Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

Seeing is believing, right? But, sometimes our eyes can play tricks on us. Sometimes our brain can be overwhelmed by brightness or color or we can see something that doesn't exactly match up with reality. So, let's try to have a little bit of fun with this. [bicycle wheels image] I want you stare at the screen. Look at the center of this bicycle in the white space between these two unusual, strange wheels. Then switch your gaze between the two wheels. You're getting very sleepy. Don't worry I'm not going to hypnotize you. It might look like these wheels are moving or maybe you can make them stop moving and start moving again by looking around or back and forth. No matter what you think you are seeing, nothing is moving in this picture. The colors and the contrast between colors can create the illusion of movement. Here's the next one. [Duck Rabbit Image] What animal do you see here? Kids you might need to help your parents out with this one. This is one of the oldest optical illusions in print. Ludwig Wittgenstein made it popular and sometimes it's even used as a test for creative thinking. If you can see one animal, try to see another one. You should be able to see both a duck and a rabbit. Once you can see both, try to visually flip your eyesight seeing one then the other. Ok, here's the last one. [Dress image] If you had internet access in 2015, you know what you're looking at. What color is this dress? Is there a question more divisive than this one? I see, without any question, a white and gold dress. And, I hope that I've been able to start a fight in your living room on a quiet Sunday morning. If you do a quick web search and fall through an internet rabbit hole, you will discover this dress is in reality blue and black. And, you can also find endless articles and research about why so many of us see this dress as white and gold. Sometimes what we see doesn't really match up with reality. Our eyes can trick us. But, what if that could also be true about our spiritual, mental-emotional, judgment and vision? When you imagine a life that is blessed, what do you see? If we're honest, most of us probably see signs of success and power, achievement, perhaps comfort and security. Those qualities are not evil or to be rejected or looked down upon. However, they also don't necessarily equal a life that is blessed by God. When God sees a blessed life, what is he looking at? Today, we're beginning a new series exploring the part of Jesus' teaching known as the Beatitudes from Matthew chapter 5, where we find Jesus upending the way we see life when he defines what a life blessed by God looks like. I'm so glad that we are meeting together online today, and that you are here. I hope you will make sure to stick with us over the next several weeks as we dive deep into individual statements that Jesus makes and allow Jesus' teaching to challenge your perspectives. We will read this brief section of Jesus' teaching before examining the first statement from Matthew 5 verse 3 and discovering how this statement from Jesus answers five simple questions. So, you can turn to Matthew 5 in your Bibles or follow along on the screen as I read. Today, I'm reading from the New International Version. Slides: Matthew 5:3-12 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Matthew was one of the people who originally heard Jesus speaking these words and many more like them. He was one of the first 12 disciples, and he's one of the four gospel writers who wrote down a record of Jesus' life and teachings so that future generations could have a reliable record of his life. Matthew is not very concerned about chronology in the biography he wrote about Jesus, he is more concerned with particular themes from Jesus' teaching. His entire book is organized around 5 discourses or extended teaching sections where Jesus speaks on different themes like the mission he gives his followers, parables or stories that describe the kingdom of God, the church or the soon-to-be growing community of faith, and finally the end times or how God will bring justice and wrap history up. Matthew 5 is in the prime position. It is the beginning of the first discourse or teaching section that stretches between chapters 5-7. Scholars and Christians who love studying God's Word still debate today about the meaning and intent behind these words from Jesus. We will touch on some of those points of contention briefly in a few minutes. But, what no one could argue is the unique and compelling power behind these words that Jesus spoke. I've read these words at both funerals and weddings and while sitting alone on a mountain top. Every time I do, I feel both challenged and comforted by these beautiful words of Jesus. Today, we're focusing our attention on the first statement from Matthew 5:3, and I want to help you see how this statement answers five simple questions that reveal how God views a life that is truly blessed. Our first question is what? Slide: What? Blessed... When trying to communicate across different cultures or languages, you've heard the phrase or maybe experience the idea that "something gets lost in translation." That's not usually the case, but sometimes it can happen. This particular word is difficult to put into language. If Jesus wanted to say that God "blesses" someone or God "bless" you, he would have used a different word. This word describes someone that other people envy because they are fortunate or lucky. The word "happy" fits if it's describing a way of life more than a passing moment of excitement. Jesus is about to identify the people who are happy, who have a fortunate life, the people everyone else wishes they were like...And, he's going to shock and surprise his original audience and us. What is Jesus talking about? He's talking about those who are blessed, happy, fortunate, the lucky ones. And, who are they? Slide: Who? Blessed are the poor... Being poor in spirit, doesn't mean being poor-spirited. It doesn't mean that we must be drawn toward self-loathing or have no backbone or strength of character. It means we come before God empty. It's only when we come to God empty that we can rely on him completely. This word for "poor" is sometimes translated as beggar. It could refer to a person on the roadside who literally has nothing and depends on the generosity of others to live. In fact, when Luke presents his version of this sermon, he doesn't include the modifier "in spirit". He just says the "poor." God doesn't want anything from you. He just wants you. He wants your faith, your confidence, your trust. We come to Jesus empty-handed and ask him to be at work in our lives. It is those who understand their deep need for God who are truly blessed. When we are rich and secure and relying on our own ingenuity and skill, it's very hard to be poor enough to depend the grace and generosity of God. Blessed are the poor, and where is this happening? In spirit. Slide: Where? Blessed are the poor in spirit... The qualities that Jesus talks about are internal rather than external. This is a hallmark of Jesus' teaching that contrasted with the religious teachers of his time. The Pharisees emphasized external righteousness, do's and don'ts, the clear measurables of fasting, tithing, praying publicly, and following purity regulations that could be observed and measured. Jesus was more interested in the attitudes of our heart that guides and motivates our actions. I'm more at home in the world of action than in my inner world of thoughts and feelings and unseen motivations. When Megan asks me how I feel about something, I'm not lying when I say I don't know. I'm often disconnected from my feelings and operate in my outer life with little connection to my inner life. But, what Jesus is really concerned about is our inner person. Who we are should drive what we do. Who we are becoming is far more important than what we are achieving. Being poor in spirit is about our character not about our shiny exterior. What, Who, Where, and what about the time component. When is this happening? Slide: When? Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Did you notice the verb tense in this promise? "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Right now, in the present, they hold onto the kingdom. The set of beatitudes ends with another present tense promise: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The same promise in the first and last of these statements from Jesus. Sandwiched in between the first and last promises are future verbs rather than present tense verbs. The pure "will see" God, the mourners "will be" comforted, the peacemakers "will be called..." This is one of the most contentious questions around this sermon from Jesus. Some Bible students read this passage and look to the future and argue that Jesus is teaching the ethics of a future coming kingdom and that when Jesus reigns directly and immediately, these qualities will define the character of his people. Others look to the past and contend that the primary or entire meaning for this text applies only to the people who first received this teaching...that Jesus was demonstrating the futility of their systems for creating righteousness and offering a kingdom that they rejected because they refused him and his teaching. Jesus came announcing a kingdom and presenting himself as the rightful king over everything and everyone. The kingdom he offered was rejected, and he was killed. But, his kingdom was founded and initiated by his presence. Those of us who follow Jesus are signs and symbols of his reign. We are a living testimony to the fact that there is a king who will return and reign forever. Jesus' kingdom never ends. He is always reigning. He is always the king. We are already living by the principles of his kingdom. We are already experiencing the benefits of life with God. The kingdom already belongs to those who are poor in spirit. However, we also believe that the best is yet to come...that we are not yet experiencing the full benefits of Jesus' reign...that we are not yet living under his immediate rule...that things happen in our world that he never wanted to happen. When is the time for these promises? Well, it's right now and it's also not yet. Slide: What, Who, When, Where Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. How? These questions, What, Who, When, Where-are all good questions to ask when studying this passage or any Bible passage, but things get difficult when you ask a question like How because now you are examining the intersection of the text and your life. How do I begin to put this truth into practice? How do I become poor in spirit? Eugene Peterson draws this question out in his dynamic translation in The Message. Slide: You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule. Matthew 5:3 The Message [keep up until conclusion begins] When have you found yourself at the end of your rope? Are you there right now? I've discovered the uncomfortable truth that it's when I face a problem I can't solve, a situation I can't control, a wrong or mistake that I can't forget, or a pain that I can't make stop that I'm coming to the end of my rope, the end of my ability to succeed and thrive, the end of my wisdom to win that God finally has room to work inside of me. And, I don't like that. When we write down goals or talk about our aspirations and dreams, no one ever says, I hope I experience such strong disappointment that I fall into self-doubt. I've never asked a couple why they want to get married and heard: I'm really looking forward to learning how to manage conflict in a healthy way and forgive someone who let me down. When parents are expecting a baby, they never say: I'm so looking forward to the time when my child is old enough to get into some real trouble when I'm entirely at my wit's end and have no idea how to help them or parent them. We ask God for blessings. We don't ask for joblessness or loss and grief or frustration and disappointment or weakness. But, it's in those moments that we can become most aware of our emptiness and our need for God. It's in those moments when we can become truly blessed as we depend on God more completely. Conclusion I wear contact lenses or glasses so that I can see far away things more clearly, and by far away I mean something across the room. The lens on my glasses or contacts focuses light to correct the way the lens in my eyes fail to work. As we go through life, we think that we can see what a blesse life looks like, but sometimes what we are viewing is an illusion. J.B. Phillips and others have pointed out that Jesus didn't say, "Blessed are the wealthy because they have everything they need or Blessed are the Americans because they will rule the world or even Blessed are the happy for they are always smiling." People gathered around Jesus on a mountainside overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus began by saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Here's what I want you to do this week. Read and pray. We're launching a new Bible reading plan this week for summer. Over the next 50 days, we want to read the book of Psalms together. You can find the reading plan in the study guide as well as through social media this week. We want to grow in our united dependence on the Lord over the next 50 days by reading about 3 Psalms a day. And, I want you pray. This week would you be bold enough to make this request? "Lord, make me aware of my need for you and help me to consciously depend on your presence." Lord, we need you. We pause to thank you for your endless and limitless care for us. Thank you for your grace that holds us close. Help those who are going through a challenging time to realize that you are there with them. Help each of us to become more aware of our need for you so we can depend on your presence. Amen. Benediction "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. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV