I’m going to begin a series of messages that are guaranteed to make you wise. The best way I know to describe our generation is: fallen houses, fallen lives, fallen churches, fallen Christians and a fallen nation. If I had warning that a storm was coming and that it was going to be of such force that if I didn’t have a proper foundation, I would lose everything I worked for, My life, my home. I would be foolish not to get the proper foundation.
That word fool is a strong word. Jesus said to call a man a fool is to be in danger of hell fire. God rarely calls anyone a fool. He does call some men fools and seems to reserve that title for special situations. Jesus said if a man hears His word and does nothing, his is a fool. If he hears and obeys, he is a wise man. Do you want to be wise? James 1:22
Now what sayings is Jesus talking about? These verses come at the end of the sermon on the mount. His first public address in which He makes it clear what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. So, Jesus is saying, if any man hears and obeys, no matter how terrific the storm, that life will stand. That is a bargain, which makes a wise man.
This is the introduction to the series of messages on the beatitudes and the sermon on the mount. Look at Matthew 4:22-5:12
What does it mean to come to Jesus/ How does a man approach Jesus Christ? What does it mean to be a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ? One of the tragedies of our day is the gross misconception of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. as we go through these, I want you to notice that what Jesus said was in direct contrast of what people thought. We have the same problems today.
Now God is not impressed with size, power, ability, nor wealth. The things that impresses you and me does not impress God. We've got the wrong idea of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. I want you to see the relationship between the B attitudes and the sermon on the mount. Jesus, in the sermon on the mount is telling us what it really means to be a follower of him. This is what it means to be born again. We're going to take the first one tonight. It is found in verse three. it is significant that Jesus places this one first period. They follow a logical order. the first one is about most importance because it reveals to us the foundation of salvation. The way a man has to come to God. This first be attitude reveals to us the only basis upon which God will operate and bless in our life.
Bless it are the poor in spirit. How contrary that is to the world's idea. These disciples weren't interested in being poor in spirit or anything else. What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Jesus is talking about poverty of spirit. I am body, soul, and spirit. The spirit is that part of me that communes and communicates with God. Romans 8:16. the spirit is my consciousness of God. Notice, you are to be poor in spirit. In other words, when I realized that I have a relationship with God, when I become conscious that there is a God, I stand before him. I realize I am absolutely poor. It is a man attitude of himself in the presence of God. What he is saying is nobody struts in the presence of God.
There are two Greek words translated poor in the New Testament. One means having little, and the other OK having absolutely nothing. This word is used to describe Lazarus, a beggar. That is the word Jesus uses here. Often, we come to God and say, “Now Lord, I'm not perfect but I'm not as bad as so and so. I'm not all bad.” Luke 18:10-12, Jesus is saying when you come into his presence you realize you don't have very much. You are an absolute beggar. You don't have anything. You are bankrupt spiritually, and that is the only way you can approach God. Roman 7:18, we are beggars before God. There are three characteristics of a beggar that I want to share with you tonight.
I. A Beggar is Conscious of His Needs
1. I don't think there is a beggar in the world who is a beggar and doesn't know it. He is begging because he knows he is a beggar.
2. what makes a man aware of his beggarly spirit in the presence of God? We're going to the sermon on the mount.
a. Every beatitude is explained by the sermon on the mount.
b. The beatitude is the text of the sermon on the mount.
c. You can sum up the sermon on the mount in the beatitudes.
3. The first thing that makes me conscious that I am a beggar is that my religion doesn’t go deep enough, verses 20-21
4. Jesus is saying, I do not judge you by externals. I look upon the heart.
a. Song about a photograph of the heart.
b. Another about a window in your heart.
5. Our religion does not go deep enough, verses 27-28. If we were judged in the courts today according to our desires, we would all get life in prison or death.
6. Second, our religion does not go far enough, verses 41-42. How many of us are so careful not to do any more than we have to do?
7. Third, our religion doesn’t go high enough, verse 48. Most of my life I’ve been comparing myself to reverend so and so.
8. So have you. If our life come up to the level of so and so I must be a fairly good Christian, not high enough.
9. Do you know why every man must be born again? Why, is he condemned? The only standard upon which God will judge a man is his own nature.
10. Any religion that believes that must preach you have to be born again. I’m a beggar. I’m conscious of my needs.
II. A Beggar is Dependent Upon Others for His Living
1. You say that is obvious. I wonder how may of us actually believe that we are really dependent t upon God for everything.
a. Our breath
b. Our wealth
c. Our very life
2. God is not going to bless until I come to know this or until I admit this.
III. A Beggar is He That Has to be Honest about His Condition
1. I remember as a kid when a beggar came to our door, I was so excited. Do you know what? He looked like a beggar, talk like a beggar, acted like a beggar, said he was a beggar and we helped him.
2. Suppose this beggar is proud. He doesn't want anyone to know he is a beggar.
a. Borrow a Lincoln Continental.
b. Hart, Schaeffer and Mark suit, Bernstein tie.
c. Bostonian shoes.
3. Do you think we would help him? A beggar has to be honest, or he will starve to death.
4. This is why it is so important to understand the words Jesus used. Sometimes if we have a little bit, we put on airs to make folks think we have more.
5. Jesus says that person who comes to me must come realizing he is a beggar. he has nothing and is honest about it.
6. Until you get honest about your condition, God cannot bless. If you are lost, you'll die in your sin.
7. What is your veil today? Are you honest about your condition or are you a phony?
8. Jesus is saying, “Listen friend if you come to me, take that veil off. Otherwise, I cannot bless you.”
9. The only time God met Moses is when he removed the veil.
10. Are you willing to be honest about your condition?
a. Maybe you've never been saved.
b. Christians who are no longer on fire, nobody knows it but you and God.
11. What God wants you to do tonight, will you do it? Verse 3.
