Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Beatitudes: Happy Are the Humble

Series on Beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Matthew 5:3 (ESV)

I have decided to start blogging again. These are merely notes that I've jotted from listening to John MacArthur. None of this is my own material. May this be an encouragement of any sort to you who read.

To understand the Beatitudes, we must understand the meaning of blessedness. Being poor in spirit is not in the context of being poor in physical possession. But it's actually the attitude of being poor in spirit that we cannot attain our salvation by our own strength. This is what the pharisees and the workers of the law tried to do. (unfinished: I'm at work. I'll finish later.. :))

There's one thing about a beggar. A beggar is always asking. Ask for a poor spirit.
"Lord be merciful on me, a sinner." - Thief on the Cross
Happy is the beggar, poor in spirit.
Why does it start with poor in spirit? Because it is the foundation. You cannot be blessed without being poor in spirit.
What does it mean? It means to be spiritual bankrupt and know it
What is the result? You become a possessor of the Kingdom, here and now. And forever.
How do you become poor in spirit? Look at God. Starve your flesh. And ask. Beg. He doesn't mind a bit.
How will know if I am poor in spirit? How do I really know?

7 Principles of being poor in spirit:

1. You will be weened from yourself: Psalm 131:2 "My soul is even as a weened child."
One who is poor in spirit loses a sense of self. Self is gone. It's gone. All you think about is God and His glory, and others.
2. You will be lost in the wonder of Christ: 2 Corinthians 3:18 "Gazing in His glory"
Psalm 90:14
3. You will never complain about your situation: You know why?
You don't deserve anything anyways.
The deeper you go, the sweeter the grace.
The more you need, the more abundantly He provides.
When you lack everything, you're in a position to receive all grace.
You will suffer without murmur, because you deserve nothing.
And yet at the same time you'll seek His grace.
4. You will see only the excellencies of others and only your own weakness:
Poor in spirit, the truly humble, is the only one who has to look up to everybody else.
5. You will spend much time in prayer: Why?
Because the beggar is always begging. He knocks on gates of Heaven and he doesn't let go until He's blessed.
6. You will take Christ on His terms, not yours:
The proud sinner will have:
Christ and his pleasure
Christ and his couvetness
Christ and immorality
The poor in spirit is so desperate he will give up anything and everything just to get Christ!
Christ is the ultimate end.
7. You will praise and thank God for His grace:
If ever there is a characteristic of someone who is poor in spirit is an overwhelming gratitude to God. Why? Because every single little thing you have is a gift from Him.
1 Timothy 1:14 "The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."

"Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy Cross I cling."

May we know true poverty in spirit that we may know blessedness.

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