Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Who are the “poor in spirit” and why should I care? S31e35 Mt5:3
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Christians are to be the most repenty people on the planet. We have much to be broken over. We start, and often continue in a state of offense. The Lord loves such bent people.
Why should I care? And care enough to be counted among the "POOR IN SPIRIT?" Well, there is a KINGDOM on offer; which is to say there is a King to have a relationship with.
Listen if you are KINGDOM-READY. subscribe if you are NOT kingdom-ready.
https://youtu.be/HIoR4Wwq66E
Who are the “poor in spirit” and why should I care? S31e35 Mt5:3
We’ve dipped our toes into the beatitudes yesterday and challenged ourselves: lets be beatitude ready, beatitude EAGER.
There is something there for us. Lord help us not to miss it! Don’t get all googly-eyed about the beautiful poetry and miss the truths, the call and the character behind it.
We will prosper in our considerations of the beatitudes: Mt 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
I want to talk about the poor in spirit but first: what do the poor in spirit GET? Is it worth pursuing? Somebody is getting a kingdom
Luke 12: 32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
A kingdom is on offer. A place. A possession. A Person
The Place is exactly here. But Not exactly with borders.
STORY that illustrates THE KINGDOM. Might be helpful.
I was at an event last night and met someone new. and after extending pleasantries, I quickly find out that the other person is a Christian—within seconds-- and is PART OF THE same KINGDOM that I am. This is what we are talking about.
That is, he is part of the kingdom that I are a part of. We are co-citizens of this great holding. Suddenly, we had “something in common” what was it? A KINGDOM.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
You realize, We’re both sitting with our keisters in the buttertub of grace, living a life of kingdom favor, separated in this big wonderful Land of God, Each attending to our secotors and our jobs and now, we meet each other. Lightbulb:Hey, you too have the keys to the kingdom. You follow the king. Your life reflects an ongoing relationship in deference to Him. So at this encounter, you: Check in, celebrate a little, are encouraged and then go back to our own sectors, perhaps only to meet again in heaven.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
What’s the big deal with a kingdom? Well, primarily it is a King who has extended relationship to us. I have a relationship with a KING. This is no small thing. Then He gives us Jobs, and blessings, and purpose, and testings. He sends us on quests of obedience and bravery on His behalf. We quest at His request. We enjoy riches and resources that the poor in spirithave no business even dreaming about.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
So this is the kingdom that God has for somebody. Who is that somebody? It is the POOR in SPIRIT
Who are the poor in spirit?
How do you receive the kingdom? Go poverty hunting in your soul.
What does the Greek word POOR Mean?
Yes, humble, poor, needy
Yes, maybe beyond that. The Greek helps us here. Sometimes I am apt to say that the Greek word is a STRONG one. Here, It is a WEAK one: one that particularly emphasizes weakness:One who crouches, cringes, beggar, dependent, shabby, of little value.
What of us is to be so poor? Is it our pocketbooks? No.
Our very spirit. Everything we breathin in and out in our soul. What do we have to be humble before God about?
Is 66:2 But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word.
Contrite in spirit. Humble, wearing your “I’m sorry” clothes, saying your “I’m sorry” things and doing “I’m sorry” activities.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Are you broken over your sin for the first time? This involves agreeing with God that there is such a thing in the first place.
And then admitting that you are in the sinner club
And that this is not godly, and separates you from God in an otherwise unfixable situation, absent His good favor and rescue.
It silences the petitioner for the first time.
BUT the poor in spirit do not stop being poor in spirit after their first day.
An ongoing walk with the Lord reveals MORE sin, MORE distance.
It is never a one and done regarding repentance. Christians are the most repenty people on the planet.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Are you poor in spirit?
Are you grieved over your sin for the first and second time?
Are you a crouched person, bent and unworthy before Him
Are you bowed low, destitute, unable to enrich yourself?
Are you broken over your sin?
Do you have a contrite spirit as God calls out for in Isaiah?
Are you a repenty person?
Are you poor in spirit, IF SO: good news: yours is the kingdom of heaven
May our Lord bubble up Brokeness in your soul over your sin
May the Lord help you to be poor in spirit?
Why: so He can give you a kingdom