Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Focus for May-Jun 2021 pulpit series – Abundant life

a. An abundant life

i. There is eternal life in heaven

ii. There is also an earthly aspect of eternal life

iii. This earthly life is one that is abundant

b. This is a wonderful promise that the Lord Jesus gives to us all!

2. One aspect of abundant life – a life that is wonderfully blessed

a. As humans, we all desire to be blessed

b. For God, He also wants to bless us!

c. We can discover this life of blessedness when we learn

i. What it means to be blessed

ii. How to live as one who is blessed

THE BEATITUDES

1. The Beatitudes

a. Teachings by the Lord Jesus Christ

b. Taught to address wrong understanding of “blessing”

i. A prevalent problem in the days of the Lord Jesus

ii. A problem that exists even today!

2. Some aspects of wrong understanding regarding “blessing”

a. If they are children of Abraham, they would be blessed

i. They believed that God’s blessings are a given because of lineage

ii. They assumed God would keep blessing regardless of how they lived

b. If they keep the law and traditions, they would be blessed

i. They believed they can “earn” God’s blessings by keeping the law

ii. This belief extended to even the keeping of their fathers’ traditions

c. That being blessed was about receiving physical blessings

i. Having good health

ii. Having money

iii. Having many offspring

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT

1. Being blessed

a. Refers to a special state of blessedness

b. Not about receiving physical blessings

c. Focus is on the spiritual, not physical!

2. The poor in spirit

a. They are the ones who have

i. A spirit of humility

ii. A humble regard for self

iii. A great regard for God and others

b. This is in contrast to

i. The proud

ii. The self-centred

iii. The rich (who think themselves great because of their wealth)

3. God values the poor in spirit

a. How He regards the broken and contrite spirit   (Psalm 51:17)

i. He does not despise it

ii. He sees it as sacrifices for Him

b. This is an ancient truth that needed to be taught afresh!

4. Result of being poor in spirit

a. God would bless!

b. He affirms that we are His children… children of heaven

c. Psalm 34:15-18 – A description of how God would bless

i. His eyes are on the righteous

ii. His ears are open to their cry

iii. He delivers them out of all their troubles

iv. He is near to those who have a broken heart

v. He saves such as have a contrite spirit

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR US ALL

1. Let us be challenged to do the following

a. To understand

i. What it means to be poor in spirit

ii. How God values a broken and contrite spirit

iii. How God would bless as a result

b. To cultivate

i. A poverty in spirit

ii. It begins with how we regard ourselves

c. To practise

i. In the way we relate to God

ii. In the way we relate to others

2. Learning to be poor in spirit will lead us to

a. Experience this special state of blessedness as children of heaven

b. This is part of discovering this abundant life in Christ!