We often equate being "blessed" with fleeting happiness or earthly prosperity, and view the Kingdom of Heaven as a distant, future hope. What if this understanding misses the point of Jesus's most famous sermon? In this introduction to the Beatitudes, Pastor Daniel examines Jesus's radical definition of blessedness. He argues that being "blessed" signifies possessing the deep, stable favor of God that comes with being a citizen of heaven—a citizenship that is a present reality, not merely a future promise. Jesus's message establishes that wherever His reign is present, the Kingdom is there. Listeners are challenged to live as practicing citizens of heaven now, embracing the responsibilities and characteristics that define this heavenly kingdom.
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