Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit

Series: Sermon on the Mount

Bienaventurados Los Pobres en Espíritu

Pastor Tony Perez Mateo 5:3 82706

Intro: (Repaso). Are you willing to really hear and obey what Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount? Mat 7:24-27. ¡Evaluación propia no se encuentra en otros! Las bienaventuranzas son características internas que deben ser demonstradas en lo externo (Sant 2:17; Efe 2:10).

They will possess all of these graces. These graces are inter-related... 1. It takes all of these qualities, working in conjunction with one another 2. In this the passage is similar to 2 Pe 1:5-11 a. Where various qualities are also listed b. Where each are needed in conjunction to one another ("add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge...")

Cuarenta tiene que ver con casi todas las manifestaciones nuevas en la historia de los portentosos actos de Dios, especialmente los de salvación, por ejemplo el diluvio, la redención de Egipto, Elías y la era profética, el advenimiento de Cristo y el nacimiento de la iglesia. Podemos mencionar los siguientes períodos de cuarenta días: las cataratas de agua durante el diluvio (Gn. 7.17); el envío del cuervo (Gn. 8.6); los ayunos de Moisés en el monte (Ex. 24.18; 34.28; Dt. 9.9); la exploración de la tierra de Canaán por los espías (Núm. 13.25); la oración de Moisés por Israel (Dt. 9.25); el desafío de Goliat (1 S. 17.16); el viaje de Elías a Horeb (1 R. 19.8); el tiempo que Ezequiel estuvo acostado sobre su lado derecho (Ez. 4.6); la predicación de Jonás a Nínive (Jon. 3.4); el tiempo que pasó Cristo en el desierto antes de su tentación (Mat. 4.2), y sus apariciones después de la resurrección (Hech. 1.3).

Con respecto al período de cuarenta años, la cifra general para una generación, podemos mencionar lo siguiente: las divisiones principales de la vida de Moisés (Hech. 7.23, 30, 36; Dt. 31.2); la peregrinación del pueblo de Israel en el desierto (Ex. 16.35; Núm. 14.33; Jos. 5.6; Sal. 95.10); el modelo de servidumbre y liberación que se repite en la era de los jueces (por ejemplo Jue. 3.11; 13.1); los reinados de Saúl, David, y Salomón (Hech. 13.21; 2 S. 5.4; 1 R. 11.42); la desolación de Egipto (Ez. 29.11).

After 400 years of silence, many Jewish people believed that the kingdom would be ushered in only by a great war and force of arms. They expected a Messiah with power and strength. Jesus promises it for the “poor in spirit,” the “humble” or “meek” (5:5), the peacemakers (5:9).

As the eager crowds gathered around Jesus, they really didn't quite understand what they were about to hear. They knew that this man was an extraordinary person. They had heard of His miraculous power and radical teaching. And they were hungry. They were hungry for something more than the routine. They wanted a word from God. They wanted a word that would make a difference in their lives. What they would hear would be a word unlike any they had ever heard.

The conventional wisdom held by our society at large is often at odds with Biblical wisdom. God's wisdom and ways, more often than not, are diametrically opposed to and radically different from the current thinking of our secular society.

I. El Significado de Ser Pobre en Espiritu.

A. La Palabra “Pobre”

1. No es pobreza material. "No es vender todo e irse a un monasterio"

2. Ptōchos (poor) is from a verb meaning “to shrink, cower, or cringe,” as beggars often did in that day. Classical Greek used the word to refer to a person reduced to total destitution, who crouched in a corner begging.

The word commonly used for ordinary poverty was penichros, and is used of the widow Jesus saw giving an offering in the Temple. She had very little, but she did have “two small copper coins” (Luke 21:2). She was poor but not a beggar. One who is penichros poor has at least some meager resources.

3. --La palabra pobre habla de un mendigo. --La misma palabra que se usa de Lázaro y el rico.

--La palabra de una persona totalmente dependiente de los regalos de otros.

--Personas que no podían funcionar normalmente en la sociedad. Sin recursos personales.

--Espiritualmente el hombre esta vacío, es pobre y sin esperanza.

“describe la condición más desesperante, la absoluta destitución. Se refiere al mendigo que depende de la bondad de otros para su existencia, uno que no tiene recursos propios.

B. La frase “pobre en espiritu” Es pobreza espiritual.

How this opening word struck the keynote of all the subsequent teaching of Him who was Himself born in a stable

Aparte de Cristo no hay nada, no se tiene nada y no se puede hacer nada (Juan 15:5). que no confían en sí mismos como autosuficientes. La humildad es la primera letra del “alfabeto cristiano”.”

Those who are poor in spirit realize that they have nothing spiritually. They recognize that they have no relationship to God, no salvation, no connection to His Spirit, no power to live the Christian life, etc., so in desperation they do the very thing they needed to do the very thing they needed to do -- they throw themselves into the arms of Jesus and trust Him to enrich them with spiritual life.

To be poor in spirit means that we see our total spiritual poverty before God and our utter dependence upon Him. Poverty of spirit must be our attitude toward ourselves. We must see that we can do nothing to commend ourselves to God. It must become clear to us that apart from Christ we are spiritually destitute. We may be well educated, but we are spiritually ignorant. We may be financially secure, but we are spiritually bankrupt. We may be the president of a corporation, but without Christ we are on the spiritual unemployment line.

Your are "poor in spirit" when you acknowledge that you are in "spiritual bankruptcy" and come to Jesus and ask Him to credit His righteousness to your account (II Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4)

--The poor in spirit are not self-righteous (such people sense no need of God's grace)

--The poor in spirit are not blinded by religion (such people's religion pacifies their spirit, giving them a feeling of satisfaction)

--The poor in spirit are not those who attempt to gain Heaven by their works (to work for their salvation) (rather, they realize that they have nothing to offer God to appease His wrath or gain entrance into Heaven)

C. Es ser Humilde

It issues from the painful discovery that all my righteousnesses are as filthy rags.

1. Humility first

Jesus puts this beatitude first because humility is the foundation of all other graces, a basic element in becoming a Christian (Matt. 18:3–4).

Pride has no part in Christ’s kingdom, and until a person surrenders pride he cannot enter the kingdom. The door into His kingdom is low, and no one who stands tall will ever go through it.

We cannot be filled until we are empty; we cannot be made worthy until we recognize our unworthiness; we cannot live until we admit we are dead. We might as well expect fruit to grow without a tree as to expect the other graces of the Christian life to grow without humility. We cannot begin the Christian life without humility, and we cannot live the Christian life with pride.

Humility must precede everything else

2. La humildad trae un entendimiento correcto de ti mismo. Es lo opuesto de orgullo. Vaciandote de ti mismo. Prov 6:16; 14:3; 16:5, 18; 21:4; Sant. 4:6

--El único hombre que nunca puede aprender es el hombre que se cree que ya lo sabe todo.

--"Uno tiene que verse completamente necesitado para buscar ayuda."

3. La humildad trae un entendimiento correcto de Cristo.

- Cuando estamos preocupados con nosotros mismos, no podemos ver el gran valor de Cristo. "Hasta que no veamos cuan perdido estamos, no podemos comprender el glorioso amor de Cristo."

D. Ejemplos:

It is the very reverse of that independent and defiant attitude which refuses to bow to God, which determines to brave things out, which says with Pharaoh, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?"

Moises (Ex 3:11)

David (2 Sam. 7:18)

ILLUS: of a man poor in spirit -- The Pharisee and the Publican (Lk. 18:9-14)

--Dios se identifica con personas que son mendigos espirituales, no con los autosuficientes. Lucas 18:10-14

When God called Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses pleaded his unworthiness, and God was able to use him mightily. Peter was still aggressive, self-assertive, and proud, but when Jesus miraculously provided the great catch of fish, Peter was so overawed that he confessed, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8). Even after he became an apostle, Paul recognized that “nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh” (Rom. 7:18), that he was the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15), and that the best things he could do in himself were rubbish (Phil. 3:8).

E. Confirmación de las Escrituras.

1. OT - Jue. 6:15; Isa. 66:2; 57:15; Sal. 34:18; 51:17

2. NT - Lu 5:8; Rom 7:18; 1 Tim 1:13-15; Fil 3:8; 2 Cor 12:9; Sant 4:10

II. El Resultado de Ser Pobre en Espiritu.

“De ellos (v. 3b) es enfático, indicando que el reino es exclusivamente de ellos. Más aun, el reino es una realidad presente para ellos. El reino se compone de los que se someten al gobierno de Dios y le obedecen, de los que oran: ... venga tu reino, sea hecha tu voluntad... (6:10).

A. Futuro - el reino definitivamente les pertenece a ellos.

B. Presente - Somos partes del reino de Dios ahora:

1. "un sacerdocio santo" 1 Ped 2:5; Apo. 1:6 --Somos los sujetos de Cristo.

2. Estamos sentados en lugares celestiales - Efe.2:6-7

C. Herencia

But look at the magnitude of the blessing which we received. It is the kingdom of heaven. What a blessing! What an inheritance! In other words, to those who are poor in spirit God will give the kingdom of heaven. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom." - Luke 12:32

This is enough to make anyone happy. It is what Paul was referring to in Colossians 1:12: "Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." Peter speaks of it in 1 Peter 1:4: "To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."

We have an inheritance. Indeed, the Bible says that we are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Just think of what that means. It means that God grants us entrance into His kingdom. It also means that God puts the resources of His kingdom at our disposal. It means we become adopted sons and daughters in His family. We become children of the King.

Ephesians 1:11 says, "In Him, we also have obtained an inheritance." God has given us a rich provision in Christ. This is our inheritance. It is a rich inheritance indeed.

For instance, the Bible clearly indicates that God has made generous promises to us as believers. 2 Peter 1:4 indicates that God "has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises." But these promises have not been given like mere human promises are given. People will promise you many things and then not come through on their promises. But God is not like that. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, "for as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes." In other words the promises of God are yes in Christ! God's promises never fail. In Christ they are yes. But only in Christ. And only the poor in spirit will receive these promises because only they will receive Christ.

III. ¿Como Puedo Saber Que Soy Pobre en Espiritu?

A. Enfocate en Cristo. 2 Cor 3:18; Sal 17:15

Tu vas a estar apartado de ti mismo.

Sal 131:2 - Del egoísmo, solamente pensando en glorificar a Dios.

Tu vas a tomar a Cristo en sus términos.

B. Dad gracias a Dios en todo.

Por Su gracia en el conocimiento que todo es de Dios Sant 1:17; 1 Tim 1:14

Tu nunca vas a quejarte.

..de circunstancias porque sabes que no mereces nada como quiera. Tu no tienes nada que ofrecerle a Dios, pero mientras mas grande tus necesidades, mas abundante el provee. ---Así que cuando falte todo, tu estas en la mejor posición para recibir y reconocer la gracia de Dios.

C. Tu vas a ver lo bueno en otros.

y ver tus propias debilidades.

D. Tu vas a pasar tiempo en oración.

Un mendigo siempre esta pidiendo. El toca en la puerta del cielo hasta que lo escuchen.

Conclusión: Have you seen your own poverty of spirit before God? Have you come to the place in your life where you are tired of trying to do it on your own? It is possible to try and follow God in your own strength, you know. Have you done that? Have you been trying to follow God in your own wisdom, knowledge, and strength? This is not uncommon. But when we attempt to do that, we find out, some sooner, some later, that it just doesn't work.

“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord,” James says, “and He will exalt you” (James 4:10). Those who come to the Lord with broken hearts do not leave with broken hearts. In giving up their own kingdom, the poor in spirit inherit Gods.