4/6/2017 LESSON 1
BLESSINGS FOR THE POOR IN SPIRIT
Quarter’s Theme: CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE
Unit 1: Our Spiritual Condition (Lessons 1-4)
(RESPONSIBILITY MONTHS)
Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 190, 203
Devotional Reading: LK. 6:17-20
Topic For Adults
DO NOT REMAIN A SPIRITUAL BABE
Topic For Youths
HEAVEN – ADMISSION ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Topic For Intermediates
AN INHERITANCE IS WAITING FOR YOU
Scripture Lesson
Lk. 18:9-14; MATT. 13:24-32; 5:3
MEMORY VERSE
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. Rev. 3:18 (NKJV)DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 4/6/2017
The Spiritually Pride Is Cast Out
Zeph. 3:9-13
Those who are not poor in spirit end up being distant from God. It is for this reason that the Jews were taken captives to foreign land. God’s intention was not to cast them away forever. As long as those who are spiritually proud are among the people, God’s wrath will continue on them. His solution is to cast away from their midst those who take pride in their sin. By the time God would restore the remnant, they will be people who truly call on the name of the Lord and serve Him with one accord. Only the meek and humble will be left to inherit what God has in store for His people. These are the poor in spirit who seek the face of God to please Him and walk in His ways. What is your spiritual status? Do you trust in your own righteousness or in the righteousness which Jesus imparts on those who walk humbly with Him?
POINT OF EMPHASIS: I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in their
pride.
PRAYER POINT: Father, remove from me every form of spiritual pride.
BACKGROUND
Those who want to receive the blessings of God’s kingdom must be qualified by the ways and values of His revealed requirements in the Scripture and not by the standard of this world. One of the vital expectations from those who have developed a sound relationship with God through Jesus Christ is the topic for our discussion this week.
NOTES ON THE TEXT
PART 1: THE POOR IN SPIRIT (LK. 18:9-14)
The poor in spirit are people who evaluate their spiritual state with sincerity. They realise that God is infinitely holy and demands that they be holy too. They are keenly aware that they have fallen short of that standard. Their judgment about themselves is not based on human standard but God’s standard. “Knowing the terror of the Lord” they seek to be continually cleansed of their sins so they can be found worthy before God through the accomplished work of Jesus Christ.
PART 2: THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (MATT. 13:24-32)
The terms “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” are often used interchangeably (Matt. 5:3, Lk. 6:20). The kingdom is the realm over which the kingly or sovereign rule of God is exerted. Jesus Christ came preaching and saying that the kingdom of heaven is very near. Though God created the whole universe and we see Him rule in the affairs of men, yet many of His human creatures do not submit to His authority right now. The devil and his angels are also very active – stealing, killing and destroying; waging war against those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ. The kingdom of God will be fully established when all the adversaries of God would have been committed to hell. God’s peaceful and glorious reign will then be manifested. Various characteristics of the kingdom are described in Revelations 21:1-4.
Jesus tells several parables to teach about the kingdom of heaven. Some glimpses we have from the parables are: right now both those who will inherit the kingdom and those who will not co-exist can sometimes be mistaken one for the other; in the kingdom, and those who started insignificantly, will grow to become big; those who appreciate the kingdom will sacrifice whatever is needed to be part of it, etc.
PART 3: INHERITORS OF KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (MATT. 5:3)
Those who will inherit the kingdom of heaven are quite aware that no sinner shall be admitted. They take great pains to prepare themselves to be counted worthy to be admitted. The categories of people that will be excluded from the kingdom are listed in 1 Cor. 6:9-10 along with those listed in Gal. 5:19-21. Every person alive is going through a sieving process; a selection process – to be made fit for the kingdom of heaven or not. The poor in spirit may not be perfect, but they have such a contrite spirit which genuinely mourns whenever they fall into sin. While others could not careless when they sin, the poor in spirit is thrown into sorrow when caught in sin, fearful of being found wanting and unworthy of the kingdom of heaven. God is mindful of these ones and He preserves them for the kingdom.
Those who are counted worthy of inheriting the kingdom of heaven are called “blessed” because of the bliss and joy which will be theirs forever. In their blissful rest, there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more death. Even before they are admitted into the presence of God, they start to enjoy the power and blessings of the world to come right here on earth.
If the kingdom of heaven were to appear today, what is that thing in your life which you have taken for granted and is likely to disqualify you from inheriting the kingdom?
What have you learnt about the kingdom of heaven that should motivate you to strive to enter into and inherit it?
CONCLUSION
While others revel and carouse, those who aspire to enter into and inherit the kingdom of heaven strive hard to make up for their spiritual deficit. They draw closer to God so that He may fill them with His Spirit and establish them firmly in His court. While mockers jest about the things of eternity, the ones that will inherit the kingdom of heaven are fully aware they are just pilgrims here, they look for a city whose architect is God Himself. We must recognised that we are not self-sufficient, we need the Holy Spirit’s power and sustaining grace for us to inherit the kingdom of God.
QUESTIONS
- Who are the poor in spirit?
- What does the poor in spirit do having known the terror of the Lord?
- When would the kingdom be fully established?
- What should those who will inherit the kingdom do?
- As a wise kingdom seeker, what should you do to things that may likely disqualify you from inheriting the kingdom of God?
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