Blessed Are the Poor In Heart_ Beatitudes (1)
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July 14, 2019 |
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 Senior Pastor Rev. Jaerock Lee
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven", from Matt. 5:3-10 means that it is a blessing for the poor of heart to be persecuted for the Kingdom of God.
The Beatitudes serves as a signpost with which we can check our faith, along with spiritual love in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and fruits of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5.
It is of essence for us to cultivate holiness and go into New Jerusalem, the most glorious dwelling place in heaven. God's blessing is never shaken in any situation. If we can cultivate the Beatitudes, we will be in need of nothing.
1. Those Who Are the Poor in Heart
To be poor in heart is to be free of arrogance, pride, selfishness, or greed. Those who are poor in heart easily accept the gospel. After they accept Jesus Christ, they also long for spiritual things, so they can easily be changed by the power of God.
In Matthew 19, a young man asked Jesus, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" Jesus told him to sell his possessions to give to the poor and then follow Him. The young man thought he kept the commandments very well, but he returned in agony. He had great wealth, and for him money was more important than his eternal life.
Seeing him, Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." A rich man here refers to being rich in heart. They don't do evil on the outside, but they're filled with greed. They enjoy and seek wealth, power, knowledge, pride, or secular pleasures. They don't feel the need to accept the gospel; they don't seek God.
The parable of the rich man and poor man Lazarus in Luke 16 teaches us of the importance of being poor in heart. Of course, it doesn't mean we have to live a poor life like Lazarus to be saved. Jesus redeemed us of our sins and lived a life of poverty so we can live a rich life if we are poor of heart and live by the word of God (2 Cor. 8:9).
2. To Be Poor in Heart
1) Cast away lust of the flesh
1 John 2:15-16 says, "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world."
Lust of the flesh is the desire to commit sins in one's heart. It causes us follow hatred, anger, greed, adulterous mind, envy, and arrogance. It drives you to think about and commit sins.
Those who have the desire to pass judgment want to hear rumors about other people. They feel good when they spread such rumors and gossip. Those who have anger feel good when they throw tantrums even for small things.
We have to get rid of the lust of the flesh to be poor in heart. We can cast it off with the fullness of the Spirit through fervent prayers.
2) Cast Away Lust of the Eyes
When we see or hear something that causes our heart to be agitated, we may try to pursue that course of action. This is the lust of the eyes. When you see something, if you remember it with strong feelings, you will be reminded of the same feeling later when you see something similar. It's the same when you hear something similar; it can give rise to your lust of the eyes.
If we don't cut off the lust of the eyes but keep on holding onto it, it will induce lust of the flesh and lead us to commit sins. David once committed sin due to lust of the eyes, even though he was commended by God as a man after God's own heart.
Lust of the eyes is like the fuse that sets fire to lust of the flesh. Thus, we must never take it lightly. Cutting off the lust of the eyes can be done by one's own will power. It's important not to see, hear, or think of anything that is of untruth. At the same time, we should see, hear, and think of the truth with good feelings, so that we can cut off the lust of the eyes completely.
3) Cast Away Boastful Pride of Life
Boastful pride of life is trying to reveal oneself following all the pleasures of the world. They brag about wealth, honor, knowledge, talents, appearances, etc., to lift themselves up. Such an act counts for nothing (James 4:16).
God's children must only boast in the Lord to give glory to God (1 Cor. 1:31). To boast in the Lord is to boast of the grace and blessing of God they received and the kingdom of heaven. It is to give their testimonies, too. So, they give glory to God and plant faith and hope in other people. It gives hope and fervor to others.
There are, however, also people who try to boast of themselves while pretending to be boasting in the Lord. Thus, we should always be on the alert not to let the boastful pride of life affect us (Rom. 15:2).
4) Become a Spiritual Child
In Matthew 18, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."
Children are simple and pure, so they accept anything they're taught. Likewise, we can enter the kingdom of heaven when we believe and obey the word of God we learn. Those with attitude of spiritual children will easily regret their mistakes and repent. They try to live by the word of God.
However, if we lose that innocence, we'll become numb to committing sins. We'd pass judgment on others, become jealous, spread other people's faults, and tell small and big lies. And yet, we wouldn't realize we're doing evil. We'd forsake the grace we received to gain our own benefit and yet have no pangs of conscience.
Spiritual children are sensitive about good and evil. There might be things that unbelievers don't consider evil, but if God's word says it is evil, then they hate it from their heart. They also try not to do it. They don't insist on their pride or try to lift themselves up. They don't insist on their own ideas when they listen to God's word. Even if they don't understand some parts of God's word, they don't pass judgment but try to believe it and obey it.
Some people become spiritual adults because they only accumulate knowledge of the word of God. They are insensitive of the sins they realize. When they listen to messages, they think they already know it. Or, they obey only what is beneficial for them. They judge others with the word of God. Therefore, to be poor in heart, we have to be spiritual children who are humble. We should realize evil and sins in our heart and cast them away through fervent prayers.
3. Blessing for the Poor in Heart
Matt. 5:3 says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." As said, they will inherit the kingdom of heaven that can't be exchanged with any honor or wealth of this earth.
Heaven is a place where God's children will live. It's a beautiful spiritual world that can't be compared with this world. Just as parents would prepare the things in advance for the new born baby, God is preparing the kingdom of heaven to take His children who have accepted the gospel being poor in heart.
Jesus said in John 14:2, "In My Father's house are many dwelling places." There are many places in the kingdom of heaven, so each one's dwelling place will differ depending on the extent to which they loved God and lived by His word.
If we just hear the gospel and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior to be saved, we will enter Paradise (Luke 23:43). However, as we're changed by the truth by living by God's word, we'll be able to enter into the 1st kingdom, 2nd kingdom, or 3rd kingdom of heaven. Furthermore, if we cultivate holiness in heart and become faithful in all God's household, we'll be able to enjoy eternal blessing in the most beautiful dwelling place in heaven, the city of New Jerusalem (Deut. 10:14; Rev. 21:2).
If we become poor in heart, we can meet God and receive salvation. Furthermore, we can enjoy the authority and blessing of being God's children on this earth.
Dear brothers and sisters, once we've taken the first blessing of the Beatitudes, I hope you will continue to become more of a spiritual child and love God more passionately and spread the gospel to those who are poor in heart. In so doing, may you possess all the Beatitudes completely, I pray this in the name of the Lord.
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