Jesus opened His most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, with the beatitudes. These declarations of blessedness, describe those people who will be citizens of His kingdom; and the attitudes that Christ’s Spirit will work into His kingdom citizens.
The first beatitude will be my topic for today; and as I memorized it in the KJV, that is the version I will quote: Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In my words, one who is poor in spirit is crouching and distressed, reduced to severe poverty and shame and begging because that is all he can do. He has no means of his own, or in his own strength to provide for his soul.
Jesus described this as a blessed condition because He knows that all men who think they can save themselves; those who think they have or can earn spiritual merit…are deluded and will perish in hell. So, one who has arrived at this spiritual place has been through circumstances, by God’s Spirit, that have crushed his pride, self-esteem, self-confidence…and have actually awakened him to his genuine spiritual condition as God sees it. He also realizes that he is dependent upon God’s mercy and grace. Moreover, he seeks God’s mercy and grace knowing that God has promised to give it to those who really seek it. And he seeks it because that is his only hope of salvation.
So, why am I writing about this beatitude?
Because in my 14 years as a Christian, I have only found two Christians who are willing to discuss their sin. I have been very cautious in this area because I entered into my Christian life being very open about my sin and I was slandered mercilessly for that. I learned a very valuable lesson, just like outside the church, one need to be careful about whom he confides in. Yet, I ask questions when I am interacting with believers to ascertain where they are at and how I ought to interact with them. I do that always hoping to hear them speak of their own wretchedness, or that the Holy Spirit is working in them sensitivity to their sin…. I look hard for this because I want to have Christian friends with whom I can share my journey on a deeper level (the psalmist expressed similar sentiments in the following psalms: 119: 63; 74; 79; Psa 34: 2-6; Psa 66:16; Mal. 3:16).
I am very troubled that few are willing to be real about their sinfulness because I am certain, from my Bible reading, that no progress can be made in the Christian life without poverty of spirit and mourning for sin. And if one will not acknowledge his sin, then there is no way he can repent of it, hence, he is stuck in it and may perish as a result (hindrances to dealing with sin will be noted when we consider Mt. 5:4).
In other words, if one remains out of touch with his true sinful nature, then he can never arrive at poverty of spirit nor will he mourn his sin; therefore, he will be unable to enter into the genuine Christian life. He will be living a counterfeit Christian life; he will have built his house on a foundation of sand as in Matthew 7:26 and Christ will say to him, “I never knew you….” (These beatitude statements were apparent distillations of Christ’s from the whole of the word of God; anyone who reads through scripture will see them throughout. God always humbles His true children, so if you are not experiencing humility via His Spirit, you’re likely in an unregenerate state.)
I have heard preachers and Christians say, this is the age of grace, we don’t focus on sin.
I see that tens of thousands follow preachers that say that you can have your best life now, indicating that you do not have to pick up your cross and deny yourself and follow Christ, as He said.
I see the popularity of the self-focused Christians who are like the Corinthian church, seeking experiences, gifts…not seeking to glorify God but to glorify themselves.
I have ascertained that very few read their Bibles, and far fewer have read through them. And that most Christians seem to believe that going to church will save them….
In Dr. John MacArthur’s sermons on Matthew 7:15ff, he indicates that false prophets and self-deception, either/or, or both, keep a professed Christian from entering in at the narrow gate (not to mention the narrow way). I will say more about that struggle in part 2 of the discussion of poverty of spirit.
Recommended studies: Grace to You, Dr. John MacArthur’s site, has many free downloads regarding the beatitudes, false prophets…from Matthew 5-7; not to mention hundreds of other Biblical topics.
Albert N. Martin, Paul Washer and John Wagner can be heard on sermonaudio.com. I find that such preachers wake me up spiritually when I am starting to slumber.