Full Gospel Incheon Church English Worship Service / 외국인 영어예배
Scripture Matthew 5 : 1 ~ 3 Pastor David Chung / 2010 - 07 - 11
"Blessed are the poor in spirit"
We understand that all who are poor in spirit are blessed because they may enter the kingdom of God. The word "blessed" has been interpreted as meaning "happy", but it has a deeper stronger meaning than just being happy.
The person who is "blessed" is one who has received great benefits: who is most fortunate (blessed). The thought could then be stated, fortunate are we, when we are poor in spirit, because then we have the opportunity of entering the kingdom of God.
"Poor in spirit" means that we feel our own inner poverty. We feel hunger like as the beggar. "In spirit" is the way we feel in our own mind, the way it is deep down inside us.
Thus, the meaning of this message could be expressed by saying "It is a very fortunate thing if our estimation of ourselves is a humble one."
When we feel that we are not of much account, and that we are actually without things that we might have, we are most fortunate because now we have a chance to come into the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit."
Most fortunate are we when we feel our own shortcomings and know our need, and feel deep down in our hearts that we are not what we ought to be, because this is related to being repentant.
Paul says, "Godly sorrow leads to repentance."
Blessed are we, when we see that the best we can do is not good enough, for then we are ready to receive Jesus Christ as our Savior.
We read in the Bible,
James 4:6, "The Lord resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble."
Actually, when we are full of our own importance, we feel we have no need of Him.
Jesus said,
"I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
In the book of Matthew this phrase, "The kingdom of heaven" is used many times to refer to the general work of our Lord and King.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
All the help of the spiritual world will be ours. Almighty God will be our Father and Jesus will be our Savior and Lord. We can never earn nor deserve these blessings. Everything there is in heaven is freely given to us. Heaven itself is a free gift and everyone can have it on this one condition: that we come humbly to the Lord.