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How shall this be changed? We must pray for God's enabling to help us delight in His Word. This will be clear from the way the psalmists prays—not only to pray without ceasing—but to do it with great delight.

Like Job, sometimes we suffer even though we cannot figure out why!

Job 1&2 ... Job suffering,with reverence

God is always faithful and full of compasionS

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The first question I’d like to take up this morning is whether Jesus’ words about persecution are still relevant. IOW: Has Modern Society Become So Tolerant That Talk Of Persecution Is Outdated?

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We come to the 8th & final beatitude. It speaks of a blessing no one wants—a blessing that comes to those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.

Jesus was sent to establish peace & His message explained peace & His death purchased peace & His resurrected presence enables peace.

It’s in the secrecy of your thoughts & feelings, where nobody knows but God. And what or who you are at the invisible root matters as much to God as what you are at the visible branch. Listen to the LORD speaking to Samuel (1 Sam 16:7) “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” So, we can say From The Heart Are All The Issues Of Life.

In the age to come—when we meet Jesus—the people who will receive mercy from Him are the people who have been merciful. Is this salvation by works? NO!

Matthew 5:6, KJV, Blessed are they which do hunger & thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Biblical wisdom is never merely intellectual. It’s a disposition of the heart as well as ideas in the head. In a sense, meekness & wisdom are one thing: peaceable, gentle & open to reason.