The Challenge To Be Poor In Spirit Series

Introduction:

We know the type of life that God blesses because Jesus tells us point-blank in the Beatitudes; this is the type of life that God is going to bless. Nine times in the ten verses that we have read each week for the past four weeks, He tells us if you live this way, then you will be blessed.

Our problem is that yes, we want to be blessed by God, but we don’t want to follow that way to receive the blessing. We want to cut our own path in this world, we want to do it our way, and we want God to bless our path. Let me tell you in no uncertain terms; blessings don’t work that way. If you don’t follow God’s path, then you don’t receive the blessing.

And so, the very first Beatitude that Jesus announces to those gathered on the mount sets the foundation as to what is needed to live the life that God blesses. “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of God.”

So the key is to understand what poor in spirit means is the key to laying the foundation God blesses. Why do I say that? Jesus says if you don’t have this “poor in spirit,” then you don’t get in the kingdom. And if you are not in the kingdom of heaven, you are not going to be able to possess the other characteristics that Jesus says that God blesses.

So what is “poor in spirit”? To be poor in spirit is to recognize your utter spiritual bankruptcy without God. It understands that you have absolutely nothing of worth to offer God. Being poor in spirit is admitting that, because of your sin, you are completely destitute spiritually and can do nothing to deliver yourself from your dire situation. It is humility before God.

So today, we want to look at the obstacles that stand in the way of our being humble before our God. Let’s begin by reading our Scripture.

Scripture

Matthew 5:2-11 (NKJV)

2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Point #1

WE DON’T WANT JESUS TO DEFINE FOR US WHAT ARE THE WAYS TO RECEIVE TRUE BLESSINGS. WE WANT TO SET OUR OWN REQUIREMENTS FOR TRUE BLESSINGS AND GET JESUS TO RUBBER STAMP HIS APPROVAL ON OUR WAY.

My question is: who or what gives us the right to set the requirements of a true blessing.

In 1 Timothy 1:11, Paul tells Timothy the glorious gospel of the blessed God was committed to my trust.

That word “blessed” there describing God is the same word used for the nine blessings described in the Beatitudes. In the Greek, it is the exact same word used in both places. Do you know what that tells me: the blessings come from the Blesser and so he sets the rules. If it is my game, I set the rules. God is the author of all life; He tells us what the ways to receive blessings are and what are the ways to receive judgment.

Listen, it is not in our hands, and Jesus is never going to rubber-stamping our ways to be blessed because our ways are terribly flawed. Isaiah 64:6 says all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. And that is true because God Word tells us that, then how could we even think God who is holy could bless our ways.

God wants to bless you; Jesus wants to bless you, but it can only happen by doing it God’s way.

You cut your own path; do things your own way, you are going to be sorely disappointed in this life and the life to come. But those who did things God’s way this is what Paul says: Titus 2:13 (KJV)

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

When that day comes that we leave this world either by death or the rapture for us who did it God’s way, there is that word “blessed “ again. And that is the ultimate fulfillment of the blessings that God describes in the Beatitudes.