Poor in Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Today we begin a series on the Beatitudes. I know I have done series in the past on this subject, but this one will be different. This is an 8 week series. Of the 8 weeks, I will do four of those. I have asked two of our own to help me with this series. Pastor Bill will do two of these and David Cox will do two as well. I believe you will be blessed from this series receiving a different perspective from three different people.
Let’s Begin.
When we get sick, we usually start off with over-the-counter medications. We go to the drugstore and try finding something that we think will fix our problem and help us to feel better. But if the problem persists, at some point, we will determine that this problem is beyond us. We’ll decide after awhile that the medicine is not working, the syrup’s not doing the job, or the pills are not strong enough. We’ll realize that the stuff we have the power to purchase over the counter isn’t working.
Realizing that something deeper must be wrong, we will call the doctor. We will come to the place where we recognize that we do not have the capacity to get what we need to fix what’s wrong. We will go to a professional who can both diagnose and prescribe the remedy for the deeper issue that we weren’t aware of.
Sometimes, in our own humanness, we can’t fix our own problems. Purchasing our own pills can’t fix it. Homespun remedies can’t fix it. So sometimes, there may be something deeper going on. Could it be that the reason that life is not working for many of us is that we are still locked in to our own human confidence, ability, strategies, thoughts, and mentalities? Do we keep on taking over-the-counter solutions and then wonder why inside we still feel sick? Things on the outside—nicer cars, houses, and clothes—don’t give true blessing. True blessing starts with poor in spirit.
The first beatitude that we encounter is in Matthew 5:3
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
What does poor in spirit mean?
Let’s break it down for a moment. The first word is poor. When you are poor it means that you are dependent on someone else. The word spirit here refers to a supernatural being or our spirit man. So, when we are poor in spirit, it means that our spirit man gets to a point that it completely relies on someone else or it is completely dependent on God.
Think about this question. How do you know you’re not yet poor in spirit?
The answer is simply. It is because you’re rich in history.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
So, Jesus begins His most famous sermon by telling us that we are blessed if we are poor in spirit. We are blessed if we are completely dependent on God. If you look up the word blessed you will see that it means happy. So, happy you will be if you are poor in spirit. You will be happy if you are completely dependent on God.
And Jesus also gives us our reward if we are poor in spirit. He says, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
So, if I am poor in spirit, if I am completely dependent on God, my reward that is waiting on me is the kingdom of heaven.
Well, I want that. Don’t you? Don’t you want the kingdom of heaven.
In order to receive the kingdom of Heaven, Jesus tells me that I must be poor in spirit. I must be completely dependent on God the Father who rules in heaven. So, what does being poor in spirit mean? What does being completely dependent on God mean?
I took a moment to think about what poor in spirit means and I came up with a few words to describe it.
1. Surrender
1. Surrender
I watch many cops shows. When they have the villain surrounded, they tell them you need to surrender and come out with your hands up. Our hands up is a sign of surrender.
What does surrender mean?
Surrender - to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand.
Surrender - to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand.
When I surrender myself to God I am telling Him that I don’t want control of my life. I want to surrender it all to Him.
26 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
If you are tired of carrying the heavy burden that you have been carrying, then it is time to surrender your life to God and let Him take over.
Become Poor in Spirit so that you can be blessed.
2. Sacrifice
2. Sacrifice
There are going to be times in your life that you don’t feel like praising God. But look at what Hebrews 13:15
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
The terms sacrifice and praise might seem to be opposites. We think of sacrifice as offering something at great cost to ourselves. Praise, on the other hand, sounds joyful as it bubbles from a grateful heart. However, in the spiritual realm, sacrifice and praise are intertwined.
Praise does not always cost us something. We praise our dogs for fetching the ball and people for a job well done. Praise is often our response to some action that directly benefits us, and we feel generous because we extend it. We often find it easy to praise God from the same motivation. When He has blessed us, helped us, and protected us, we feel generous toward Him. We can sing, worship, and talk about how good He is because we can see it. That kind of praise, although worthwhile, does not cost us anything. It is not a sacrifice.
Then there are those times when God did not come through the way we thought He would. The medical test comes back positive. The spouse wants a divorce. A child is wayward. The mortgage company calls in the loan. God seems very far away, and praise is the last thing to bubble up from our hearts. We can’t see His goodness, and circumstances scream that He has forgotten us.
To praise God in those times requires personal sacrifice. It takes an act of the will to lay our all on the altar before a God we don’t understand. When we bring a "sacrifice of praise," we choose to believe that, even though life is not going as we think it should, God is still good and can be trusted. When we choose to praise God in spite of the storms, He is honored, and our faith grows deeper.
7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,
The third word that came to mind when I think about becoming completely dependent on God.
3. Mercy
3. Mercy
God showed us His mercy when He sent His son Jesus to the cross to die for our sins. He made the ultimate sacrifice for us.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
Have you ever done something to someone and they shown you mercy? You didn’t deserve the mercy that was shown to you but you received it because that person was gracious. We all want mercy because we are flawed humans.
Jesus explained that the poor in spirit are blessed. The poor in spirit realize that they cannot please God on their own. They are “poor” or “bankrupt” inwardly, unable to give anything of value to God and thus must depend on His mercy.
There is another word that goes with it. And that word is...
4. Grace
4. Grace
God’s grace is unmerited favor from God. Grace is often used to refer to the gift of salvation.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Grace is God favoring us with His presence, His love, help and power. It is heavenly strength give to those who depend on God and call on Him for help. This grace will be with faithful Christians who allow their personal weaknesses and difficulties to become a means of honoring Christ.
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
The greater our weakness and sufferings for Christ, the more grace God will give to accomplish His purposes. That grace is always sufficient for each new day so that we can accomplish what He desires for that day and endure any suffering.
Think about all the weaknesses you may have. We should be grateful for our weaknesses. We need to see eternal value in those weaknesses because they allow Christ’s power to be revealed in and through us as we journey through life toward our heavenly home.
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I need God’s grace to get me through the day. When I am poor in spirit needing to rely completely on God that is when God’s grace is strongest.
5. Humility
5. Humility
People who are poor in spirit humble themselves before God.
3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.
The prophet Zephaniah offers hope to those who had already turned to the Lord for mercy and help. He challenged them to deepen their commitment to God and His purposes so that He might shelter them when He came to punish His people. They had to seek after three things if they hoped to experience spiritual revival and renewed blessing from God—three things that are just as important for believers today.
First, we need to pursue a right relationship with God Himself.
How much time do you spend with God your father?
It amazes me that we can spend hours binge watching a show on Netflix but we can’t read our bibles for five minutes.
We can scroll through the posts on Facebook but we can’t spend five minutes a day in prayer talking to our father in heaven.
We can have conversations with strangers about the latest movies but we can’t share our faith with our neighbors.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Second we have to truly seek to do what is right according to God’s Word.
Have you studied God’s Word for yourself lately? Or do you just rely on me to get you through the week?
Stop putting everything else ahead of God and start making Him first in your life.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
And thirdly, you must be genuinely humble. You need to realize that you are helpless and you need to rely on God’s power and God’s plans for your life. I need to be poor in spirit.
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.
33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.
I need to be poor in spirit. I need to surrender everything I have to God the father and I need to be completely dependent on Him. And when I do this then according to God’s Son Jesus I will receive the Kingdom of heaven.
Isn’t that the ultimate destination that we are all looking forward to.
Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
I want to submit myself to God.
Let’s Pray.