“Poor in Spirit” ~ Matthew 5:3

Howdy and welcome to a cold Panhandle. So get warm and open your Bible and sit a spell.

Andrew Murray (a South African writer, teacher and Christian pastor) once said about this “Christ’s servants have the spiritual power to use the Name of Jesus only insofar as they yield themselves to live only for the interests and the work of the Master. The use of the name always supposes the surrender of our interests to Him whom we represent.” (Andrew Murray, “With Christ in the School of Prayer”, pg.178)

The Beatitudes it's not just a word to describe Matthew 5:3-12. It is, in reality, a deeper-life sermon. A comparison with Luke’s account and with the teachings of Christ Jesus in such stories as the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:10–14) or of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30–37) will help avoid a tendency to regard the sermon legalistically. Here Christ Jesus is probing the inner being, raising the question of motive. As has often been said, the larger question in ethics is not what a person does but why he does what he does. As C. H. Dodd has pointed out, “The ethics of the sermon on the mount are the absolute ethics of the Kingdom of God.”

There is a logical spiritual sequence throughout the Beatitudes. As is the case with the first of the Ten Commandments, the first beatitude is the key to understanding the other seven. All other Christian characteristics grow out of being “poor in spirit.”

Be careful, there is a poor-spiritedness that is so far from making men blessed that is a sin. This is a poor-spiritedness that comes from not knowing or not wanting to know Christ Jesus. Instead what Christ Jesus is speaking of here is a gracious character of soul, by which we are emptied of self, in order to be filled with Christ Jesus.

So what does it mean to be “Poor in Spirit”? It is to quit being confident in your own righteousness and strength. It is not being dependent on doing religion, so that you will be totally dependent on Christ Jesus for your justification (the act of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God), and His spirit and grace for your sanctification (the act of making or declaring something holy). What is the result of this emptying yourself and being refilled with Christ Jesus? I am going to look at three ways you can find happiness in your poorness of spirit.

Matthew 5:3

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1. Happy Are Those Who Realize Their Spiritual Helplessness.

The Greek word for “poor” is derived from the root that means to “crouch.” It carries the idea of a beggar crouching on the street to beg from those who pass by. It is the picture of a person who realizes that they need help and they throw their self at the mercy of their benefactors. A Christian recognizes their spiritual needs and that their spiritual needs can only be found in Christ Jesus.

In the parable of the prodigal son, the younger son left his father and brother because he felt that his father was no longer capable of telling him what to do. But “when he came to himself” he returned to the waiting arms of his loving father (Luke 15:17).

Three of the most often asked questions in life are: Where did I come from? What am I doing here? Where do I go afterwards? Only when you recognize your spiritual helplessness while answering these questions can you find the kingdom of heaven. Because when you recognizes your spiritual helplessness, you will see that you need Christ Jesus in your life. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6).

Christ Jesus has the true answer to the three big questions and He is the way to the kingdom of heaven. Do you Him today?

Happy Are Those Who Realize Their Spiritual Helplessness and...

2. Happy Are Those Who See Themselves As God Sees Them.

Because of Adam and Eve's disobedience we are all sinners. As a sinner. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;” (Isaiah 53:6).

^“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23).

There is nothing we can do in and of ourselves to change this. Isaiah 64:6 says, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;”

From the very beginning we have been the object of God’s love and concern, that is why He made us in His image. Because you are made in the image of God you are capable of fellowship with Him.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26 – 27).

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). But instead of returning His love we have let our pride get in the way.

During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. "Nonsense," snapped the general. "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--." A moment later Sedgwick fell to the ground, fatally wounded. – Today in the Word, August 30, 1993.

Pride is the opposite of this beatitude, it is about self and not about Christ Jesus.

• Religious pride. Some believe that they are saved by their own good works or because of their family connection to the church. God’s plan of salvation, however, is completely by grace through faith. “for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory.” (Ephesians 2:8 – 9).

• Intellectual pride. There are folks who are proud of what they know and they let everyone else know it. How sad that that they have never realized that “Knowledge puffs up ... And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.” (1 Corinthians 8:1 – 2).

  Now don't get me wrong great intelligence is like a lot of other things. Intelligence in and of itself is not a bad thing. However when in your supposed intelligence you elevate yourself above God then you're in trouble.

It's kind of like the scientists who told God they could create

a man, like He did.

God said, “Okay, I would like to see this.”

The scientist bent down and scooped up a bucketful of dirt at

which point God stopped them and said, “No, you have to make

your own dirt.”

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Romans 1:22-23).

• Material pride. I'm sure most if not all of you have heard or read the saying, “He who dies with the most _____ (you fill in the blank) wins.” The truth is He or she who dies with the most, is dead and all their stuff isn't going to change that or help them in eternity.

  Pride in material things can keep a person so busy in trying to keep up with the Jones that they when they finally catch them they have refinance and start all over again! How sad that some have never realized that “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a

man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

When you stop and take stock of yourself what do you see? Do you see a person always chasing happiness? Or do you see a person who is content in Lord?

Happy Are Those Who Realize Their Spiritual Helplessness, Happy Are Those Who See Themselves As God Sees Them, and ...

3. Happy Are Those Whose Kingdom Is Heaven

The promise of this beatitude is “the kingdom of heaven.” You gain citizenship in the kingdom of heaven when you empty yourself and are filled with the Holy Spirit. As a citizen of the kingdom of heaven you are to seek God’s will in all aspects of your life. To do this is to have God reigning in your heart and life. After all it was our Lord, Christ Jesus who taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10).

So, why are those whose address is now found in the kingdom of heaven so happy? There are many reasons to be happy, here is just two.

First – as a citizen of God's kingdom you have real peace. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27).

Secondly – Someday as a resident of the kingdom of heaven you will experience life the way it was before the fall of man. The way God meant for you to live. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:3-5).

Christ Jesus has challenged you to “seek . . . first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Are you actively seeking the kingdom of heaven?

You must realize that you are spiritual helpless, but that God sees you as you can be, if you let His will be done in your life. This is what it means to be “poor in spirit”.

Blessed are the poor in spirit—the humble—for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Barclay calls this “the supreme blessedness.” The poor in spirit are those who, in absolute poverty of spirit, are solely dependent upon God. Such a person fully enjoy the gift of God’s acceptance and fellowship. Does this describe you? Or are you still “full” of self, only making a show of dependence upon God? Empty yourself and give yourself to God full and free now and start experiencing the kingdom of heaven!

Thanks for dropping in this morning, and may the Lord bless you and yours.

Biblesurfer