Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
written by Greg Laurie

Bible reading: Matthew 5
Focus verse: Matthew 5:2  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

If we rewrote the Beatitudes for our culture today, they probably would look like this:

Blessed are the wealthy, for they will have it all.
Blessed are the beautiful, for they will be admired.
Blessed are the popular, for they will be loved.
Blessed are the famous, for they will have followers on social media.

However, that isn’t what Jesus said. Instead, He started the Beatitudes with a bombshell: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:2 NKJV). Or, to say it another way, “Happy are the poor in spirit.”

Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are the poor.” Rather, He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (emphasis added). In itself there is no blessedness in being rich or poor. The Bible doesn’t commend poverty, nor does it condemn wealth.

But the Bible does say this: “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV). I’ve met wealthy people who were happy and poor people who were miserable. I’ve also met poor people who were happy and wealthy people who were miserable.

So it isn’t about your bank account. It’s about your spiritual state before God. The word poor in this verse comes from a verb meaning “to shrink, cower, or cringe.” Beggars often did this in Jesus’ day.
If you want to be happy, if you want to receive God’s blessing, then you must be poor in spirit. This means recognizing your spiritual poverty apart from God. It means recognizing the simple fact that, apart from the Lord, you’re lost, helpless, and hopeless.

If you want to be happy, then admit your true spiritual state. Blessed are those who see themselves as they really are, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Called To A Higher Standard

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Focus Verses: 1 Peter 1:15-16  “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the scripture says, you must be holy because I am holy.”

Are you born again?  As Christians God has called us to a standard that is above the world.  Peter says "we are to be holy in everything we do, just as God who chose us is holy."  Who can measure up to the standard of God?  Jesus makes that possible.  It is Jesus that has already experienced the temptations of this world, so He can identify with us in this higher standard we are to live.  1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.  And God is faithful.  He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.  When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”  If you are going to live a Christian life that is “all in” it’s not easy.  We all know people that call themselves Christians, but they still look like the world.  But if we are going to live a holy life with a higher standard then we have just put a target on our back, and Satan will be after us.  The Bible also says,”greater is He [Holy Spirit] that is in us, than he [Satan] that is in the world." (1John 4:4)  It is so important that we don’t get too far away from The Lord who is our source of help if we want to live this higher standard.  It’s not easy, but it is possible to live this Christian life with a higher standard because of our Him.  There can be victory in our lives!


Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

When it's Your Fault

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:11-16

Focus Verse: Hebrews 4:16  “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

We can all think of times when we have made bad choices in life.  Maybe you have not been faithful to your husband or wife.  Perhaps you chose a job that you don’t enjoy.  Or, maybe you cheated your way through school, and you now wish you would have studied.  When we look back at our past it can be painful to see the mistakes we’ve made.  Some years we may just wish we could live them over again, because we would do things differently.  You now live with guilt and regret, and you have no one to blame but yourself, even if you are blaming others for your bad decisions.

You can’t change your past, but the first step in moving forward is taking ownership of your choices.  This may not be easy if you’re thinking nothing good can come from this situation.  The good news is, God can take our bad choices and bring some good out of them.  God’s redemption and grace can give you the courage to face your bad choices.  Psalm 32:4-5 says,  “For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin”.  

You don’t have to blame others for your mistakes.  Tell God, “yes I sinned or yes I made bad choices."  He wants to forgive you, and bring something good out of your situation.  All you have to do is look at the cross, and you can see how God can bring good from that awful death His own Son Jesus.  God took that situation to redeem the human race.  God wants to cover you with His grace.  He want to forgive you.  He wants to make something beautiful out of your choices.

As God forgives you, you can now learn from the mistakes you have made.  God is always at work in our lives.  He loves us too much to leave us right where we are.  He is continually shaping us into the image of His Son.  1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.   When you make mistakes, be encouraged that God’s not through with you.  Confess your faults and move forward with God.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Jesus, The Only Way

Jesus, The Only Way

Scripture Reading:  John 14:1-14

Focus Verses: John 14:5-7 “Thomas said to him, Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?  Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.”

In the world today there is probably more confusion about how to get to heaven than any other subject.  Every religion seems to think they know how to get to heaven.  Most all of them involve some type of works based salvation.  But salvation is not about what we can do.  It’s about what Jesus has already done for us.  The only way to God is through faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the only path to God.  If we could do anything to earn our way to heaven,  then Jesus’ death on the cross was in vain and all the pain that Jesus endured on the cross would be worthless.  

What the Bible teaches is true.  There is no other way to heaven except through Jesus.  There is no other way to God except through Jesus.  Salvation is so simple, yet so many people are missing it.  You will end up in hell one day if you’re counting on getting to heaven another way.  The Bible has always been true, and it always will be true.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries