Have you reached the point of Realized Spiritual Poverty
Beatitude Series: Sermon 2
October 26, 2012
David Tack- Sounds of Joy Ministries
TODAY'S TEXT (1)
Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
PRELIMINARIES
The Kingdom of God
To properly understand the first portion of the Beatitudes, an accurate understanding of the kingdom of God is necessary. The kingdom is God is twofold: (1) presently realized and (2) futuristically completed.
First: To say that Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection had nothing to do with ushering in the Kingdom of God would diminish Jesus’ work; secondly, to say it is fully realized in our current day is equally perilous! It is with this mindset Jesus begins to teach his disciples.
CHARATERISTICS OF A BEATITUDE (2)
It is Happening Now
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes, “that the blessing is in every case in the present tense, a happiness to be now enjoyed and delighted in. It is not ‘Blessed shall be,’ but ‘Blessed are.” (Spurgeon 1988, 457).
It is Internal
It is the idea of an internal heart vice an external showing that Jesus has in mind. Perhaps, it is countering the falsity of the parasitical hypocrisy. In Matthew 5:20 Jesus states, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” YOU SEE: The Pharisees had a falsified attitude, stemming from selfish pride not from humbleness and spiritual poverty (selflessness).
It is More Than External Happiness
Etymology of Beatitude: “The Greek word makarios, which is translated "blessed," is difficult to translate into English.” This word means much more then “happy is,” it “. . . The word describes a condition of inner satisfaction expressed by Jesus in John: 14:27” [Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you] (Ogilvie, Matt. 5:1-15).
WHY DID JESUS TEACH THESE BEATITUDES? (3) Here are just a few!
As a daily guidebook: Regarding our earthly dealings with ourselves, others, and God.
To show our spiritual depravity: “If we look at the Beatitudes, not as just external forms of showmanship but as internal heart produced temperaments, 99.9 % of Christian believers can’t help but see their blatant shortcomings and urgent need for Holy Spirit intervention and indwelling.” Ref: Tack, David. March 22, 2012.
To give a sense of wholeness: “To be makários, blessed, is equivalent to having God's kingdom within one's heart (Mat_5:3, Mat_5:10)” (Zodhiates, Strong’s #G3107).
LET’S LOOK AT THE FIRST BEATITUDE:
Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
SOME KEY WORDS THAT DESCRIBE THIS BEATITUDE: (4) - (1) humbleness; (2) humility; (3) spiritual poverty; (4) total dependence.
SOME KEY PHRASES THAT DESCRIBE THIS BEATITUDE: (5)
(1) “those who, in absolute poverty of spirit, are solely dependent upon God”; (2) to be humble, to have a correct estimate of oneself” (Ogilvie); (3) “One who is deeply sensible of his spiritual poverty and wretchedness”
THAYER ADDS THIS PICTURE: “the Greek word for “poor” as meaning, “reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms.” . . . SO, here is the idea of total dependency upon God for: (1) salvation, (2) justification, (3) sanctification, and (4) glorification. . . TOTAL DEPENDENCE! NO, the law wasn’t good enough, baptism isn’t good enough! The Eucharist won’t meet the need of our spiritual poverty. NO, NO, NO: a total makeover; a total transformation is what is needed. YOU SEE, without the intervention of Jesus Christ we were/are/and continue to be totally bankrupt in our SPIRITUAL poverty.
1 Peter 1:18-19: (6) (18) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
“When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for another; it was the life of God poured out to redeem the world” (Chambers, April 19, 2011) Chambers, Oswald. Heartlight.org, “Quotemeal, April 19, 2011” http://www.heartlight.org/
PETER UNDERSTOOD HIS SPIRITUAL POVERTY: (7)
John 6:68-69: “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (69) And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
CONCLUSION:
Blessed (happy) are those who have come to realize their poverty because salvation is now possible. Then, sanctification can be achieved . . . and ULTIMATELY, glorification is consummated!
HOW ABOUT YOU? (8)
Have you reached the point in which you realized your spiritual poverty?
Revelation 3:17: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
Isaiah 64:6: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
Ephesians 2:5: “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
SO even at our best we are BROKE:
Spurgeon describes man’s lost condition as being, “Naked , and poor, and miserable’ is a fair summary of man’s condition by nature. He lies covered with sores at the gates of mercy, having nothing of his own but sin, unable to dig and unwilling to beg, and therefore perishing in a penury of the direst [most desperate] kind” (Spurgeon, 466-467).
SUMMARIZATION: Being poor in spirit means to “crouch, cringe, cower down or hide oneself for fear” HERE IS “a picture of one crouching and cowering like a beggar with a tin cup to receive the pennies dropped in!” . . . . These poor were unable to meet their basic needs and so were forced to depend on others or on society.” Ref: Preceptaustin. Org. Matthew 5: Poor. http://preceptaustin.org/matthew_53.htm. Accessed October 25, 2012.
WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN? (9)
Kingdom of God/Heaven is one of power
Matthew 12:28: “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”
The Kingdom of God/Heaven is a present and active force
Mark 1:15: “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
NOTE: (1) Kingdom is in place (meaning there is a King) (2) REPENTANCE is needed (3) BELIEF is essential.
THIS MORNING THIS POWER IS AVAILABLE (10)
The Power of God
John 1:12: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
The Power of the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Romans 15:13: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
The Power of the Gospel
Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Power over Death
1 Corinthians 6:4: “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”
Power through Infirmity
2 Corinthians 12:9: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Power in Self-Weakness (Denial)
2 Corinthians 13:4: “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.”
Ogilvie notes, “The power that the Christian has over the world is not a power or force that we control. It is our confidence that Jesus Christ has the authority” (Ogilvie, 1 John 5:1-12).
SOME QUESTIONS OF CONSIDERATION (11)
Are you a part of this current Kingdom of Heaven/God?
Do you know Christ today? Are you in the family of God?
Are you going to be a part of the fully consummated and eternal Kingdom?
Where will you spend eternity my friend?
THE GOOD NEWS IS, YOU CAN BE . . .
THE BIBLE DECLARES: (12)
In Galatians 3:13 that, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”
AND THAT . . . THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH (eternal Separation from God) (Romans 6:23).
BUT
GOD MADE A WAY (13). In John: 3:16 we read: “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Which kingdom are you participating in today? There are two Kings: God and the World (Satan). Are you blessed this morning? Have you come to the realization you are in spiritual poverty? You NEED a SAVIOR this morning? GOD MADE IT POSSIBLE:
2 Corinthians 5:9: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
HOW ABOUT IT (13), Won’t you become a slave to the King of Kings this morning. Become poor in spirit and call upon His name today!
Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
References:
Chambers, Oswald. Heartlight.org, “Quotemeal, April 19, 2011” http://www.heartlight.org/
Ogilvie, Lloyd J. (ed). The Preachers Commentary: Matthew 51-15: The Message of the King, Scripture Outline. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982-1992. e-Sword, Version 10.0.5.
––––––, The Preachers Commentary: 1 John 5:1-12: Not Burdensome. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982-1992. e-Sword, Version 10.0.5.
Spurgeon, Charles H. Spurgeon’s Expository Encyclopedia, Volume 1, The Beatitudes. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1988.
