100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:09,580You may be a high flier and mega successful in the world of business, you may be a mega200:00:09,580 –> 00:00:15,580mother, you may be a brilliant musician, you may be a technical guru, you may even be a300:00:15,580 –> 00:00:24,000political genius, but if you have truly met with God you will know that before Him you400:00:24,000 –> 00:00:26,600have nothing to offer.500:00:26,820 –> 00:00:29,639Welcome to Open the Bible, with Pastor Colin Smith.600:00:29,639 –> 00:00:30,639I’m David Pick.700:00:30,639 –> 00:00:35,740Glad you could join us today, and Colin, so are you saying if we’ve met with God we have800:00:35,740 –> 00:00:37,380nothing to offer Him?900:00:37,380 –> 00:00:38,380Yeah.1000:00:38,380 –> 00:00:39,840It’s kind of counter-intuitive, isn’t it?1100:00:39,840 –> 00:00:44,380Because we start from the place, often, of thinking, well, I want to offer something1200:00:44,380 –> 00:00:45,380to God.1300:00:45,380 –> 00:00:47,799You know, here I am and I’m offering myself.1400:00:47,799 –> 00:00:53,340But the reality is that a real relationship with God begins with the recognition that1500:00:53,340 –> 00:00:59,580I need to receive everything from Him, and really I have nothing to offer back to Him.1600:00:59,580 –> 00:01:03,119And that’s what it means to be poor in spirit.1700:01:03,119 –> 00:01:07,500And when you begin your relationship with God there, which is what being humbled in1800:01:07,500 –> 00:01:12,260repentance and faith is really all about, then you have a recognition from then on,1900:01:12,260 –> 00:01:14,260what do I have that I did not receive?2000:01:14,260 –> 00:01:18,879If I offer my whole self back to God, I’m only giving back to Him what He first gave2100:01:18,879 –> 00:01:20,059to me.2200:01:20,059 –> 00:01:25,279And so we’re really at the core of how a true relationship of faith with God through2300:01:25,279 –> 00:01:27,519Jesus Christ begins.2400:01:27,519 –> 00:01:32,559And that’s what the Beatitudes are all about, and there’s no place to start quite like the2500:01:32,559 –> 00:01:33,559beginning.2600:01:33,559 –> 00:01:38,959So join us today, if you can, in Matthew 5 and verse 3, as we begin a new message.2700:01:38,959 –> 00:01:40,779Blessed are the poor in spirit.2800:01:40,779 –> 00:01:42,440Here is Pastor Collin.2900:01:42,440 –> 00:01:44,580We’re looking at the what and we’re looking at the how.3000:01:45,500 –> 00:01:50,239So if you have your Bible open at Matthew chapter 5 and verse 3, as we launch out today,3100:01:50,239 –> 00:01:55,940we’re learning here that God’s blessing rests on the poor in spirit.3200:01:55,940 –> 00:01:59,580Well, first, I need to know what that means.3300:01:59,580 –> 00:02:02,540What is it that Jesus Christ is calling me to here?3400:02:02,540 –> 00:02:04,620What does that look like?3500:02:04,620 –> 00:02:08,419And then when I know what it is that he’s calling me to, I have to ask the further question,3600:02:08,419 –> 00:02:09,899how can I pursue it?3700:02:09,899 –> 00:02:11,899What does it mean to grow in humility?3800:02:11,899 –> 00:02:21,740How can I actually battle the beast of pride that so often rears its ugly head in my soul?3900:02:21,740 –> 00:02:23,580How do I wage that battle?4000:02:23,580 –> 00:02:29,860Well, now I hope you will have your Bible open at Matthew chapter 5 and verse 3.4100:02:29,860 –> 00:02:32,660Let us hear these words of our Lord Jesus Christ.4200:02:32,860 –> 00:02:33,460He says,4300:02:50,979 –> 00:02:56,139Simply today in the first part of this as we’re trying to get the what of these words of Christ4400:02:56,139 –> 00:03:00,839I want to look at the challenge, the blessing, and then some very simple applications.4500:03:01,399 –> 00:03:03,679So, first then the calling.4600:03:12,740 –> 00:03:19,139What does it look like to be poor in spirit in real life?4700:03:19,139 –> 00:03:21,860Poor, of course, we understand that means you don’t have much.4800:03:21,860 –> 00:03:27,720Poor in spirit then means that you realise what you lack, that you know that you don’t4900:03:27,740 –> 00:03:33,139have what it takes, that your hands, as it were, are empty rather than full of what you5000:03:33,139 –> 00:03:37,279think you bring, that you have nothing to offer.5100:03:37,279 –> 00:03:38,460Much is fairly simple.5200:03:38,460 –> 00:03:42,380The real question, of course, is what does it look like in real life?5300:03:42,380 –> 00:03:49,940So suppose that the most gifted player in the high school football team is a Christian5400:03:49,940 –> 00:03:54,720and is walking according to the words of Jesus.5500:03:54,720 –> 00:03:56,600What does this mean?5600:03:56,600 –> 00:04:01,820That when this guy turns up for training at the beginning of the new season he is in some5700:04:01,820 –> 00:04:08,360way to be saying to his coach, well, you know, I’m not sure that I got very much to offer5800:04:08,360 –> 00:04:11,759to the team and maybe really the coach should be picking someone else.5900:04:11,759 –> 00:04:13,759Is that what it means?6000:04:13,759 –> 00:04:22,279A person comes for a job interview and at the end of that interview the prospective6100:04:22,720 –> 00:04:29,239employer says famous last question, now tell me why should we give you this job?6200:04:29,239 –> 00:04:34,660Is that Christian applicant to sit there and say, I’m not really very sure I don’t know6300:04:34,660 –> 00:04:35,660if you should.6400:04:35,660 –> 00:04:38,279I mean there are probably a dozen people who could do it a lot better than me.6500:04:38,279 –> 00:04:40,579Is that what it means to follow the words of Jesus?6600:04:40,579 –> 00:04:42,239If that’s what it means we should do it.6700:04:42,239 –> 00:04:48,640You’ll be glad to know that is not what the word of Jesus means.6800:04:48,640 –> 00:04:51,760What does it mean to be poor in spirit?6900:04:51,760 –> 00:04:54,420What does it look like in real life?7000:04:54,420 –> 00:05:02,480Poor in spirit very simply means that you recognize your poverty before God.7100:05:02,480 –> 00:05:08,880Jesus is not speaking here about men and women in relation to each other.7200:05:08,880 –> 00:05:15,480But he is describing what a person feels, what a person knows when he or she is face7300:05:15,480 –> 00:05:18,859to face with the living God.7400:05:18,880 –> 00:05:25,779Blessed are the poor in spirit, Jesus says, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.7500:05:25,779 –> 00:05:31,779Poor in spirit, then, is the first mark of a person who genuinely walks with God.7600:05:31,779 –> 00:05:38,140You may be a multi-talented, sports superstar.7700:05:38,140 –> 00:05:42,579You may be a high-flyer, and mega-successful in the world of business.7800:05:42,579 –> 00:05:45,260You may be a mega-mother.7900:05:45,260 –> 00:05:47,299You may be a brilliant musician.8000:05:47,299 –> 00:05:49,220You may be a technical guru.8100:05:49,220 –> 00:05:53,359You may even be a political genius.8200:05:53,359 –> 00:06:00,739But if you have truly met with God, you will know that before Him, you have nothing to8300:06:00,739 –> 00:06:01,980offer.8400:06:01,980 –> 00:06:07,859That, of course, is what one of the most talented people who ever lived before the time of Jesus8500:06:07,859 –> 00:06:10,619Christ discovered.8600:06:10,619 –> 00:06:12,660I’m thinking about Isaiah.8700:06:12,660 –> 00:06:16,200What a marvelous ministry he had!8800:06:16,200 –> 00:06:17,200He was a preacher!8900:06:18,019 –> 00:06:24,739Here was a man who was known and was celebrated for his marvelous ministry – the silver-tongued9000:06:24,739 –> 00:06:25,739prophet.9100:06:25,739 –> 00:06:32,260If Isaiah was around today, people would be cramming into conference halls just to hear9200:06:32,260 –> 00:06:33,260him speak.9300:06:33,260 –> 00:06:39,720And if he was on Twitter, he’d have millions who were following his oracles there – right?9400:06:39,720 –> 00:06:45,640And here’s the testimony of this most gifted man that would have been celebrated in his9500:06:45,640 –> 00:06:49,660time for his many, many skills.9600:06:49,660 –> 00:06:51,679He says this,9700:06:51,679 –> 00:07:02,880”In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord and he was sitting upon a throne9800:07:02,880 –> 00:07:04,619high and lifted up.9900:07:04,619 –> 00:07:10,239And his robe filled the temple.10000:07:10,339 –> 00:07:12,760And the seraphim around him were calling out,10100:07:12,760 –> 00:07:14,880”Holy, Holy, Holy,10200:07:14,880 –> 00:07:18,640is the Lord of Hosts!’10300:07:18,640 –> 00:07:28,480And the foundation shook, and smoke filled the house.10400:07:28,679 –> 00:07:32,760And I said,10500:07:32,760 –> 00:07:38,239Isaiah the most talented man of his time,10600:07:38,239 –> 00:07:46,100Woe is me, I am lost!10700:07:46,100 –> 00:07:50,179Well, if Isaiah the prophet’s lost10800:07:50,179 –> 00:07:53,700where does that leave the rest of us?10900:07:54,799 –> 00:07:56,420You see what Isaiah’s saying to us,11000:07:56,679 –> 00:07:58,940the world may see my gifts, my talents,11100:07:58,940 –> 00:08:01,160but before a sovereign and a Holy God11200:08:01,160 –> 00:08:04,779when I really got to know Him,11300:08:04,779 –> 00:08:06,559when I encountered Him,11400:08:06,559 –> 00:08:10,760I had a totally different view of myself.11500:08:10,760 –> 00:08:13,140And I saw that I’ve got absolutely nothing whatsoever11600:08:13,140 –> 00:08:15,920to offer when it’s in His presence.11700:08:17,160 –> 00:08:19,000And isn’t it interesting that Isaiah11800:08:19,000 –> 00:08:21,260had been in ministry,11900:08:21,260 –> 00:08:23,779preaching for quite a long time12000:08:24,200 –> 00:08:25,440before this happened.12100:08:26,660 –> 00:08:28,559But at one point in his life12200:08:28,559 –> 00:08:32,500coming before God with this intense proximity,12300:08:32,500 –> 00:08:34,460God drawing near to him,12400:08:34,460 –> 00:08:38,599it changed his view of himself fundamentally12500:08:38,599 –> 00:08:42,539and that changed view lasted with him a lifetime.12600:08:42,539 –> 00:08:44,520I’m asking you this question then,12700:08:44,520 –> 00:08:46,719have you come close enough to God,12800:08:46,719 –> 00:08:49,940has God come close enough to you12900:08:50,859 –> 00:08:52,039so that you have come to see13000:08:52,039 –> 00:08:53,900that at your best,13100:08:55,880 –> 00:08:57,940however much you may be celebrating13200:08:57,940 –> 00:09:00,359for your various gifts and successes by others,13300:09:00,359 –> 00:09:01,659at your best,13400:09:01,659 –> 00:09:06,119you’ve come to see that you are bankrupt before him?13500:09:08,539 –> 00:09:12,820Or is the truth that God is at such a distance from you13600:09:12,820 –> 00:09:15,080as only a vague belief13700:09:16,580 –> 00:09:19,700that such a notion has never really pressed itself in13800:09:19,700 –> 00:09:20,799upon your own soul?13900:09:22,880 –> 00:09:24,359Think about this.14000:09:26,400 –> 00:09:31,400Pride can only really live in the soul of a person14100:09:32,280 –> 00:09:34,419at a great distance from God.14200:09:36,000 –> 00:09:39,840Pride puts its foot to the gas pedal if you like14300:09:39,840 –> 00:09:42,919to get as far from God as possible14400:09:42,919 –> 00:09:47,919because pride cannot exist in the presence of God14500:09:48,000 –> 00:09:52,000as Satan himself before the beginning of time14600:09:52,059 –> 00:09:53,359and we quickly found out.14700:09:55,599 –> 00:09:58,000When God’s presence came down to the temple14800:09:58,000 –> 00:10:00,280and of course it happened again in Isaiah’s vision14900:10:00,280 –> 00:10:02,020in Isaiah chapter six.15000:10:03,280 –> 00:10:06,020Do you remember when the presence of God came down15100:10:06,020 –> 00:10:08,599smoke filled the temple?15200:10:09,500 –> 00:10:11,340Have you ever been in a building with smoke?15300:10:11,340 –> 00:10:12,799Ever been caught in a fire?15400:10:14,900 –> 00:10:17,140Can you picture this?15500:10:17,140 –> 00:10:21,200The presence of God, the smoke of God’s presence15600:10:21,200 –> 00:10:24,140is coming down into this temple15700:10:25,559 –> 00:10:29,380and pride staggers out of the soul15800:10:30,679 –> 00:10:32,760coughing and spluttering15900:10:34,440 –> 00:10:39,440because it cannot live in the awesome presence of God.16000:10:41,039 –> 00:10:42,640That’s what happened to Isaiah.16100:10:44,219 –> 00:10:46,679And the result of it was that the man became16200:10:46,679 –> 00:10:52,179poor in spirit and entered into a place16300:10:52,179 –> 00:10:55,479of the knowledge of the blessing of God16400:10:55,479 –> 00:10:58,760in a profound and in a wonderful way.16500:10:58,760 –> 00:11:00,840And so what we’re seeing here is that,16600:11:00,840 –> 00:11:05,200to be poor in spirit really is the very first mark16700:11:05,200 –> 00:11:07,479of a person who lives close to God.16800:11:07,479 –> 00:11:10,880Pride is always the mark of a person at a distance16900:11:10,880 –> 00:11:14,599because pride itself cannot exist long17000:11:14,599 –> 00:11:18,979in the awesome glory of the presence of God,17100:11:18,979 –> 00:11:20,479the presence of God,17200:11:20,479 –> 00:11:24,880the smoke of his presence is always suffocating to pride.17300:11:24,880 –> 00:11:25,880the smoke of his presence is always suffocating to pride.17400:11:25,880 –> 00:11:28,500You’re listening to Open the Bible17500:11:28,500 –> 00:11:29,799with Pastor Colin Smith17600:11:29,799 –> 00:11:31,159in a message called,17700:11:31,159 –> 00:11:33,000Blessed are the poor in spirit.17800:11:33,000 –> 00:11:34,719Part of our series momentum,17900:11:34,719 –> 00:11:37,440how to make progress in your Christian life18000:11:37,440 –> 00:11:39,280based on the Beatitude.18100:11:39,280 –> 00:11:40,840If you ever miss one of the messages,18200:11:40,840 –> 00:11:43,320it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again18300:11:43,400 –> 00:11:44,979by coming to our website,18400:11:44,979 –> 00:11:48,080that’s at openthebible.org.UK,18500:11:48,080 –> 00:11:49,440there you’ll find all the messages18600:11:49,440 –> 00:11:51,760which have already been broadcast.18700:11:51,760 –> 00:11:52,880Back to the message now,18800:11:52,880 –> 00:11:55,159here again is Pastor Colin.18900:11:55,159 –> 00:11:56,559So here is what we are learning,19000:11:56,559 –> 00:11:58,440whatever your position in this world,19100:11:58,440 –> 00:12:00,760whatever the talents and the success19200:12:00,760 –> 00:12:02,760that God may have given to you,19300:12:02,760 –> 00:12:06,460however celebrated you are in different spheres of life,19400:12:06,460 –> 00:12:11,000you are in entirely a different position19500:12:11,000 –> 00:12:12,299when it comes to God.19600:12:13,760 –> 00:12:16,039The gifted footballer does19700:12:16,039 –> 00:12:18,479have a talent to offer to his team19800:12:18,479 –> 00:12:20,440and of course he’ll be celebrated at the school19900:12:20,440 –> 00:12:22,580and he’ll be offered scholarships for college20000:12:22,580 –> 00:12:23,840and all the rest of it,20100:12:23,840 –> 00:12:26,179but when he stands before God,20200:12:26,179 –> 00:12:28,559if he has any knowledge of God at all,20300:12:28,559 –> 00:12:31,400he will know that he has nothing to offer there20400:12:31,400 –> 00:12:34,099but only stands before God in his need.20500:12:35,840 –> 00:12:39,580The gifted graduate has a talent to offer to her company.20600:12:40,799 –> 00:12:43,039She graduates cum laude or better,20700:12:44,059 –> 00:12:46,020and she’s fast tracked for a promotion20800:12:46,020 –> 00:12:47,619in the early years of her career.20900:12:47,619 –> 00:12:50,760She will draw the company of other gifted people.21000:12:50,760 –> 00:12:53,640She’ll be a hub, a sort of a center of influence,21100:12:53,640 –> 00:12:58,239but before God if she has really come to know him at all,21200:12:58,239 –> 00:13:01,520she will know that however much attention she receives21300:13:01,520 –> 00:13:04,580and however celebrated she is by so many other people,21400:13:06,559 –> 00:13:10,059she stands before God in all of her need21500:13:10,619 –> 00:13:15,380and ultimately has nothing in her hands to offer.21600:13:16,539 –> 00:13:19,099You have something to offer to your family.21700:13:19,099 –> 00:13:20,719You have something to offer to your company.21800:13:20,719 –> 00:13:22,419You have something to offer to your friends21900:13:22,419 –> 00:13:25,320and to your team, but if you walk with God,22000:13:25,320 –> 00:13:28,599you will identify with the apostle Paul22100:13:28,599 –> 00:13:30,099when he asks the question,22200:13:30,099 –> 00:13:33,179what do you have that you did not receive?22300:13:34,460 –> 00:13:36,799Where did these talents come from?22400:13:36,799 –> 00:13:39,440How did they end up being in your life?22500:13:39,940 –> 00:13:42,799Who gave you all of this success?22600:13:43,700 –> 00:13:45,719What do you have that you did not receive?22700:13:45,719 –> 00:13:47,760And since all that is in your life22800:13:47,760 –> 00:13:49,979that may often be celebrated by others22900:13:49,979 –> 00:13:52,719is the gift of God and you know it,23000:13:54,780 –> 00:13:57,559how can arrogance ever stand23100:13:57,559 –> 00:14:00,039with head held high in the presence of God23200:14:00,039 –> 00:14:03,380as if I somehow had something to offer him23300:14:03,380 –> 00:14:08,380where what do I have that I did not receive?23400:14:10,280 –> 00:14:12,719Let’s move second to the blessing.23500:14:12,719 –> 00:14:14,000We’ve looked at the calling,23600:14:14,000 –> 00:14:15,280but that’s only the first half.23700:14:15,280 –> 00:14:16,679Look at the blessing here.23800:14:16,679 –> 00:14:19,719Blessed are the poor in spirit23900:14:19,719 –> 00:14:24,719for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.24000:14:28,000 –> 00:14:30,760Now here is this amazing statement of the Lord Jesus,24100:14:30,760 –> 00:14:32,880he says, of the people who know24200:14:32,880 –> 00:14:35,440that they have nothing to offer before God,24300:14:35,440 –> 00:14:38,659he says now, they are blessed.24400:14:40,080 –> 00:14:43,960These people who are so aware of their own lack,24500:14:43,960 –> 00:14:47,619their own need, their own inability24600:14:47,619 –> 00:14:49,960to produce what God calls them to,24700:14:51,400 –> 00:14:53,880these are the very people, Jesus says,24800:14:53,880 –> 00:14:56,200who are blessed.24900:14:56,200 –> 00:14:59,239This is where blessing from God begins,25000:14:59,239 –> 00:15:01,880Jesus says, to be poor in spirit.25100:15:01,880 –> 00:15:04,039It is the gateway blessing25200:15:04,039 –> 00:15:05,280to all of the others25300:15:06,159 –> 00:15:08,359that we’ll be pursuing down through this series25400:15:08,359 –> 00:15:11,039on the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.25500:15:11,039 –> 00:15:14,599Without this, no other blessings are within your reach.25600:15:14,599 –> 00:15:15,719This is the gateway.25700:15:15,719 –> 00:15:19,799This is the only place that any of us can begin25800:15:19,799 –> 00:15:24,359and the one place where all of us must begin.25900:15:24,359 –> 00:15:27,919Now, did you notice here that Jesus26000:15:29,140 –> 00:15:31,359speaks about heaven26100:15:31,359 –> 00:15:35,559in the present tense?26200:15:37,119 –> 00:15:38,299Did you notice that?26300:15:39,239 –> 00:15:41,239Blessed are the poor in spirit26400:15:41,239 –> 00:15:45,719for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.26500:15:47,200 –> 00:15:49,799Now, heaven is future, is it not?26600:15:49,799 –> 00:15:52,559So, we might expect Jesus to say,26700:15:52,559 –> 00:15:56,739theirs will be the kingdom of heaven.26800:15:56,739 –> 00:15:58,119But that is not what he says.26900:15:58,200 –> 00:16:01,640What he says, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.27000:16:02,780 –> 00:16:04,419And it’s all the more striking27100:16:04,419 –> 00:16:06,320if you look down at the rest of the Beatitudes.27200:16:06,320 –> 00:16:08,080You’ll see that consistently they are,27300:16:08,080 –> 00:16:10,599the rest of them are all in the future tense,27400:16:10,599 –> 00:16:12,159except the one that you would expect27500:16:12,159 –> 00:16:13,320to be in the future tense,27600:16:13,320 –> 00:16:15,140which isn’t, it’s in the present.27700:16:15,140 –> 00:16:18,299The rest are, those who mourn shall be comforted,27800:16:18,299 –> 00:16:20,119the meek shall inherit the earth,27900:16:20,119 –> 00:16:21,640those who hunger and thirst for righteousness28000:16:21,640 –> 00:16:23,960shall be satisfied, but when it comes to this,28100:16:23,960 –> 00:16:26,099Jesus says, blessed is the poor in spirit28200:16:26,140 –> 00:16:29,640for their is the kingdom of heaven, present tense, now.28300:16:30,840 –> 00:16:33,640So Jesus is talking, this is huge28400:16:33,640 –> 00:16:35,539as you begin to open your mind up to it,28500:16:35,539 –> 00:16:39,340Jesus is talking about a taste of heaven28600:16:39,340 –> 00:16:41,340that you can have right now.28700:16:42,260 –> 00:16:43,340Present tense.28800:16:45,039 –> 00:16:48,119Now, you think about that, you begin to scratch your head28900:16:49,200 –> 00:16:52,159and you say, well, now, boy, life in this world29000:16:52,159 –> 00:16:54,900is such a long way from heaven, isn’t it?29100:16:56,419 –> 00:17:01,419So in what way can I have a genuine taste29200:17:02,760 –> 00:17:06,319of heaven now, this week?29300:17:08,500 –> 00:17:11,859Think about heaven, what comes to your mind?29400:17:11,859 –> 00:17:14,660Streets of gold, we ain’t got that now.29500:17:16,579 –> 00:17:21,020Redeemed people made perfect, we ain’t got that now.29600:17:21,319 –> 00:17:22,160What about you?29700:17:23,420 –> 00:17:26,079The lion lying down with the lamb.29800:17:26,079 –> 00:17:29,119The nation’s waging war no more.29900:17:29,119 –> 00:17:31,680Every tear wiped from our eye.30000:17:31,680 –> 00:17:35,140We haven’t got any of that now, right?30100:17:37,280 –> 00:17:39,199So what taste of heaven30200:17:40,560 –> 00:17:44,339do the poor in spirit have now?30300:17:46,239 –> 00:17:47,520I’m going to give you a Scripture30400:17:47,520 –> 00:17:49,859that is well worth knowing, marking, learning,30500:17:49,880 –> 00:17:51,660and hiding in your heart.30600:17:51,660 –> 00:17:53,739It is one of the great, great Scriptures30700:17:53,739 –> 00:17:55,459in all of the Old Testament30800:17:55,459 –> 00:17:59,859from Isaiah chapter 57 and verse 15.30900:17:59,859 –> 00:18:01,640And it says this.31000:18:01,640 –> 00:18:06,420Thus says the Lord, who is high and lifted up.31100:18:06,420 –> 00:18:08,939Of course, that’s the same phrase as it’s used earlier31200:18:08,939 –> 00:18:11,719when Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord in the temple.31300:18:11,719 –> 00:18:13,579He’s high and He’s lifted up.31400:18:13,579 –> 00:18:17,420He inhabits eternity and His name is holy.31500:18:17,420 –> 00:18:19,099He inhabits eternity.31600:18:19,099 –> 00:18:20,859So that’s heaven.31700:18:20,859 –> 00:18:21,959And what does He say?31800:18:23,300 –> 00:18:28,300I dwell in a high and holy place.31900:18:30,160 –> 00:18:35,160Heaven itself, but also with the one32000:18:38,619 –> 00:18:43,619who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.32100:18:43,739 –> 00:18:44,959That is staggering.32200:18:45,800 –> 00:18:49,079The sovereign Lord of the universe32300:18:49,079 –> 00:18:52,160who is exalted in the heaven of heavens.32400:18:53,439 –> 00:18:56,000High and lifted up.32500:18:57,119 –> 00:18:59,119And Isaiah who gives this word32600:18:59,119 –> 00:19:00,780by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit32700:19:00,780 –> 00:19:02,180saw his glory and it made him32800:19:02,180 –> 00:19:07,180feel his own utter bankruptcy in the presence of God.32900:19:09,000 –> 00:19:12,439And now this God who inhabits the glory of heaven says,33000:19:12,439 –> 00:19:16,640I want you to know that not only do I live in heaven,33100:19:16,640 –> 00:19:20,459the high and holy place, but I live33200:19:21,680 –> 00:19:26,680with the person who has a contrite and lowly spirit.33300:19:30,199 –> 00:19:33,140Heaven is to live with God, right?33400:19:34,479 –> 00:19:38,739And the poor in spirit get a taste of it33500:19:38,739 –> 00:19:42,260because God comes to live with them.33600:19:43,319 –> 00:19:47,760So, if you want to move beyond a vague, religious belief33700:19:47,760 –> 00:19:50,040in which God remains at a distance from you,33800:19:50,040 –> 00:19:53,959if you want to have a felt awareness33900:19:53,959 –> 00:19:55,640of his presence in your life,34000:19:55,640 –> 00:19:57,319in all that you face this week,34100:19:57,319 –> 00:19:58,719this is where you must begin.34200:19:58,719 –> 00:20:00,400If you feel your need of that,34300:20:00,400 –> 00:20:02,359this is exactly the very scripture34400:20:02,359 –> 00:20:04,000that you need to hear today.34500:20:06,119 –> 00:20:09,880God makes his home, he dwells, that’s the word,34600:20:09,920 –> 00:20:13,780with the person who is poor in spirit.34700:20:15,680 –> 00:20:18,339Heaven is in the humble34800:20:19,560 –> 00:20:23,180before the humble are in heaven.34900:20:25,300 –> 00:20:29,079So, there is a wonderful blessing here, today,35000:20:29,079 –> 00:20:31,699for the person who has come to church35100:20:31,699 –> 00:20:34,719and you are feeling overwhelmed by some challenge.35200:20:34,719 –> 00:20:36,680Perhaps no one else here knows about it.35300:20:36,680 –> 00:20:38,319But, you do, and God does.35400:20:38,339 –> 00:20:40,060And you’ve been saying to yourself,35500:20:40,060 –> 00:20:42,719I don’t have what it takes.35600:20:44,400 –> 00:20:47,300And you don’t know how you’re gonna move forward from here.35700:20:48,839 –> 00:20:51,540You know that what God is calling you to, right now,35800:20:51,540 –> 00:20:54,260is beyond the range of your own talents35900:20:54,260 –> 00:20:55,579and your own ability.36000:20:55,579 –> 00:20:57,739The circumstances of your life have brought you36100:20:57,739 –> 00:20:59,540to the very place where you are what?36200:20:59,540 –> 00:21:00,819Poor in spirit.36300:21:00,819 –> 00:21:02,380You see that you’ve not got it.36400:21:03,839 –> 00:21:07,239And Jesus Christ himself says,36500:21:07,239 –> 00:21:09,979Isaiah 57, 15,36600:21:09,979 –> 00:21:14,439I will dwell with you.36700:21:16,099 –> 00:21:17,800I won’t just come near you in a service36800:21:17,800 –> 00:21:19,060and then leave you this week,36900:21:19,060 –> 00:21:21,939I will walk with you in this.37000:21:22,839 –> 00:21:24,300I will live with you.37100:21:25,520 –> 00:21:29,680I will presence myself with the one who is of a lowly37200:21:29,680 –> 00:21:32,579and contrite spirit who knows her need,37300:21:33,479 –> 00:21:36,719is aware of his lack.37400:21:37,900 –> 00:21:41,719There is such a blessing for the person who came here today37500:21:41,719 –> 00:21:44,880and you have felt overwhelmed by temptation.37600:21:44,880 –> 00:21:47,619It has probably led you to fail in this last week.37700:21:48,560 –> 00:21:50,920And you say, I just don’t know what to do with this stuff,37800:21:50,920 –> 00:21:54,280it seems like it comes at me in waves37900:21:57,040 –> 00:21:58,959and it feels too much for me.38000:22:00,680 –> 00:22:02,880And, do you see what is happening?38100:22:02,880 –> 00:22:04,000In the mercy of God,38200:22:04,000 –> 00:22:06,880the very temptations that seem to overwhelm you38300:22:06,880 –> 00:22:09,520are bringing you to the place of hope,38400:22:09,520 –> 00:22:12,359the place where you are poor in spirit,38500:22:12,359 –> 00:22:15,819you’re saying, I don’t have what it takes to beat this38600:22:15,819 –> 00:22:18,140and Jesus Christ comes to you today38700:22:18,140 –> 00:22:23,140and He says, I will dwell with you, 24-7.38800:22:28,260 –> 00:22:30,939You don’t know when and what’s gonna come at you this week,38900:22:30,939 –> 00:22:34,020but I will walk with you in it.39000:22:35,520 –> 00:22:36,680You will not be alone.39100:22:37,500 –> 00:22:40,280The tremendous blessing here today39200:22:40,280 –> 00:22:43,719for the person who has really messed up.39300:22:44,959 –> 00:22:49,959You sin has found you out and the enemy of your soul39400:22:50,520 –> 00:22:53,719who told you that there was no harm in it39500:22:53,719 –> 00:22:56,780is now telling you there’s no hope because of it,39600:22:58,699 –> 00:23:01,199but if your failure should lead you today39700:23:01,199 –> 00:23:04,219to a place of genuine humility before God,39800:23:04,760 –> 00:23:08,219if your sin should lead you to the place39900:23:08,219 –> 00:23:10,859where instead of arrogance before him40000:23:12,020 –> 00:23:14,060where you’re always asserting yourself,40100:23:14,060 –> 00:23:17,500there’s a humility of spirit that is now birthed40200:23:17,500 –> 00:23:20,040by his grace out of this very failure,40300:23:21,359 –> 00:23:23,920I tell you God can use the sin40400:23:23,920 –> 00:23:26,420that would have led you down to hell40500:23:27,800 –> 00:23:31,699to help you find the path to heaven.40600:23:32,000 –> 00:23:32,839to heaven.40700:23:34,000 –> 00:23:34,839You’ve been listening40800:23:34,839 –> 00:23:37,119to pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible40900:23:37,119 –> 00:23:38,540and a message called41000:23:38,540 –> 00:23:40,459Blessed are the poor in spirit41100:23:40,459 –> 00:23:42,400part of our series Momentum41200:23:42,400 –> 00:23:45,020how to make progress in the Christian life41300:23:45,020 –> 00:23:47,219based on the Beatitudes.41400:23:47,219 –> 00:23:48,800If you’ve missed any of the messages41500:23:48,800 –> 00:23:51,579you can easily catch up or go back and listen again41600:23:51,579 –> 00:23:53,819by coming online to our website41700:23:53,819 –> 00:23:56,619that’s at open the Bible.org.uk41800:23:56,619 –> 00:23:58,660Also by going to your favorite podcast site41900:23:58,660 –> 00:24:01,560and searching thereopnthebibleuk42000:24:01,900 –> 00:24:04,739or follow the link from our website.42100:24:04,739 –> 00:24:06,020While you’re on our website42200:24:06,020 –> 00:24:07,459or checking out the podcasts42300:24:07,459 –> 00:24:09,959have a look at Open the Bible daily42400:24:09,959 –> 00:24:11,579that’s our series of short42500:24:11,579 –> 00:24:13,900two to three minute daily reflections42600:24:13,900 –> 00:24:15,660based on pastor Colin’s teaching42700:24:15,660 –> 00:24:18,000and read this month by Annie Pick42800:24:18,000 –> 00:24:19,579they’re available on our website42900:24:19,579 –> 00:24:21,119and as a podcast43000:24:21,119 –> 00:24:22,739Open the Bible daily.43100:24:22,739 –> 00:24:23,979In the run up to Christmas43200:24:23,979 –> 00:24:24,900at open the Bible43300:24:24,900 –> 00:24:26,699we want to provide churches43400:24:26,699 –> 00:24:29,819and groups with great supporting material.43500:24:29,920 –> 00:24:32,439Here is Open the Bible’s Executive director43600:24:32,439 –> 00:24:33,800John Martin.43700:24:33,800 –> 00:24:36,699If your planning events for Christmas and Advent43800:24:36,699 –> 00:24:38,719for your church and community43900:24:38,719 –> 00:24:41,359then open the Bible has resources to help you.44000:24:41,359 –> 00:24:44,959A Nativity script you can use outside or indoors44100:24:44,959 –> 00:24:48,079sermon outlines for an Advent sermon series44200:24:48,079 –> 00:24:50,540and it’s all linked to our new little book44300:24:50,540 –> 00:24:51,660Christmas stories44400:24:51,660 –> 00:24:54,199five first person narratives.44500:24:54,199 –> 00:24:55,939To find out more go to44600:24:55,939 –> 00:24:58,719OpenTheBible.org.uk44700:24:58,859 –> 00:25:00,920For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith44800:25:00,920 –> 00:25:02,520I’m David Pick.44900:25:02,520 –> 00:25:03,959Thanks for being with us today45000:25:03,959 –> 00:25:04,760and join us again next time45100:25:04,760 –> 00:25:06,319on Open the Bible45200:25:06,319 –> 00:25:07,959for another part of the series45300:25:07,959 –> 00:25:08,560Momentum45400:25:08,560 –> 00:25:11,339How to make progress in your Christian life.45500:25:20,760 –> 00:25:23,339Where does God live?45600:25:23,339 –> 00:25:25,859Many people would say Heaven45700:25:25,859 –> 00:25:28,000Find out where else God lives45800:25:28,000 –> 00:25:29,959That’s next time on Open the Bible