Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount – Jesus provides the blueprints to build a successful life. Every believer must use these blueprints. The results will be our “dream house” if you will. A life that can be seen as successful in every aspect. 

Matthew 5 – 7 

The Beatitudes provide us with the appropriate perspective or attitude each believer should possess.  The proper perspective or attitude will determine how we approach and handle every situation life can throw at us. 

We are encouraged not to do things to be seen of men. Rather to seek to glorify God. We are given an outline for prayer. Yes, we need a strong prayer life. It is our foundation – communication with God.  

We are encouraged to store up treasure in heaven rather than here on earth. Wherever our treasure, our heart is there too.  

We are to know that God will supply our every need, we just need to trust him to do so. We are to simply seek him first, everything else will be added to us.  

We are not to judge others. We are to love everyone and show them the love of Christ. God will do the rest. We are supposed to preach the word. God’s word is strong enough to convict the heart and correct behavior. We are to examine ourselves to make sure we are clean. Only then can we see clearly to help our brother. 

We are encouraged to ask, seek, and knock. God is waiting to work on our behalf. We must always operate in and by faith. We are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. 

We are to seek the straight narrow gate, and avoid the wide broad gate. One leads to life, the other to death. We cannot follow the crowd, must must go the way God leads. Once we find this straight path, we must stay on it.  

We are to beware of false prophets. They are wolves is sheep’s clothing. We are told to recognize them by their fruit. Evil cannot produce good, neither can good produce evil. Our responsibility is to watch, pray, and measure everything by the word of God. We are not to be deceived. If we are, it is our own fault.  

We are to avoid the Judas Syndrome. We need to know God, and be known of him. We must have a real relationship with God, an inner court relationship. Otherwise, we can have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. This will lead us to act not like the child we should be, but rather a bastard, and not a son. 

We are warned he that hears and does these sayings of Jesus are wise as a man who has built his house on a sure foundation that could withstand the storms of life. However, if we do not do these sayings, in our disobedience we are as the foolish man who built his house on sand. When life’s storms came, the house fell. It was a great fall. 

We must understand when the word is revealed to us, we are bound by it. It is still our choice whether to obey or not. But choosing not to does not provide excuse, our fall will be great. There is a responsibility of faith. When light comes, darkness is dispelled. Choosing darkness, does not constitute ignorance, it is a conscious decision for which we will be held accountable. 

Let us be wise, and not foolish.