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HOW
TO INHERIT HEAVEN
(Matthew 5:1-3)
…In the
next 10-15 years we are told that __trillions__ of dollars are going to
be transferred by way of inheritance to the next generation. As the parents and
grandparents of many will soon die, everything they owned will be left behind.
We are told that this will be the __largest__ transference of wealth in
the history of mankind.
…It is
one thing to inherit something that will __not__ last, it is a totally
different thing to inherit a treasure that will never pass away, rust or be
taken from us. Jesus delivers His greatest sermon and begins by telling of the
sublime __happiness__ that is experienced by His followers. His first
point is to tell of the greatest inheritance of all and how this can be received
by each one of us.
THREE OBSERVATIONS UNFOLDING THE FIRST BEATITUDE TELLING HOW YOU CAN INHERIT
HEAVEN
I. Jesus
Begins With This Beatitude Because This Is The __Beginning__ Point. (v3)
…”Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Without this one, there are no others!
A.
This first
characteristic of Christ’s followers is the __key__ to the rest.
…All
going to heaven have this beatitude. There is no admission to heaven without
it. All the other Beatitudes are, in a real sense, the result of this one.
B. The
true Gospel always __condemns__ before it releases. The “Good News”
includes __bad__ news.
1.
Paul
tells in Romans 3:10-17…”We are guilty from the tongue in our head to our feet.”
2.
This
first Beatitude calls us to face our __true__ condition before the face
of God.
II.
Jesus Calls Us To Recognize
Our Spiritual Poverty, Meaning The Door To Heaven Is Very __Low__.
In humility we must say with Isaiah, “Woe unto me, I am undone.”
A.
This poverty
of spirit is neither a financial nor a __depressive__ condition. Many
thing wrong:
1.
There
are many who believe Jesus is calling us to voluntary poverty. (Francis of
Assisi) The Bible __never__ calls us to a poverty of material things.
It does tell of the dangers of wealth…it can have distractions and temptations.
2.
Neither
is poverty of the spirit a __bad__ self-image, in which low self-esteem
is the goal.
B. The
word used for “poor” is from a verb meaning “to cower” like a __beggar__.
It is used of a person reduced to total destitution.
1.
The
word did __not__ mean simply poor. It meant “begging poor.”
2.
The
widow, Luke 21:2 was poor, but not a beggar. A different word…
C. The
realm of this poverty is “in spirit.” Jesus means by this what a man __thinks__
of himself. This condition of the spirit, not the wallet. Not whether he is
rich or poor materially.
1.
This is
to recognize your __total__ and utter destitution, your spiritual poverty
apart from God. “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.”
2.
This is
to see yourself as you really are…lost, hopeless, and helpless and to cry out
for God’s mercy and grace. __Pride__ is all gone! This is the
bankruptcy that leads to happiness! This is true humility…the door to heaven is
low.
D.
How different
this is from our world which places its belief in self-reliance and self-__confidence__…but
not in the finished work of our Lord.
E. The
result of this: such ones __inherit__ heaven…the “Kingdom of heaven.”
It is a forever!
III. Jesus’ First Beatitude Is
Seen In The Lives Of Other Believers.
A. Isaiah
exhibits this quality of poverty of spirit when he sees the Lord. Isa 6:1, 5-7
“Woe to me…I am ruined. For I am a man of unclean lips…”
B. The
tax collector who repented…did __not__ even look up to heaven, “God be
merciful to me, the sinner.” What a contrast to the praying Pharisee near him…
C.
__Peter__,
who in the flesh is the world’s man, self confident, __aggressive__ and
confident. Yet, in the presence of the Lord he said, “Depart from me, for I am
a sinful man.” Luke 5:8
D.
The prodigal
son exhibits this poverty of spirit…”when he came to this __senses__…and
returned to his father, saying to him I have sinned…” (Luke 15:17)
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1.
There is
nothing in our lives that would cause God to save us.
2.
Those who came
to the Lord with broken hearts, do not leave with broken hearts, but leave
blessed.
3.
Your prayer
life is the greatest indicator of this empty of self idea. Pray, pray, pray!
4.
Today even in
our churches there is too little emphasis on humility and self empty.
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