Farmerville Church of Christ

Sermon Outlines

Sermon on the Mount #3

Beginning of Faith -- Poor in Spirit
Mt. 5:3

By Bill Denton

INTRODUCTION

A. Last week we discussed an overview of the Beatitudes

1. Beatitudes are all about critical elements of character that produce a life in harmony with the will of God
2. Beatitudes also give us basic information about the person who lives a life of faith in God

a. the beginning of faith -- vs 3-5
b. the development of faith -- vs 6
c. the perfection of faith -- vs 7-9
d. the trial of faith -- vs 10-12

3. Hab. 2:4 -- "the just shall live by faith"

a. Rom 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ""The just shall live by faith.'' (NKJ)
b. Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJ)
c. Gal 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ""the just shall live by faith. (NKJ)
d. Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (NKJ)

B. I believe that if we are to live by faith, then it is of utmost importance to us that we understand faith, and how to develop a faith approach to living

1. This is where the Beatitudes can help us
2. In the next several lessons, I want to examine each of the Beatitudes and present the place of each one in helping us develop our faith in God and his Son Jesus Christ

I. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE POOR IN SPIRIT

A. Does not mean

1. Poor in the sense of material goods
2. Poor in the sense of a lack of self-esteem
3. Poor in the sense of self-depreciation

B. The more accurate definition of "poor in spirit"

1. I has to do with an emptying out of a man all the worldly, self- promotional attitudes and ideas

a. Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;(KJV)
b. before a man can rise before God, he must fall to himself and to all that would lift him up without God

2. Isaiah gives us two statements by God that explains how important this quality is to Him

a. Isa 66:1-2 Thus says the LORD: ""Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,'' says the LORD. ""But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word. (NKJ)
b. Isa 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ""I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (NKJ)

3. The idea is a total absence of pride and self-glory -- it is the attitude that says we know that we are nothing without God

C. Biblical examples

1. Gideon -- recruited by God to unite his people to fight the Midianites

a. Judg 6:15 So he said to Him, ""O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.'' (NKJ)
b. we may think it was all excuses, but he proved he was not a coward -- Heb 11:32 lists him as a great man of faith
c. he was a man who thought it incredible that God would choose him for such a task -- an attitude that makes it possible for God to do extraordinary things

2. Moses -- recruited by God to become leader and law giver

a. Exod 3:10-11 "Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (NKJ)
b. we often berate Moses because we only see his attempt to make excuses
c. God didn't see him as an excuse maker -- he saw Moses as as a man who didn't see himself as his people's answer
d. once he was convinced that God could do it, Moses agreed to the task

3. David

a. 2 Sam 7:18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: ""Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? (NKJ)
b. Acts 13:22 "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.' (NKJ)
c. it's not that David was perfect, but he had an attitude, a way of thinking about himself that allowed him to bow before Jehovah

D. It is the attitude of the man who has learned that there is nothing to lean upon except God

1. Not our heritage, our family, or anything about ourselves
2. Not our abilities, our intellect, or our accomplishments
3. Not our position, our power, or our influence
4. Not our education, our wealth, nor our prestige
5. Not our morals, our conduct, nor our behavior
6. Though God may choose to use all or none of these, the man who is poor in spirit only sees God, and not himself

II. WHY POOR IN SPIRIT PRODUCES A MAN OF FAITH

A. Consider the problem of the opposite characteristic

1. This would be the man who is "rich in spirit"
2. It is the man who sees only himself -- he is the answer to it all
3. This man needs nothing or no one, because he has everything he needs to succeed at life
4. This is the man of pride and arrogance

B. What does the Bible say about this attitude

1. Prov 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (NKJ)
2. Prov 29:23 A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor. (NKJ)
3. James 4:16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (NKJ)

C. Being poor in spirit equips a man with certain abilities

1. To honestly know ourselves

a. we don't have to deny ourselves or anything about us
b. we can use anything we have or are capable of doing
c. we don't have to pretend we are or are not

2. To honestly know God

a. His majesty, glory, power, righteousness, justice, love grace, mercy, etc.
b. since our focus is not on ourselves, we can honestly recognize the fact that we do not compare to him

3. To yield to the God who is greater than we are, without any hint of being threatened, ridiculed or put down in any way

D. Statements by people who were poor in spirit

1. Luke 18:13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!' (NKJ)
2. Isa 6:5 So I said: ""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.'' (NKJ)
3. Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ""Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!'' (NKJ)
4. John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (NKJ)
5. John 4:34 Jesus said to them, ""My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. (NKJ)

CONCLUSION

A. If you would be a man or woman of faith you must begin here -- become poor in spirit

1. Get rid of pride and arrogance that produces a self-promoting rebellion against God
2. See God -- and hit the dirt
3. Drain yourself of self and then be filled with awe at the very thought of God
4. That man or woman will live a life of faith

B. Invitation

Copyright © 1995, Bill Denton. Permission granted to use sermon outlines for personal study and preparation of sermons, Bible classes or other teaching format. Sermons may not be reprinted in any form without written permission of the author.

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