大象传媒

Beatitudes Sunday Worship听

Please note: This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors.

It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.

大象传媒 Announcement: 大象传媒 Radio 4, it鈥檚 Ten past eight and now time for Sunday Worship which this morning is led by presenter Swarzy Macaly who is joined by Deyah and Rachael Anson in a 1Xtra studio for a modern take on the beatitudes.听

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Swarzy intro听

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Good morning. I鈥檓 Swarzy Macaly, and today on Sunday Worship, I鈥檓 excited to explore what is said to be Jesus鈥檚 most famous sermon - the Sermon on the Mount - The Beatitudes! Each Beatitude starts with 鈥楤lessed are鈥� and if I were to finish the sentence, I would have said something like鈥︹�橞lessed are the rich who have great jobs and go on great holidays鈥�or 鈥楤lessed are the beautiful who always look great in every photo鈥欌��or 鈥楤lessed are the popular who have huge social media followings and brand deals!鈥� But Jesus says the complete opposite! He says stuff like 鈥楤lessed are鈥�the poor in spirit, the meek, those who mourn, the persecuted鈥�...and let鈥檚 be honest! It sounds pretty strange! But in this search for inward happiness and this longing to find peace and contentment, there鈥檚 something about Jesus鈥檚 Beatitudes - these paradoxical claims - that go beneath the surface of all that we understand and turn it on its head.鈥�听

As a young Christian, the Beatitudes both challenge and inspire me to live out my faith in a world that still finds these teachings as difficult as when Jesus first taught them.鈥� I鈥檓 normally found holding down the Breakfast Show over on 1Xtra every Saturday morning, so this is a bit of a departure from my usual broadcast, but today, I鈥檓 in a studio joined by two other young Christians also in the music industry, Deyah and Rachael Anson. I can鈥檛 wait to chop up their take on the Beatitudes and hear what they have to say. If these teachings, like all of Jesus鈥檚 teachings, are so counter cultural, how do we live out Jesus鈥檚 message given in Matthew鈥檚 gospel and how should they shape our lives today?鈥�听

Our first piece of music this morning is the well loved hymn promising us God鈥檚 amazing grace鈥�recorded for us by gospel group Seth Pinnock & A New Thing.听

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Music 1 - Amazing Grace - Seth Pinnock and a New Thing鈥�听

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2 min Intro to other contributors and the reading鈥�听

Ahead of International Women鈥檚 Day next week, I wanted to talk to other young women who are also in the music industry to find out how their faith and their lifestyle tie together against the pressures of working in an industry where it鈥檚 very tempting to chase after the fame and money that the world has to offer! It鈥檚 a no-brainer that Sundays at church may be the easiest day to follow Jesus鈥檚 teachings, but how do we live them out through the rest of the week鈥�?鈥�听

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Sitting with me in the studio, I have an incredible rapper and artist called Deyah who reflects her faith in her music - 鈥渉eyy swarzy鈥濃��Also with us, I鈥檝e got an amazing woman who knows how to bring the vibe to any party on the 1s and 2s, it鈥檚 Rachael Anson..鈥漢eyy swarzy鈥澨�

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Before we dive into the beatitudes, I wanted to kick things off and ask - what does being blessed mean to you! We all see #Blessed on social media, but does it go beyond nice holidays and glossy lifestyles. Deyah, let鈥檚 start with you鈥μ�

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Our next hymn is the wonderful Blessed Assurance written by Fanny Crosby, sung for us by a west end star who was Olivier nominated for her role in Hamilton and released a gospel album last year - Rachel John鈥�听

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Music 2 - Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" - Hymn, led by Becca Folkes鈥� & Seth Pinnock & A New Thing鈥�听

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Swarzy听

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We鈥檙e now going to read Matthew 1- 12鈥�听

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Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount听

Matthew 5: 1- 12听

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.听

The Beatitudes听

He said:听

3 鈥淏lessed are the poor in spirit,听
鈥� 鈥� for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.听
4 Blessed are those who mourn,听
鈥� 鈥� for they will be comforted.听
5 Blessed are the meek,听
鈥� 鈥� for they will inherit the earth.听

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DEYAH听
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,听
鈥� 鈥� for they will be filled. 听
7 Blessed are the merciful,听
鈥� 鈥� for they will be shown mercy.听
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,听
鈥� 鈥� for they will see God.听
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,听
鈥� 鈥� for they will be called children of God.听

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RACHEL听
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,听
鈥� 鈥� for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.听

11 鈥淏lessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.听

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Swarzy听

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鈥疻e鈥檝e each chosen one particular beatitude that stands out to us as a mark of encouragement but also a challenge, and so I鈥檓 interested to hear which beatitude Deyah and Rachel have chosen and where they鈥檝e landed with it鈥�and I鈥檒l go first!鈥�听

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Swarzy鈥檚 Reflection鈥�听

I wanna kick off the conversation by starting right at the top with Beatitude no.1: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.听

This phrase 鈥榩oor in spirit鈥� had always confused me, and it was only until I looked at the meaning of these words in the Greek, did I finally catch Jesus鈥檚 drift! The word 鈥榩oor鈥� is the word 鈥榩t贸chos鈥� in Greek meaning 鈥榙eeply destitute, bankrupt, completely lacking resources (earthly wealth)鈥� and so spiritually speaking, it鈥檚 a sense of having nothing to offer God in exchange for getting into 鈥榯he kingdom of Heaven鈥�. And this understanding of my position before God completely clicked for me!鈥�听

When I was 14, I got caught shoplifting. It was not my best day. I remember the shopkeeper telling all his other customers to leave, exposing me for what I had done, and calling the police to come and get me. I was caught red handed and there was nothing I could say or do to get out of trouble. In my desperation, I prayed and said, 鈥楪od if you鈥檙e real, get me out of this situation, I鈥檒l never shoplift again and I鈥檒l follow you. I need your help.鈥� And as soon as I said amen, the craziest thing happened. This shopkeeper instantly had a change of heart, put down the phone to the police, and told me to go. Later that week, a friend invited me to their youth church and it was there that I heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time. I heard the Good News that I could never earn my salvation; I can鈥檛 get God to like me or let me off because of my family name, my job, my status, my bank balance, my Instagram following - nothing! I am saved by grace and through faith in God鈥檚 one and only Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for me, so as it says in John 3 that whoever chooses to believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.鈥�听

I鈥檓 so glad Jesus kicked off his Sermon on the Mount with this Beatitude because it鈥檚 from this position of humility that I remember I have nothing to boast about! And I remember heaven will be rammed with people who also won鈥檛 have anything to boast about because who could earn their way in?!听

And yet, this same beatitude that comforts me is the same beatitude that challenges me - especially because of the industry I鈥檓 in. I don鈥檛 have to scroll the timeline very long before I fall into the trap of comparing myself with everyone else. It can be a constant battle to remind myself that true happiness - this happiness that Jesus calls 鈥楤lessed鈥� - doesn鈥檛 flow from measuring myself against other people, or growing my name, or going viral on social media, or earning more money, and buying that house. And this isn鈥檛 to trash what the world upholds - families, houses, jobs, and holidays are all good things in and of themselves but they are not ultimate things where my happiness will flow from. And so, as a young Christian, this truth frees me from clinging to these things to being able to enjoy them and hold them loosely knowing they are not my source of happiness. Isn鈥檛 that a blessing?! What a radical, upside down blessing that makes total sense. My incomparable joy is found in Jesus and so I pray that I鈥檇 cling to him and Him alone. Amen.听

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MUSIC 4 - In Christ Alone 鈥� Lou Fellingham鈥�听

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3 mins Deyah reflection - 鈥疊lessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.鈥�听

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Younger in my faith, the term righteousness terrified me with its piety. I felt it was a form of perfection that was unattainable and inaccessible and to be honest, although I heard the term righteousness often, my understanding of it was way off.鈥�听

My perspective changed when I started releasing music at the age of 15... I saw how the industry operated, how sex, promiscuity, ego, drugs and even death were glamourised and it didn't sit right with me, it didn't align with who I felt called to be. I felt like and still feel like a tourist in this culture and knew I was called to be different, to share my faith, to set some kind of example and create music that would serve listeners as opposed to enslave them into a mass way of thinking. It's so important for me to know that what I create causes healing, growth, truth and not harm.鈥�鈥�听

To hunger and to thirst for righteousness I first needed to acknowledge my need for it and my insufficiency without it. I then came to the understanding, that righteousness is not merely the practice of aligning myself with God鈥檚 way but having the desire and longing to possess those qualities that orient with God鈥檚 word and naturally once that desire was there, it poured itself out into the music I created as well as the choices I made within this industry. Whether that was turning down deals, contracts, being mindful of the music I made and my intention behind it. Which don't get me wrong, when you're struggling financially and someone is offering you a bag of money or knowing that you saying yes to an opportunity will catapult your career overnight, it's hard and can be extremely frustrating and disheartening.听

In John 14:30 Jesus is speaking with his disciples and says 鈥楩or the ruler of this world is coming and He has nothing in Me鈥�. For me, this world, this earth, isn鈥檛 aligned with the ways of God, therefore I understand that to be righteous in an unrighteous world is very much the same as being in the world but not of it. And feeding our spirit over our flesh, making those choices daily. Making righteousness a priority doesn鈥檛 coexist well with being in this industry and although at times I鈥檓 exhausted with taking the narrow path as opposed to the broad one, there鈥檚 liberation for me in being hungry and thirsty for righteousness despite my environment, or todays鈥� culture because I know, that although it does feel at times my career is hindered, I knew what I signed up for taking the narrow path.鈥� It鈥檚 the whole Luke 14:28 scenario about counting the cost of being a disciple and what that means and then knowing that in Proverbs 11, He who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward鈥�. The clue is in the word righteousness. The word right, it's the right way, not because we may say so but because God says so, it鈥檚 His way.鈥� For me, there鈥檚 nothing more beautiful than actively trying to live in the way that God has set apart for us to live in. So I know that if I walk in the way He has called me to within my career, not comprising, holding onto integrity and righteousness, He will provide the opportunities that He has for me and continue to guide me. I learnt early on, that my career, my purpose is actually nothing to do with me or even necessarily to benefit me, it's merely to be a servant to others and extend what I have found in God through music. I could wear less clothes, be more promiscuous, switch up what I rap about, say yes to everything that comes my way but this is bigger than me. I choose to be hungry and thirsty for righteousness because it's God's way and I pray that it translates through me as a person and as an artist.听

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Swarz to Deyah听

Thank you so much for sharing - I know you have a favourite hymn too - which one have you chosen?鈥�听

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MUSIC 5 - It is well with my soul - Audrey Assad鈥�听

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3 mins Rachel -听听

Swarz: We鈥檝e spoken about being poor in spirit from vs 3, and hungering and thirsting after righteousness in vs 6, Rachel which beatitude stood out to you the most?鈥�听

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Matthew 5:10 - the last verse, both inspires and challenges me deeply in my faith journey. It reads, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."听

What inspires me most about this beatitude is the reminder that righteousness is not just a personal virtue but a transformative force that can elicit strong reactions from the world. The idea that persecution can arise simply from living out one's faith with integrity is a testament to the countercultural nature of Christianity. It inspires me to live boldly for Christ, knowing that my commitment to righteousness has the power to challenge the status quo and bring about positive change, even in the face of opposition.鈥�听

This relates to my journey because at the time I decided to re dedicate my life to Christ, I was well known for being a bit loud and aggressive and a serial raver but the transformation humbled me. Showing love became my identity and going to certain places didn鈥檛 interest me any more at the time. I鈥檒l never forget hearing what so called 鈥渇riends鈥� were saying or had said about me behind my back. It upset me but I chose to ignore, let go and let God and continue to show love. And til this day, they still don鈥檛 know that I know what they had once muttered about me.听

However, this beatitude also presents a significant challenge. The notion of being persecuted for righteousness' sake forces me to confront my own comfort and complacency. It's easy to be a Christian in name only, avoiding conflict and compromise by blending in with the values of society. But Matthew 5:10 calls me to a higher standard, urging me to embrace righteousness wholeheartedly, even when it means standing alone against the tide of popular opinion. This challenge reminds me that true discipleship requires courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the truth.鈥�听

Despite the difficulties it presents, Matthew 5:10 also offers a profound source of encouragement. The promise that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who endure persecution for righteousness' sake fills me with hope and reassurance. It reminds me that no matter how fierce the opposition may be, God's kingdom stands as an eternal inheritance for all who faithfully follow Him. This assurance empowers me to persevere in the face of adversity, knowing that my suffering is not in vain and that God will ultimately vindicate His people.鈥�听

A moment that I won鈥檛 forget was again in the early days of my walk, sticking up for a friend and being disrespected by a person I would have absolutely responded to differently if I was still on my old path. Choosing to be 鈥渢he bigger person鈥� crushed me to the point I told God I can鈥檛 do this and started seeking vengeance; until I had a silent moment and felt The Holy Spirit comfort me and remind me that it鈥檚 all for the greater good. It鈥檚 all part of my testimony, it鈥檚 all a part of what He has planned for me so press on Rach.听

Moreover, the beatitude encourages me to cultivate a perspective that transcends temporal circumstances. In a world where success is often measured by wealth, power, and popularity, Matthew 5:10 offers a radical redefinition of blessing鈥攁 blessing that is rooted in spiritual values and eternal rewards. This encourages me to shift my focus from earthly concerns to heavenly realities, placing my ultimate hope and trust in God's promises rather than fleeting worldly accolades.听

鈥疘n conclusion, Matthew 5:10 serves as both an inspiration and a challenge in my Christian walk. It inspires me to live boldly for Christ, knowing that my commitment to righteousness has the power to bring about positive change in the world. At the same time, it challenges me to confront my own comfort and complacency, urging me to embrace righteousness wholeheartedly, even in the face of opposition. Yet, amidst the challenges, this beatitude offers a profound source of encouragement, reminding me of the ultimate reward awaiting those who faithfully endure persecution for the sake of Christ.听

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MUSIC 6 -听 Psalm 23 鈥� People and Songs听听

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PRAYERS听

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鈥�鈥�听

The words of Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)鈥�听

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Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You,鈥�听

always follow Your plans,鈥�听

and perfectly accomplish Your Holy Will.鈥�听

Grant that in all things, great and small,鈥�听

today and all the days of my life,鈥�听

I may do whatever You require of me.鈥�听

Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your Grace,鈥�听

so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honour.鈥�听

May Your Will be done in time and in eternity by me,鈥�听

in me, and through me. Amen.鈥�听

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And we join together in the Lord鈥檚 Prayer -听

Our Father in heaven,听

hallowed be your name,听

your kingdom come,听

your will be done,听

on earth as in heaven.听

Give us today our daily bread.听

Forgive us our sins听

as we forgive those who sin against us.听

Lead us not into temptation听

but deliver us from evil.听

For the kingdom, the power,听

and the glory are yours听

now and for ever.听

Amen.听

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1 min closing听听

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MUSIC 6 . "Blessed assurance" - Hymn, led by Rachel John鈥�听

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