HUMBLE HEARTS - 3

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Matthew 5:3

Why does being "poor in spirit" bring blessing?

An attitude of humility is exactly opposite to what the world teaches and usually opposite to what most people practice. "Assert yourself!" is the world's slogan. But Jesus says "Humble yourself."

How can humility bring you blessing when you live in a cutthroat world? Let's look at a couple of reasons together today:

#1 - IT ENABLES YOU TO GROW IN GRACE

Humility is Christlike. Jesus said, "I am gentle and humble in heart." (read Matt.11:28-30) And Philippians 2:8 tells us that "he HUMBLED himself and became obedient - even to death on a cross."

Anything that causes us to be more Christlike - to be conformed to His image - is causing us to grow in grace. What an awesome privilege - growing in grace so that the life of Christ is expressed through us to the world around us.

It is difficult to imagine growing in grace without humility. True poverty of spirit is the soil from which the fruit of the Spirit is cultivated. Certainly the seed of God's Word could never be planted in the hard soil of a proud heart. Isaiah 66:2 "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word."

Another reason poverty of spirit brings blessing is
#2 - IT ENABLES US TO REIGN IN LIFE - it makes us kings - "Blessed are the poor in spirit for their is the KINGDOM of heaven."



How do you reign in life? By submitting to the authority of Jesus! Romans 6:17 - "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." This passage tells us that through one man - Adam - sin entered the world and death (spiritual separation from God) reigned because of that one man. But then it tells us that through one man - Jesus - God gave us the abundant provision of grace (the same grace we are growing in as we grow in the Christlike virtue of humility). AND - he gave us the gift of righteousness to reign in life.

So, what does it mean to reign in life?

First - it means authority. When we are submitted to His authority in our lives, Jesus is able to share His authority with us. Pride weakens us and cuts us off from fellowship with the Lord. Jesus used a little child (Matthew 18) as the perfect example of a citizen of His kingdom because in a child (the example He used in Matt.18 was of a small, probably still nursing child of one or two years old) you see authority based on humility. Because children are so weak (humble) in themselves, they command all the strength of those around them!

Reigning in life also involves liberty. When you are filled with pride and live to promote yourself, you become a slave to people, circumstances or things. You are never really free to be yourself because self has already enslaved you through pride. You constantly need something from others to inflate your ego or advertise your importance.

Those who are poor in spirit are not disturbed by the attitudes or criticisms of others because they live to please God. True poverty of spirit means we look to God for everything we need. This sets us free from people, circumstances and things. If we need nothing but God, then nothing - and no one - can be a threat to us. We are FREE!

When you and I are poor in spirit, God gives us a kingdom and we reign in life as His heirs. This is the paradox of the Christian life: We surrender that we might reign!!

Tomorrow we'll talk about how to cultivate a spirit of humility so that the blessings of growing in grace and reigning in life are continually ours.