The Beatitudes (Part 2): Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Order of Service

Welcome

Hymn - MEEKNESS AND MAJESTY (315)

Psalm Reading

Psalm 50:12–15 ESV

“If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Prayer

Teen Talk

Hymn - Thank You Jesus (695)

Notices

Prayer Meeting - 7:30pm

Friday 7pm - Online

Sunday Morning 11am & 6pm

Tithes & Offerings - £

Main Prayer

Birthdays

Prayer Items

Jedidiah

Lord I pray for all those who are blind to the truth. Save them Lord, help them and allow them to come closer to you. Amen

Melchizedek

I pray that this year will guide me to get signed for an academy and get good grades.

Hymn - I Know that My Redeemer Lives (462)

Sermon Search

Why do people know God to be the truth but decide to convert in Hinduism or another religion.

Are we all related in a way of which we came from Adam and Eve?

Reading

Matthew 5:1–12 ESV

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Sermon

Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 -7)

Review Last week:

unconverted - to see their failure to obey God and the need to turn to Jesus for refuge

converted - to see that in the strength of the Lord and by His Grace we may be able to obey them “out of gratitude”

Theme:- Gospel of the Kingdom

Citizens of the Kingdom

Righteousness of the Kingdom

Love God above all

Happiness (Osher)

Dictionary: the state of being happy

Happy: feeling or showing pleasure (or contentment)

A momentary (fleating glimse) of the experience of pleasure

Happiness is sold by society as a perminant state of being Happy

This does not exist in human experience

It is not promised by God during our earthly lifetime

Bible presents the need for contentment

Two references of happiness “tob” (pleasant/agreeable/morally good)

Lamentations 3:17 ESV

my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is;

Isaiah 52:7 ESV

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Happy (osher) is used 11 times in 8 verses.

Blessed (Esher) - Matthew uses Greek form

Assurance from God of His Acceptance

Provides true contentment

The word happiness in language is derived from “Esher”

Not a superficial emotional experience

Other uses in the Bible:

Psalm 32:1 ESV

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

The Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

World: “Happy are the rich”

Man’s inherant desire for happiness

significance, self-esteem, satisfaction and security has happiness as the ultimate goal

Seek it in:

Marriage / Divorce

Borth of a Child / Abortion

wealth / poverty

Fast Lane / Releaxed

Eat / Diet

Malcolm Muggeridge (before conversion): “Happiness is like a young deer, fleet and beautiful. Hunt him, and he becomes a poor frantic quarry; after the kill, a piece of stinking flesh”

and “he who pursues happiness will never reach it.”

Happiness - “hap” is circumstancial / Subjective

Religion cannot fulfil the need

Based on your way of thinking

“God never made the soul so small that the whole world will satisfy it”

False Theology:

Whatever makes me happy must be right. Whatever makes me unhappy must be wrong.

Discomfort, delay, risk, suffering, inconveniences, and obstacles can’t be God’s will.

Without knowing it, I begin to worship the false gods of comfort, money, pleasure, and things.

Called to be Holy

1 Peter 1:14–16 ESV

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Blessed - is objective

out inner spiritual condition in the sight of God

union between us and God

Blessed (Only God can give)

Blessedness is independant of circumstances

Blessedness is continuous

Blessedness is related to a persons spirirtual condition

That God longs for his people to enjoy

Assurance of His unmeritted favour

Jesus rebukes a woman for misusing “blessed”

Luke 11:27–28 ESV

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Return...

Matthew 5:3 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Poor in Spirit

Those who have become convinced of their spiritual poverty

Realisation that self worship is empty

Example Jesus provides of the self righteous

Luke 18:11–13 ESV

The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

John Blanchard:

The Beatitudes for Today How Poor is Poor?

God’s promise of salvation is not to the wealthy, the talented or the educated, nor to the respectable or religious, but to those who acknowledge that they are utterly without spiritual merit or ability

Return...

Matthew 5:3 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Poor in Spirit is abandonment of self righteousness

Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

It is the divine rule in the lives of those who have a living relationship with Christ.

Lukewarm

Revelation 3:16–17 ESV

So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Kingdom of Heaven commences when you are “Born Again”

The Beatitudes for Today Ashes to Riches

Christians are not children of earth trying to get to heaven, they are children of heaven making their way home, where they will enter into the sinless, deathless, endless, glorious fulness of all that their heavenly Father has in store for them, a kingdom prepared ‘since the creation of the world’ (Matthew 25:34).

Conclusion

Poor in Spirit is essential for being Born Again

Hymn - Blessed Assurance (MP 59)

Closing Prayer

Doxology