A couple of weeks ago, as I was finishing our teaching on the life of Moses, I told you that I have a weakness for heroes. A part of what makes heroes so attractive is their rugged independence. They just don’t need anyone else…however, that’s really not a strength.
In fact I need to learn how to love the heroes…the ordinary people…who need others. But that is counter intuitive to our culture. We are taught early on that if you can’t do it yourself, you’re weak.
Do you know what I’m talking about? It think you do.
WE
For some of you, everything you have and everything you are is a result of your own hard work and determination. Because your parents or your teachers or your spouse or your employer…whatever…failed and let you down, you have become a self-made individual. You don’t have to depend on anyone because you have learned that, for the most part, you CAN’T depend on anyone. So you have done it on your own and you are strong.
The world in which we live teaches us that it is a sign of weakness to be dependent upon anyone for anything. We are a do-it-yourself culture. Anyone who can’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps and “make it happen” is probably not trying hard enough or they are just plain weak. That’s the message we get…and often it is the message we send.
But is it the message of God? Is this the kind of thinking and the kind of living that Jesus calls us to? Does he call us to be strong, able to do it ourselves, or does he call us to a different kind of living? Does Jesus call us to be self-sufficient, as we’ve been taught, or is his way of thinking and living UPSIDE DOWN compared to what we have been taught and instinctually know?
The first beatitude…the first of Jesus’ statements about experiencing true JOY (which is so much more than mere happiness)… reveals to us the attitude that GOD calls us to have in regards to being powerfully self-sufficient. This first beatitude is important because it opens the door for all the others…this one is essential ground work.
So, what does God say about our desire, our instinctual drive to be self-sufficient?
GOD
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV)
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
There is so much packed into this one simple statement. In fact, if we truly understand what Jesus is saying here, it will change EVERYTHING…our lives should never be the same if we understand this truth and let it transform our hearts…let’s unpack the powder-keg statement and see what it takes to start living the UPSIDE DOWN WAY OF GOD
BLESSED:
-This is the beginning of all 8 beatitudes.
• Greek word is makarios - Most often translated “Happy.” But it is much more than happiness
Jesus wasn’t a Greek, he was a Jew and he thought like a Jew so his understanding of “Blessed” would have been Jewish in nature
• Hebrew word is ashr – Most often translated as “Happy” but it wasn’t just a statement of fact, it was typically used as an exclamation…”OH HOW HAPPY!”
But it is even more than that…the Hebrew word for “blessed” comes from a word that means “to be on the right path” or “to be moving in the right direction.”
So this happiness…this blessedness…that Jesus talks about is a result of being on the right path…moving towards God.
…THE ROLLERCOASTER ROAD (OSAGE HILLS) TO BARTLESVILLE AS WE WENT TO VISIT GRANDMA/GRANDPA AS KIDS…
POOR IN SPIRIT:
Jesus teaches that the right road…the joy, excitement and happiness of life with God comes when we are Poor in Spirit.
• The word for poor is ptōchos: This is a word that goes beyond just having a need or a lack of something. This is a word that indicates ABJECT POVERTY.
Literally, it means “lacking in anything” HAVING NOTHING
Jesus is not referring to material poverty…he has called us to work towards eliminating the poverty of the world that causes so much pain and suffering.
Rather his call here is to a poverty of spirit…
IT’S NOT A CALL TO BECOME SOMETHING BUT RATHER A CALL TO RECOGNIZE WHAT ALREADY IS…
Too many people are too self sufficient. It’s a matter of pride.
THE CALL TO BE POOR IN SPIRIT IS A CALL TO HUMILITY…TO RECOGNIZE THAT APART FROM CHRIST…APART FROM GOD…WE HAVE NOTHING AND WE ARE NOTHING
Remember that Jesus was a Jewish man and his understanding of the idea of poverty would have been a Jewish understanding, so what is the OT view of poor?
Those who are helpless and humble…and rely upon God… those who understand their dependence upon GOD.
Those who, in affliction, have confidence only in God.
“Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.”
Psalm 86:1 (NIV)
“This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.”
Psalm 34: 6 (NIV)
God cannot resist poverty of Spirit. When he sees it, it is the quality he most admires… In fact it is the quality he reflects most readily.
It’s easy to see and perceive of God as all powerful, as Creator, as Mighty and Strong…but to view God as a humble servant, in fact as the GREATEST SERVANT…that’s difficult…it is upside down to conventional wisdom.
Jesus modeled the attitude of being “poor in spirit” for us.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
POVERTY REFERS TO THOSE WHO TRULY SEEK AFTER THE HEART OF GOD…TRUE HUMILITY
The poor in spirit are childlike in their dependence upon God. Not ashamed of it, just aware that it is the reality and that to assume we can handle things on our own is mere pretence.
The poor in spirit know their sin and plead for pardon…they never assume that they are good enough or can do enough to be right with God.
The real issue here is humility. When we are truly humble (when we have a real grasp on our spiritual state) then we are truly blessed because humility is the hallmark of the Kingdom of God. And here is the beauty of it…here is the “BLESSEDNESS” of humility…God finds humility in his people…his children…to be irresistible
• This humility is NOT a matter of becoming an emotional doormat…”I am nothing, I am worthless, nobody likes me, etc.”
Rather, it is a gut level honesty about who/what you are.
“HUMILITY ISN’T THINKING LESS OF YOURSELF…IT IS THINKING OF YOURSELF LESS.”
To be poor in spirit is to see yourself as you truly are…made in the image of God but sinful and completely dependent upon God. And when I am poor in spirit I can focus on God and others…and I can take my eyes off of ME. That is true humility and God cannot resist true humility in his children.
• It is NOT a matter of false humility.
C.S. Lewis said that “a person who is falsely humble is a person who is truly proud.”
When we fake our humility we are being the most proud…and pride is repulsive to God.
“God opposes the proud…but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6 (NIV)
However, God cannot resist true humility in his children.
What does false humility look like?
• When we talk ourselves down to others…knowing that they will talk us up
• When we pretend we need the help of others while we think we could do it better without them
• When we pretend “it was nothing” while thinking…”it was something.”
False humility is all about pretense, it is all about PRIDE and pride is repulsive to GOD. But he is irresistibly attracted to true humility.
How do I know if pride is an issue in my life? Listen to others. Pride is the one sin that we readily recognize in the lives of others but never see in our own.
If you hate someone you think is prideful…check your own life. We tend to be repulsed by those traits we dislike in ourselves.
Are you constantly discontent…Constant discontent is a sign of pride because we are never happy enough with the circumstances and we believe that WE can change them to make us happy…this is a sign of the sin of pride…self-sufficiency.
If I think I can make it on my own…If I am convinced I don’t need anyone else’s help…pride is an issue in my life.
If I’m constantly PRETENDING to be humble…pride is an issue in my life.
If I’m always in a hurry to speak but not interested in listening…pride is an issue in my life
I think you get the point. The sin of pride is ultimately destructive because it prevents us from depending upon GOD for everything we need…it ultimately keeps us out of the kingdom because the kingdom is never good enough or big enough for us.
But, Jesus tells us to be “poor in spirit.” He calls us to true humility. And, any time we recognize our sinfulness before God and our desperate need for him we are exhibiting poverty of spirit. The Bible is full of examples of people who were poor in spirit.
Examples:
• PRODIGAL SON…blessed because he realizes his sinfulness and seeks out his father
• REPENTANT TAX COLLECTOR…”God have mercy on me, a sinner.” (LUKE 18)
• PETER…falls at the feet of Jesus when Jesus calms the storm “Lord, go away from me I am a sinful man.” (LUKE 5)
• WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY…Jesus was her last and only hope
• ZACCHAEUS…I give half away, etc.
• THE WOMAN WHO WIPES HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR AND TEARS
Jesus says that those who have learned this humility…those who live this kind of humble existence, recognizing their dependence upon a holy God…those who are poor in spirit are truly blessed…they are happily on the right path because... “Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN:
The Kingdom of Heaven is any place where God is. To experience the Kingdom of God is to experience the presence of God in our lives…it is to be near him…to be with him and to have him be with us.
Those who are humble…those who are poor in spirit…are already experiencing the Kingdom of God…not as some future hope to be realized later but as a present reality here and now…
YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WHEN YOU SEE HUMILITY AS THE TEAM COLORS…JUST AS YOU KNOW CARDINAL NATION BY THE TEAM COLORS, HATS, AND SO ON, YOU’LL KNOW YOU ARE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WHEN PEOPLE’S LIVES ARE MARKED BY HUMILITY.
Jesus didn’t say that those who are poor in spirit would one day receive the Kingdom of God…he said “theirs IS the Kingdom of God.” The verb tense in the Greek is present.
That means it is a reality here and now…not just something to be hoped for.
God loves those who are humble… God cannot resist true humility in his children. He is irresistibly drawn to those who are humble. He brings his kingdom as a present reality to the lives of those who are truly humble…those who are poor in spirit.
SO WHAT?
YOU
Let me wrap up by asking you a pointed question. Are you truly poor in spirit? Are you experiencing the grace of God daily…are you experiencing the Kingdom of God…are you experiencing a very clear, obvious, unquestionable presence of God in your life day by day?
OR
Do you need to repent of pride in your life? Do you need to get on the right path and acknowledge your spiritual poverty? Do you feel like you’re doing OK on your own or do you need to acknowledge your need for God…your complete helplessness without him?
Are you willing to take the humiliating step of confessing the sin of pride? Are you willing to begin a life marked by poverty of spirit?
If/when you are willing to let go of you…if/when you are willing to acknowledge that it’s all about Him…if/when you are willing to embrace a life of poverty – poverty of spirit…then you will begin to experience the reality…the peace, the joy, the fulfillment, the mission, the passion, the power of the Kingdom of Heaven here and now.
When you are willing to live in poverty of spirit…true humility God will draw near to you because God cannot resist true humility in his children.
WE
Imagine SPWC as a church full of people who are poor in spirit. Imagine us as a church full of Christ followers who don’t think we know all the answers to the world’s problems (something very distasteful to the hurting, missing/lost in our world) but who KNOW that we know Jesus…and we understand our complete dependence upon him.
Can you imagine how attractive a community like that will be in our world? Can you imagine the impact a community of Christ followers who are marked by true humility will have on our community, St. Charles County, at large?
Let’s confess the sin of pride today
Let’s repent of that sin today
Let’s acknowledge that we are fully dependent upon Jesus
Let’s become…through that confession of Jesus power…the community of humble servants that will be used by God to transform our city!
God cannot resist true humility in his children. So let’s become a community of humble, poor in spirit, children of God. His presence will bring us true blessedness and he will use us to bless our city.
Will you pray with me?
