THE HAPPINESS OF HUMILITY

SERIES: KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

TEXT: MATTHEW 5:3

The kingdom of heaven is entered through humility. God’s favor rests on those who recognize how much they need Him. Those who are humble live in the father’s favor.

Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today let us talk about what God thinks about those who are poor-poor in spirit that is.

In Matthew 5, Jesus begins what has been called the sermon on the mountain with 8 descriptions of the kind of people who represent God’s family well.

The sermon on the mountain tells us what God’s people are like. The people of God closely resemble their father and understand who they are in light of who He is.

These descriptions are also called the Beatitudes. The Latin word for “blessed” is beatus, from which we get the word beatitude.

You and I are blessed and happy when “we at the end of our rope, with less of you there is more of God and his rule.”

Today we examine the first beatitude.

Poor in spirit really means those who know how much they need God.

The kingdom of God is theirs because the king Himself has become their king and provider.

The main idea proposition is; God’s favor rests on those who recognize how much they need Him.

What can you and me learn about being poor in spirit?

Let us look at three dynamics of some of God’s favorite people:

THE CHARACTER OF THE POOR IN SPIRIT.

• The poor in spirit are humble minded.
• Poor in spirit is used of those in special need of God’s help.
• The Greek word “ptokos” means poor, lowly one who crouches, a beggar.
• To be poor in spirit really means to realize that we are spiritually bankrupt, that we cannot save ourselves, that we really need help!!
• Being poor in spirit further speaks of a faithful dependence on the Lord that poverty often produces.
• Being poor in spirit means being small in our own eyes, like Saul was before he became king.
• The way up is down in God’s kingdom.
• Those who are not poor in spirit, believe that they are the center of the universe that the solar system revolves around them.
• The poor in spirit are described in 1^st 13:4-5.
• The poor in spirit are not easily offended and wronged.
• The poor in spirit are not assertive, self-reliant, self-confident, self-centered, self-sufficient or self-serving.
• The poor in spirit are not overly concerned with self-esteem.
• The poor in spirit are not overly concerned about their birth, family, nationality, their education, their physical looks, their race or tribe, their wealth or their culture, these things don’t matter to them.
• The poor in spirit are those who are conscious of their sins and know that in their hearts they are unworthy of God’s free grace.
• Jesus Christ was saying “Blessed are those who know that there is nothing they can do to help themselves.”
• Blessed are those who know that without God they can do nothing, but with Him all things are possible.
• Poor in spirit is also not false humility.
• We totally depend on God for our life, breath and future.
• Humility only comes when we receive God’s revelation of Himself in Jesus and begin to see ourselves the way He sees us.

THE AFFIRMATION OF THE POOR IN SPIRIT.

• The poor in spirit are high regarded.
• The poor in spirit are approved by God, applauded by heaven.
• The poor in spirit are favored, blessed, fortunate, happy, privileged, from God’s perspective.
• A blessed person is a privileged recipient of divine favor.
• To be blessed is to process an inward contentedness and joy that is not affected by physical circumstances.
• Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ was blessed, favored and approved of God- Luke 1:18-30.
• God has a way of affirming the poor in spirit and using them to accomplish incredible things in His kingdom.
• God is not impressed by our accomplishments or abilities.
• God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise- 1^st Peter 5:5-6.
• God gives His grace to the humble.
• God’s favor is reserved for those who are poor in spirit and recognize that they need Him more than anything else in this world.

THE REWARD OF THE POOR IN SPIRIT

• The poor in spirit are heavily rewarded.
• The kingdom of God belongs to those who are poor in spirit.
• This speaks of identity- who you are because of whose you are.
• Identification with God’s kingdom shows a close connection with the king.
• The kingdom of heaven doesn’t belong to the rich or the famous or the most capable. It belongs to those who are loyal to Jesus Christ.
• It belongs to those who realize that they cannot live without the Lord.
• It belongs to the humble- the poor in spirit.
• Being poor in spirit keep you from becoming proud in spirit.
• The biggest benefit of being poor in spirit is that God’s home is your Home!! “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
• The kingdom of heaven is where the reign of Christ is.
• The poor in spirit receive four big blessings;-

1. God’s grace- James 4:6.

G.R.A.C.E= God’s. Riches. At. Christ’s. Expense.

• When you realize and admit your need for God is when God gives mercy, forgiveness and favor.

2. Less- stress- humility means I don’t have to have all the answers.

• Realize that the world does not depend on you. You are not the general manager of the universe.
• It means you don’t have to be fake or fake it anymore. Relax in the Lord.
• You are happy because you depend on God.

3. Better relationships.

• No one enjoys being around arrogant, boastful, prideful people.
• No one likes a selfish person.
• When you are poor in spirit, you take interest in others, you become interesting to others.
• You ask of forgiveness of others, this improves relationships.

4. Results

• Being poor in spirit releases God’s power in my life.

CONCLUSION

• To be poor in spirit means to be totally dependent on God.
• To be poor in spirit means realizing our spiritual deficiencies, admitting that I am a sinner and that Christ died for me.
• Do you want to know God’s favor and blessing? “Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, He will lift you up”- 1^st Peter 5:6.