Sermon on the Mount – The First Beatitude (Part 2)
September
12, 2004: “Sermon on the Mount – The
First Beatitude” by Pastor Kimber
Kauffman, Senior Pastor of College Park Church. Pastor Kimber continued his series on Matthew and the focus on
the first beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (NIV).
Pastor Kimber contrasted
the prideful lifestyle and words of famous singer, Frank Sinatra. “I did it my way” [1]
is the antithesis of poor in spirit.
Stories of others infamous people were used to drive home the point that
not bowing down to God leads to destruction and a life of arrogant
deception. Israel was set apart in the
Old Testament as God’s covenant people and in today’s sermon Pastor showed us how
the promise made to Abraham was also for us in the new covenant. We in Christ are to be different. In Matthew 6:8a Christ says, “Do not be like
them” there is a great outline in the sermon notes describing how we are to be
different. Our lives must emanate from
a pure heart and a humble spirit within us.
It is not outwardly that we are different, but in the heart.
To be “poor in spirit” is to recognize one’s
spiritual poverty and wretchedness because of sin in our lives. Pastor again contrasted the attitudes
of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14, with the Pharisee
standing up and praying [publicly] about himself. Ultimately we need to see ourselves as God sees us. We are not to be self-depreciating or
self-exalting. The humble person sees
himself as made in the image of God, yet able to be free of bias toward him
showing the same excitement for others’ God given gifts and abilities as his
own. There is a sense that a person
with poverty of spirit is self-forgetful, and anything but self-absorbed. This is the opposite of pride, which is
endemic to the human condition. Pride
is deeply offensive to God, and at the heart of all contention. Peter, Paul and Isaiah are just of few men
in the Bible that see their utter depravity and God’s perfect moral
character.
For us
today, God’s love should not be looked at as “I am so unworthy of His love, He
could never love a wretch like me” which is suicidal thinking. What His love should engender in our souls
is the question “how could He, perfect and pure love a wretch like me?” What a savior, what amazing grace that God
has show to us while still sinners!
Thank God for His grace today.
Do
people see your appreciation for Christ?
Do they see you satisfied in Christ?
How
does your family compare to the one Kimber described in the sermon?
Humility
is the crowning virtue of Christ.
Discuss what humility is and is not in your group.
Special Note: Remember Pastor Kimber encouraged us to pick up a copy of “Praying
through the Sermon on the Mount” located in the foyer of the church, and use it
for our devotions during the coming weeks.
Download Pastor Kimber’s sermon notes and meditate this week on
Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s poem Jehovah Tsidkenu.
[1] "My Way" written by Revaux/Francois/Anka and sung by Frank
Sinatra. For lyrics and contrasting
words of doing it “God’s way”, visit http://dalessio.topcities.com/My_Way.htm