Text: Matthew 5:3

Topic: The importance of humility

Introduction

• Illustration: Bennett lists several common oxymorons, including: found missing, sanitary landfill, deafening silence, and short sermon.
• Jesus' Beatitudes are like oxymorons, in that they invert everything that the world thinks is right and sensible.
  • Illustration: Several of Jesus' teachings from other passages go against conventional wisdom, including: "Love your enemies" and "He who wants to save his life will lose it."

The Beatitudes represent heavenly, not worldly, wisdom.

• Worldly wisdom blesses those that are successful, self-reliant, and self-confident.
• Jesus pronounced a blessing on those that are poor in spirit.
• Many people attempt to baptize the wisdom and philosophy of the world and make them work within the framework of Christianity—this is impossible.
• When we become Christians, our minds must be retrained into a totally new way of thinking.
  • Illustration: As a self-taught guitarist taking professional lessons for the first time, Bennett was forced to abandon all of his old habits and become totally retrained.

Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."

• Being poor in spirit means recognizing that we are lost, needy, and utterly dependent on God to live a full life and enter into the kingdom of heaven.
  • John 15:5
• Christianity is a crutch for people who are weak and can't make it through life on their own.
  • Illustration: A crutch is not a negative thing when you have a broken ankle or a sprained knee. It's only seen as negative when you feel like you don't need it.

Humility is at the core of being poor in spirit.

• There is no place for pride in the kingdom of heaven.
  • Illustration: A quote from John MacArthur on humility.
• Illustration: Several individuals from the Bible exemplify a godly humility, including Abraham, Solomon, John the Baptist, and Paul.
• Christians must realize that our actions have no influence on our place in God's kingdom.
  • Illustration: Jesus' conversation with the rich young ruler demonstrates that we can do nothing to save ourselves.