I'm going to Denver to pick up TWAK today. I'm hoping maybe to be able to take Kelli to the movie tonight, and Kelsi will probably come along, too. We'll see. While I was trying to find the website for the movie I'd like to take her to, I mis-typed. It reminded me of a time when a former secretary (and dear friend, Linda Winslow who went home to the Lord about a year and a half ago) was trying to find something about veggie tales on the internet for me. Instead, she ended up at a Mexican produce cyber-stand. Anyway, you know what they say about funny stories....location, location, location.
Tonight, I think I'll be back here, with a new story...called "Between a Rock and a Hard Place."
Let me know what you think.
10/10/2002
10/09/2002
Not really sure what to banter about today, until I was reading another blog and was referred to this site with pictures of ugly people. The opening page has a photo of Osama Bin Laden as "ugly person of the year." I was struck by the philosophical understanding of ugliness, and I found myself nodding in agreement, tapping my chin with my index finger, as a universally understood gesture of ponderance. Then, clicking on the link for "ugly of the day" the photo that comes up is none other than an incredibly hirsute man.
So, this gets me thinking about what really makes a person ugly. There are two types of ugly, I suppose. First, there's the your-momma-tied-a-porkchop-around-your-neck-to-get-the-dog-to-play-with-you ugly, and there's the i-didn't-know-someone-so-beautiful-could-be-so-ugly ugly.This second type of ugly is also known as "diva ugly." The E channel profiles this type of ugly all the time.
Couple of thoughts from the Bible -- it says that there's nothing about Jesus' appearance that would have drawn people to him. He probably never would have made it on the cover of People's sexiest man alive. That's why Willem Dafoe was cast as Jesus and not Brad Pitt. That was mean. I'm sorry. It just surprises me that we have this perception of what Jesus probably looked like (based loosely by some halographic image found on the Shroud of Turin, and then Americanized to please our collective conscious) that is in all likelihood so far off base that we'd be amazed. I think this (mis)perception has developed because we are a people so wrapped up in beauty. Al Gore got a hard time because he grew a beard and put on weight after losing the election. The tabloids regularly have the "would you be caught dead wearing this" photo in their pages. Then, we see that Jesus, before dying on the cross, was beaten in the face, had his beard yanked out, and had a crown of thorns jammed on his head. I'm sure he was a mess when it was all said and done. And when you read in Revelation that Jesus looked and saw the one worthy to open the seals, He appeared as a lamb as though slain. I personally believe, that while Jesus is in His glorified body, He will bear the marks of the crucifixion for eternity. And we'll find him beautiful.
There's a story floating around the web about a little girl who was embarrassed about her mom because her mom had these horrible scars on her face. She never wanted her mom to take her anywhere because people always laughed and pointed. One day, the little girl asked why the mom was so ugly. THe mom told her that when the little girl was a baby, their home had caught on fire. The mom had run into the nursery, fire scorching her hair and searing her flesh. The mom had plucked her precious daughter from the crib, and dove through the window, cradling the child like a football. The fire, the smoke, cuts from glass, and broken facial bones from the awkward landing all accounted for the mom's unsightly appearance. From that day forward, though, the daughter never again considereed her mother to be ugly. Those scars told of a mother's love for her child.
Now, while this might seem like an ABC after-school special, I really believe that this is the way it will be in eternity.
One other thing -- the Bible says how beautiful are the feet of the one who brings good news. Now, my wife will attest, I got some ugly feet. I have these big toes that look light light bulbs. I'll never be asked to model Tevas (oddly, if you look at the little map on the website's home page, my home is just about 80 miles east of Buena Vista -- and, by the way, I think my feet are purtier than this guy's). Anyway, feet aren't beautiful or ugly based upon whether or not your toes are webbed, your arches are flat, or your heels are hard and scaly. To God, beauty is found in their function. Our feet are beautiful if we're using them to take us to other people, to tell them about Him. I'd guess the same thing is true about our eyes, our mouths, our ears, our hearts, our minds, etc.
How pretty do you feel today?
So, this gets me thinking about what really makes a person ugly. There are two types of ugly, I suppose. First, there's the your-momma-tied-a-porkchop-around-your-neck-to-get-the-dog-to-play-with-you ugly, and there's the i-didn't-know-someone-so-beautiful-could-be-so-ugly ugly.This second type of ugly is also known as "diva ugly." The E channel profiles this type of ugly all the time.
Couple of thoughts from the Bible -- it says that there's nothing about Jesus' appearance that would have drawn people to him. He probably never would have made it on the cover of People's sexiest man alive. That's why Willem Dafoe was cast as Jesus and not Brad Pitt. That was mean. I'm sorry. It just surprises me that we have this perception of what Jesus probably looked like (based loosely by some halographic image found on the Shroud of Turin, and then Americanized to please our collective conscious) that is in all likelihood so far off base that we'd be amazed. I think this (mis)perception has developed because we are a people so wrapped up in beauty. Al Gore got a hard time because he grew a beard and put on weight after losing the election. The tabloids regularly have the "would you be caught dead wearing this" photo in their pages. Then, we see that Jesus, before dying on the cross, was beaten in the face, had his beard yanked out, and had a crown of thorns jammed on his head. I'm sure he was a mess when it was all said and done. And when you read in Revelation that Jesus looked and saw the one worthy to open the seals, He appeared as a lamb as though slain. I personally believe, that while Jesus is in His glorified body, He will bear the marks of the crucifixion for eternity. And we'll find him beautiful.
There's a story floating around the web about a little girl who was embarrassed about her mom because her mom had these horrible scars on her face. She never wanted her mom to take her anywhere because people always laughed and pointed. One day, the little girl asked why the mom was so ugly. THe mom told her that when the little girl was a baby, their home had caught on fire. The mom had run into the nursery, fire scorching her hair and searing her flesh. The mom had plucked her precious daughter from the crib, and dove through the window, cradling the child like a football. The fire, the smoke, cuts from glass, and broken facial bones from the awkward landing all accounted for the mom's unsightly appearance. From that day forward, though, the daughter never again considereed her mother to be ugly. Those scars told of a mother's love for her child.
Now, while this might seem like an ABC after-school special, I really believe that this is the way it will be in eternity.
One other thing -- the Bible says how beautiful are the feet of the one who brings good news. Now, my wife will attest, I got some ugly feet. I have these big toes that look light light bulbs. I'll never be asked to model Tevas (oddly, if you look at the little map on the website's home page, my home is just about 80 miles east of Buena Vista -- and, by the way, I think my feet are purtier than this guy's). Anyway, feet aren't beautiful or ugly based upon whether or not your toes are webbed, your arches are flat, or your heels are hard and scaly. To God, beauty is found in their function. Our feet are beautiful if we're using them to take us to other people, to tell them about Him. I'd guess the same thing is true about our eyes, our mouths, our ears, our hearts, our minds, etc.
How pretty do you feel today?
10/08/2002
my three sons
There was a man who had it all and noone to whom to give it. Wealth beyond imagination. Homes on both coasts, and several abroad, as well. More cars, boats, planes, toys than he could number. Early one morning, while the man was reading his daily stack of newspapers from around the globe, he came across a news item about horrific flooding in India. Thousands had died, disease was running rampant. A sidebar to the story featured the plight of identical triplet boys who had become ophaned by the flooding. Their parents, granparents, and four older siblings had all perished in a mudslide that had decimated their poverty-stricken village. The infant boys had all been injured significantly by the raging flow of earth -- one had a broken back, the other a broken neck, and the third a crushed pelvis. It was unlikely that any of the boys would ever walk again, much less function well in their society. In fact, because of their plight, they would likely be sent to a regional orphanage that was notorious for its squalid conditions, where they'd likely waste away in neglect and die anonymously, unknown and unloved.
The man was moved with compassion. He immediately got on his cell phone and barked out a series of commands to his attorney. Within four hours, the three infant boys were transported to their region's finest hospital, and specialist surgeons were flown in from across the world to repair their tiny, broken bodies. While these efforts were being undertaken, the man delegated all his responsibilities to underlings, boarded his fastest jet, and flew to them, so they wouldn't be alone in a very scary world.
As days turned to weeks, and weeks to months, the man never left presence. He met their every need. He talked with them in a language they had never before heard, and they responded in universally understood sounds of joy, love, and appreciation. On the day they were scheduled to be released, the man's top attorney came through the hospital doors with adoption papers. The boys would become heirs of the man, leave behind the only world they knew, and become children of promise.
Now at home with their adoptive father, the three identicals grew into individuals. Each one eventually overcame the physical limitations, thanks to their father's encouragement, as well as his provisions of the finest doctors, therapists, and rehabilitative services. They received the finest educations, accompanied their father on life-forming adventures, and nightly had conversations with their father about the successes and failures of the day, as well as the hopes for tomorrow. On the cusp of adulthood, each child stood on the threshold of opportunity, equally loved and blessed by their adoptive parent.
One day, the boys gathered at the breakfast table and asked their dad why they looked so different than him. He explained to them the events of their infancy, and the actions undertaken to deliver them from a life of destitute misery. Each boy listened in rapt attention, as the words of the father gave an entirely different understanding of the relationship they shared.
The first son (oldest by 18 minutes) determined in his heart that he would live with a new-found determination to make his father proud. He would learn the father's business, he would work night and day, forsaking anything that would serve as an obstacle to accomplishing greatness.
The second son (older than the youngest by only 93 seconds), reacted adversely. He began sobbing over his loss. While profoundly grateful for the father's intercession, he realized he was nothing like that infant boy any longer. He determined in his heart that his true self was to be discovered in the disease-riddled peasant villages of India.
The third son listened to all his father had to tell them, and observed his brother's reactions. Then he simply walked up to his father, hugged him, and said "thank you for loving me."
Years passed. The boys became men, and their father grew old. One day, while the father sat in his office, peering out the window over the world while his business took place all around him, his youngest son entered into his presence.
"Dad, I've got some bad news to share with you," the son said.
"I've already heard," he said. The oldest son, a vice president in the father's business died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack, while in the middle of an meeting that could've been handled by others.
Silence filled the room. The son whispered, "dad, there's something else..."
"I already know."
The second son, they learned, had died the night before of exposure to the elements. He had been living in poverty for years, malnourished, nearly unclothed, and with no roof over his head.
"Come here, son." The father said. The youngest boy came to his father's chair and sat at his feet.
"My three boys. I loved you all equally. I gave to you all equally, with only your ability to receive limiting you. And now, you alone are left. My oldest son, upon hearing of my love for him, perceived that my love was given because of the potential that I saw in him. He worked tirelessly. He tried to be me, only to a greater degree. I never intended him to be me. I just wanted him to be the best "him" he could be. And he's gone - never having experienced the fulness of all that I had given him."
A tear fell from the youngest son's eye, and the father wiped it from his cheek. "My second son, upon hearing of my love for him, perceived that my love was given because of the pitiful conditions of your infancy. He thought that I could only love him if he was pitiful. He gave his life needlessly, because he continually rejected my gifts, my presents, my provisions; for he felt that to receive them would be to become proud and unloveable. He never saw the foolish pride of living in rejection of my benevolence."
"you, my youngest son, are all who is left." The man looked out the window. "Upon hearing of my life for you, you perceived accurately that my love was not extended because of who you were, nor was it extended because of who you could potentially be. My love was extended because it, my greatest gift, was motive in and of itself. And you alone have lived in the reality of my unwavering love. You have filled me with joy, and you have disappointed me. You have accomplished much, and have much more yet to discover. Son, my love for you knows no boundaries, and all that I have is yours. Now, go, and live in the fulness of this blessing."
***
how is your relationship with the father? He doesn't love you because of the potential he saw in you, or because he wants you to stay in your pitiful condition. He loves you because He is good, and His love knows no bounds. Abide in that love, receive all the blessings of being the heir to His promises, a child of the King, inheritor to the Kingdom, and live in the fulness of that blessing.
The man was moved with compassion. He immediately got on his cell phone and barked out a series of commands to his attorney. Within four hours, the three infant boys were transported to their region's finest hospital, and specialist surgeons were flown in from across the world to repair their tiny, broken bodies. While these efforts were being undertaken, the man delegated all his responsibilities to underlings, boarded his fastest jet, and flew to them, so they wouldn't be alone in a very scary world.
As days turned to weeks, and weeks to months, the man never left presence. He met their every need. He talked with them in a language they had never before heard, and they responded in universally understood sounds of joy, love, and appreciation. On the day they were scheduled to be released, the man's top attorney came through the hospital doors with adoption papers. The boys would become heirs of the man, leave behind the only world they knew, and become children of promise.
Now at home with their adoptive father, the three identicals grew into individuals. Each one eventually overcame the physical limitations, thanks to their father's encouragement, as well as his provisions of the finest doctors, therapists, and rehabilitative services. They received the finest educations, accompanied their father on life-forming adventures, and nightly had conversations with their father about the successes and failures of the day, as well as the hopes for tomorrow. On the cusp of adulthood, each child stood on the threshold of opportunity, equally loved and blessed by their adoptive parent.
One day, the boys gathered at the breakfast table and asked their dad why they looked so different than him. He explained to them the events of their infancy, and the actions undertaken to deliver them from a life of destitute misery. Each boy listened in rapt attention, as the words of the father gave an entirely different understanding of the relationship they shared.
The first son (oldest by 18 minutes) determined in his heart that he would live with a new-found determination to make his father proud. He would learn the father's business, he would work night and day, forsaking anything that would serve as an obstacle to accomplishing greatness.
The second son (older than the youngest by only 93 seconds), reacted adversely. He began sobbing over his loss. While profoundly grateful for the father's intercession, he realized he was nothing like that infant boy any longer. He determined in his heart that his true self was to be discovered in the disease-riddled peasant villages of India.
The third son listened to all his father had to tell them, and observed his brother's reactions. Then he simply walked up to his father, hugged him, and said "thank you for loving me."
Years passed. The boys became men, and their father grew old. One day, while the father sat in his office, peering out the window over the world while his business took place all around him, his youngest son entered into his presence.
"Dad, I've got some bad news to share with you," the son said.
"I've already heard," he said. The oldest son, a vice president in the father's business died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack, while in the middle of an meeting that could've been handled by others.
Silence filled the room. The son whispered, "dad, there's something else..."
"I already know."
The second son, they learned, had died the night before of exposure to the elements. He had been living in poverty for years, malnourished, nearly unclothed, and with no roof over his head.
"Come here, son." The father said. The youngest boy came to his father's chair and sat at his feet.
"My three boys. I loved you all equally. I gave to you all equally, with only your ability to receive limiting you. And now, you alone are left. My oldest son, upon hearing of my love for him, perceived that my love was given because of the potential that I saw in him. He worked tirelessly. He tried to be me, only to a greater degree. I never intended him to be me. I just wanted him to be the best "him" he could be. And he's gone - never having experienced the fulness of all that I had given him."
A tear fell from the youngest son's eye, and the father wiped it from his cheek. "My second son, upon hearing of my love for him, perceived that my love was given because of the pitiful conditions of your infancy. He thought that I could only love him if he was pitiful. He gave his life needlessly, because he continually rejected my gifts, my presents, my provisions; for he felt that to receive them would be to become proud and unloveable. He never saw the foolish pride of living in rejection of my benevolence."
"you, my youngest son, are all who is left." The man looked out the window. "Upon hearing of my life for you, you perceived accurately that my love was not extended because of who you were, nor was it extended because of who you could potentially be. My love was extended because it, my greatest gift, was motive in and of itself. And you alone have lived in the reality of my unwavering love. You have filled me with joy, and you have disappointed me. You have accomplished much, and have much more yet to discover. Son, my love for you knows no boundaries, and all that I have is yours. Now, go, and live in the fulness of this blessing."
***
how is your relationship with the father? He doesn't love you because of the potential he saw in you, or because he wants you to stay in your pitiful condition. He loves you because He is good, and His love knows no bounds. Abide in that love, receive all the blessings of being the heir to His promises, a child of the King, inheritor to the Kingdom, and live in the fulness of that blessing.
10/07/2002
bulls to big macs
yeah...i just lost something i'd been typing for about 30 minutes. That doesn't make me too happy.
So I'll be brief. Just read a story about scientists picking the funniest joke. It was pretty good. But my favorite was the one submitted the most -- what's brown and sticky?
A stick.
ha! I love it.
Now, a panel of comedians are working on a cure for cancer.
pet peeve -- Football team flags. I'm a big Bronco fan, but I don't wear jerseys, and I don't fly the flags. I find it insulting to the real flags. And I see that people will more faithfully fly their sports flag than they will their national flag. Maybe I'm not a fan afterall, if fan has to be short for fanatic. I won't paint my face. I won't go barechested in subzero weather. I refuse to name my children John Elway IV, Olandis, or Invesco McAnally, and I've recently decided to stop stalking Pat Bowlen, the Bronco's owner. Another thing I don't get are the riots that take place after championships. Its one thing to fire live rounds of ammunition from your assault rifle wantonly into the air, but another thing altogether to overturn cars and turn an entire downtown into a frenetic mosh pit of anarchy.
As long as I'm hitting on insanity -- why do people try to outrun bulls every year? I could understand this if bulls were natural predators of humans, but i've got 3 words for you:. McDonalds and Smith & Wesson. I just had to see that one photo floating around on the net of the guy getting gored in the yahoo to know that the only bull I'll be running from is if someone's trying to offer me a mad-cow double whopper. I'm not the fastest car on the race track, so I don't see any good sense in this endeavor. I don't really understand what it proves, but I'm of the opinion there's no need to jump off a bridge with a rubber band strapped to my ankle (unless said bride is collapsing and my own death is imminent) or out of an airplane with a parachute upon my back (again, unless said plane is crashing). Well, after a futile attempt to find the photo on the web ( a search using the words bull, gore, anus, revenge brought up only a spate of Hillary Clinton sites-really, I'm not joking) I close for now.
So I'll be brief. Just read a story about scientists picking the funniest joke. It was pretty good. But my favorite was the one submitted the most -- what's brown and sticky?
A stick.
ha! I love it.
Now, a panel of comedians are working on a cure for cancer.
pet peeve -- Football team flags. I'm a big Bronco fan, but I don't wear jerseys, and I don't fly the flags. I find it insulting to the real flags. And I see that people will more faithfully fly their sports flag than they will their national flag. Maybe I'm not a fan afterall, if fan has to be short for fanatic. I won't paint my face. I won't go barechested in subzero weather. I refuse to name my children John Elway IV, Olandis, or Invesco McAnally, and I've recently decided to stop stalking Pat Bowlen, the Bronco's owner. Another thing I don't get are the riots that take place after championships. Its one thing to fire live rounds of ammunition from your assault rifle wantonly into the air, but another thing altogether to overturn cars and turn an entire downtown into a frenetic mosh pit of anarchy.
As long as I'm hitting on insanity -- why do people try to outrun bulls every year? I could understand this if bulls were natural predators of humans, but i've got 3 words for you:. McDonalds and Smith & Wesson. I just had to see that one photo floating around on the net of the guy getting gored in the yahoo to know that the only bull I'll be running from is if someone's trying to offer me a mad-cow double whopper. I'm not the fastest car on the race track, so I don't see any good sense in this endeavor. I don't really understand what it proves, but I'm of the opinion there's no need to jump off a bridge with a rubber band strapped to my ankle (unless said bride is collapsing and my own death is imminent) or out of an airplane with a parachute upon my back (again, unless said plane is crashing). Well, after a futile attempt to find the photo on the web ( a search using the words bull, gore, anus, revenge brought up only a spate of Hillary Clinton sites-really, I'm not joking) I close for now.
10/06/2002
here's the message I'll preach today. couple of disclaimers: 1) it's not verbatim -- this is basically what I "preach to my computer." I make an outline from this and the sermon resembles this, but isn't identical. 2)its not necessarily "tight" presentation. I don't proof it. 3) There are ungiven references in here -- I don't claim that all thoughts, anecdotes, etc. are original. If I ever publish this in an "official" format or forum, I'll be certain to give credit where it's due. without further ado...
***
Last week, we gathered at Matthew chapter 5 and we sat at the base of the mountain along with all the other disciples of Jesus, separated only by about 1970 years, give or take a few (which is a small thing for God). And there, we received the words of Jesus that tell us this (Read Matthew 5:1-12). And with each promise of blessing, we heard the wonderful message of God¡¦s deep love for us.
Now, if you¡¦ll remember, we must pay particular attention to avoid the very common mistake of considering this to be conditional statements. The promise of blessing is extended to a category or classification of person, not to a condition of existence. So, this is not saying that you will receive blessing in the times of life when you are poor in spirit, or when you mourn (and so on), but rather, these blessings are extended to you if God identifies you in one of these categories.
We are a people in need of blessing, would you agree? It seems that today, more than ever, we seem to be so focused on the sad state of affairs that seems to be constantly in front of us. Just this week, we had news of a plunging stock market, 2 different hurricanes, a shooting spree, and a possible war with Iraq.
Let me illustrate this further (big black dot illustration).
Living in a world that is in such a need of blessing can lead us to be a people with a pretty poor attitude. Now, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ should change all that. But too often, the most unhappy people in a crowd are the ones who are supposed to be the ones with all the joy.
So, in this regard, I¡¦d like to once again remind you that we are just like the people who were there, in person , at the foot of the mountain. The Bible says that they were sick people who were afflicted with diseases and torments of every kind. And Jesus had healed them. Because of this, he had a multitude of people following him.
And just like those people, we are people in need of a new attitude. A new perspective. And so, today, we¡¦re going to get right at the heart of the matter and jump right in to the first beautiful attitude. And really, this is why we¡¦re taking the time to evaluate these Scriptures. If you belong to God, you should have a beautiful attitude. And God gives us these reminders of categorical blessings to be held to tightly when we face various situations in life that might otherwise lead us to overlook or forget or neglect the blessings of God. And as we experience the categorical blessings of God in the adverse situations of life, God glorifies Himself through it.
This is what Jesus declares: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. First of all, let¡¦s look at the attitude. Blessed are the poor in spirit. God is saying here that people who live in a state of spiritual poverty are blessed. Well, we better understand what that means.
Now, probably many of us can understand what ¡§poor¡¨ means. But we have to be careful, because there is an important distinction that is made in the Greek, and it is a distinction that we might be subject to not embrace if we¡¦re not aware of it. When we think of poor, we tend to think about it in terms of living hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck. Struggling to get by. Having to use the Mastercard to pay the Visa. That sort of thing. The Greek word for that type of poor is penei and literally means ¡§to work for the day¡¦s bread.¡¨ But that¡¦s not the type of poverty that is spoken of here. The word here is ptochos, and literally means ¡§beggarly.¡¨ It means to be constantly in need of injunction for assistance, it means to be destitute. In this regard, we find this meaning to be much more extreme than the understanding that most of us can identify with.
When we think of poverty, we usually think about it in two different terms. First of all, we tend to think of poverty in terms of finances. And second, we think about it in terms of the first way (penei), rather than the second way (ptochos). In fact, the people who are poor but live hand to mouth are often able to look down upon those people who are so poor that they can¡¦t even have a single thing on their own.
But God has said you are blessed if you are ptochos poor in spirit. This is an important clarification to be made because there are many who want to spiritualize their financial poverty. These are people who say they¡¦ll never work, they¡¦ll never take the initiative because if they do, they¡¦ll be self-sufficient. They are equating their financial poverty to spiritual blessing. And friends, this just doesn¡¦t have the backing of God¡¦s Word. If you survey scripture, we see a wide array of phenomena in regard to finances. On one hand, Jesus praises the poor widow who tithes her mite. On the other, he speaks condemningly of the servant in the parable who hoardes the master¡¦s talent. On one hand, Jesus tells the rich young ruler to give away his fortune, but on the other, he places no such expectation upon Nicodemus, a wealthy Pharisee meeting covertly with Jesus to speak about spiritual matters. In this regard, the poverty bringing blessing has nothing to do with finances, it has everything to do with the spirit.
So what is spiritual poverty? Simply said, to be poor in spirit is to understand the condition of the soul apart from God. Isaiah demonstrated spiritual poverty when, in His vision of the Lord, he cried out, ¡§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 my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts (Is. 6:5).¡¨ Jesus illustrated spiritual poverty when he spoke of the prodigal son, who was jealous of pig slop and desired only the father¡¦s provisions. John demonstrated spiritual poverty when in Revelation, He looked upon the Lord and fell at his feet, as though dead. Spiritual poverty is the understanding that God is high, and we are low. It is the realization that God is holy and man is sinful. It is the comprehension that in us dwells nothing good, but in God dwells the very definition of goodness. Spiritual poverty is the abject, profound, humbling realization that not only can we not earn our own way to heaven, but we can¡¦t even lift our own faces off the floor in the presence of our Holy God. If we are to receive any spiritual, heavenly blessing, it comes solely and wholely through the benevolence of God Himself.
Let¡¦s take a bit of time to examine some of the barrier to spiritual poverty. Everywhere a barrier is set up obstructing spiritual poverty, the promise of blessing is not received. It is vital that we understand the barriers to spiritual poverty, so that we may recognize them, deconstruct them, and live in the blessing that is promised.
Friends, the barrier to spiritual poverty is pride. It is impossible to experience spiritually destitution in the presence of pride. Pride declares that your attitudes, your conduct, your behavior, your accomplishments will actually impress God. But think about that for a moment. What can you do that is going to out-do God? What if you built an entire youth center with your bare hands? Well, it was God who made the wood, the steel, the electricity, the water, every resource that will be used there. Oh, and by the way, He made the whole world on which it sits, just by speaking it into existence. What if you took a year long sabbatical to go feed the poor in India? Surely that would impress God, right? Think again ¡V isn¡¦t it God who feeds the whole world for every meal of every day. We¡¦d all starve to death without God¡¦s provision. What if you received an inheritance, and gave a million dollars to your church? Now, you know your pastor would be impressed, but surely God would be, too, right? I¡¦m not so sure, for a God who lines his streets with Gold and lines His palace walls with priceless gems. Oh, and by the way, your gift of $1 million doesn¡¦t look quite so sacrificial when its compared to the cross. Jesus gave His life. Put a value on that.
Is it any wonder that God¡¦s word says that pride goes before a fall? When God says our righteousness is as filthy rags, we can understand why when we separate ourselves from the pride of an accomplishment. It¡¦s like the story of the group of scientists who got together and decided that man had come along way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest."
To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!" But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God just looked at him and said "No, No, No, you get your own dirt.¡¨
There is no room for pride in the human life. If you are going to brag, brag on God. If you are going to boast, boast on the Lord. If you are going to exalt someone, exalt Jesus, not yourself. Every barrier placed between God and man is reduced to pride. Its pride that says, ¡§look at me, look at the job I did, look at my creativity, my ingenuity, my resourcefulness, my industriousness, my patience, my skill, my cleverness, my fortitude, my ability.
If this ¡V pride ¡V be the barrier, then we¡¦d all be well served to examine the barometer of spiritual poverty. The Bible says in 1 Cor. 3 that every action in our life will be tested by fire. It also says in Hebrews we¡¦ll have to give an account for every attitude. It also says in Matthew that we¡¦ll have to give account for every idle word that falls out of our faces. In fact, Romans 14:12 says each of us will have to give an account of ourselves before God. This means every aspect of your life is subject to a certain review before God. So I¡¦m going to ask you to partake in a spiritual check up, so the light of the Holy Spirit might reveal pride in all its hiding spaces in our lives.
Ą Love. Sacrificially or self-seeking? Unconditionally or manipulatively? Continually or situationally?
ƒÑ Worship. Because of what you receive or what you offer? Because you can¡¦t miss it or because God¡¦s keeping attendance? Because you meet friends and family there or because you encounter God there?
ƒÑ Serving. Because you like to be in charge or because you just want to be used? Because you want an important title or because you can meet a need? Because if you don¡¦t do it, it won¡¦t get done or because God has placed an undeniable call upon you to do it?
ƒÑ Giving. Because the church needs you to do it or because you need to do it? Because you want to obey ¡§the law¡¨ or because you want to reflect the grace of God? Because you have much to give or because you¡¦ve been given so very much?
Are you beginning to get a reading of your barometer on spiritual poverty? You see we must realize and embrace the reality that God contributes everything to our spiritual existence. We contribute nothing! Who am I? Just the person God made me to be! When I live as how He made me to be, He should get all the credit for it. When I live outside of who He created me to be, I will not accomplish anything that He¡¦ll find pleasing. The sooner I understand that and live day by day, hour by hour, breath by breath, in that reality, the better off I¡¦ll be because only then will I live in a condition of spiritual poverty.
To live in spiritual poverty is to live in the assurance of blessing. Let¡¦s take the remainder of our time to examine that assurance right now. Jesus promises, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. I want you to notice something here ¡V unlike in the subsequent verses, this is promise for right here and now. You know, some scholars want to say that Jesus was giving a millennial sermon here ¡V that the blessings promised would be blessings bestowed in the life to come, when Jesus returns for his 1000 year reign on earth. But I have two problems with that. First, I have a hard time picturing Jesus inviting a multitude of people to surround him, and Him only pretending to speak to them, because he¡¦s really talking about something later on. That just doesn¡¦t jibe with what I have come to understand about Jesus. Second, it just doesn¡¦t agree with Scripture. The promises listed in verses 4-9 are listed in future tense, but in verse 3, this is a promise for the here and now. He¡¦s saying clearly, ¡§if you are poor in spirit, you are blessed because the kingdom of heaven is yours ¡V right now!¡¨
I believe the Scriptures identify at least four expressions in which we can experience the assurance of receiving the kingdom of heaven right here and now, through spiritual poverty. First, I believe that we have access to Kingdom relationships through spiritual poverty. We have access to God through spiritual poverty ¡V 1 Sam. 13;14 tells us that God seeks out man. Romans 8, Ephesians 1, and 2 Thessalonians 2 all say that God chooses man for salvation. In fact, anywhere you look, when man chooses God in the Bible, the god man ends up with is a ¡§smaller case g¡¨ god, a false god. But every time God chooses man, He gets it right. He chose Abram, He chose David, He chose Jesus, He chose among the apostles, and He, if you have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus, even chose you.
Spiritual poverty is how we have a relationship with the Son, too. Jesus says, ¡§To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice (John 10:3-4).¡¨ You see it is impossible to go to Jesus unless He calls you. John 6:64 says that Jesus knew beforehand who did and didn¡¦t believe. Jesus came to have fellowship with those who would believe, and confound those who wouldn¡¦t. And Jesus knew who was who and which was which before time began.
Spiritual poverty is how we have relationship with the Holy Spirit, too. John 14:26 says that the Father sends the Spirit in the name of the Son. It is impossible to receive the Holy Spirit of God unless God Himself sends Him. And the responsibility of the Spirit is to have a relationship with you. He encourages you. He exhorts you. He rebukes you. He convicts you. He disciplines you. He comforts you. He loves you. He directs you. He helps you. He leads you. He tells you what to pray. He gives you rest. What a wonderful relationship to have! Oh, that we would have no earthly possessions in the world, but have these relationships, how very wealthy we would be indeed!
Do you embrace the blessing of your kingdom relationships? Do you savor your fellowship with the Father? Do you daily depend upon the Son? Do you continually follow the Spirit? Or instead of living in this ptochosi spiritual poverty, do you instead live in the peneis poverty ¡V relying upon human relationships until there are no other options than to rely upon God. Do you have fellowship with God only on Sundays, or on Wednesdays, or in the 15 second prayer before supper, and not talk with Him at any other time of the day? You see, God wants to be the most important relationship in your life. Why else would He give as His first commandment ¡V Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. This is why David was known as a man after God¡¦s own heart. He¡¦s not expecting perfection, He¡¦s expecting devotion! And when you pursue kingdom relationships, what a wealth of blessings you¡¦ll receive!
Next, we have the blessing of kingdom resources through spiritual poverty. Look, we can go through life one of two ways ¡V with our own resources, or with God¡¦s. This is what God has to say about using our own resources:
Ą Proverbs 14 says that there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is death.
Ą Proverbs 19 says the foolishness of man twists his way and his heart frets against the lord.
Ą Ecclesiastes 11 says that those who walk in their own sight are in vanity and will not escape judgment.
But look at what resources are available to those who are poor in Spirit:
Ą We have the peace that passes understanding
Ą We have the mind of Christ
Ą We have the strength of God made perfect in our weakness.
Ą We have wisdom beyond our experience
Ą We have the patience of Christ
Ą We have the ability to do all things through Christ
Ą We have the endurance of God
Ą We have the hope of eternal life
Ą We have the courage of God.
Ą We have the presence of the Son
Ą We have the protection of the Spirit
Ą We have the anointing of the Father
Ą We have the guarantee of victory.
I can remember being at an associational meeting in my previous church and a church planter had just come on up in the Granby area. And we were called to lay hands upon this man and ask for the Lord¡¦s anointing of his ministry. And it is one of those moments in time where I was sickened by the prayer that was offered. The man who led the prayer, who normally is quite solid, asked the Lord to provide this man with everything necessary to accomplish the goal of winning the community to Christ ¡V amen! Then he proceeded to ask God to supply the man with boats, skis, snow machines, motorbikes, and all the other things that are used for recreation in that part of the high country. I tell you this truth ¡V the only things we absolutely have to have to win people to Jesus is the Word of God and the testimony of salvation. There are many other things that God gives that make that job more convenient, and we should be thankful for those things ¡V but if I have those two essential components, and I use them, people will be saved!
Next, we have the assurance of kingdom riches through spiritual poverty. What does this mean? Well, it¡¦s similar to kingdom resources, but to a greater degree. It means everything that exists in heaven is available to us here. Everything. Nothing is withheld from a child of God. We have been adopted by Him and we are His heirs. And the release of God¡¦s riches is not intended to be delayed until heaven. Jesus says, ¡§whatever you ask for in my name you will receive. He said, I came to give you life, and give it to you abundantly. The Bible promises great rewards in heaven. He promises at least five different crowns to believers. Look at all these other promises of inheritance. God¡¦s children will inherit:
Ą All things
Ą The earth
Ą Zion
Ą Blessings
Ą Salvation
Ą Everlasting life
Ą Glory
Ą Promises
ƒÑ ¡§good things¡¨
ƒÑ God¡¦s Holy Mountain
Ą Wealth
Ą All nations
Friends, just because you don¡¦t lay hold of a title to something today, doesn¡¦t mean diddly. The things the Father bestows to us now, and intends to bestow upon us in eternity far surpass those things we may want but do not have now. Live life with an eternal perspective, which means claim all the blessings God has for you today, and live in expectation of all those waiting for you in glory. Don¡¦t be a Christian who is constantly whining and licking about what you don¡¦t have, or if you did have, you¡¦d be happier. You¡¦ve got everything you need because God has given you the fullness of his riches because you are his chosen child!
Finally, we have the assurance of the kingdom realm. The only way we can live like kingdom citizens while on this earth is through spiritual poverty. Look at what God¡¦s Word says ¡V In John 14, Jesus declares that the Father dwells in the Son. In John 15, Jesus promises blessing upon those who abide (dwell) in him, as He abides in them. In 2 Tim. 1, we see the Holy Spirit dwells in the saved. The scriptures declare that your body is a temple to the living God. They say that if you believe in your heart (literally, if your heart is the home of your belief) you will be saved. The mystery of God that people have never been able to understand is that His kingdom exists right now within the hearts of his believers. When we say that prayer, ¡§your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,¡¨ we are really petitioning God to have His way in our hearts and souls and lives in the same manner He has His way in heaven. Without resistance. Without rebellion. Without discussion. Without delay. Without argument. Without aggravation. The parables presented and Paul spoke of it clearly in Ephesians. God has ordained for His kingdom to grow on this earth in this time, one heart at a time, one soul at a time.
What does this mean for us? The kingdom of God is within you. You are the residential address of the Lord God, Jesus Christ. You have the blessing of heaven right here, right now, no matter what, if you belong to God through Jesus Christ. And it makes all the difference in the world.
Friends, we are the rabble of this world. But rather than deny it or disagree with it, or try to overcome it, understand that it is to us, the rabble, that the blessing of the kingdom of God is promised if we be poor in spirit.
***
Last week, we gathered at Matthew chapter 5 and we sat at the base of the mountain along with all the other disciples of Jesus, separated only by about 1970 years, give or take a few (which is a small thing for God). And there, we received the words of Jesus that tell us this (Read Matthew 5:1-12). And with each promise of blessing, we heard the wonderful message of God¡¦s deep love for us.
Now, if you¡¦ll remember, we must pay particular attention to avoid the very common mistake of considering this to be conditional statements. The promise of blessing is extended to a category or classification of person, not to a condition of existence. So, this is not saying that you will receive blessing in the times of life when you are poor in spirit, or when you mourn (and so on), but rather, these blessings are extended to you if God identifies you in one of these categories.
We are a people in need of blessing, would you agree? It seems that today, more than ever, we seem to be so focused on the sad state of affairs that seems to be constantly in front of us. Just this week, we had news of a plunging stock market, 2 different hurricanes, a shooting spree, and a possible war with Iraq.
Let me illustrate this further (big black dot illustration).
Living in a world that is in such a need of blessing can lead us to be a people with a pretty poor attitude. Now, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ should change all that. But too often, the most unhappy people in a crowd are the ones who are supposed to be the ones with all the joy.
So, in this regard, I¡¦d like to once again remind you that we are just like the people who were there, in person , at the foot of the mountain. The Bible says that they were sick people who were afflicted with diseases and torments of every kind. And Jesus had healed them. Because of this, he had a multitude of people following him.
And just like those people, we are people in need of a new attitude. A new perspective. And so, today, we¡¦re going to get right at the heart of the matter and jump right in to the first beautiful attitude. And really, this is why we¡¦re taking the time to evaluate these Scriptures. If you belong to God, you should have a beautiful attitude. And God gives us these reminders of categorical blessings to be held to tightly when we face various situations in life that might otherwise lead us to overlook or forget or neglect the blessings of God. And as we experience the categorical blessings of God in the adverse situations of life, God glorifies Himself through it.
This is what Jesus declares: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. First of all, let¡¦s look at the attitude. Blessed are the poor in spirit. God is saying here that people who live in a state of spiritual poverty are blessed. Well, we better understand what that means.
Now, probably many of us can understand what ¡§poor¡¨ means. But we have to be careful, because there is an important distinction that is made in the Greek, and it is a distinction that we might be subject to not embrace if we¡¦re not aware of it. When we think of poor, we tend to think about it in terms of living hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck. Struggling to get by. Having to use the Mastercard to pay the Visa. That sort of thing. The Greek word for that type of poor is penei and literally means ¡§to work for the day¡¦s bread.¡¨ But that¡¦s not the type of poverty that is spoken of here. The word here is ptochos, and literally means ¡§beggarly.¡¨ It means to be constantly in need of injunction for assistance, it means to be destitute. In this regard, we find this meaning to be much more extreme than the understanding that most of us can identify with.
When we think of poverty, we usually think about it in two different terms. First of all, we tend to think of poverty in terms of finances. And second, we think about it in terms of the first way (penei), rather than the second way (ptochos). In fact, the people who are poor but live hand to mouth are often able to look down upon those people who are so poor that they can¡¦t even have a single thing on their own.
But God has said you are blessed if you are ptochos poor in spirit. This is an important clarification to be made because there are many who want to spiritualize their financial poverty. These are people who say they¡¦ll never work, they¡¦ll never take the initiative because if they do, they¡¦ll be self-sufficient. They are equating their financial poverty to spiritual blessing. And friends, this just doesn¡¦t have the backing of God¡¦s Word. If you survey scripture, we see a wide array of phenomena in regard to finances. On one hand, Jesus praises the poor widow who tithes her mite. On the other, he speaks condemningly of the servant in the parable who hoardes the master¡¦s talent. On one hand, Jesus tells the rich young ruler to give away his fortune, but on the other, he places no such expectation upon Nicodemus, a wealthy Pharisee meeting covertly with Jesus to speak about spiritual matters. In this regard, the poverty bringing blessing has nothing to do with finances, it has everything to do with the spirit.
So what is spiritual poverty? Simply said, to be poor in spirit is to understand the condition of the soul apart from God. Isaiah demonstrated spiritual poverty when, in His vision of the Lord, he cried out, ¡§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 my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts (Is. 6:5).¡¨ Jesus illustrated spiritual poverty when he spoke of the prodigal son, who was jealous of pig slop and desired only the father¡¦s provisions. John demonstrated spiritual poverty when in Revelation, He looked upon the Lord and fell at his feet, as though dead. Spiritual poverty is the understanding that God is high, and we are low. It is the realization that God is holy and man is sinful. It is the comprehension that in us dwells nothing good, but in God dwells the very definition of goodness. Spiritual poverty is the abject, profound, humbling realization that not only can we not earn our own way to heaven, but we can¡¦t even lift our own faces off the floor in the presence of our Holy God. If we are to receive any spiritual, heavenly blessing, it comes solely and wholely through the benevolence of God Himself.
Let¡¦s take a bit of time to examine some of the barrier to spiritual poverty. Everywhere a barrier is set up obstructing spiritual poverty, the promise of blessing is not received. It is vital that we understand the barriers to spiritual poverty, so that we may recognize them, deconstruct them, and live in the blessing that is promised.
Friends, the barrier to spiritual poverty is pride. It is impossible to experience spiritually destitution in the presence of pride. Pride declares that your attitudes, your conduct, your behavior, your accomplishments will actually impress God. But think about that for a moment. What can you do that is going to out-do God? What if you built an entire youth center with your bare hands? Well, it was God who made the wood, the steel, the electricity, the water, every resource that will be used there. Oh, and by the way, He made the whole world on which it sits, just by speaking it into existence. What if you took a year long sabbatical to go feed the poor in India? Surely that would impress God, right? Think again ¡V isn¡¦t it God who feeds the whole world for every meal of every day. We¡¦d all starve to death without God¡¦s provision. What if you received an inheritance, and gave a million dollars to your church? Now, you know your pastor would be impressed, but surely God would be, too, right? I¡¦m not so sure, for a God who lines his streets with Gold and lines His palace walls with priceless gems. Oh, and by the way, your gift of $1 million doesn¡¦t look quite so sacrificial when its compared to the cross. Jesus gave His life. Put a value on that.
Is it any wonder that God¡¦s word says that pride goes before a fall? When God says our righteousness is as filthy rags, we can understand why when we separate ourselves from the pride of an accomplishment. It¡¦s like the story of the group of scientists who got together and decided that man had come along way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest."
To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!" But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God just looked at him and said "No, No, No, you get your own dirt.¡¨
There is no room for pride in the human life. If you are going to brag, brag on God. If you are going to boast, boast on the Lord. If you are going to exalt someone, exalt Jesus, not yourself. Every barrier placed between God and man is reduced to pride. Its pride that says, ¡§look at me, look at the job I did, look at my creativity, my ingenuity, my resourcefulness, my industriousness, my patience, my skill, my cleverness, my fortitude, my ability.
If this ¡V pride ¡V be the barrier, then we¡¦d all be well served to examine the barometer of spiritual poverty. The Bible says in 1 Cor. 3 that every action in our life will be tested by fire. It also says in Hebrews we¡¦ll have to give an account for every attitude. It also says in Matthew that we¡¦ll have to give account for every idle word that falls out of our faces. In fact, Romans 14:12 says each of us will have to give an account of ourselves before God. This means every aspect of your life is subject to a certain review before God. So I¡¦m going to ask you to partake in a spiritual check up, so the light of the Holy Spirit might reveal pride in all its hiding spaces in our lives.
Ą Love. Sacrificially or self-seeking? Unconditionally or manipulatively? Continually or situationally?
ƒÑ Worship. Because of what you receive or what you offer? Because you can¡¦t miss it or because God¡¦s keeping attendance? Because you meet friends and family there or because you encounter God there?
ƒÑ Serving. Because you like to be in charge or because you just want to be used? Because you want an important title or because you can meet a need? Because if you don¡¦t do it, it won¡¦t get done or because God has placed an undeniable call upon you to do it?
ƒÑ Giving. Because the church needs you to do it or because you need to do it? Because you want to obey ¡§the law¡¨ or because you want to reflect the grace of God? Because you have much to give or because you¡¦ve been given so very much?
Are you beginning to get a reading of your barometer on spiritual poverty? You see we must realize and embrace the reality that God contributes everything to our spiritual existence. We contribute nothing! Who am I? Just the person God made me to be! When I live as how He made me to be, He should get all the credit for it. When I live outside of who He created me to be, I will not accomplish anything that He¡¦ll find pleasing. The sooner I understand that and live day by day, hour by hour, breath by breath, in that reality, the better off I¡¦ll be because only then will I live in a condition of spiritual poverty.
To live in spiritual poverty is to live in the assurance of blessing. Let¡¦s take the remainder of our time to examine that assurance right now. Jesus promises, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. I want you to notice something here ¡V unlike in the subsequent verses, this is promise for right here and now. You know, some scholars want to say that Jesus was giving a millennial sermon here ¡V that the blessings promised would be blessings bestowed in the life to come, when Jesus returns for his 1000 year reign on earth. But I have two problems with that. First, I have a hard time picturing Jesus inviting a multitude of people to surround him, and Him only pretending to speak to them, because he¡¦s really talking about something later on. That just doesn¡¦t jibe with what I have come to understand about Jesus. Second, it just doesn¡¦t agree with Scripture. The promises listed in verses 4-9 are listed in future tense, but in verse 3, this is a promise for the here and now. He¡¦s saying clearly, ¡§if you are poor in spirit, you are blessed because the kingdom of heaven is yours ¡V right now!¡¨
I believe the Scriptures identify at least four expressions in which we can experience the assurance of receiving the kingdom of heaven right here and now, through spiritual poverty. First, I believe that we have access to Kingdom relationships through spiritual poverty. We have access to God through spiritual poverty ¡V 1 Sam. 13;14 tells us that God seeks out man. Romans 8, Ephesians 1, and 2 Thessalonians 2 all say that God chooses man for salvation. In fact, anywhere you look, when man chooses God in the Bible, the god man ends up with is a ¡§smaller case g¡¨ god, a false god. But every time God chooses man, He gets it right. He chose Abram, He chose David, He chose Jesus, He chose among the apostles, and He, if you have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus, even chose you.
Spiritual poverty is how we have a relationship with the Son, too. Jesus says, ¡§To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice (John 10:3-4).¡¨ You see it is impossible to go to Jesus unless He calls you. John 6:64 says that Jesus knew beforehand who did and didn¡¦t believe. Jesus came to have fellowship with those who would believe, and confound those who wouldn¡¦t. And Jesus knew who was who and which was which before time began.
Spiritual poverty is how we have relationship with the Holy Spirit, too. John 14:26 says that the Father sends the Spirit in the name of the Son. It is impossible to receive the Holy Spirit of God unless God Himself sends Him. And the responsibility of the Spirit is to have a relationship with you. He encourages you. He exhorts you. He rebukes you. He convicts you. He disciplines you. He comforts you. He loves you. He directs you. He helps you. He leads you. He tells you what to pray. He gives you rest. What a wonderful relationship to have! Oh, that we would have no earthly possessions in the world, but have these relationships, how very wealthy we would be indeed!
Do you embrace the blessing of your kingdom relationships? Do you savor your fellowship with the Father? Do you daily depend upon the Son? Do you continually follow the Spirit? Or instead of living in this ptochosi spiritual poverty, do you instead live in the peneis poverty ¡V relying upon human relationships until there are no other options than to rely upon God. Do you have fellowship with God only on Sundays, or on Wednesdays, or in the 15 second prayer before supper, and not talk with Him at any other time of the day? You see, God wants to be the most important relationship in your life. Why else would He give as His first commandment ¡V Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. This is why David was known as a man after God¡¦s own heart. He¡¦s not expecting perfection, He¡¦s expecting devotion! And when you pursue kingdom relationships, what a wealth of blessings you¡¦ll receive!
Next, we have the blessing of kingdom resources through spiritual poverty. Look, we can go through life one of two ways ¡V with our own resources, or with God¡¦s. This is what God has to say about using our own resources:
Ą Proverbs 14 says that there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is death.
Ą Proverbs 19 says the foolishness of man twists his way and his heart frets against the lord.
Ą Ecclesiastes 11 says that those who walk in their own sight are in vanity and will not escape judgment.
But look at what resources are available to those who are poor in Spirit:
Ą We have the peace that passes understanding
Ą We have the mind of Christ
Ą We have the strength of God made perfect in our weakness.
Ą We have wisdom beyond our experience
Ą We have the patience of Christ
Ą We have the ability to do all things through Christ
Ą We have the endurance of God
Ą We have the hope of eternal life
Ą We have the courage of God.
Ą We have the presence of the Son
Ą We have the protection of the Spirit
Ą We have the anointing of the Father
Ą We have the guarantee of victory.
I can remember being at an associational meeting in my previous church and a church planter had just come on up in the Granby area. And we were called to lay hands upon this man and ask for the Lord¡¦s anointing of his ministry. And it is one of those moments in time where I was sickened by the prayer that was offered. The man who led the prayer, who normally is quite solid, asked the Lord to provide this man with everything necessary to accomplish the goal of winning the community to Christ ¡V amen! Then he proceeded to ask God to supply the man with boats, skis, snow machines, motorbikes, and all the other things that are used for recreation in that part of the high country. I tell you this truth ¡V the only things we absolutely have to have to win people to Jesus is the Word of God and the testimony of salvation. There are many other things that God gives that make that job more convenient, and we should be thankful for those things ¡V but if I have those two essential components, and I use them, people will be saved!
Next, we have the assurance of kingdom riches through spiritual poverty. What does this mean? Well, it¡¦s similar to kingdom resources, but to a greater degree. It means everything that exists in heaven is available to us here. Everything. Nothing is withheld from a child of God. We have been adopted by Him and we are His heirs. And the release of God¡¦s riches is not intended to be delayed until heaven. Jesus says, ¡§whatever you ask for in my name you will receive. He said, I came to give you life, and give it to you abundantly. The Bible promises great rewards in heaven. He promises at least five different crowns to believers. Look at all these other promises of inheritance. God¡¦s children will inherit:
Ą All things
Ą The earth
Ą Zion
Ą Blessings
Ą Salvation
Ą Everlasting life
Ą Glory
Ą Promises
ƒÑ ¡§good things¡¨
ƒÑ God¡¦s Holy Mountain
Ą Wealth
Ą All nations
Friends, just because you don¡¦t lay hold of a title to something today, doesn¡¦t mean diddly. The things the Father bestows to us now, and intends to bestow upon us in eternity far surpass those things we may want but do not have now. Live life with an eternal perspective, which means claim all the blessings God has for you today, and live in expectation of all those waiting for you in glory. Don¡¦t be a Christian who is constantly whining and licking about what you don¡¦t have, or if you did have, you¡¦d be happier. You¡¦ve got everything you need because God has given you the fullness of his riches because you are his chosen child!
Finally, we have the assurance of the kingdom realm. The only way we can live like kingdom citizens while on this earth is through spiritual poverty. Look at what God¡¦s Word says ¡V In John 14, Jesus declares that the Father dwells in the Son. In John 15, Jesus promises blessing upon those who abide (dwell) in him, as He abides in them. In 2 Tim. 1, we see the Holy Spirit dwells in the saved. The scriptures declare that your body is a temple to the living God. They say that if you believe in your heart (literally, if your heart is the home of your belief) you will be saved. The mystery of God that people have never been able to understand is that His kingdom exists right now within the hearts of his believers. When we say that prayer, ¡§your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,¡¨ we are really petitioning God to have His way in our hearts and souls and lives in the same manner He has His way in heaven. Without resistance. Without rebellion. Without discussion. Without delay. Without argument. Without aggravation. The parables presented and Paul spoke of it clearly in Ephesians. God has ordained for His kingdom to grow on this earth in this time, one heart at a time, one soul at a time.
What does this mean for us? The kingdom of God is within you. You are the residential address of the Lord God, Jesus Christ. You have the blessing of heaven right here, right now, no matter what, if you belong to God through Jesus Christ. And it makes all the difference in the world.
Friends, we are the rabble of this world. But rather than deny it or disagree with it, or try to overcome it, understand that it is to us, the rabble, that the blessing of the kingdom of God is promised if we be poor in spirit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
