Labeled by Christ: Embracing the Beatitudes

even for the pool parties and and I'll never forget that and when I came here, I I came to Sunday service. The first day is on staff and then I came back Sunday night and I had my full suit on and my tie and Jim Payne met me at the back door and he said, get that tie off. He wanted me to make sure to take that tie off, you know, and and understand. It's not about all of those things. There are some people that I've pastored in my life and in my previous church that really believe that if you don't have a tie on, it's it's really big time trouble but I'm here to tell you, Jesus wants your heart not a ribbon around your neck. [00:53:12] (36 seconds)

In my job now, working with families and working with people, every day I go to work and somebody dies. It's a very sad, sad experience but yet in the midst of that, you can see and experience the hope of those who have Jesus in them. You can see a difference in those of the world who have no hope, they have no understanding, but yet those who know Jesus, you can, it's hard and it's and it's difficult but you can see in the midst of all of the mourning and the crying. You can see the strength of the lord Jesus holding them where nothing else could hold them. [00:55:31] (38 seconds)

How do we develop the attitudes that label us a Christ follower? Jesus simply shares these attitudes, presents these labels in their life that would call them to be great disciples of him. I think the most important thing that we have to understand as we look at this passage today without diving too deep into all of them. The first thing we must ask ourselves as we think about what is the label that's on me? What are the sticky notes that declare who I am and what I am? [00:48:16] (34 seconds)

As we find in the sermon on the mount, the despair of those who seek to apply these principles is very discouraging to those who try to do it on their own. As a matter of fact, if you look at this list and you think, oh my goodness, I I don't, this list isn't for me. The truth is, you cannot embrace this list that Jesus is giving the disciples without the power and the help of the holy spirit of god. It is the work of Christ in us that changes us. [00:49:50] (30 seconds)