Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!

Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!

Matthew 5:1-12Matthew 5:1-12

“Blessed are the poor in

spirit, for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven.”

[NIV]

How do you define it? How do you define it?

in the Bible is the Greek word

“makarios”

The word

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 …. The New Living Translation ….

“God blesses those who

realize their need for

him. . .”

The God’s Word Translation …. The God’s Word Translation ….

God blesses those

“who recognize they are

spiritually helpless …”

The Common English Version…. The Common English Version….

God blesses those

“who depend only on Him.”

The New Century Version…. 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.”

“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….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 are a lot of things

that are WRONG that may

feel so right at the moment.

Proverbs 14:12….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 wisdomnot my feelings.”

Proverbs 3:5-7….Proverbs 3:5-7….

“5 Trust in the LORD with allyour 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….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.

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….Psalm 84:5….

“Happy are those whose

strength comes from you …” [NCV]

Isaiah 40:31….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 lifeis 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….Psalm 71:16….

“I will walk in the strengthof 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….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 livesduring 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….Psalm 31:14-15….

“14 But I trust in you, O LORD;

I say, “You are my God.” 15 My

timesare in your

hands...” [ESV]

Have you ever been in a hurry when God wasn’t?

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.

Ecclesiastes 3:11….Ecclesiastes 3:11….

“He (God) has set

the right time for

everything….” (GNT)

God’s blessing comes through

these times of waiting.

Isaiah 60:22….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….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….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 isto 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 ….Psalm 2:12 ….

“(God) blesses and protects everyone who takes refuge

(runs to) in him.”

Psalm 62

Psalm 62:5–7….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….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,

BUTGod 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 toyour ability and capacity.

God is not limited toyour 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….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!