Kingdom Culture

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. [1]- Mat 5:3

We are told in US Churches a lot that we are the richest people in the world. I believe this, but I also believe that people in churches all over the world would say that we are poor and weak. We have become comfortable, complacent. We are called to tell the world about and show them Jesus, but we are satisfied that the newest SEU Worship song really “hits different.” We are physically comfortable and spiritually stagnant.

Jesus starts off my blessing those around Him and simultaneously establishing Himself as the Only One who can give such a blessing. If you look to Is 61:1, this is the Messiah speaking. Jesus is saying “I am the Only One who can bless you like this, and I am choosing to do it.”

I frustrate Destiny. One of the ways I do this is concerning gifts. She never knows what to get because, if I want something, I just go out and get it. “Add to cart” is pretty simple when you want a new something to make yourself feel better, right? But if I don’t pay attention to our bank account, that could get us into a lot of trouble if we are broke.

Why do we lack spiritual depth? Why do you struggle to see God move in your life? Could it be we don’t realize how poor we really are? Let me help you, YOU ARE POOR!!!! And the worst part is we don’t even realize how poor we are.

We all want the kingdom of Heaven, right? In order to do that we must recognize we are poor in spirit and bring that poverty to Jesus. The people Jesus was talking to knew they were poor and helpless and weak and dependent on others. They knew they were powerless to change their situation. Being poor in spirit doesn’t just mean being poor financially. It’s when you sense the burden and weight of your current poverty and see it in terms of the absence of God, but long for God to act on your behalf and claim you as His own. It’s not just about being poor in spirit, it’s about sensing it. Knowing it. Confessing it to Jesus so He can do what we never could.

Are you poor in spirit? Do you sense that place in your life that God’s presence is absent? Maybe you don’t sense God’s presence outside of youth group and church at all. Bring that to the altar tonight.

[1]Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 5:3). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.