Matthew 5:3 – The New Beginning – Bible study

Matthew 5:3 The Beginning of A New Life Where does the new life begin? We speak of the new life often, but what starts it? Some would say salvation and theologically you would be right, but even the act of salvation has a beginning. Salvation is itself a process with a soul being saved as the end of the process, but where does it all begin? I believe this verse tell us. Tonight, we will take a break from out study in Jeremiah to look at the Lords words. I have pointed out for many years that the Lord is not merely interested in what we do but in what we are. I am definitely not the first person to recognize that truth. Some where in times past, the term BEATITUDES was applied to this section of Jesus sermon on the mountain. Someone recognized that contained within these verses were the ATTITUDES which would help us to BE the kind of person God wants us to BE. Lets consider a portion of the Beatitudes this evening. I. Condition Defined A. The condition Jesus gives to us is "poor in spirit." 1. According to Matthews gospel, this particular admonition was the first point of Jesus message. 2. As one who prepares sermons, I can say that most of the time, what is said at the beginning of a sermon is the foundation for the remainder. 3. Hence, I believe that this Beatitude might be one of most important truths we could understand. B. What does it mean? Lets take it in parts. 1. To be poor means to have a need that is greater than ones supply. a. A financially poor man has financial needs greater than his financial supply. b. A food poor man has food needs greater than his food supply. c. A clothing poor man has clothing needs greater than his clothing supply. 2. So then a spiritually poor person is one who has spiritual needs greater than his spiritual supply. a. Spiritual needs – forgiveness, mercy, wisdom, understanding. b. Might I say that while some are definitely more spiritually needy than others, this is not a condition we need to achieve. (1) We are all lacking spiritually. (2) It is our natural state. (3) As long as we are in this body of flesh, we are going to be spiritually poor; that is, we will have need of more spiritual insight, wisdom, understanding, and power. C. So what is the point of the pronouncement? If everyone is born spiritually poor, what is the Lord challenging us to do? 1. I believe the Lords challenge in this Beatitude is not that we should become poor in spiritual matters, but that we should recognize we are poor in spirit matters. 2. Although we all have spiritual needs greater than our spiritual supply or ability, most do not recognize it. 3. Why do we not recognize our spiritual need? a. Ignorance (1) Lack of knowledge (2) This can come because we simply have never been instructed in spiritual matters. (3) This is what evangelism seeks to do – inform the ignorant of their spiritual need. (Of course our ultimate goal is to get them to see that need and to trust Jesus as the remedy for it.) b. An inability to perceive (1) But it can also be that we simply cant perceive or fathom certain truths. (a) Some people simply cant get Algebra. (b) I simply cant get music. (c) This is more than simply lacking knowledge. It is also a lack of ability. (2) Every human being has this shortfalls at some point. (a) It is strange how those who have some knowledge and some ability to perceive like to call those with less knowledge and ability than they idiots. (b) The truth is we are all idiots to someone else and especially to God. (3) This is why we need the Holy Spirit of God. He is literally the only One who can take truth and penetrate the hard and blinded heart with it. c. Pride (1) Pride is the false impressions of superiority that comes by having some abilities and knowledge. (2) In truth, most of the time proud people are good at something. They just take that to mean that they themselves are BETTER. (3) This pride keeps a person from seeing that they are indeed POOR in spirit. (4) No matter what they are good at, they are still lacking in their spirit, but they cannot see it. (5) Whenever pride comes into the equation, things always get more difficult. (3) A person may be ignorant for any reason but with that false feeling of superiority they refuse to see it. 4. So the Lord pronounces a blessing upon those who can recognize that they are indeed poor in spirit matters. II. Condition Revealed A. Thankfully, God works to show us our true condition and to humble us so that we can see it. 1. The large term to describe that work is GRACE. a. Grace is God working in us, through us, and for us to accomplish His will. b. God does not want us to be blind to our condition so He works in us to reveal it to us. c. That is grace. 2. The more precise term used to describe the work of God revealing our spiritual poverty is PROBLEMS. a. I think God uses problems more than anything else to help us with our spiritual needs. b. God sends problems to reveal our spiritual need. c. Hence, God tells us to rejoice when problems come. 1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; B. So we need to recognize the good that comes with our problems and learn to be thankful for them. 1. We need to recognize that every problem is Gods trigger to remind us that we have more spiritual needs than our supply. 2. Every problem an opportunity. A problem demonstrates our spiritual need so a. It is an opportunity to get closer to God, to become more dependent upon Him, more empowered by Him. b. Most likely, it is also an opportunity to work on some shortage in our own life. (1) Perhaps a character flaw or maybe some weakness that has attached itself to us. (2) There is no better time than right now to fix whatever is wrong. (3) That is why the problem was sent. 3. So that in the long run, every problem is something God can use for good and His glory. Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. C. I know that most of us look at problems as a negative. 1. We may even see them as an indication that God is angry with us. 2. Here is a new way to look at them. God loves you so much that He is spending extra time shaping you into what He wants you to be. III. Condition Rewarded A. One condition for recognizing that we are poor in spirit is listed in the verse. 1. They will have the kingdom of heaven. 2. Of course a person who recognizes their spiritual need will not automatically go to heaven. a. They must still repent of their sin and trust in Jesus Christ. b. However, this is the first step in the salvation process and it is THE step that sets all others in motion. c. It is difficult to image anyone who ever came to see themselves as spiritually poor not going on to trust Jesus as their Savior; but at the same time, many do. d. That is what the majority of cults in the world are made of. 3. But the one who recognizes that his/her spiritual need is greater than his/her supply begins the process that can lead to their salvation. 4. Hence, the new life begins here. B. But there is more. 1. I believe this Beatitude is the basis for other things that God can do in our life. 2. Once we can see our spiritual need, we will be able to become what God wants us to be in some other areas of our lives. 3. I think every other Beatitude is dependent upon getting the first one. 4. Notice the other Beatitudes. By seeing our self as spiritual needy, we will be able a. \#4\ To mourn. (1) Those who do not recognize their spiritual need may mourn over their problems, but not over who they are. (2) Only the person who understands his spiritual shortfall would mourn over himself. (3) And once a person understands his spiritual shortfall, the next logical step is to mourn over it. (4) But then that characteristic brings another reward. (a) Comfort – I take it that this comfort comes from God. (b) I would also think it means more than God just giving you a feel-good hug although there is certainly nothing wrong with that. (c) I would think He would give something material, something of substance. (d) I would think God, with all of His power, would give comfort by doing something to make things better. b. \#5\ We can learn to be meek. (1) Again, meekness does not fit well into the character of the ignorant or proud. They would see themselves as always doing what is in the "best interest" of everyone else. (2) But when a person becomes aware of their spiritual poverty and begins to truly mourn over their condition, they become the kind of person that reframes from freely using whatever powers or might they have. (3) These are the people who make the best leaders. (4) So when they come to this place, meekness, God rewards them further by setting them over all the earth. c. \#6\ That beings us to those who will hunger and thirst after righteousness. (1) Another condition which can not be unless one recognizes his spiritual need. (2) This Beatitude seems to me to be directly connected back to being poor in spirit. (3) But then that condition is rewarded by God filling you. (a) Filling with what? (b) It only makes sense that God would fill you will what you hungered for righteousness. 5. The list continues on. a. It is my suspicion that all of the items in this list in one way or the other hinge on being able to see our spiritual shortfall. b. So even for the believer, a new life begins when he sees himself with more spiritual need than he has spiritual supply. c. This Beatitude is where it all begins – salvation, humility, gentleness, purity, power. 6. Indeed, we are blessed if we can see ourselves as we truly are.