The Pure in Heart Shall See God As we study the teaching of the Kingdom of Heaven given by our King, Jesus Christ, we are learning the kingdom principles He taught His disciples on the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew records these teachings as masterpieces. They help us understand what Jesus teaches and why He calls followers to live differently. Jesus begins the Beatitudes by declaring, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” followed by those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and the merciful. Now He teaches, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). These blessings reveal the character God desires in His people. God is holy and just, and He calls His children to holiness according to His standard, not the world’s. Yet, in ourselves, we cannot achieve holiness. Because of our sin, we need God’s grace. Through the cross, Jesus took our punishment and opened the way for reconciliation with God. His blood cleanses us from sin, and the Holy Spirit leads us toward a sanctified life. As 1 John 1:7 reminds us, when we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin. Scripture declares, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45). Therefore, purity of heart is not merely outward religion but inward transformation. As children of God, let us pursue holiness, love God, love people, and walk faithfully in His light. May our lives reflect His holiness so that, by His grace, we may see God.

God-Given Faith Read Hebrews 11:1-11. I believe that there is only one way to all the treasures of God, and that is the way of faith. By faith and faith alone do we enter into a knowledge of the attributes and become partakers of the beatitudes, and participate in the glories of our ascended Lord. All His promises are Yea and Amen to them that believe. God would have us come to Him by His own way. That is through the open door of grace. A way has been made. It is a beautiful way, and all His saints can enter in by this way and find rest. God has prescribed that the just shall live by faith. I find that all is failure that has not its base on the rock Christ Jesus. He is the only way, the truth and the life. The way of faith is the Christ way, receiving Him in His fulness and walking in Him; receiving His quickening life that filleth, moveth and changeth us, bringing us to a place where there is always an Amen in our hearts to all the will of God. As I look into the 12th chapter of Acts, I find that the people were praying all night for Peter to come out of prison. They had a zeal but seem to have been lacking in faith. They were to be commended for their zeal in spending their time in prayer without ceasing, but their faith, evidently, did not measure up to such a marvelous answer. Rhoda had more faith than the rest of them. When the knock came to the door, she ran to it, and the moment she heard Peter's voice, she ran back again with joy saying that Peter stood before the gate. And all the people said, “You are mad. It isn't so.” But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Zacharias and Elisabeth surely wanted a son, but even when the angel came and told Zacharias that he should have a son, he was full of unbelief. And the angel said, “Thou shalt be dumb, because thou believest not my words.” But look at Mary. When the angel came to her, Mary said, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” It was her Amen to the will of God. And God wants us with an Amen in our lives, an inward Amen, a mighty moving Amen, a God-inspired Amen, which says, “It is, because God has spoken. It cannot be otherwise. It is impossible to be otherwise.” Let us examine this 5th verse, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God translated him: for before his translation, he had this testimony that he pleased God.” When I was inSweden, the Lord worked mightily. After one or two addresses the leaders called me and said, “We have heard very strange things about you, and we would like to know if they are true. We can see that God is with you, and that God is moving, and we know that it will be a great blessing toSweden.” “Well,” I said, “what is it?” “Well,” they said, “we have heard from good authority that you preach that you have the resurrection body.” When I was inFranceI had an interpreter that believed this thing, and I found out, after I had preached once or twice through the interpreter, that she gave out her own ideas. And of course I did not know. I said to these brethren, “I tell you what my personal convictions are. I believe that if I had the testimony of Enoch I should be off. I believe that the moment Enoch had the testimony that he pleased God, off he went.” I pray that God will so quicken our faith, for translation is in the mind of God; but remember that translation comes on the line of holy obedience and a walk that is pleasing to God. This was true of Enoch. And I believe that we must have a like walk with God in the Spirit, having communion with him, living under his divine smile, and I pray that God by His Spirit may so move us that we will be where Enoch was when he walked with God. There are two kinds of faith. There is the natural faith. But the supernatural faith is the gift of God. In Acts 26:19, Paul is telling Agrippa of what the Lord said to him in commissioning him. “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, from the power of satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.” Is that the faith of Paul? No, it is the faith that the Holy Ghost is giving. It is the faith that He brings to us as we press in and on with God. I want to put before you this difference between our faith and the faith of Jesus. Our faith comes to an end. Most people in this place have come to where they have said, “Lord, I can go no further. I have gone so far and I can go no further. I have used all the faith I have, and I have just to stop now and wait.” I remember being one day inLancashire, and going round to see some sick people. I was taken into a house where there was a young woman lying on a bed, a very helpless case. The reason had gone, and many things were manifested there which were satanic and I knew it. She was only a young woman, a beautiful child. The husband, quite a young man, came in with the baby, and he leaned over to kiss the wife. The moment he did, she threw herself over on the other side, just as a lunatic would do. That was very heart-breaking. Then he took the baby and pressed the baby's lips to the mother. Again another wild kind of thing happened. I asked one who was attending her, “Have you anybody to help?” “Oh,” they said, “We have had everything.” “But,” I said, “have you no spiritual help?” Her husband stormed out, saying, “Help? You think that we believe in God, after we have had seven weeks of no sleep and maniac conditions.” Then a young woman of about eighteen or so just grinned at me and passed out of the door. That brought me to a place of compassion for the woman. Something had to be done, no matter what it was. Then with all my faith I began to penetrate the heavens, and I was soon out of that house, I will tell you, for I never saw a man get anything from God who prayed on the earth. If you get anything from God, you will have to pray into heaven; for it is all there. If you are living in the earth realm and expect things from heaven, they will never come. And as I saw, in the presence of God, the limitations of my faith, there came another faith, a faith that could not be denied, a faith that took the promise, a faith that believed God's Word. And from that presence, I came back again to earth, but not the same man. God gave a faith that could shake hell and anything else. I said, “Come out of her, in the name of Jesus!” And she rolled over and fell asleep and wakened in fourteen hours perfectly sane and perfectly whole. There is a process on this line. Enoch walked with God. That must have been all those years as he was penetrating, and going through, and laying hold, and believing and seeing and getting into such close cooperation and touch with God that things moved on earth and he began to move toward heaven. At last it was not possible for him to stop any longer. Oh, Hallelujah! In the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians we read of the body being “sown in weakness,” to be raised in power. It seems to me that, as we are looking for translation, the Lord would have us know something of that power now, and would have us kept in that power, so that we shall not be sown in weakness. There is one thing that God has given me from my youth up, a taste and relish for my Bible. I can say before God, I have never read a book but my Bible, so I know nothing about books. It seems to me better to get the Book of books for food for your soul, for the strengthening of your faith, and the building up of your character in God, so that all the time you are being changed and made meet to walk with God. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” I can see that it is impossible to please Him on any line but faith, for everything that is not of faith is sin. God wants us to see that the plan of faith is the ideal and principle of God. In this connection I love to keep in my thoughts the beautiful words in the 2nd verse of the 12th chapter of Hebrews: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” He is the author of faith. God worked through Him for the forming of the world. “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” And because of the exceedingly abundant joy of providing for us so great salvation, He became the author of a living faith. And through this principle of living faith, looking unto Him who is the author and finisher of our faith, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord. God has something better for you than you have ever had in the past. Come out into all the fulness of faith and power and life and victory that He is willing to provide, as you forget the things of the past, and press right on for the prize of His high calling in Christ Jesus. Read Smith Wigglesworth's other works at http://www.teleiosministries.com/Gifts-of-Healing.html

Good mo God Blessed Are the Gentle — Matthew 5:5 The Sermon on the Mount is one of the greatest teachings of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. In it, Jesus reveals the principles and values of the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew’s Gospel especially emphasizes the Kingdom of Heaven and shows how Jesus fulfills the prophetic promises concerning the coming Messiah. Jesus came at God’s appointed time in history, according to His perfect plan and purpose. As we meditate on the Beatitudes, we have already considered, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” “Blessed are those who mourn,” and “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Now we come to another beautiful kingdom principle: “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” — Matthew 5:5 In other words, those who are humble, gentle, and surrendered to God are truly blessed. Humility begins when we recognize who God is and acknowledge our complete dependence upon His grace. A humble heart clings to God, submits to His will, and surrenders everything to Christ. Jesus Himself is our greatest example. Though He existed in the form of God, He humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore, God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name (Philippians 2:6–9). The Apostle Peter also teaches, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:6). Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, humbled Himself for us, bore our sins, and gave His life for our salvation. Therefore, let us follow His example. Let us walk in humility, love God, love people, and allow Jesus Christ to be glorified through our lives.

good morning God 3 August 2026 This week, as I was meditating on the Sermon on the Mount, I was deeply encouraged by the kingdom principles that Jesus taught. These chapters present what many call the Constitution of the Kingdom of God. Jesus begins with the Beatitudes, describing the character of those who are truly blessed in His kingdom, and He concludes by teaching that those who hear and obey His words are like the wise man who built his house on the rock, while those who hear but do not obey are like the foolish man whose house collapsed (Matthew 7:24–27). Among all these teachings, two verses especially captured my heart and led me into deeper study. The first is Matthew 5:48: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The second is Matthew 5:20: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” These words challenged me to ask, What did Jesus really mean? Why did He warn His followers not to be like the scribes and Pharisees? As I continued studying, I found the answer in Matthew 6:1, where Jesus said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.” Their religion was centered on outward appearances and the praise of people rather than a sincere relationship with God. In Matthew 23, Jesus openly exposed their hypocrisy. Throughout Matthew 6, He also taught His disciples how to give, pray, and fast with the right motives—not for public recognition but for the glory of the Father. Again and again, Jesus warned, “Do not be like the hypocrites.” The Pharisees focused on external religion, but Jesus called His followers to inward transformation. True righteousness is not produced by human effort or religious performance. It is the result of God’s grace working in our hearts through faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out, shaping us into the likeness of Christ day by day. We cannot become perfect by our own works or self-righteousness. Only by knowing Jesus more deeply, walking in obedience to His Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth can we grow in holiness and spiritual maturity. As we continue to meditate on Scripture and surrender our lives to God each day, He faithfully changes us from the inside out. This study has been a great blessing and encouragement to me, and I sincerely hope it blesses you as well. May we seek a righteousness that comes from Christ alone and live lives that honor Him in both heart and action. God bless you. Love God, and love people.

The Beatitudes are one of the most well-known sayings of Jesus. They form a part of His Sermon on the Mount. This blog gives us a fresh perspective on these sayings. They can be seen as a set of spiritual progressions. https://liftupmyeyes.com/whats-your-be-attitude/ Please feel free to share or send me a comment. Just a personal note. I hope to keep posting to the blog on schedule, but I am currently undergoing radiation therapy on my scalp. So I may not be publishing regularly for the next couple of months. Thank you for your support.

A Nugget of Truth. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: THE BLUEPRINT FOR KINGDOM LIVING The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) is one of the greatest teachings ever given. Spoken by Jesus Christ, it reveals what it means to live as a citizen of God's Kingdom. It is not merely a list of rules but a call to a transformed heart. Jesus began with the Beatitudes, teaching that true blessedness is found not in wealth, power, or popularity, but in humility, mercy, purity, and righteousness (Matthew 5:3-12). In a world that celebrates self-exaltation, Christ teaches the beauty of a surrendered heart. He then called His followers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Christians are not called to blend into the darkness but to influence the world with truth, love, and godly character. Jesus also revealed that obedience goes beyond outward actions. Murder begins with anger, adultery begins with lust, and true righteousness flows from a changed heart (Matthew 5:21-28). God desires inward transformation, not merely outward conformity. In Matthew 6, Christ taught about prayer, giving, and fasting. He warned against practicing religion for human praise and taught us to seek God sincerely. The Lord's Prayer reminds us to honor God's name, seek His will, depend on Him daily, and extend forgiveness to others. Finally, Jesus urged His listeners to build their lives upon His words. The wise man built his house on the rock, and when the storms came, it stood firm (Matthew 7:24-25). Those who hear God's Word but refuse to obey are like those who build on sand. Lessons from the Sermon on the Mount 1. True happiness comes from a relationship with God, not worldly success. 2. Christians are called to be a positive influence in a dark world. 3. God looks at the condition of the heart, not just outward actions. 4. Prayer should be sincere and centered on God's will. 5. Trust God instead of worrying about tomorrow. 6. Treat others as you would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12). 7. Obedience to Christ is the foundation that withstands life's storms. The Sermon on the Mount challenges every generation with one question: Are we merely hearing the words of Jesus, or are we living them? Those who follow His teachings will stand firm now and be prepared for His eternal Kingdom. "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." — Matthew 7:24.

📖 Today's Gospel — Thursday, June 25, 2026 Thursday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time | Matthew 7:21-29 The True Disciple; The Wise and Foolish Builders Jesus said to his disciples: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." These are among the most sobering words Jesus ever speaks. At first, they may surprise us. We might expect Jesus to say that simply believing in Him, speaking His name, or performing religious acts is enough. Yet Jesus goes much deeper. He reminds us that authentic discipleship is not measured merely by words, emotions, or appearances. A person may speak eloquently about faith. A person may participate in religious activities. A person may even appear outwardly holy. But Christianity is not primarily about appearances. It is about relationship. It is about allowing God's will to shape every aspect of our lives. Jesus continues: "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you.'" The tragedy is not that these people lacked religious activity. The tragedy is that they lacked intimacy with Christ. They knew about Jesus. But they did not truly know Him. They spoke His name. But they did not surrender their hearts. True discipleship begins when faith moves from our lips into our lives. Jesus then offers one of the most memorable images in all of Scripture: "Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock." Both builders heard the same weather forecast. Both experienced the same storms. Both desired to build a house. The difference was hidden beneath the surface. One built upon rock. The other built upon sand. The wise builder took the time to establish a solid foundation. When storms arrived—and they inevitably did—the house remained standing. The foolish builder chose convenience over commitment. He built quickly, perhaps even beautifully, but without a firm foundation. When the rains fell and the floods came, everything collapsed. Jesus is teaching us a profound spiritual truth: Storms come to everyone. No one is exempt from suffering. Illness comes. Disappointments come. Temptations come. Loss comes. Moments of doubt come. The question is not whether storms will come. The question is: What foundation are we building upon? Many people build on the shifting sands of success, popularity, wealth, pleasure, or public approval. These foundations may appear strong for a time. But when life's storms arrive, they cannot sustain us. Only Christ is the Rock that never fails. To build upon this Rock means more than admiring Jesus' teachings. It means living them. It means forgiving when forgiveness is difficult. It means loving enemies. It means choosing mercy over judgment. It means serving rather than seeking recognition. It means trusting God when circumstances seem uncertain. The conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount leaves us with a choice. Jesus has spent three chapters revealing the values of the Kingdom: the Beatitudes, prayer, mercy, purity of heart, love of enemies, trust in the Father, and authentic righteousness. Now He asks: Will you merely admire these words? Or will you build your life upon them? ✨ Reflection Faith that remains only in words will not withstand life's storms. A genuine relationship with Christ transforms how we think, speak, forgive, love, and live. Every day, through small decisions, we are laying the foundation of our spiritual house. Today, Jesus invites us to examine that foundation honestly. Are we building upon the solid rock of obedience and intimacy with Him? Or are we relying on the shifting sands of appearances, comfort, and self-sufficiency? 💡 Context (Important) This Gospel concludes the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus' foundational teaching on life in the Kingdom of God. After presenting the Beatitudes, teaching on prayer, mercy, almsgiving, trust, and authentic righteousness, Jesus ends with a call to decision. Hearing His words is not enough; discipleship requires action. The crowds were astonished because Jesus taught with divine authority—not merely interpreting God's Word, but speaking as the very Son of God. 💡 Truths to Remember • Authentic discipleship requires both faith and obedience. • Religious activity alone cannot replace a living relationship with Christ. • Storms come to everyone; foundations determine whether we stand. • Jesus Himself is the unshakable Rock upon which we must build. • Small daily acts of obedience strengthen our spiritual foundation. 🙏 Prayer Lord Jesus, You are the eternal Rock upon which we desire to build our lives. Help us not merely to hear Your words, but to live them faithfully each day. Strengthen us during life's storms, deepen our relationship with You, and teach us to build upon the solid foundation of Your love and truth. Amen. 🕊️ Reflection What foundation are you building your life upon today, and what practical step can you take to build more firmly upon Christ? #DailyGospel #Matthew7 #WiseAndFoolishBuilders #BuildOnTheRock #CatholicFaith #DailyReflection #RiseWithTheWord

THE CALVARY MINISTRY ONLINE The Gospel From Calvary WEDNESDAY 24TH JUNE, 2026 BLESSED IN THE KINGDOM WAY 👑✝️📖 📜```TEXT: MATTHEW 5:1-12```📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (MATTHEW 5:3). Jesus sat on a mountain and opened His mouth to teach, but His words turned the world upside down. The crowd expected a king with a sword. Instead, they heard about a Kingdom where the broken are blessed, the meek inherit, and the persecuted rejoice. These are the Beatitudes — not eight ways to be happy, but eight ways to be holy. They show us what citizens of heaven look like on earth. Three truths from the Beatitudes: One, the Kingdom starts with surrender. “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” It’s the empty hands that receive grace. Calvary began with a man who owned nothing but a cross, yet gave us everything. Two, the Kingdom rewards what the world rejects. “Blessed are they that mourn… blessed are the meek… blessed are they which are persecuted.” God isn’t impressed by status; He is drawn to brokenness that trusts Him. Three, the Kingdom has a future. “For theirs is the kingdom… they shall see God… great is your reward in heaven.” Every tear, every insult, every act of mercy is recorded. The Cross guarantees that the story doesn’t end in pain. Where do you see yourself in these verses today? Poor in spirit, hungry for righteousness, weeping, or wrongly accused? Don’t hide it. Jesus calls that place blessed. The world says, “Get up and prove yourself.” Jesus says, “Come down and I will raise you up.” Let the Sermon on the Mount shape your life. Live the Kingdom way, and you’ll reflect the King. ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` The world chases blessings, but the Kingdom blesses the broken who chase Jesus. 📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *NEHEMIAH 4-6*📜

*Be Strong - Blessed are the Persecuted* It’s not always easy to stand for what’s right—especially when someone makes fun of you, gossips about you, lies about you, or even abuses you because of your decision. But when sharing the eighth of the beatitudes—a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom—Jesus offered some hope: *“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10* Leading up to this verse, Jesus had spoken unexpected blessings over an unlikely group: the poor in spirit, those who were mourning, the meek, those craving righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers. Finally, He offered a blessing to the persecuted. Jesus elaborated: *“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭12‬* Now, we won’t be blessed for facing the consequences of our own terrible decisions. But Jesus is saying that we will be rewarded when we are shamed, canceled, or even physically persecuted because of Him.  Jesus knows what it’s like to suffer for the sake of righteousness. You will be blessed for standing up for what is right, for trusting in God’s Word, and for defending those who cannot defend themselves. And when it gets hard, remember: you’re not alone. The prophets before us were mocked, beaten, and even killed. Jesus’ disciples—the ones hearing these words—would also suffer and die because of their beliefs. They were persecuted for doing things differently: for loving their neighbors, following God's laws, and for declaring Jesus as Lord. So no matter what it costs us, we will be blessed for standing up for what is right. Jesus says that ours is the Kingdom of heaven. *Prayer For Pursuing Righteousness* Father God, when we feel weak, remind us that You are strong. And when we feel like giving up, give us the strength to persevere. Show us what it means to pursue righteousness—no matter the cost. We want every aspect of our lives to glorify You. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

**UNDERSTANDING GOD'S WORD: ONE VERSE AT A TIME** **Matthew 5:10 (ESV)** *"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."* **Historical Context** Jesus spoke these words during the Sermon on the Mount, one of His most important teachings. In the Beatitudes, Jesus described the character of those who belong to His kingdom. While the world often views suffering and persecution as signs of failure, Jesus taught that those who suffer because of their faithfulness to God are truly blessed. **Meaning** Jesus is not speaking about suffering that comes from our own mistakes, poor decisions, or sinful behavior. He is speaking about persecution that comes because a person is committed to living according to God's righteousness. Throughout history, God's people have often faced opposition because they stood for truth. The prophets were persecuted, the apostles were persecuted, and Jesus Himself was persecuted. Those who faithfully follow Christ should not be surprised when they face resistance from a world that rejects God's authority. Jesus declares such believers to be *"blessed"* because their suffering is evidence that they belong to God's kingdom. Their reward is not primarily earthly comfort but the eternal inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. **Application** Many Christians today face criticism, rejection, discrimination, or even persecution because of their commitment to Christ. Rather than becoming discouraged, believers should remember that God sees their faithfulness and has promised an eternal reward. Faithfulness to Christ is always worth the cost. **Key Truth** Those who suffer for obeying God belong to His kingdom and will receive His eternal reward. **Scripture Interprets Scripture** *"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."* — 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV) *"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."* — John 15:18 (ESV) *"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."* — Matthew 5:10 (ESV) **Remember** The world's approval is temporary, but God's kingdom is eternal. Stand firm for Christ, knowing that your faithfulness is precious in His sight. **Soli Deo Gloria — To God Alone Be the Glory.**