Revelation 21:1-6

Psalm 118:21-24

Dr. Ed Ashby joined us on Sunday to share on Psalm 118:21-24 - A God of Purpose and Hope

Dr. Ed Ashby joined us on Sunday to share on Psalm 118:21-24 - A God of Purpose and Hope

Colossians 1:13-20

God is a peace-loving God, and a peacemaking God. God's children are that way, too. They have the character of their Father. In Christ we not only receive peace we are called to make it.

The aim of Jesus Christ is not to change the manners or behaviors of society, but to change the hearts of his people - for from the heart flows all the issues of life. But who can claim to be pure in heart?

We serve a God who is rich in mercy. A God who identifies with our affliction and who moves into action to relieve our suffering. In this Beatitude, Jesus teaches that mercy comes from mercy. Because we have received God's great mercy we can be merciful to each other.

The hunger for righteousness is the one appetite that Christ blesses - not to covet possessions, achievement, recognition, or status, but to hunger & thirst for the reality of the kingdom of God. Jesus says that the people who will be satisfied in the end are those who have craved for the grace to be merciful, people who have yearned for purity and the people who have passionately desired to make peace.

The fear that pervades us all is that the earth is being passed out, carved up, divided and everybody is getting their piece but me. The talented, the good looking, the well educated. But Jesus says in my kingdom its just the opposite. Blessed are the meek - the quiet; the gentle; those who are easily imposed upon; the submissive - they’re the ones who’ll inherit the earth!

Luke 19:37-42

Jesus announces that people of the kingdom are people who mourn. But what does that mean? The mourners are those who have caught a glimpse of God’s new day, who ache with all their being for that day’s coming, and who break out into tears when confronted with its absence. The mourners are aching visionaries.

Blessed means not just happy, it means God is on your side. Every other religion asks the question, “what good thing must I do to be blessed?” Jesus is announcing, “blessed are those who there is no reason why they should be blessed!” The favor of God is now pouring down on all the people who do not deserve the favor of God.