Matthew 5:3
The Beginning of A New Life
Where does the new life begin? We speak of the new life often, but
what starts it? Some would say salvation and theologically you would
be right, but even the act of salvation has a beginning. Salvation
is itself a process with a soul being saved as the end of the
process, but where does it all begin? I believe this verse tell us.
Tonight, we will take a break from out study in Jeremiah to look at
the Lord’s words. I have pointed out for many years that the Lord is
not merely interested in what we do but in what we are. I am
definitely not the first person to recognize that truth. Some where
in times past, the term BEATITUDES was applied to this section of
Jesus’ sermon on the mountain. Someone recognized that contained
within these verses were the ATTITUDES which would help us to
BE the kind of person God wants us to BE.
Let’s consider a portion of the Beatitudes this evening.
I. Condition Defined
A. The condition Jesus gives to us is "poor in spirit."
1. According to Matthew’s gospel, this particular
admonition was the first point of Jesus’ message.
2. As one who prepares sermons, I can say that most of
the time, what is said at the beginning of a sermon
is the foundation for the remainder.
3. Hence, I believe that this Beatitude might be one of
most important truths we could understand.
B. What does it mean? Let’s take it in parts.
1. To be poor means to have a need that is greater than
one’s supply.
a. A financially poor man has financial needs greater
than his financial supply.
b. A food poor man has food needs greater than his
food supply.
c. A clothing poor man has clothing needs greater
than his clothing supply.
2. So then a spiritually poor person is one who has
spiritual needs greater than his spiritual supply.
a. Spiritual needs - forgiveness, mercy, wisdom,
understanding.
b. Might I say that while some are definitely more
spiritually needy than others, this is not a
condition we need to achieve.
(1) We are all lacking spiritually.
(2) It is our natural state.
(3) As long as we are in this body of flesh, we
are going to be spiritually poor; that is,
we will have need of more spiritual insight,
wisdom, understanding, and power.
C. So what is the point of the pronouncement? If everyone is
born spiritually poor, what is the Lord challenging us to
do?
1. I believe the Lord’s challenge in this Beatitude is
not that we should become poor in spiritual matters,
but that we should recognize we are poor in spirit
matters.
2. Although we all have spiritual needs greater than our
spiritual supply or ability, most do not recognize
it.
3. Why do we not recognize our spiritual need?
a. Ignorance
(1) Lack of knowledge
(2) This can come because we simply have never
been instructed in spiritual matters.
(3) This is what evangelism seeks to do - inform
the ignorant of their spiritual need. (Of
course our ultimate goal is to get them to
see that need and to trust Jesus as the
remedy for it.)
b. An inability to perceive
(1) But it can also be that we simply can’t
perceive or fathom certain truths.
(a) Some people simply can’t get Algebra.
(b) I simply can’t get music.
(c) This is more than simply lacking
knowledge. It is also a lack of
ability.
(2) Every human being has this shortfalls at
some point.
(a) It is strange how those who have some
knowledge and some ability to perceive
like to call those with less knowledge
and ability than they idiots.
(b) The truth is we are all idiots to
someone else and especially to God.
(3) This is why we need the Holy Spirit of God.
He is literally the only One who can take
truth and penetrate the hard and blinded
heart with it.
c. Pride
(1) Pride is the false impressions of superiority
that comes by having some abilities and
knowledge.
(2) In truth, most of the time proud people are
good at something. They just take that to
mean that they themselves are BETTER.
(3) This pride keeps a person from seeing that
they are indeed POOR in spirit.
(4) No matter what they are good at, they are
still lacking in their spirit, but they
cannot see it.
(5) Whenever pride comes into the equation,
things always get more difficult.
(3) A person may be ignorant for any reason but
with that false feeling of superiority they
refuse to see it.
4. So the Lord pronounces a blessing upon those who can
recognize that they are indeed poor in spirit
matters.
II. Condition Revealed
A. Thankfully, God works to show us our true condition and
to humble us so that we can see it.
1. The large term to describe that work is GRACE.
a. Grace is God working in us, through us, and for
us to accomplish His will.
b. God does not want us to be blind to our
condition so He works in us to reveal it to us.
c. That is grace.
2. The more precise term used to describe the work of
God revealing our spiritual poverty is PROBLEMS.
a. I think God uses problems more than anything else
to help us with our spiritual needs.
b. God sends problems to reveal our spiritual need.
c. Hence, God tells us to rejoice when problems
come.
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is
the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things
unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ;
B. So we need to recognize the good that comes with our
problems and learn to be thankful for them.
1. We need to recognize that every problem is God’s
trigger to remind us that we have more spiritual
needs than our supply.
2. Every problem an opportunity. A problem demonstrates
our spiritual need so…
a. It is an opportunity to get closer to God, to
become more dependent upon Him, more empowered
by Him.
b. Most likely, it is also an opportunity to work on
some shortage in our own life.
(1) Perhaps a character flaw or maybe some
weakness that has attached itself to us.
(2) There is no better time than right now to
fix whatever is wrong.
(3) That is why the problem was sent.
3. So that in the long run, every problem is something
God can use for good and His glory.
Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to his purpose.
C. I know that most of us look at problems as a negative.
1. We may even see them as an indication that God is
angry with us.
2. Here is a new way to look at them. God loves you
so much that He is spending extra time shaping you
into what He wants you to be.
III. Condition Rewarded
A. One condition for recognizing that we are poor in spirit
is listed in the verse.
1. They will have the kingdom of heaven.
2. Of course a person who recognizes their spiritual
need will not automatically go to heaven.
a. They must still repent of their sin and trust in
Jesus Christ.
b. However, this is the first step in the salvation
process and it is THE step that sets all others
in motion.
c. It is difficult to image anyone who ever came to
see themselves as spiritually poor not going on
to trust Jesus as their Savior; but at the same
time, many do.
d. That is what the majority of cults in the world
are made of.
3. But the one who recognizes that his/her spiritual need
is greater than his/her supply begins the process
that can lead to their salvation.
4. Hence, the new life begins here.
B. But there is more.
1. I believe this Beatitude is the basis for other things
that God can do in our life.
2. Once we can see our spiritual need, we will be able
to become what God wants us to be in some other
areas of our lives.
3. I think every other Beatitude is dependent upon
getting the first one.
4. Notice the other Beatitudes. By seeing our self as
spiritual needy, we will be able…
a. \\#4\\ To mourn.
(1) Those who do not recognize their spiritual
need may mourn over their problems, but not
over who they are.
(2) Only the person who understands his spiritual
shortfall would mourn over himself.
(3) And once a person understands his spiritual
shortfall, the next logical step is to mourn
over it.
(4) But then that characteristic brings another
reward.
(a) Comfort - I take it that this comfort
comes from God.
(b) I would also think it means more than
God just giving you a feel-good hug—
although there is certainly nothing
wrong with that.
(c) I would think He would give something
material, something of substance.
(d) I would think God, with all of His
power, would give comfort by doing
something to make things better.
b. \\#5\\ We can learn to be meek.
(1) Again, meekness does not fit well into the
character of the ignorant or proud. They
would see themselves as always doing what is
in the "best interest" of everyone else.
(2) But when a person becomes aware of their
spiritual poverty and begins to truly mourn
over their condition, they become the kind
of person that reframes from freely using
whatever powers or might they have.
(3) These are the people who make the best
leaders.
(4) So when they come to this place, meekness,
God rewards them further by setting them
over all the earth.
c. \\#6\\ That beings us to those who will hunger and
thirst after righteousness.
(1) Another condition which can not be unless one
recognizes his spiritual need.
(2) This Beatitude seems to me to be directly
connected back to being poor in spirit.
(3) But then that condition is rewarded by God
filling you.
(a) Filling with what?
(b) It only makes sense that God would fill
you will what you hungered for—
righteousness.
5. The list continues on.
a. It is my suspicion that all of the items in this
list in one way or the other hinge on being able
to see our spiritual shortfall.
b. So even for the believer, a new life begins when
he sees himself with more spiritual need than he
has spiritual supply.
c. This Beatitude is where it all begins - salvation,
humility, gentleness, purity, power….
6. Indeed, we are blessed if we can see ourselves as we
truly are.
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