The Beatitudes- Sermon 2 Series

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.”