Theme 2014 Experiencing God Embracing People Matthew 5

Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People! Matthew 5: 1 -12

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ” [NIV]

How do you define it?

The word in the Bible is the Greek word “makarios”

The problem isn’t with God; the problem is with us. God wants to bless your life, you just have to get bless-able.

“ 1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them …. ” [NIV]

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ” [NIV]

The first word that comes out of Jesus’ mouth is a “blessing. ” What does it means to be “poor in spirit”?

Jesus is talking about “spiritual poverty” … about maintaining a certain kind of attitude.

Let’s look at several other translations of this verse to see a fuller understanding of what it means to be “poor in spirit. ”

The New Living Translation …. “God blesses those who realize their need for him. . . ”

The God’s Word Translation …. God blesses those “who recognize they are spiritually helpless …”

The Common English Version…. God blesses those “who depend only on Him. ”

The New Century Version…. God blesses those “who know they have great spiritual needs. ”

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God. ” [NIV] “The Lord God blesses everyone who trusts him and depends on him. ”

To be which is the first condition for God’s blessing on your life means “I humbly depend on God instead of myself. ”

How do I actually “depend on God” on a daily basis?

I listen to what God SAYS, I follow what God says TO DO and I do what He says to do.

Proverbs 14: 12…. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. ” [NIV] There is a way that seems right to us!

Just because you think it’s right, does not make it right. There a lot of things that are WRONG that may feel so right at the moment.

Proverbs 14: 12…. “There is a way that seems right, but ends in a dead end. ” The first way to get God’s blessing in our life is — “I depend on God’s wisdom not my feelings. ”

Proverbs 3: 5 -7…. “ 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not lean not on your own understanding; [In other words don’t depend on your wisdom. Don’t depend on what you think is the right thing to do. Don’t depend on your hunches, your feelings. Don’t depend on your own understanding. ]

6 In all your ways, [everything you do – how you spend your time, your money, relationships. Everything. ] Acknowledge him [seek His will], and he [God promises] will make [direct] your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; [What he’s saying is don’t go around saying …

…. “I’ve got this all figured out. I can handle this. I’m a big girl. I’m a big guy. I know what I’m doing. I’ve got it all figured out. I’ve got a plan. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. ] Fear the LORD and shun evil [Instead, respect the Lord and turn your back on evil]. ” [NIV]

James 1: 5…. “If any of you lack wisdom, you should pray and ask God, who gives it. …” [NIV]

If you’re NOT in the Word you don’t know God’s will. If you’re not in the Word you don’t have God’s wisdom. If you don’t have God’s wisdom you can’t be blessed.

NOT mine!

• limited • finite • exhaustible • unlimited • infinite • inexhaustible

Psalm 84: 5…. “Happy are those whose strength comes from you …” [NCV]

Isaiah 40: 31…. “But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again. They will rise up as an eagle in the sky; they will run and not need rest; they will walk and not become tired. ” [NCV]

The reason why most people never get through the darkest moments of their life is that they don’t have God’s strength!

The only way to get through the darkest days of your life IS on God’s strength. You’ve got to depend on Him.

Psalm 71: 16…. “I will walk in the strength of the Lord …” (TLB)

can actually be a good thing in your life IF it causes you to depend on God.

2 Corinthians 12: 8 -10…. “ 8 Three times I begged God to take away my weakness. [And you’ve got some weakness you’d like God to take away and you’ve probably asked him to. ]

9 Each time God said, ‘My grace is all you need! My power works best in your weakness. ’ [You don’t need anything else. You just need me. My power works best in your weakness. ]

10 So, [Paul says, ] I now gladly boast. I boast about how weak I am. [I used to hide my weaknesses. I used to be ashamed of my weakness. Paul says not any more. I’m proud of my weaknesses. Why? ]

…. Because when I’m weakest the power of Christ works in me and shows up through me. When I am weak, then I am strong. ”

The right timing is God working in the right way in your life.

There are seasons to our life. God talks about it again & again… the season of “waiting. ” He is working in our lives during this season of waiting.

He’s just taking us through a season of “waiting” because of “timing” - 1) Because of what He’s doing in our lives. 2) Because of what He’s doing in our circumstances.

Psalm 31: 14 -15…. “ 14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God. ” 15 My times are in your hands. . . ” [ESV]

Have you ever been in a hurry when God wasn’t? God is never in a hurry. He’s eternal. He is watching, He is working. He is seeing how and when you will TRUST Him as you’re waiting.

God’s blessing comes through these times of waiting. Ecclesiastes 3: 11…. “He (God) has set the right time for everything…. ” (GNT)

Isaiah 60: 22…. “…. I, the LORD, will bring it all to pass at the right time (when it is time). ” [TLB]

A delay is not a denial. We think God is saying “no” but really God is saying not yet!

Micah 7: 7…. “But as for me, I watch in hope (trust) for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. ” [NIV]

means I don’t do it myself. I depend on God’s wisdom. I depend on God’s strength. I depend on God’s timing.

He’ll answer when He’s ready to answer, and when He knows we’re ready for the answer.

There’s always going to be people in your life who will misunderstand you. Do you agree with that?

Every time you are under attack, you have two choices: 1) defend yourself 2) let God defend you

1 Peter 2: 23…. “When they hurled insults at him [Jesus] he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats (back). Instead, he entrusted himself to him (God) who judges justly (to set things right). ” [NIV]

That means — Jesus DEPENDED on God His Father TO BE His defender.

When people don’t like you, they get what’s called “motivated reasoning. ” They are quick to believe anything negative about you but not the positive.

We need to learn HOW TO DEPEND ON GOD’S DEFENSE, not our own. Why? BECAUSE…. to be a leader is to be misunderstood.

The more effective you are in life the more you’re going to be attacked.

If you spend your time trying to correct all those things you will not have any time for anything else.

God wants a generation of fearless men and women who will say, “I’m going to do the right thing. ” It doesn’t really matter about anything else, because I’m living for an audience of ONE —

Psalm 2: 12 …. “(God) blesses and protects everyone who takes refuge (runs to) in him. ” Psalm 62

Psalm 62: 5– 7…. “ 5 I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. 6 He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated.

…. 7 My salvation and honor depend on God; [What’s your honor? It’s your reputation. My salvation and reputation depend on God. ] He is my strong protector; he is my shelter!”

Notice the 5 metaphors: David says GOD IS….

You’re most like Jesus when you DON’T defend yourself.

For my own safety and security, I depend on God’s wealth, not my wealth.

We have to learn to put our security in something that cannot be taken from us. See what the Bible says about “God’s wealth” not ours.

Philippians 4: 19…. “And my God will meet (supply) all my needs according to his glorious riches [God’s riches, not your riches that makes you secure. His glorious riches] in Christ Jesus. ” [NIV]

My job is a CHANNEL, BUT God is my SOURCE!

If God closes a door in your life, HE can open another door. And if another door closes, He can open a window and you can crawl through it.

God is not limited to your ability and capacity. Your job is a CHANNEL. If you think that your job is what keeps you financially secure you’re going to be insecure your entire life.

Living “poor in spirit” means…. I realize that God is the source of my supply I depend on God’s wealth “My God will supply all my needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus. ” [NIV]

I’m going to TRUST in Him. God is going to HANDLE IT!