The Beatitudes, Part 1

This sermon looks at the first four Beatitudes.

Such knowledge of one's own frailty leads the Christian to an increasing evangelical humility and grief, to awareness that he is not a spiritual giant living among pigmies, but to a longing to be more like the Lord Jesus. It leads him to be gracious and merciful when dealing with others who sin, including, especially, those who sin against him. And by the gracious and fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit, this awareness brings about a purity of heart rather than a focus on facile, external marks of holiness. People who regularly know the brokenness of true self awareness, become passionate in the ministry of reconciliation, but, sadly, they regularly experience hostility from those who have a psychological need to maintain conflict and bolster pride.