Blessed are the poor in spirit

Matthew 5:1-12

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Blessed: A flourishing life

3rd John 1:2  even as your soul prospers

You’re not trying to be blessed. You’re just trying to understand what it is to be blessed!!
Blessed: Re-defined

*You are blessed because you have a relationship with God!! • Youcanberich,accordingtotheworld,”Andbepoor

according to God (Matthew 16:26, “Gain the whole world and lose his own soul.”)

You can be famous, “according to the world,” and be unknown to God (Matthew 7:21-23, “Depart from me…”AND Acts 19:15. “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but…”

Quote: Craig S. Keener, Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, said, “In context, Jesus’ beatitudes mean that it will ultimately be well with those who seek first the kingdom of God. (Matt. 6:33)

Being blessed is a recognition that I can have nothing in this world and everything if I have Jesus!

Deitrick Bonhoeffer: “They have only Him, and with Him they have nothing in the world, but everything with and through Him.”

Matthew 5:2, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God! O.T. Isaiah 61:1-3/ Luke 4:18-19

Being poor in spirit is not a virtue to attain, but rather it’s an invitation, a declaration!!

Beloved. We’re not trying to be poor in spirit. We must understand we are poor in spirit!!

It’s not a call to be poor so you can be holy!

• It’s a beautiful invitation to the : Outcast, marginalized, poor, overlooked, undervalued.

It was drastically opposed to the religious system at the time! And it may be just as radical now!!

A culture of religious exclusion

The Luke 18:11 (NKJV)
The common cultural temperature for being accepted by God!

• I’m glad I’m not like other men / p2eople Extortioner

Unjust
Adulterers
Or even as this tax collector. “Those next to you” My Qualifications
I fast twice a week
I give tithes on all I possess

Ex. Have you ever said or thought, “Why’s this happening to me? I tithe, I go to church, I read my bible, I, I, I…

“Those poor in spirit are called ‘blessed’ by Jesus, not because they are in a meritorious condition, but because, precisely in spite of and in the midst of their ever so deplorable condition, the rule of the heavens has moved redemptively upon and through them by the grace of Christ.”

REFLECTIVE TIME:
• What is God saying to you?
• Are you the Pharisee or the one who feels unworthy?