Matthew 5:3
The sermon emphasizes the importance of being 'poor in spirit' as a prerequisite for entering the kingdom of heaven.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the significance of being 'poor in spirit' as a prerequisite for entering the kingdom of heaven. He explains that true humility and recognition of our spiritual poverty are essential, contrasting this with worldly notions of self-reliance and confidence. Smith illustrates that being poor in spirit is not about financial status or false humility, but about a genuine acknowledgment of our need for God. He cites biblical examples like Job, Isaiah, and Peter to show that seeing God leads to a true understanding of ourselves. Ultimately, the path to becoming poor in spirit involves a transformative encounter with God, rather than self-effort.
Text
"BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT"
I. THE LOGICAL ORDER OF THE BEATITUDES.
A. This of necessity first.
1. No one in the kingdom of heaven who is not "poor in..."
2. This is an emptying whereas others a fullness.
a. Must be emptying before filling.
b. "This Child set for the fall and rising again
of many."
c. Conviction, proceeds, conversion.
3. Forms important test for us.
a. Condemns idea that Sermon on Mount something I
can do myself.
b. Just put sermon into practice and ring kingdom
on earth.
c. Here is a high mountain you must scale, No
power.
B. Negative: Note as some translate, "Blessed in spirit are the
poor."
1. Christ not commending poverty.
2. May poor have a horrible spirit.
3. Poverty does not mean spirituality.
C. Our Lord concerned with our spirit not financial statement.
1. Our attitude towards ourselves.
2. "Pastor I lust can't go on fighting this any longer,
I'm whipped."
a. "Praise the Lord." Maybe now step back and let
God do it.
3. Contrast with worldly teaching. Self-confidence;
self-reliance; you must believe in yourself.
a. "I believe in myself. I am utterly and
hopelessly lost apart from Christ; I could do
nothing."
4. Education or knowledge does not make decent human
beings.
5. The emphasis in church upon personality.
II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE "POOR IN SPIRIT?"
A. Negative.
1. Not diffident or nervous, not weak or lacking courage.
a. You are not born "poor in spirit."
2. Some attempt to display poverty of spirit.
a. Anxious to tell you how nothing or humble they
are.
b. Curse of church for a time affected even gait.
3. Not a repression of personality.
B. Positive.
1. Gideon excellent example.
2. Moses.
3. David, "Who am I that thou shouldest visit me?"
4. Paul, a man endowed with natural talents and qualities,
"our sufficiency is not of ourselves."
5. An absence of pride.
Ill. HOW DOES ONE BECOME POOR IN SPIRIT?
A. By seeing God.
1. No man sees himself truly until he first sees God.
a. Job.
1. "Which of you convinceth me of
unrighteousness?"
2. "My righteousness I hold fast." (27:6.
3. "I have heard of thee, but now I have
seen thee, wherefore I abhor myself and
repent in dust and ashes." (42: 5,6.
b. Isaiah 6: 1-5.
1. "Then said I, woe is me, because I am
undone because l am a man of unclean
lips...for I have seen the King, the
Lord of hosts."
c. Peter.
1. Luke 5:8, "And when Peter saw that he
fell at Jesus knees and said, "depart
from me Lord for I am a sinful man."
B. You do not begin by looking at yourself and saying, "I must
change this."
1. This is to trust in yourself that you can.
2. "But we with open face beholding the glory of the Lord,
are changed from glory to glory even by that same
spirit."
Sermon Outline
- I points: - '{''A'': ''This of necessity first.'', ''B'': ''Negative: Note as some translate, ''Blessed in spirit are the poor.'''', ''C'': ''Our Lord concerned with our spirit not financial statement.''}' - THE LOGICAL ORDER OF THE BEATITUDES
- II points: - '{''A'': ''Negative.'', ''B'': ''Positive.''}' - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE 'POOR IN SPIRIT?'
- III points: - '{''A'': ''By seeing God.'', ''B'': ''You do not begin by looking at yourself.''}' - HOW DOES ONE BECOME POOR IN SPIRIT?
Key Quotes
“I believe in myself. I am utterly and hopelessly lost apart from Christ; I could do nothing.” — Chuck Smith
“No man sees himself truly until he first sees God.” — Chuck Smith
“I have heard of thee, but now I have seen thee, wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Recognize your spiritual neediness before God to grow in faith.
- Shift your focus from self-reliance to reliance on God's grace.
- Embrace humility as a strength rather than a weakness in your spiritual journey.