Richness in Poverty

Upside Down 
Richness In Poverty 
Matthew 5:1-3

“And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,” (Acts 17:6, ESV)

Setting The Scene

• Geography
• Audience

General Observation

The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of regulations which a person must obey in order to become a Christian, it is a description of how a person is meant to live as a Christ-Follower.  The Beatitudes are indications of character, not a set of laws.

• All Christ-Followers are to Display these characteristics.
• All Christ-Followers are to display All of these characteristics.

Blessed

Jesus first word was “Blessed” (The Latin word for blessed is “beatus”, from which we get the word beatitude).

“Some have translated Jesus’ opening words as, ‘Happy are . . . ” Though the Greek can and does mean “happy,’ it is seriously misleading to render it “happy” in this case. Happiness is a subjective state, whereas Jesus is making an objective judgment about these people. He is declaring not what they may feel like (happy) but what God thinks of them and what on that account they are: they are “blessed.” John Stott

Blessedness Is:

1. Something only God Can Give
2. A condition which God longs for His people To Enjoy
3. Independent of Circumstances
4. Meant to be a continuous, present Experience
5. Related to a person’s Spiritual Condition

Poor In Spirit

To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge our Spiritual Bankruptcy before a Holy God.

“This is how the Christian life starts. It doesn't start by measuring up. It starts by realizing that we don't measure up. We are poverty stricken, helpless as a child, and sin-sick in need of a Great Physician.” John Piper

Revelation 3:14-22: People convinced of their sufficiency.

The Kingdom Of Heaven

1. It is a Supernatural Kingdom
2. It is a Spiritual Kingdom
3. It is a Everlasting Kingdom
4. It is a Contemporary Kingdom
5. It is a Dynamic Kingdom – It is the divine rule in the lives of those who have a living relationship with Christ.

Cultivating Poverty of Spirit

1. Look to God, not trying to do it yourself.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1–2, ESV)

2. Deal decisively with Your Flesh

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24, ESV)

3. Celebrate and depend upon God’s Grace

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” (Titus 2:11–12, ESV)

4. Ask in faith

“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13, ESV)

Making It Personal:

• In what areas do your readily acknowledge your need of God?
• In what areas do your have trouble acknowledging your need of God?
• Pray for a fresh awareness of your spiritual poverty and God’s grace and generosity toward you.
• What do you sense God is calling you to adjust in your life to cultivate a healthy poverty of spirit?
• Who can you share these truths with?

Ready to take your Next Step?

• See one of the pastors after the service today
• Fill out a Connect Card and drop it in the offering box
• Text Next to 803-637-8484
• Go to FBCFM.COM and click “Next Steps”