Qualities of a Blessed Life - Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)

Blessedness of life ought to characterize every area of a Christian’s life.

8 Qualities of a Blessed Life: (They may be found in our hearts.)

1. A life of Dependence – “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”(v.3) – SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY
Poor in spirit = Humble in spirit

God’s Blessing: Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. A life of Repentance – “Blessed are those who mourn…”(v.4) – SPIRITUAL MOURNING
Mourn = Contrite Heart

God’s Blessing: They shall be comforted. [Mercy & Forgiveness]

3. A life of Compliance – “Blessed are the meek…”(v.5) – BEING CONTROLLED BY SOMEBODY

God’s Blessing: They shall inherit the earth. [Needs will be met.]

4. A life of Sustenance – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…”(v.6) – TRUE SPIRITUAL PASSION

God’s Blessing: They shall be satisfied by their Father.

5. A life of Mercy – “Blessed are the merciful…”(v.7) – LOVING OTHERS

God’s Blessing: They will also experience mercy.

6. A life of Purity – “Blessed are the pure in heart…”(v.8) – LIVING TRANSPARENTLY IN GOD
Pure in Heart = Utterly Sincere

God’s Blessing: They will see God.

7. A life of Harmony – “Blessed are the peacemaker…”(v.9) – INITIATORS OF PEACE

God’s Blessing: They shall be called sons of God. [Be ambassadors of peace.]

8. A life of Difficulty – “Blessed are those who are persecuted…”(v.10) – LIVING THE TRUTH IN CHRIST

God’s Blessing: Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [Yours is the reward in heaven.]

*We must be willing to take our cross to follow Jesus.

Personal Reflection:
Are these qualities of life presently in my life today? In what areas of my life must Christ need to reign the most?

Source: Rev. Fraxedes “Macky” Sabayle’s Matthew 5-7 Series last September 2, 2007 at BUCCI.

How To Keep Our Fellowship With God - 1 John 1:1-10

MAIN IDEA: Sin separates us from loving fellowship with God. So God sent His Son to the world to mend this "disfellowship" problem. But, how can we keep this fellowship with God?

What is fellowship?
Greek: KOINONIA
a. Communion
b. Commonness
c. Closeness
d. Intimacy
e. Participation

I. What is the basis of our fellowship with God?
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light an in HIm there is no darkness at all." (v.1,5)

1. Belief that Christ became perfectly human. (v.1-4) [John 14:9, 1:14]
2. Belief that God is perfectly holy. (v.5) [2 Corinthians 6:14-15]

II. What breaks our fellowship with God?
"If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." (v.6)

1. False Claims (v.6,10) [John 2:9]
a. That I can have fellowship with God at the same time enjoy in habitual sins.
b. I can love God at the same time hate my brother or sister.
2. Living with Compromises

III. How to bring back our fellowship with God?
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (v.8-9)

1. Admit you are a sinner.
2. Believe God's words.
3. Confess your sins.

IV. What are the blessings of our fellowship with God?
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (v.7)

1. Communion with other believers and God
2. Cleansing from our sins

APPLICATION:
A. Enjoy God daily. (prayer, devotion)
B. Examine yourself daily.
C. Endure the fight against sin.

Purposes of 1 John:
1. Evangelical - to teach the Gospel (1 John 5:13)
2. Theological - to correct false teachings (1 John 4:1)
- Gnosticism, Docetism (Jesus didn't become man), Antinomianism (liberalism/lawlessness)
3. Practical - to change our daily lives (1 John 2:1, 3:18)


Taken From: Rev. Fraxedes "Macky" Sabayle's 1 John Sermon Series last January 12, 2014 at BUCCI

Hand-Me-Downs For the New Year - 1 John 2:1-6

Main Idea: The New Year brings so many brand new opportunities for us. But God's gift at Christmas, though old, yet it is still so powerful to bring transformation in us today.

1. A Holy Purpose to Fulfill - STOP LIVING IN SIN!

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin." (v.1a)

What is SIN?
A. Sin is SEDITION (rebellion) against God. [1 John 3:4]
B. Sin is VERY SERIOUS. [1 John 3:8-10]
Why is sin serious?
B.1. Sin is very serious because it insults the death of Christ.
B.2. Sin is very serious because it illustrates the nature of Satan, not God's.
B.3. Sin is very serious because it imperils our assurance of salvation.
C. SCRIPTURE can help us overcome sin. [Psalm 119:11]

2. Christ helps us in our fight against sin.

"But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." (v.1b)

A. We don't have to surrender our fight over sin,
B. Because Christ is at the Father's side speaking in our defense. [Romans 8:34; 1 John 4:4]

3. Hope that our failures will be forgiven.

"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (v.2)

A. Christ's death SATISFIED the wrath of God. [John 3:36]
B. Christ's death SANCTIFIED us from our sins. [1 John 1:7]
C. Christ's death SEALED our forgiveness from the Father.

Taken from: Rev. Fraxedes "Macky" Sabayle's  1 John series - January 5, 2014 at Bradford United Church of Christ, Inc.

The Christian and Temptation

What is temptation?

~Sometimes in the Bible, it is TESTING. 1Peter 1:6                                                    ~Sometimes, temptation is strictly an attempt of the Devil to solicit us to do evil. ~Sometimes, it has been defined temptation as being “the incitement of a normal desire beyond the boundaries set by God for man.

The Source of Temptation

~Temptation does not come from God. James 1:13,14

~Temptation comes from the Devil. 1Chronicles 21:1, Matt. 4:1, John 13:2,  1Thessalonians 3:5, James 1:3

Ways to Overcome Temptation

~We are to trust God to deliver us. 2Peter 2:9                                                                       ~We are to take the way to escape that God gives us. 1Cor. 10:3                                           ~We are to realize that God will not let us be tempted above our abilities. 1Cor. 10:13       ~We are to resist the temptation. Ephesians 6:16, Heb. 12:4, 1Peter 5:8-9                         ~We are to guard against the temptation. Matthew 26:41                                                      ~We are to pray not to lead us to temptation. Matt. 6:13a                                                           ~We are to be careful not to be a source of temptation to other people. Romans

14:13                                                                                                                                                 ~It will be an encouragement to each of us if we realize that all temptations are common to all.1Cor.10:13a                                                                                                                                            ~We should run immediately from the temptation.                                                             ~Remember that if you have yielded to temptation, you can still be restored. 1John 1:7

P.S. Every time you give in to any temptation, you let Satan mock the Lord.

Written by Sophia (pax) in our Wordpress blog.