No, not poor in the sense of being mean-spirited, and not in the sense of one being poor in spirituality itself ! First let's read Matthew 5:3 where we find the Beatitudes of Jesus, otherwise known as "the sermon on the mount."
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
One Bible Commentary (on The Biblical Illustrator) explains that poorness of spirit involves humility, contentment, submission, and gratitude. By the poor in spirit are meant those who have been convinced of their spiritual poverty. Another commentator at the same site tells us that "You may as well expect fruit to grow without a root, as the other graces without this; till a man be poor in spirit he cannot mourn. ... Till we are poor in spirit we are not capable receiving grace. God doth first empty a man of himself, before He pours in the precious wine of His grace. None but the poor in spirit are within Christ's commission. Till we are poor in spirit, Christ is never precious! .. So to him that is poor in spirit - that sees his want of Christ - how precious is the Savior! ..He that is poor in spirit is weaned from himself ! .... He that is poor in spirit is a Christ - admirer. .. He that is poor in spirit is much in prayer ... and to take Christ upon His Own terms. He blesses God for the least crumb that falls from the table of free Grace. .. Christ begins with this [for one to be poor in spirit], and we must begin here if ever we be saved. ... Poverty of spirit paves a causeway for blessedness."
Following is a wonderful 51 minute sermon by Charles Spurgeon concerning the meaning and blessedness of "the poor in spirit" with many wonderful spiritual gems included by him.
Spurgeon, in the sermon above, tells us to live quietly for God. He tells us "Above all other evils we have most to dread our own fullness. The greatest unfitness for Christ is our own imaginary fitness. When we are utterly undone we are near to being enriched with the riches of graces. Out of ourselves is next door to being in Christ. Where we end, mercy begins; or has already begun. The deeper the destitution the better."
I urge you to watch the entire sermon above - it will bless you !
"For every look at self, take ten looks to Christ." - Robert Murray M'cheyne
"Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and to bring Him nearer to our own image." - A.W. Tozer
"This book (the Bible) will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book." - John Bunyan
"If satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy." - Adrian Rogers
"The first lesson in Christ's school is self-denial." - Matthew Henry
"Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil's reach as humility." - Jonathan Edwards
Here is a wonderful devotional song on being poor in spirit:
If the Lord tarries, more posts will follow here on this blog concerning the Beatitudes of Jesus.
Please remember, our strength comes from the good Lord, and that includes strength to face and endure perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1-4) such as we find ourselves experiencing in the world in these last moments of the end times. We can find that strength from our worship of the Lord - and do not forget our personal quiet time alone with the heavenly Father, in prayer and in reading His Holy Word, the Bible. Nothing can take the place - nor should it - of our devotional time, communing with and basking in the Presence of the Lord. Only He can give us the inward peace we need to face whatever life throws at us.
Again, nothing can take the place of a strong, intimate, loving, personal relationship with God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ! That is what it is all about, folks ! People will fail you, but our Father in heaven and Jesus will never let you down or forsake you! Spend much time in prayer and reading and studying the Bible. You will grow to know the Lord better, and thereby to love Him more and more. You will be blessed for your efforts. You MUST spend time with someone in order to get to know them, and the good Lord deserves our time more than anyone -- He wants to fellowship with us on a personal level.
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." - Hebrews 13:5
"And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent." - John 17:3
"As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." - Jesus at John 15:9-10
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. ... I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of mine." - John 10:11,14
Notice in verse 14 above: that Jesus knows His sheep, and "Am known of mine." You MUST know the Lord and have a close intimate relationship with Him!
Following are scriptures to help unsaved and lost souls to come to faith in Jesus, the Savior.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." - John 14:6
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
Remember to pray sincerely and in earnest for forgiveness, and to truly repent of your past sins -- have a vivid sense of remorse for your past sins.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matthew 4:17
