THE BEATITUDES

THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN-MATTHEW 5:3

Art Davison THE BEATITUDES 0 Comment
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
MATTHEW 5:3

Introduction:

Those saints of God, who are “poor in spirit,” shall possess a kingdom according to this verse. “By the kingdom of heaven is meant that state of glory which the saints shall enjoy when they reign with God and the angels forever; sin, hell and death being fully subdued.” –Thomas Watson, 1660.
I.     A KINGDOM OF GLORY IS PREPARED FOR THE SAINTS.
A. The saints shall reign in that kingdom as kings with the Lord Jesus Christ, Revelation 5:10, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Daniel 7:18, 27, “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 27-And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
B. The saints as kings will have their crowns:
1. Crown of life, James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
2. A crown of glory, 1 Peter 5:4, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
a. In my mind I see a crown of thorns that was placed upon the head of my Savior that I might live throughout eternity in God’s presence, Mark 15:17, “And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,”
b. My crown shall never fade away because He bore the crown of thorns.
3. A crown of pure gold, Psalm 21:3, “For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.”
a. A crown of gold cannot be made without thorns, 1 Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 4:13, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” Revelation 2:10, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
b. A crown of gold is made by bearing the cross of our Lord:
1) Not worthy, Matthew 10:38, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” Luke 14:27, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
2) Must deny himself, Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
3) Glory in cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
II. THE KINDOM OF HEAVEN EXCELLS OTHER KINGDOMS.
A. The Kingdom of heaven excels in its FOUNDER AND MAKER.
1. God is its builder and maker, Hebrews 11:10, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
a. The builder of all things, Hebrews 3:4, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
b. The founder of Zion, Isaiah 14:32, “What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.”
2. It is made without hands, 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
B. This kingdom excels in its RICHES:
1. The gates of heaven are made of pearl, Revelation 21:21, “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”
2. The streets are made of gold, “and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”
3. The foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones, Revelation 21:19-20, “And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.”
C. This kingdom excels in the PERFECTION of it.
1. There is the fountain of the water of life, Revelation 21:6, “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”
2. There is the tree of life, Revelation 22:2, “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
3. There is found no more death or sorrow, Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
D. This kingdom excels in SECURITY:
1. The gates thereof are always open, Revelation 21:25, “And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.”
2. This kingdom is eternal:
a. Other kingdoms have ceased. Where is the glory of Athens? What has become of the Assyrian, Grecian, and Persian kingdoms?
b. In the Kingdom of heaven the saints will reign forever with the Lord, Revelation 22:5, “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”
CONCLUSION
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” That kingdom will be the most glorious experience because we will be in the presence of our Savior Jesus Christ.

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT-MATTHEW 5:1-3

Art Davison THE BEATITUDES 0 Comment
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
MATTHEW 5:1-3
Introduction:

We have somewhat of a paradox here. Generally poverty expels riches, but here poverty begets riches. Mourning would expel joy, but here mourning begets joy, “for they shall be comforted,” v. 4. Persecution normally expels happiness, but here it makes one happy: “Blessed are they that are persecuted.” These are sacred paradoxes in our Savior’s sermon.

The world thinks, “Blessed are they on the pinnacle;” but Christ pronounces them blessed who are in the valley. Consider what Jesus says in verse 3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

I. THE MEANING OF “POOR IN SPIRIT.”

A. It is distinguished from material poverty. The Lord is not referring to those who lack in this worlds material goods.

B. It is not those who are spiritually poor, Revelation 3:17, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

C. It is distinguished from the poor-spirited. These are people who are have mean and base spirits, Ecclesiastes 6:2, “A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.”

D. “Poor in spirit” signifies those who have seen their spiritual poverty and fled to Christ for salvation, Luke 18:13, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

II. QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED ABOUT “POOR IN SPIRIT.”

A. Why does Christ begin with poverty of spirit?

1. Jesus was setting the foundation of all other graces that follow, 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

2. Until a man sees himself as he really is he cannot mourn over sin in his own life and in the life of others.

a. For our own sin, Ezekiel 7:16, “But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.”

b. For the pollution of sin in the life of the believer, Acts 5:3, “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”

c. The color of our sin stands out, Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

B. What is the difference between poverty of spirit, humility and self-denial?

1. Humility is becoming as a child before the Lord, Matthew 18:4, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

2. Self-denial is learning to put Christ first in your life above everyone and everything else, Titus 2:12, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

III. WHY CHRISTIANS MUST BE “POOR IN SPIRIT.”

A. If we are self-sufficient, we are not fit for Christ, Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” [broken hearted = unworthiness] “The thing I am blessed in is my poverty. If I know I have no strength of will, no nobility of disposition, then Jesus says—Blessed are you.” – Oswald Chambers

B. Until we are poor in spirit, Christ is never precious, Zechariah 3:4-5, “And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.”

1. We see ourselves as we really are – in RAGS. Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

2. Then God clothes us in garments FIT for His service. Isaiah 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

IV. ATTRIBUTES OF THE “POOR IN SPIRIT.”

A. He that is poor in spirit is weaned from self.

1. Our ego causes us many problems, Romans 8:13, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” “The true character of the loveliness that tells for God is always unconscious. Conscious influence is priggish and un-Christian. If I say, ‘I wonder if I am of any use,’ I instantly lose the bloom of the touch of the Lord. “He that believeth in Me, out of him shall flow rivers of living water.” If I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.” – Oswald Chambers

2. Our self-importance stands in the way of serving God in a way that is pleasing to Him, Luke 14:11, “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Who are the people that have influenced us most? Not the ones who thought they did, but those who had not the remotest notion that they were influencing us.

B. He that is poor in spirit is a Christ admirer, Ephesians 3:19, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

C. He that is poor in spirit is always complaining of his spiritual estate, Isaiah 6:5, “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

D. He that is poor in spirit is lowly in heart.

1. He sees himself as unworthy, Job 42:6, “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

2. He sees himself as a great debtor, Romans 1:14, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.”

3. He sees that his strength in not in himself, but in the Lord, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

E. He that is poor in spirit is much in prayer.

1. He is ever begging the Lord to increase his faith, Luke 17:5, “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”

2. He is ever begging spiritual alms at the throne of God.

3. He sighs; he sheds tears before the Lord, Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

F. He that is poor in spirit sees himself lost without Christ.

1. To him Christ is his LORD as well as the Saviour, Philippians 3:8, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”

2. He asked the Lord as Paul did on the road to Damascus, Acts 9:6a, “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

CONCLUSION

Four reason to be “poor in spirit:”

1. This poverty is your riches. Poverty of spirit entitles you to all of Christ’s riches.

2. This poverty is your nobility. The Lord looks on those “poor in spirit” as being persons of honor.

3. Poverty of spirit quiets the soul. Here the believer learns to rest in the promises of God such as Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

4. Poverty of spirit paves the road of blessedness, Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”