depend on you for my daily needs, both for physical needs and spiritual protection. Without your help I’ll fail.

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