Unleashed for Kingdom ImpactNäide

Unleashed to Live in Kingdom Blessings

If you haven’t noticed, things are getting dark all around us. As our secular society devolves into the totality of darkness, we need to solidify our spiritual state so we can withstand the chaos ahead. When you and I learn to apply the rules of the realm of God in the locale of earth, we tap into a greater unleashing of God’s work in and through us than we ever knew was possible. In the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5:1-12), Jesus talked about what kingdom followers ought to prioritize and hold dear, as well as what they should portray to the world around them. Living according to the principles in this sermon not only brings light to a dark world, but it also brings us personal blessings and spiritual power.

To be blessed is to have all you need. It’s a concept of divine favor where the provision of God flows both to you and through you with ease. When God provides a blessing, He gives it to you so you can share it with others. A blessed person is aware of their need for God and His provision. When you recognize your insufficiency apart from Him, you receive the gift of the kingdom of heaven. You are blessed when you feel about evil the way God feels about evil—especially when you mourn your own failures and sin. God will comfort you when He sees you hurt over the things that hurt Him.

You are blessed when you surrender to the will, leading, and guidance of God. You will inherit all He has in store for you on earth. You are blessed when you hunger after God and His righteousness. Feeding on the flesh of this world will only lead to dissatisfaction. Hungering after God’s righteousness unleashes true satisfaction within. The next way Jesus says to unleash blessings is through showing other people mercy. Mercy involves undeserved compassion, along with relief from suffering. Many people who want mercy are unwilling to give it. But God’s blessings are often conditional, and in order to receive mercy, you need to show mercy.

We are blessed if we have pure hearts. The pure in heart are the authentic, undivided, non-duplicitous believers who pursue God with a full commitment. They seek to honor God in what they say and do because they love Him, not because they want something from Him. Those who are pure in heart will be able to see God and His divine intervention for themselves. Those who seek peace are blessed. The call of the cross of Jesus Christ is a call to reconcile people to Him and to one another, not to divide. This person will be known as His child.

The last blessing that Jesus describes in His Sermon on the Mount is one of heavenly reward. It comes with a bit of a sting because it requires sacrifice while on earth. When you are rejected because of a righteous stand or when people insult you because you are known as God’s child, you get the blessing of a heavenly reward. Jesus reminds us to be glad when we are persecuted because we belong to Him, because our reward in heaven is great.

God is looking for those who live according to His kingdom standards. If you strive to live according to the principles found in the Sermon on the Mount, you’ll soon discover what it looks and feels like to live the satisfied and blessed Christian life.

What does it mean to be blessed? What is God’s purpose in blessing His people?

What principles from the Sermon on the Mount do you most struggle with?

In what ways has God blessed you to be a blessing to others?

Prayer

Lord, thank You that I can be a light in a dark world. As I live according to Your kingdom standards, You satisfy me with Your blessings both on earth and in heaven. It is a privilege to share Your blessings with others. Any cost and every sacrifice is worth the honor of seeing Your kingdom come and knowing that I am Your beloved child. Amen.