“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 NIV
Context and Charge:
Jesus speaks to his disciples seated before him, while the crowd stayed at the foot of the mountain. As always, all that God speaks is for all of us to listen to and respond. God does not compel anyone to listen, but He promises great blessings for all who listen and obey. The question then for all of us will be: what is my response to the words of Jesus? He promises blessings to particular people in particular situations. I can moan or cry but God is not obligated to do anything for me unless and until I align with the conditions for his blessings.
The blessing here is the kingdom of heaven. Trust this: there is no earthly reward that can be bigger or better than this kingdom. What can the earth give you that it will not later take away from you or exchange with another thing? What eternal value can anything from the temporary earth guarantee? Unfortunately, we have listened to the lies of the devil, who has kept our focus on the earth and its deceptive wealth. If only I can look away for a moment, and see what God wants me to see, I will have access to the deep riches of God's grace available in Jesus.
Conviction and Conclusion:
What is the key to access this kingdom? It is an admission of helplessness and total dependence on God. It leaves no room for alternatives; it is either I am all in or all out. There is no fence to sit on, because with God, you don't get to be indecisive. It is to see myself as poor; in need of God's help. It must also be the right kind of poverty, the type that is of the spirit. This flesh cannot be saved and is beyond redemption. It is the spirit that profits, as the flesh has nothing to offer. Know that God cannot use the flesh; it is the spirit that God can relate with, and that is where the hunger for God must be birthed.
Nothing else will work. My spirit must connect to God's spirit, so that I can hear all that God wants me to hear and know. No matter how deep the experience and encounter with God goes, I can't grow out of the need for more of God. No man on this side of eternity knows all there is to know about God. We keep growing and learning, until we cross over to the other side of eternity, where we get the promised reward, which is the kingdom of heaven. I must be and do all I can to get the reward. The end makes the journey worth it. God's time of favour is here.
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