June 4, 2007
The Beatitudes: The Blessing of Spiritual PovertyPosted by Bryan
The Beatitudes: Introduction
The Beatitudes: Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
The Beatitudes: The Barrier to Spiritual Poverty
The Beatitudes: The Barometer of Spiritual Poverty
Jesus promises, "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God." this is promise for right here and now. Some scholars want to say that Jesus was giving a millennial sermon, that the blessings promised would be bestowed in the life to come, when he returns for his 1000-year reign on earth.
There are two problems with scenario. First, it seems unlikely that Jesus invites a multitude of people to surround him, and then he only pretends to speak to them because he's really talking about something later. Second, it does not agree with Scripture. The promises listed later are listed in future tense, but here, this is a promise for the here and now. He is saying clearly, "if you are poor in spirit, you are blessed because the kingdom of heaven is yours...right now!"
The Scriptures identify at least four expressions in which you can experience receiving the kingdom of heaven right here and now through spiritual poverty:
- First, you have access to Kingdom relationships through spiritual poverty.
- You have access to God through spiritual poverty. 1 Sam. 13;14 states that God seeks out man. Romans 8, Ephesians 1, and 2 Thessalonians 2 all say that God chooses man for salvation. Anywhere you look, when man chooses God in the Bible, the god man ends up with is a 'smaller case g' god, a false god. But every time God chooses man, God gets it right. He chose Abram, He chose David, He chose Jesus, He chose among the apostles, and He, if you have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus, even chose you.
- Spiritual poverty is how you have a relationship with the Son, too. Jesus says, "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice (John 10:3-4)." It is impossible to go to Jesus unless He calls you. John 6:64 says that Jesus knew beforehand who did and did not believe. Jesus came to have fellowship with those who would believe, and to confound those who would not. And Jesus knew who was who and which was which before time began.
- Spiritual poverty is also how you have relationship with the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 says that the Father sends the Spirit in the name of the Son. It is impossible to receive the Holy Spirit of God unless God Himself sends Him. And the responsibility of the Spirit is to have a relationship with you. He encourages you. He exhorts you. He rebukes you. He convicts you. He disciplines you. He comforts you. He loves you. He directs you. He helps you. He leads you. He tells you what to pray. He gives you rest.
What wonderful relationships to have! Even if you had no earthly possessions in the world, but have these relationships, how very wealthy you would be indeed!
Do you embrace the blessing of your kingdom relationships? Do you savor your fellowship with the Father? Do you daily depend upon the Son? Do you continually follow the Spirit? Or instead of living in this ptochosi spiritual poverty, do you instead live in the peneis poverty, relying upon human relationships until there are no other options than to rely upon God? Do you have fellowship with God only on Sundays, or on Wednesdays, or in the 15-second prayer before supper, and not talk with Him at any other time of the day?
God wants to be the most important relationship in your life. This is why He gave as His first commandment, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind." This is why David was known as a man after God’s own heart. God is not expecting perfection, He is expecting devotion! When you pursue kingdom relationships, what a wealth of blessings you’ll receive!
- You also have the blessing of kingdom resources through spiritual poverty. You can go through life one of two ways: with your own resources, or with God's. This is what God says about using your own resources:
- Proverbs 14 says that there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is death.
- Proverbs 19 says the foolishness of man twists his way and his heart frets against the lord.
- Ecclesiastes 11 says that those who walk in their own sight are in vanity and will not escape judgment.
On the other hand, look at what resources are available to those who are poor in Spirit:- You have the peace that passes understanding
- You have the mind of Christ
- You have the strength of God made perfect in our weakness.
- You have wisdom beyond our experience.
- You have the patience of Christ.
- You have the ability to do all things through Christ.
- You have the endurance of God.
- You have the hope of eternal life.
- You have the courage of God.
- You have the presence of the Son.
- You have the protection of the Spirit.
- You have the anointing of the Father.
- You have the guarantee of victory.
- Next, you also have the assurance of kingdom riches through spiritual poverty. Everything that exists in heaven is available to you here.
Everything.
Nothing is withheld from a child of God. You have been adopted by Him and you are His heir. The release of God’s riches is not intended to be delayed until heaven. Jesus says, "whatever you ask for in my name you will receive." He said, "I came to give you life, and give it to you abundantly." The Bible promises great rewards in heaven. He promises at least five different crowns to believers. Look at all these other promises of inheritance. God’s children will inherit:
- All things
- The earth
- Zion
- Blessings
- Salvation
- Everlasting life
- Glory
- Promises
- "good things"
- God’s Holy Mountain
- Wealth
- All nations
Things that God bestows on you now and will bestow upon you in eternity far surpass those things you may want but do not have. Live life with an eternal perspective; claim all the blessings God has for you today and live in expectation of all those waiting for you in glory. Do not be a Christian who is constantly whining about what you do not have, or if you did have you would be happier. You have everything you need because God has given you the fullness of his riches because you are his chosen child! - Finally, you have the blessing of the kingdom realm. The only way you can live like a kingdom citizen while on this earth is through spiritual poverty. In John 14, Jesus declares that the Father dwells in the Son. In John 15, Jesus promises blessing upon those who abide (dwell) in him, as He abides in them. In 2 Tim. 1, you see that the Holy Spirit dwells in the saved. The Scriptures declare that your body is a temple to the living God. It says that if you believe in your heart (literally, if your heart is the home of your belief) you will be saved.
The mystery of God that people have never been able to understand is that His kingdom exists right now within the hearts of his believers. When you pray, "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,’ you are petitioning God to have His way in your heart and soul and life in the same manner He has His way in heaven. Without resistance. Without rebellion. Without discussion. Without delay. Without argument. Without aggravation. The parables presented and Paul spoke of it clearly in Ephesians. God has ordained for His kingdom to grow on this earth in this time, one heart at a time, one soul at a time.
What does this mean for you? The kingdom of God is within you. You are the residential address of the Lord God, Jesus Christ. You have the blessing of heaven right here, right now, no matter what, if you belong to God through Jesus Christ. And it makes all the difference in the world.
Christians are the rabble of this world. But rather than deny it or disagree with it, or try to overcome it, understand that it is to the rabble, the poor in spirit, that the blessing of the kingdom of God is promised.
June 4, 2007 10:42 PM