Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!

 

The Beatitudes are the blessings recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. These teachings, if followed, will work to produce a good relationship with God.

 

Poverty of spirit is the opposite of the self-sufficient arrogance of pride. Pride continually tells us that we can do all things by ourselves, but when poor in spirit we know that we can do all things ONLY through Christ who strengthens us, Phil. 4:13. Only when we put our whole trust in Jesus each and everyday, can we become poor in spirit.

 

Being poor in spirit has nothing to do with our physical nature, it is a major part of our spiritual nature, of which God and the purity of His attitudes, character, and truths are the central elements.  A self-sufficient, prideful character will not fit into the Kingdom of Heaven. James 4:6, But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

 

The only place that poor in spirit means poverty is when compared to God’s qualities. It is destitute in regards to the fruit and power of God’s Holy Spirit of which we are in desperate need if we want to grow in wisdom. We cannot on our own determine when pride and arrogance rules our lives. Take a look at King Nebuchadnezzar, after learning how powerful Daniels God was, the King still proudly said,”Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for honor of my majesty? Daniel 4:28  He was immediately answered with “King Nebuchadnezzar to you it is spoken, the kingdom has departed from you.  He spent the next seven years learning how to become humble and learn that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men and gives them to who He chooses.  

 

So hopefully a person who is poor in spirit will clearly see and appreciate their dependence on God both physically and spiritually. Humility is a fruit of realizing our complete dependence. We need to know that we are nothing in our own eyes. That our proper place is on our knees in worship to Him. He is the vine, we are the branches, without Him we can do nothing, John 15:5.

 

In 1st John 5:4-5, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God,”

 

Pride is #1 on God's hate parade

Quote; Pastor Adrian Rogers