beatitude: BLESSEDNESS (how to be blessed)

BLESSED (Makarios) = FAVORED by God; divine happiness

Blessed means HAPPINESS in spite of my CIRCUMSTANCES.

Matthew 5:3-10 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

These blessed statements REVEAL where TRUE HAPPINESS is found.

Matthew 5:3 NLT God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Matthew 5:3 GWT Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Matthew 5:3 CEV God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven!

Poor in spirit means accepting our spiritual BANKRUPTCY and complete DEPENDENCE on Jesus' forgiveness and grace.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE POOR IN SPIRIT?

1. I admit that no amount of MATERIAL WEALTH will satisfy my soul.

The MORE we have, the LESS we may think we need God.

The LESS we have, the EASIER it can be to acknowledge our need for God.

Matthew 19:23-24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

2. I admit that no amount of SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS will make me right with God.

Matthew 7:22-23 MSG I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our super-spiritual projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat.

GOOD people don’t go to heaven, FORGIVEN people do.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. I admit that I am SPIRITUALLY BANKRUPT, and only JESUS can pay for my sins and make me whole.